My friends are just like me; many of them have changed their Facebook profile pictures to one that bears, in bleeding font, the slogan “We condemn the attack of Nato on Pakistani soldiers”; some have made “Angry with Nato (insert angry emoticon here)” their BlackBerry Messenger Status. With us, “Go, America, Go” and “Crush America, Hate America” banners are all the rage. But we were silent when the Taliban avenged Osama bin Laden’s death by killing 89 Frontier Constabulary recruits this past May.
I don’t know when I became this selective about my condemnations, but as far as I remember, my ghairat has always been like a hormonal teenager ready to unleash itself at the prod of a finger. And God help the world if that finger is white; I hate American fingers; they’re too friendly with those Israeli and Indian fingers that I’ve sworn to hate forever, and they’re the puppet masters in this great game for oil (wait a minute, you really thought the War on Terror is a war against militancy? Poor, deluded you).
Now I know you’re going to tell me ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds’, because America gives us millions of dollars in aid every year. But does that mean that they own us? That they’ve purchased our sovereignty and can fly drones or SEAL Team 6 through our airspace to kill ‘high-value targets’ on a whim? Kudos to them for getting bin Laden, but how dare they criticise our beloved army and imply that it protected him? Not only did that incident make us look like fools, it was the beginning of this grand conspiracy to malign our armed forces and military. Like an ISI official said after the raid, “We’re good, but we’re not God.” Ever since then, these blasted American news agencies began a slander campaign against our military, furthering the American crusade to make us look like terrorist sympathisers. Aren’t these Americans the ones that created these terrorists in the first place? It’s only fair that they pay for the mess they helped create when they wanted these jihadis to fight the Soviets they hated so much.
After all these months of distorted facts from the foreign press and vehement denials by our beloved army, the decision by cable operators to block the BBC is a welcome move to defend our ghairat. Who the hell do these British journos think they are, making a documentary that questions Pakistan’s commitment in its war against militancy? Could they not show sensitivity at a time when these Nato butchers have slaughtered our soldiers? Our local channels may have shoved cameras into the faces of grieving families of target killing victims, but they’ve played Noor Jehan’s “Ae Watan Ke Sajilay Jawano” enough times this week to make my heart melt and forgive their earlier thoughtlessness.
I’d like to point out here that we should believe only what the Pakistan army tells us. Think about it, have the khakis ever lied to us? Is there anyone who is more patriotic than our generals? If they hate Nato, I hate Nato. If they aren’t friends with Amercia, neither am I…
I would go on endlessly, but this Nadeem F Paracha tweet sent my mind in a whirl: BARKING NEWS: ‘US relaxes visa policy for Pakistanis.’ Hey, where did everybody go? Who’s going to burn this bloody flag? Come back.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2011.
COMMENTS (87)
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When it comes to Pakistan.....given the situation, sarcasm and satire ought to be the easiest thing to do....and yet we get this in the end...really breaks my heart
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam (retd): Wow, what a stretch of logic, you say that "the Terrorists who haunt us --- are mercenaries who carry out these brutal acts at the behest of RAW,MOSSAD & the CIA. They find safe Heaven’s in Afghanistan from where they operate"! I AM DEEPLY SHOCKED that the "worlds best spy agency (ISI)" and Pakistani Army, have not captured A SINGLE ONE of these "RAW/KFC/BurgerKing/Mossad/CIA Mercenaries" who operate from their secret base in Shangri La!
Also please note. America is supposed to be our ally. If our chief of army staff is telling the nation that this attack seems deliberate and planned, then we have to take his words seriously.
We have been at war with the Taliban for a decade. America is our ally and they intentionally attacked us. This does call for outrage. The logic is impeccable.
Regarding accusations of duplicity in the army, who is not dubious in Pakistan or even the world? The U.S lied to the world and invaded Iraq on a false pretext and overspent a trillion usd into bankruptacy and took rest of the world down with it.
I propose instead of lambasting ourselves, the scribe should have ended on the note that we must show equal outrage to Taliban's atrocities. I will always expect an enemy to stab me, but if a friend stabs me in the back, then it is more painful. This is what Pakistan is feeling by the American air strike. We are inherently a pro-military people with a strong sense of pride in our armed forces. It is not about the generals, it is about the Pakistani Jawan and his commitment to Pakistan. Media should note this and respect this.
