Our two competing hatreds
Then, the army reacted angrily over Raymond Davis, Osama bin Laden and Dr Shakeel Afridi. It hounded the elected government in tandem with the Supreme Court and got rid of its ambassador to the US. After Salala, it blocked the Nato supply route. Then, it got parliament to pass a tough resolution against the US. We all started collectively hating America, climaxed by a violent self-damaging rage over a blasphemous video made in the US.
We felt comfortable not hating the Taliban. We were ready to forget the innocent Pakistanis they killed and the girls’ schools they destroyed. The Taliban then queered the pitch by trying to kill Malala Yousufzai in Swat. Suddenly, we realised that we hated this act. Now, we were required to nurse two hatreds in competition with each other.
We are suffering because hating the Taliban is tougher than hating Americans. After a spurt of unfamiliar human sympathy for Malala, we think we should revert to the comfort of hating America.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik first erred by issuing an anti-Taliban statement but then came to our rescue by saying the plot to kill Malala was hatched somewhere close to our border in Afghanistan. He was saying the Americans got her killed to confound us with two hatreds. More of this life-saving stuff followed, gratefully swallowed by the nation.
Writing in Jang (October 12, 2012) an ex-Amir of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, opined that Malala had been attacked according to a sinister plan to facilitate attack on North Waziristan and that the girl had once said that President Barack Obama was her hero. And the NGOs were active on cue after Malala had been built up by the foreign media.
Talking to Ausaf (October 13, 2012) Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawwar Hasan stated that those who tried to kill Malala were the very people who had supported attack on South Waziristan. He referred to a video tape that showed a girl being flogged by the Taliban in 2009 and said that it was a fake video. He said the youth will have to unite to stop America from interfering inside Pakistan.
Famous ex-army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg, facing charges of extortion and embezzlement, told Dunya (October 13, 2012) that people who recommended attacking North Waziristan were implementing the American agenda in Pakistan. No one, including the US and Nato, can defeat the Haqqani network. He said President Asif Ali Zardari had been told by Americans that he was of no use any more and the next turn was of Nawaz Sharif to serve the Americans. He added that Imran Khan was now “lifeless” and could win only two to four seats in parliament.
We hated the USSR and defeated it; we are now hating the US and are about to defeat it (sic!). In the process, we may have lost our moral compass, but our honour is intact. We are trying our best to move back to a single-hatred nation for the sake of clarity. But the issue to consider is that the US is far away and the ebb of its power is uncertain, just as it was after Vietnam; but the Taliban are here to take over and stay.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (47)
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@gp65
The post appeard under @politically incorrect was actualy from me. The mishap was due to mixed up log out/log in scenario.
@gp65
'the author said “We are trying our best to move back to a single-hatred nation for the sake of clarity”. In this context my comment was well justified.'
Let's revisit the article. To save time and space I will only quote pertinent, definitive and more assertive sentences from the article. He starts with, We have learned to hate America....., then he asserts, 'We all started collectively hating America, climaxed by a violent self-damaging rage over a blasphemous video made in the US.' Now he moves over to Taliban, 'We felt comfortable not hating the Taliban.' But, 'The Taliban then queered the pitch by trying to kill Malala Yousufzai in Swat. Suddenly, we realised that we hated this act. Now, we were required to nurse two hatreds in competition with each other.' But he feels it would be too much, because, 'We are suffering because hating the Taliban is tougher than hating Americans. After a spurt of unfamiliar human sympathy for Malala, we think we should revert to the comfort of hating America.' This reverting 'back to the comfort of hating America' is the gist of this article and is simply restated in the last paragraph as you quoted. I for one would have accused him of digression for unnecessarily bringing India into a discussion on a popularity contest solely between two competing force such as US and Taliban. By the way I did send you a feedback on 'Forget about corruption' by Aakar Patel (13.10.12). Would appreciate your feedback. Regards
gp65
I guess you will not change.
@politically incorrect: Thank you for your feedback. I had used your as a plural. I have read the author 's OpEds not just here but have been reading them on The Friday Times and am familiar with his world view. Unlike you though, I read more than the headline before commenting. I actually read the whole article. In his last paragraph the author said "We are trying our best to move back to a single-hatred nation for the sake of clarity". In this context my comment was well justified.
