PARIS: This is with reference to Zarrar Khuhro’s article “Stuck in the middle” (October 9). The left and right division that we see in our country is too simplistic. The liberals in Pakistan like to identify themselves with the left, as it is seen as the more intellectual, impressive group in the West. However, the likes of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and its supports, who may be rightists when it comes to politics, are quite left-wing when it comes to discussing economic policy, and unlike Pakistani liberals, are not averse to government intervention. Hence, when it comes to economic policy, the JI is more leftist than the liberals in the country. The late American intellectual Daniel Bell described himself as a “socialist in economics, a liberal in politics, and a conservative in culture”. To analyse our country correctly, we need this sort of flexible approach.
The Balochistan example given by the writer is perfect: the right won’t accept our own mistakes in causing the crisis, while the left simply won’t hear of any possibility of there being foreign influence. It’s a stupid, stunted debate for it seems as if both sides are afraid that deviating one bit from their position will mean that the country will totally swing the other way.
Why can’t we accept that we have, indeed, mistreated the Balochis and are still committing crimes against them? And why can we not accept that there does seem to be proof that foreign countries are playing a role in Balochistan? When the smallest of opportunities opens up, do we expect RAW to sit by idly? This is what intelligence agencies the world over do and anyone who is familiar with the history of foreign involvement by India and the US would accept such an eventuality. So, why not accept both these facts and then ensure that we do everything in our power to respectfully and intelligently resolve this crisis and put our house in order, for whether RAW is involved or not, at the end of the day, we are the ones who have to clean up this mess.
Zain Chaudhry
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2012.