Pakistan Army Zindabad!
I cannot seem to find much logic in this arguement other than the valid point that as a society we should condemn the the Taliban.
According to accurate surveys done by the Pew Global Opinion Survey, most Pakistanis are opposed to the Taliban. I feel bad for you having to view popular resentment on blackberry's against the US air strike, however please note that the overwhelming masses of Pakistan are pluralistic and oppose any loss of life.
The loss of lives of 26 soldiers is tragic, especially because it seems like a deliberate strike by another state i.e US.
As a sovereign state, we have had to make tough choices. Some of these choices we do not truly understand, but our establishment is playing a high risk strategy on achieving success in our near periphery. As a sovereign state, we have every right to protect our future. We do not need a hostile Afghanistan and a hostile India post 2014. Strategic deception and strategic disruption are part of tools of state craft. Pakistan's leaders know this well.
Sonam- your comment was so pointless and unnecessary. Stop being such a hater.
@waqar khan Wrong again..If you finally manage to get the name of our ex president right you would be doing a favor to all of us
@Lt Col Imtiaz Alam (retd):
why are you boring everyone with the same broken record playing the same old establishment tunes?
The first Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaqat Ali Khan was killed in Rawalpindi and a General was alleged to be involved in 1951. One of the first acts of the ghairat mands
And yet almost everything you said made perfect sense.
Great piece. I hope everyone gets the satire. These urban upper/middle-class "ghairatmand" people are also usually the most hypocritical offenders when it comes to leaving their country for a better life abroad, as so brilliantly summed up by Nadeem F Paracha's tweet.
Sigh! Why do I even bother reading the tribune!
@waqar khan: We never had Mr.Azad as our President.You must be referring our ex President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, our beloved President.He is noble and gentle person.No soul on this earth can level such baseless allegation except people of your mentality.By the way for your information UNO has declared 15th October -his birth date- as World Student Day.
so who are talibans???????? a second nato force and nothing. baseless point..
This author is repeating lines from various Pakistani sources, besides Nadeem Piracha. The question that such apologists for US imperialism need to ask is if Americans demonstrated, let alone went to war, after the Oklahoma bombing, or other such incidents. Of course, not. They were outraged, went to war and remain at war after their country was attacked by an outside force in 2001. Whether the Pak-army and civilian government are using this issue selectively is a different concern. That Pakistanis are more outraged by external, than internal, aggression is only natural.
Thought provoking article....
admire ur great sense of humor... in fact the Pakistani awaam has this humor in abundance.. the way u manage ur poise and composure, in such circumstances in which any gairatmand would love to die, makes me salute ur pen..
My God, Ms Atika! Are you real? What a wonderful piece you have written to delight us and at the same time make us introvert & see the contradictions in our reactions & the silliness of it all! Keep writing, Madam. You are unbelievably good. Pakistan needs scribes like you.
@rehmat: You are right,I meant A J P Abdul Kalam,thanks for correcting me.
The word "Taliban" has become acrimonious with Terrorism.People with Turbans and flowing beards. Dressed in Shalwar/Kurta with a Head gear and a Firearm over their shoulders is the picture of a Taliban projected to the World.The word Taliban symbolizes those who are students of a Madrassa/Seminary.It attained worldwide attention during the Russian-Afghan War due to the War of Resistance by these students of the Madrassa's against Russia led by Mullah Omer.
The same Talib's are waging a war of resistance in Afghanistan against an Invader and have no connection with the Terrorists who haunt us. They are mercenaries who carry out these brutal acts at the behest of RAW,MOSSAD & the CIA. They find safe Heaven's in Afghanistan from where they operate. The Pakistan Army's war is with them . The American's here are playing a Dual Policy by pointing the finger at the Afghan Taliban and asking us to eliminate them and lose their support & friendship which we had during the Russian/Afghan War.In other words asking us to fight their War.
The Americans have the following Aim's in coming to Afghanistan:- a. A route from the CIS States to warm waters through Afghanistan to transport Oil & Mineral wealth. b. To Destabilize Pakistan to seize/secure its Nuclear Assets. c. A presence in this Region to offset China's Hegemony & get closer to India for access into its huge market. d. To stop the Resurgence and spread of Islam.