@gp65
'Twin hatreds – eh? What about the object of your original and undying hatred – India?'
I am not sure if you have used 'your' in it's singular or plural sense of the word. Assuming it is used to address the author himself, I have never found in any of his writings that he nurtures an 'original and undying hatred' against India.On the contrary, he has questioned, even ridiculed this 'hate India' thing in his writings in this very news paper. I have noticed he has used the first person plural 'we' throughout the article.It's a style of writing in a self deprecating manner where he is owning up to the malice,contradictions,short comings, whatever he accuses his community of.That is humility.
And if it was meant to address the people of Pakistan in general, then India is out of context as far as this article goes. It is specifically about two competing hatreds. If it was between 3,4....or n number of different types I am sure India along with different sects,life styles etc. would have found a place.
Regards.
"We hated the USSR and defeated it; we are now hating the US and are about to defeat it"
Generals say this as though it were a fact. So during the 1980s when you supposedly defeated SOviet union, how come you were unable to get India to vacate Siachen that you claim is yours and is 'occupied by India'? You tried 2 times and failed both times did you not? When the situation was reversed and you occupied Kargill, you were unable to hold your posts and your PM had to run to US to seek US help?Every single peak was vacated by the brave Indian army.
As far as US - you claim to be a major non-NATO ally and are being paid, so if US loses surely so do you. How is it your victory? But before you describe it as US loss - let us consider. What were US goals and were they met? If the goals were met, they are victors not losers: 1) Degrade Al Qaeda so as to prevent fuure attacks on US and its West Europen allies (In the last 11 years, no attack on US and none on Western Europen nations in the last 5 years). 2) Kill Osama (Done) 3) Make it difficult to finance terrorism (Anti money laundering rules have been implemented throughout the world and have made it much more difficult to finance terrorists and their financing sources are degraded)
But yes, what this ex-general implied by claiming victory against US i.e. Pakistan is supporting Afghan Taliban who are fighting US has not gone unnoticed. Sadly the price for all this perfidy is being paid by ordinary Pakistanis in terms of IMF aid not coming through, in terms of NGOs gradually reducing their scope of work in Pakistan in areas that the Pakistani state has already vacated, and at some point will come through economic sanctions for being a safe haven for terrorists.
DO not think that CHina and Russia will save you at that time because they too are concerned about terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil.
@LionOfPunjab: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.Yes, I am a PTI supporter. But no, I am not a Taliban apologist (I think in this age and word, this is the worst label to be given to any Pakistani taking into consideration the fact that nothing in creation is as ruthless as are these criminals / thugs / murderers). All I can say is that thanks for misinterpreting me!
Peace.
There is a reason why hating difficult - it is like a man hating his own legs or arms or face or chest. It is easier to hate another man, or his arms/legs/chest/face.
Taliban is equivalent of a cancer. Your own cells turning against you. You can't wish it away, and you can't hate your own body (where it is growing). The only solution is to realize it will eat you up, so perform surgery, undergo a painful chemotherapy. You may need help of a good doctor, and there will be a lot of pain to win the war against cancer.
Toughest battles are always the ones where you fight your own - But, they are also the ones you need to fight, because not fighting will destroy you.
Very interesting and quasi-accurate in a cynical sort of way
So tell me - just how many Soviets or American's have the Pakistani military killed or wounded? No doubt the quoted statement is considered fact by most Pakistani's but like many things you tend to ignore the obvious.
There is a broader wave of hatred with roots in the downfall of Mughals empire. It is ascribed to the British occupation of India.We forget that Nadir Shah and Abdali shook the foundations of the Mughal empire though they came to root out Marhattas.We thus turned our back on all foreign influences.The efforts of Sir Syed , Iqbal, and Jinnah were not able to reverse this trend. It rather increased due to perceived policies of the West.
@Falcon "Taliban are of course worthy of hatred.......However, I would also say that ...."
Lesson #1 :
It is easy to spot a PTI follower and/or taliban sympathizer whenever the word 'taliban' and 'However' are used together!!
