| I disagree!
I appreciate your effort to disperse different thoughts and opinions from various point of view. However, this article by SHIREEN M MAZARI actually made me (angry and) disappointed. I thought and expected a piece with more analytic quality. Instead, this article presents a very light and shallow analysis, which I am familiar with, particularly of a Pakistani perspective. I have met and encountered numerous citizens of Pakistan with the same belief in my expatriate life herein USA for last eleven years. This is a very generalized way of looking into the history. Yeah, this is right, that, India in many aspects holds a self-centered point of view and Indian government serves (Unlike two other nations in South Asia) their interest, however, this is NOT the only and main reasons of breaking of Pakistan. Independence of Bangladesh was obvious, due to the disparity, inequality and oppression. Such unequal distribution of resources and remittance was not the fruit of Indian conspiracy, rather these were the outcome of conspiracy of the different West Pakistani Socio-political (formal and informal) feudal systems. Should they recognize the right of common people, the history could be different, but necessarily it does not prove the success of 'so called' Indian Conspiracy. Such thought and ideas represent nothing but intentions of denying the history, which they should be responsible for.
As a Bangladeshi, we hope before dispersing such thought and idea, You Mr. Khan would give a second thought. I recognize the threat from the neighbor, however, that should not confuse me identifying the old Cheater. Thank you. With best wishes -- MS
--- On Thu, 12/17/09, Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Isha Khan <bd_mailer@yahoo.com>
Subject: Same enemies; same blunders?
To: "Dhaka Mails" <dhakamails@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2009, 6:38 AM
| Same enemies; same blunders? SHIREEN M MAZARI
December 16, 1971 and the fall of Dhaka should remind us in Pakistan of the follies of our leaders and the repercussions of unfettered military action against one's own people. It should also be a time to ponder over the role of our neighbour, India, in the dismemberment of our country and the complicity of the major powers, in giving legitimacy to this first break-up of a post-colonial nation since the end of the Second World War. The war in what was then East Pakistan was not the first civil war that had happened, although once India stepped-in it ceased to be a mere civil war, but it was the first war that split up a sovereign member of the UN and this was recognised by the UN. The Biafra case was also there but no one was prepared to grant recognition to this breakaway entity.
Our rulers' many sins of omission and commission must be highlighted for our future generations to ensure we do not make the same mistakes again - especially in terms of unacceptable "collective punishment" which only creates more enemies amongst one's own people, but what is equally important to understand is the role of India - first covertly then overtly. After all, the surrender of Dhaka was to India not to Bangladesh. At the time the US feigned support by trying to "send in" the Sixth Fleet - but in reality that never happened and the UNSC was not allowed to call for a ceasefire till the Soviet Union, the US and its allies were sure of the loss of East Pakistan.
If we are unable to understand the Indian mindset and its approach to Pakistan, as well as US duplicity towards Pakistan, we will once again find ourselves in a similarly disastrous situation. Luckily for Pakistan, the Two Nation Theory proved its strength and so an independent Muslim nation of Bangladesh was created instead of East Pakistan being swallowed into Indian West Bengal! Again, Bhutto's masterpiece diplomacy through the OIC allowed Pakistan to recognise this new Muslim state and leave India out in the cold.
However, we should especially recall this traumatic event in our national life so that in times of crisis we know who our enemies are and where we may be committing the same blunders again in terms of military operations and political hardlines. Pakistan's biggest threat today comes from two main sources. First, the total disconnect that exists at all levels of national policy - which is allowing our enemies, be they the non-state actors comprising militants of multiple brands, or India and increasingly the US to do as they please within Pakistan's territory - and a government that is either unable or unwilling to correct this dangerous drift. Second, the unholy Indo-US partnership that is giving aid and succour to Pakistani militants and separatists.
| |