Unfortunately they have run into deep trouble. They are between the Devil & Deep Sea. After wasting Trillions of Dollars they are no where near their objective.Now the only alternative is a graceful Exit.Even this is not posing to be very easy.The exit from Vietnam haunts them. In total confusion they are committing one mistake after other and in the process they have lost a very close Ally who can be the answer to their problem.
ahahahhaaha loved it! its funny and sad all at once...
@Ali Akbar: If my one sentence was sarcastic drivel, than my friend your reply is new 'Iliad' or 'Odyssey'. But I give up, you win.
two thumbs up!
Finally Ghairat gives way to Stupidity...! Jeez do we have a middle ground.
we are united against our both animies...taliban are not much stronger as America but still we have strong protest and action against these militant's...actually the Militant's have no religion no border's and its true that America don't respect the teritories of other states and his two way policy going to kill American's itself as we can the strong protest against their policies into their country too...Nato called us their so called stratigic partner but underground they are together to mess to pakistan which not gona be done INSHALLAH because we know to protect our 1 Inch too
@No Nonsense, Taliban killed 89 FC personnel because they and Pakistan are at war. But the 24 Pak troops were killed by NATO with whom Pakistan is not at war.
So, you agree that the NATO is not your enemy, in fact it's an ally. If that is the case, then think again, the incident at the border might have been a mistake, isn't it?
Very well written Atika.
Excellent piece, wish our qaumi ghairat could take a backseat to common sense for once.
Totally not in good taste at this time!
Nobody protested when Taliban killed the military people because we are in war with them.....we kill them and then expect no retaliation...well that was a funny analogy.....infact it was an idiotic one...!
Dear Atika, People are anoyed over US because they clame that they want to bring peace in this world. As far as Taliban are concerned they are not state, retablishment or any govenment than what is fun to come in roads agains them. What don you say about pro Amerca Taliban ?????. Please let the nation awake do not let them sleep again
@jayeldee; you've gotta be kidding. Just watch your NDTV talk shows. They are obsessed with Pakistan, with a regular outpour of anti Pakistan sentiments and debates on Pak foreign policy with the US
Well done - a pertinent point
this is not the time to compare our emotions taliban and America. they are poles apart. This is the time be united at the national level and show the world that now its over.......we will not tolerate any act brutalism anymore
Candid opinion..!
How can someone even try to draw similarities between an enemy (Taliban) and an ally (the US). Obviously, it's a matter of ghairat when a friend repeatedly ditches you.
No one will care about one's existance... One has to take care of it. A very well written article. We have to stand our own feet and make ourselves selfesteemed before even we think about so-called GHAIRAT.... Highly commendable article. Appreciated. Specially the last punch line.
You lost me at "…But we were silent when the Taliban avenged Osama bin Laden’s death by killing 89 Frontier Constabulary recruits this past May”. Honestly? You think that being hit by an ally, an ally you've given your bases to and an ally you've been supporting wars for, is the same as being attacked by the Taliban, who have sworn to take us down, and by "us" I don't mean the military only, see what they're doing to the civilians.
The hue and cry over the drones isn't because the drones are controlled by "white" people, but because the drones are sent by our ally. Yet again, shoddy work, and one wonders why it was an editorial, standards must be slipping with all the financial constraints, eh?
Very true. well said.
You are delusional ! Why are you fixated over India and Israel . They don’t care about your existence.
the ending sentences are blast... you are spot on
Absolutely true.
I think that the vast amount of damage from our collective ghairat has caused more evil in our society than good. All honour killings and kiling of innocents in bazaars are attributed to it and i have yet to understand what it achieves
The sort of ghairat id like to see is when we tighten our belts, work hard and can dictate our terms due to our own financial and diplomatic clout.
Burning flags and wasting time in dharnas should be banned.
Dear Writer, very well said, God bless!
great writing. keep it up.
The Pakistan army is an American puppet until proven otherwise. You should know that while It's sad so many soldiers lost their lives, it may just have been the whim of our own strategic planners. All Pakistani lives are expendable don't you see.
loved it :D
I would just like to respond to one of the earlier comments: why shouldn't 'ghairat' be involved when a Musalmaan kills another Musalmaan. Such a situation is worth more deliberation and the need to understand the dynamic that forces one brother to stand up against another.