@ author but a recent pew poll suggested that India topped the hate list.
@Indian Wisdom: Great point ,mother of all hatred was fear of India that has now changed into hatred of India.indians are happy without us. If they wanted to make greater India they would have annexed Bungladesh to India in in 71. They did not . It is very simple to understand. By accepting superiority and might of India as brother or cousin we can live in peace without USA , Taliban suadi Arabia. Monetary aid from any country is problem than solution. If indians wanted Mahabharata then they would have accepted mission plan.they did not . They got rid of us.
But the issue to consider is that the US is far away and the ebb of its power is uncertain, just as it was after Vietnam; but the Taliban are here to take over and stay.
Isn't that really good news.
The Taliban will enforce Shariah.
And that will improve Pakistan's Here and Hereafter, both.
Taliban killing all the Muslims who are not good Muslims and we all are not in their particular definition of Muslims. As for them, only the good Muslims are Taliban and AlQaida members. Therefore, we all are wajubal qatul. In this situation, we are still trying to get reasons for not fight back with them. US hatred is again a myth as 99.99% person want to go to US. The concept of hatred where stands at this point?
26 billion dollars later the US is hated. Time to bring the troops home and stop spending taxpayer dollars on haters. Leave it to drones.
The best thing to do is to mind your own business. Go to your place of work. Work hard. Come home. Love your family. Leave the hate to the politicians (US, Pakistani, Western, etc. etc.)
A very insightful piece on hypocrisy of this nation.
Twin hatreds - eh? What about the object of your original and undying hatred - India?
The Author didn't mince words, did not play to the gallery; a good job.
This is not the first time Pakistanis have been damaged by hate. They hated India so much they started breeding snakes in their own backyard. Indians warned this will backfire, and it did- big time!
Pakistanis loved the snakes rather than not hate India. The hate beget a child - Islamic Extremism. That child has now grown up. And, is hungry. The target is the womb that gave birth to it - Pakistan.
So, without lifting a finger India and America are destroying Pakistan. People like @Lala Gee, still believe in the narration which is destroying Pakistan, seemingly educated people believe in them. There seems to be very little hope if you look at it from the outside.
As an Indian I feel terribly left out ...what no Hate India? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ But what perhaps needs to be examined is why this deep seated need to hate someone?
I wonder where our original hatred India, or Bharat to be politically correct, got lost in this game of hatreds?
Are Indians envious or relieved?
( I really admire the author's capacity to retain his sense of humor under all circumstances.)
@Gratgy: I think, Gratgy, you might leave the understanding of honour to us (with some exceptions), without bringing the Americans into it. Besides, I think the author was indulging in a small thing called 'irony',
Full of irony, what!
Sir, the original hate has always been reserved for India. From there the hate list kept expanding to suit both the narrative and the ideology, when it was threatened. Currently the Afghan Government is an important member on that hate list, unlike the beloved Taliban. Where is the Shrink ?
America must stop using tax dollars to support a population that hates it. Looking forward to the Presidential debate on foreign policy. I will vote for whoever promises to stop this funding and brings our troops home. Then all these haters can carry on their self destruction. If threats surface there is always dial-a-drone.
Hatred towards USA - to set your memory right - Pakistanis burnt the US embassy in 1979. The people, parties, government and military watched. It did started much earlier than Hameed Gul and co.
You can spin your hatred anyway you want. Unless you are willing to look at the religious superiority taught to you in class rooms and mosques, you can keep deluding yourself into thinking that this is something "new". It ain't!
And the author has forgotten about hatred for India, the main staple food of Pakistan. Therefore, Oh, I feel jealous
Taliban are of course worthy of hatred taking into consideration how they are pursuing their vendetta using the facade of religion. However, I would also say that the less America interferes in Pakistan's political process, the easier it would be for leadership in Pakistan to control Anti-American sentiment. This is specially because human beings in the state of pain resort to reductionism. So, if we get a bad govt again tomorrow, Anti-American sentiment in the country will become even worse where whole blame of our national failures will be shifted to U.S.
This author always puts the most important message in the last line: but the Taliban are here to take over and stay. How true.
