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Pakistani workers seek cover amid Bahrain turmoil
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Neutrality on Bahrain
Pakistanis are being targeted by protesters who see them as collaborators of the unpopular regime.
Many Pakistanis in Bahrain are living in fear of being targeted. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
In times of revolution, safety often becomes an afterthought. When both the government and the protesters are charged with emotion, violence, sadly, becomes the norm. With Bahrain in the midst of a violent uprising, many Pakistanis are being targeted by protesters who see them as collaborators of the unpopular regime. Most of the Pakistanis targeted are labourers or other civilians in low-paying jobs. Although the Pakistan Embassy in Bahrain is providing shelter to about 40 Pakistani families, the vast majority are helpless and defenceless.
Much of the blame has to be directed at the Pakistan government. Even before the uprising broke out, many Pakistanis were serving in the Bahraini police force. Since the troubles began, Bahrain has been recruiting mercenaries from Pakistan to bolster its police and armed forces. We have allowed them to do so unhindered. Bahrainis are understandably enraged that foreigners are being employed to oppress them and so are lashing out at all Pakistanis. The government needs to immediately ban any more Pakistanis from being recruited in Bahrain’s security forces. Additionally, it is the job of the embassy and the government to make sure its citizens are safe in a foreign country. As soon as the situation turned ugly, all Pakistanis should have been evacuated from Bahrain, just as the US had done with its citizens in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries that are in the throes of revolution.
By allowing mercenaries to serve the Bahraini monarchy, Pakistan has dangerously taken sides in what may turn out to be a geopolitical, ethnic nightmare. The population of Bahrain is overwhelmingly Shia while the ruling family is Sunni. Iran is naturally supporting the protesters while Saudi Arabia is on the side of the king. Thanks to the mercenaries, the impression will now stick that Pakistan is on the anti-Iran side. This will only hurt relations with Iran, with whom we hope to reach a deal on a gas pipeline. It is time to put potential new alliances on par with existing ones. The government needs to cite its own law-and-order problems at home and a desire to remain neutral in a delicate part of the world. Above all, its foremost priority should be to safely bring home Pakistani citizens.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2011.
Reader Comments (7)
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It is absurd and shocking to see such stories being published in media to malign Pakistan image as it had links in creating chaos and anarchy in Bahrian. The ruling elite have established its military forces and law enforcement agencies with the help and assistance of armed forces of Pakistan. Thus it is a matter of pride that recognition has been infer on the professionalism of our forces. How ever the ground reality is completely different from the situation presented in the world media, the protestor which had no reason to create unrest and which started as a picnic on the pearl square become violent on the grounds for changing regime. Though killing of Pakistanis on the basis of Sunni association solidify the fact of racism hatred vented in the hearts of protestors. Brutal killing with knives, swords and sticks and dragging dead bodies with rolling over them by cars show the mindset of such people. It is quite astonishing where basic facilities are well within the reach of people would turn so violent for their demands and resort to targeted killing of Sunni. This establishes involvement of a conspiracy to create civil war on the grounds of ethnic divide and turn once a peaceful and beautiful country into war ravaged nations. Moreover it is commendable that government has shown resilience and restraint and invited the protestors for dialogue and using rubber bullets to control mobs and arsonist. But questions remain with media that why there was no coverage put on the rally of 350,000 supporters of the government while they only show the footage of shots being fired when in-fact they are just rubber bullets. Recommend
It seems that Pakistan foreign policy is based on American and Pakistan Armed forces dictation, though the Army like to object to US from time to time for a crowd pleaser but still follows the American provided guide lines. It cannot even stop the drones or Raymond Davis even if it wanted to. Pakistan could have better relations with all three neighbour if its leaders were strong and principled. Its in the interest of certain Country’s to have a corrupt and weak politician in power and an Army encouraged to be power hungry. Pakistans weak economy and huge poor population, is encouraged to beg and borrow from these countries, is then obliged to cater for all the Arab tyrants. We are today what we have chosen to be. Look at Iran Today. It is much stronger and a regional power and worthy of appreciation.Recommend
Great Article. Pakistan Government are allowing hired Mercenaries to decide our foreign policy. Many some police are refusing to fire on the protestors so the Bahrain governments is using pakistanis to do the dirty work.Not only are we dragging pakistan into a conflict nothing to do with us, but we are helping a brutal regime stay in power, a apartheid corrupt government.Although pakistan helped Arab countries built their armed forces, arabs cannot ever be relied upon to be allies. You only need to see the way they treat pakisatnis even doctor at airports. Iran is also an immediate neighbor and has a much larger economy than bahrain. The Bahrain police is not using rubber bullets, go to youtube and you will see the crowds being mowed down with bullets.
Pakistani in Bahrain are not killed for being sunni,but killed sadly for being agents of oppression.Recommend
@Ali Khan: Bahrainies I believe have all the good reasons if they chose to target Pakistanies. Not because they are Sunnies, but because the King who has helped them to encroach on the jobs that otherwise should have gone to Bahrainies Citizens first. Secondly, the Pakistan Government is collaborating with Saudi Arabia and King Hammad on suppressing and torturing the peoples demands for demoracry and freedom. Pakistan has been repeating the same mistake as it did in Afghanistan, it should always align itself with the people not the monarchs, learn it from the devil USA !!!!Recommend
Media campaign is all to create stir, I fail to understand why we are so naïve and biased in differentiating between the truths. Though reality stays unfettered by accusation and blinded opinions. Killing of innocent Pakistanis have no justification on the ground of encroached opportunities, as mostly killed are poor labourers. However the majority of the foreigners belong to India but they are not being targeted. So opinion justified falls short of reality. Moreover using of brutal force has been self obsession as witnesses have claimed to question on the restraint shown to arsonist and murderers. If Bahraini people would have been neglected then there would have been slums all over Manama which is quite the opposite. And why would people would stand and demand freedom in the land where don’t have to beg on road sides for food and basic necessities, when they drove land cruisers and shop in branded stores and mega mallsRecommend
Saudi regime and Pakistan Army do not stand good records in relation to human rights. No military action can stop the popular demands of the indegenous people, Saudi must learn it from Indian forces in Kashmir who are still unsuccessful in containing their movement. Recommend
inshallah revolution to the people of bahrain.Recommend