Why is this in editorial and why isnt anyone from ET debunking the BBC Docu and all the blatant violations of its journalistic ethics. Sarcasm works for those who arent faced with the problems of daily life in PK but not for the remaining 90% of the population.
The Media in Pakistan is a very deliberate creation to keep the people distracted and always in speculation and never take action. Media provides corrupt people airtime to end an hour show with no tangible solution. Has Edhi been gioven an hour on a talk show, or the school bus driver , or a traffic police officer. i believe the insight sought from such sources about issues that need to be addressed in this country has much more value than puppets.
essentially thats what we are. in every sphere of society. Army, Bureaucracy and the politics of our country is to blame. We serve interests of the few at the expense of many.
Sarcasm is complacent in this effort against Pakistan and its people in my opinion becuase its as good as doing nothing.
Ghairatmand would address all these issues.
I beg to differ, not every Pakistani is begging to go to the USA, of course, the writer can be one of those people, thats why she thinks like that......
Of course, satire is only used as a sign of ideological weakness, when you have no argument, all you do is mock.
What a great article. It is simply amazing the great bunch of funny, satirical writers ET has. (Sami Shah the other). ET doesn't print fluff. It print such exquisite, brilliantly written articles. Bravo. I could read such brilliant writers on and on and never get tired of laughing and admiring their wit and wisdom. Sometimes Ijaz Haider is praising his buddy Faisal Naqvi. Another lawyer writer gets his comment box filled with messages that read "brilliant piece" This piece is just brilliant. I mean I can't even express myself totally how brilliant piece of writing this is. My hands are trembling and my heart is choking. Im under such awe. For someone who has student law from England, this is really amazing. This is no fluff. This is the real deal. This is how an oped should be written. And Nadeem F Parach's tweets just add the perfect garnish to this really well thought out, eloquently expressed and really needed piece of serious writing by one of the most outstanding editors of our country.
Brilliant! :)
This articles mocks at the people of Pakistan who have no voice and who are continously depoliticized through successive military regimes--those regimes who have the backing of the US, UK and other powers. One can easily mock at the US and UK for their failed polcies. Who cares! I have to live in Pakistan and I know my destiny is untter hopeliessness.
Confused writing.
Satire and criticism don't go hand in hand.
Besides, where's the Perspective? You have written just what a common man thinks.
Though, your commentary is very valid.
This article is funny only if you are a Pakistani living abroad or then an Indian. If you are at present living in Pakistan with little prospects of moving out of the country, this hurts.
@vasan: Atika Rehman thanks you! you've made her proud!
@Ali Akbar: publication's policy, perhaps?
The mentioning of the author's LLB degree from London was atrocious to say the least. Would the Tribune newspaper mention if the author had got the LLB degree form university of Lahore? British have long gone but their "Superior" and our "Inferior" legacy remains intact. What a shame!
In other words, paper tiger
Ms Rehman: Not only I fully agree with you but also love the way you have been able to undress and expose all the hypocrites including our national psyche. This is one of the finest pieces I am reading on ET in a long time.
Nice work. But I'm afraid the satire will fall on deaf ears when it comes to those who need to understand it most.
@Aryan: Think about what? What was accomplished through this article? Why did knowledge did you gain? That Pakistan has a mercenary army, souless politicians and a rhetoric junkie media? Please save the sarcastic drivel for a personal blog and publish some constructive thoughts and commentary...
..."But we were silent when the Taliban avenged Osama bin Laden’s death by killing 89 Frontier Constabulary recruits this past May". ....Really a painful reality of our society, Army and media.
miss Atika, I totally agree with you on this.I hate ghairat and particularly a ghairat which is directed at our ''beloved'' US. when they test their missiles on our civilians through drones in tribel areas or now on our forward millitary bases with Apaches, its infact just their way of ''conveying'' their never dying love for us and we should not complain at all. btw,some ''bearded weirdos'' also do the same things to us, so why so much protestation and complains? they also ''showered'' Iraq & Afghanistan with this kind of love and recently Libya also got their lovely ''attention'' and now that we are getting their ''affection'' these ''ghairatmands'' are trying to spoil it for all of us. after all NATO and US are doing this to us for our own benefit. so we should be happy and rejoice to have such a ''great friend''.