We defeated the USSR in Afghanistan with the help of US trained so Called Mujahedin and their stinger missiles. Now Mujahedin have turned into terrorists and want to regain the control of Afghanistan but Russia is not supporting them. So far these terrorists have done more harm to Afghanistan and Pakistan than to the US, but the mental set up of Pakistani's make them hate the US and everyone jumps into this bandwagon of hatred.
Very confusing. But im very clear in my hatred for the taliban and the news will always provide me reinforcement for that hatred.
Of course, deceit is honour in this country, and good manners an act of 'unmanliness', where religion (the holier-than-thou kind) holds more sway than even basic science and where blood runs like water. For the life of me I have never comprehended the abject stupidity of backing medieval tribesmen to bring back 'Islamic glory' - and so, in our misguided 'religiosity' (because the way we behave is completely contrary to any religious teachings) we hack at ourselves and continue dragging the name of this country in dirt. 'Pakistan', the land of the pure, such an unfortunate irony.
Taliban are here to stay...!
Sir many will brand u tratitor for this..........But one knows somewhere in heart that u r right.........And truth is always bitter...........
Khaled Sahib, great piece. Thanks
General Aslam Beg has spoken one truth in his whole life.."Imran could get only two to four seats".
Excellent article! We surely are very confused people. Talibans who are killing us are suppose to be our friends whereas billions given to us by USA are suppose to be our enemy. I am surely very confused! Get real before it's too late.
We are a confused people, only united in hate. But when it comes to hating the real enemy, the enemy at hand, we are faltering. RIghtly said, the US will come and go, Taliban are here to stay, because the US may attack us militarily but a Talib lives somewhere inside every Pakistani.
"We felt comfortable not hating the Taliban. We were ready to forget the innocent Pakistanis they killed and the girls’ schools they destroyed."
Here is an interesting history lesson from Sri Lankan civil war, in which Sri Lankan government provided arms and funds to LTTE, the Sri Lankan version of Taliban against whom the government was fighting the war.
"The Indian intervention was also unpopular among the Sinhalese majority. Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa during his presidential election campaign in 1988, pledged to withdraw IPKF as soon as he is elected president. After being elected, in April 1989, he started negotiations with LTTE. President Premadasa ordered Sri Lanka Army to clandestine handed over arms consignments to the LTTE to fight the IPKF and its proxy Tamil National Army (TNA). These consignments include RPG guns, motars, self-loading rifles, T81 automatic rifles, T56 automatic rifles, pistols, hand grenades, ammunition and communications sets. Moreover, millions of dollars was also passed on to the LTTE."
"Then, it got parliament to pass a tough resolution against the US."
Isn't the present government of PPP came in power by popular vote, instead of some massive rigging by agencies? And what is that jingoistic slogan of PPP "Democracy is the best revenge". Does author mean that all claims of democracy are a mirage and not reality.
"We have learned to hate America which tried very hard to teach us to hate the Taliban."
Over simplification of the facts and history. However, nobody loves the friends of their enemies. I guess you understand what I mean.
"We are suffering because hating the Taliban is tougher than hating Americans." Its not a simple case of two competing Hatreds. Its basically three competing Hatreds .And the third is the mother of the first two. You guessed it right. The mother is the hatred for India/Hindus (for India is equivalent to Hindus for many in that part of world). All this saga of hate started with the concept that we should be two countries because we are two different nations with different history, culture, heroes, traditions and god knows what more. The resulting incidences and insecurity ensured Hatred to perpetuate till infinity. It is this inherent hatred inculcated deep inside which finds its unfortunate expression in the form of hatred towards US, west, Ahmadis, Shias and the list keeps on growing. This all can end provided people realize and accept what they really are (proud descendants of Indus valley and Gandhara civilization) and where they are situated (in south Asia- as Indus valley is in south Asia). This Hatred has erupted as the byproduct of negation of own's own history, geography and culture!!!
We hated the USSR and defeated it; we are now hating the US and are about to defeat it (sic!). In the process, we may have lost our moral compass, but our honour is intact
I thought you were supposed to be fighting on the same side as the Americans. You call this deceit "honour"??
very meaningful