Wow, what a great Op Ed! You wrote "Aren’t these Americans the ones that created these terrorists in the first place?" Sorry I beg to disagree AR. It is God who has created them all including Lucifer/devil in the first place. According to Ghairat theory it should be all his fault. I loved your article 100%. More power to you young lady! Regards, Mirza
Are we so insecure that patriotism has to be publicly displayed?
@waqar khan: "Example,Israeli technology given to Indian scientists for missile development shared with Iran by no one less than the ex Indian president(Mr Azad)" India has never had a President with the name Azad. You are obviously delusional.
@Ali Akbar: Because they are supposed make you think.
You need a little more subtlety when employing sarcasm to make your point. I say, you ways to go before you can dabble in irony.
Most hilarious and thought provoking satire on ET in a long time ! You made my day!
My fav one is : we dont have control over shamsi base...its with the UAE and now......... deadline for vacating shamsi base is 11 dec........
If you are a Gairatmand Pakistani, you would vote for IK. For there is no better single act proving one's honour and self-respect than to repudiate the ones who deprecated them and prop up the one who promises restoration.
ISI and the Pakistani army have been sabotaging Afghanistan for decades. they have suppressed their own Pashtun, the Baluch and the Sindi populations since its creation. Why is not your ghairat provoked there? It's a Punjabi dominated military that trains and harbors terrorists and exports it to the neighbors and into the region. The fact that this army has suppressed your civilian governments and strangulated democracy; should make your ghairat do something, otherwise it's a blind emotions fed by the ISI to the great people of Pakistan. Have you ever thought where is this military going to take Pakistan in next 5-10 years? I don't know.
Pakistan Zindabad!!! Good article!!!
Great work Atika! the NFP tweet at the end is priceless!
Where were these ghairatmands when salman taseer was gunned down by the religious murderer qadri? why wasn't there ghairat up in arms when the governor of punjab,a symbol of the federation was gunned down? why isn't there ghairat activated when some paedophile ''marries'' a small girl and the maulvi gives it legitimacy with the nikah? why no ghairatmand protests and dharnas against the paedophiles? why don't our tv channels play the milli naghmay for the thousands of our brave soldiers who've been killed at the hands of the religious fanatics? why are our soldiers only praiseworthy or respectworthy when they die at the hands of non-muslims? why no newsreports of the funerals of the shaheeds when the people killing them are the religious militants?
Your sarcasm is misplaced. The Taliban are 'our boys'. It's not the same thing being killed by our boys versus their boys.
Ghairat comes into play when we are killed by their boys.
While agreeing with Madam Atika's deliberation to a greater degree and not trying to become dogmatic,I would submit few humble suggestions.there has never been and never will be things called Black and White,specially in international relations.Example,Israeli technology given to Indian scientists for missile development shared with Iran by no one less than the ex Indian president(Mr Azad) may have created an IRANIAN MISSILE WHICH COULD ACTUALLY TARGET TEL AVIV in a future war.Will Israeli people be justified to ask their military scientists for this suicidal transfer of technology..no Madam no. We are in the 4th generation War with boundaries merged between civilians and military forces.In this game of chaos,you madam you may be a better warrior than the Corps Commander of Peshawar,by launching a media campaign more lethal than attack of a 1000 soldiers.If in doubt ask Col Gaddafi's soul. Yes the Musharraf regime took certain decisions,so did Bush regime..some Americans may question the wisdom of befriending a dangerous and unstable ally like Pakistan( that is what the American media is asking from US decision makers).The environment has changed..old Jihad sponsored by the Americans against the soviets became terrorism when the Yankees went to Kabul,and this God forsaken war on terror may become unacceptable to Pakistan when Yankees kill and martyr our soldiers to scuttle Obama's withdrawal plan.4th generation war needs a lecture or a book to explain..I don't think so that you and me have the time for that..easiest way is to surf the net and hit Wikipedia.
What’s funny is that the anti-US ghairat brigade is a huge supporter of the army which is in fact the main beneficiary of Pak-US security based relations. Instead of acknowledging the contradiction, the ghairat brigade concocts conspiracy theories to convince others that US is against the army although the army is built on US money, arms and training.
Why is a sarcasm laden rant an editorial piece? What's the point??
very well meant Atika,I support you completely and totally...