What if you get to read a book on Indo – Pak issues written by a journalist who had been in Pakistan during the testing period (1997-2000)? It is like a big treat at least for me. Well! I read the book last Friday and loved every bit of it. This memoir gives an account of life of an Indian Journalist in Pakistan, strategy of Pakistan towards India, internal issues of Pakistan, Pakistan’s unsaid support to terrorism and Jihad. The book is released recently and is a must read for readers who are curious to dive into the minute details of Indo – PAK relations.
The author regrets three occasions in Islamabad in his short stint as the journalist for the newspaper “The Hindu”. These three occasions clearly depicts that an Indian journalist is always treated with suspicion in Pakistan and he can not live on his whims and fancies. Any event across the border which leads to a rise in tension between the two countries has the worst impact on journalist stationed in Pakistan. Amit regrets not being allowed to attend the funeral, in 1998, of John Joseph, the bishop of Faisalabad who committed suicide in protest against Pakistan’s ‘blasphemy’ laws; being forbidden to view the wreckage of an Indian Air Force plane shot down during the Kargil conflict of 1999; and being prevented from entering Afghanistan from Pakistan to report on the Kandahar hijacking later that year. To stop a journalist from reporting an event is a major setback for him. The author talks in his book that he was always treated with suspicion in Islamabad and could not roam around freely as he was always being chased by people employed by PAK government who used to follow him on wherever he went.
The author has also dealt with the situation of the country during Kargil War and their indirect support to Afghanistan and Taliban in spreading terrorism. Emergency, military rule and dethroning chief justice and president from their throne is not a new event in Pakistan and has happened in the past too. The chief of army is the most powerful man in Pakistan and this was proved when Prez Musharraf sent Mr. Sharif in exile when he tried to stop him from entering into the country as he was returning from Colombo by not allowing the flight to land in Pakistan which carried some 100 plus other passengers. This is such a heinous act as it could have led to death of other passengers on board since the aircraft was not having enough fuel to fly more than ten minutes. So far as terrorism is concerned, it is growing unabated in Pakistan and the author goes to the extent of saying that the tapes of Masood Azhar are readily available in Pakistan in which he is asking the people to join jihad. While India continuously tried to better their relationship, Pakistan in the back of everything kept supporting Jihad and Kargil war. It was not until Sep 11, twin tower attack that Pakistan had to condemn terrorism on record for the first time due to pressure created by US.
Pakistan is a failed state and failed democracy. It is evident from the current situation and also from the past that the country and its government are least bothered about constitution, law and order. A statement from Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is testimony to this conclusion –
“What is a constitution? It is a booklet with twelve or ten pages. I can tear them away and say that tomorrow we shall live under a different system. Today, the people will follow wherever I lead .All the politicians including the once mighty Mr.Bhutto will follow me with tails wagging”
I know that I don’t have a right to comment on any other nation but I am very much concerned about their law and order and their attitude towards terrorism because any disorder in Pakistan has huge impact on my nation. I am least bothered about the way in which Pakistan deals with its controversies but since it affects my nation, I would always want a peaceful Pakistan. We are entrapped even though we don’t want to. The book gives a clear picture of how controversies in Pakistan has a bearing on our nation in spite of the fact the we are a different nation with different ideologies and have much bigger issues to concentrate like economy and growth.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Rightly said Amit.
Pakistan is a failed country, failed democracy and a testimony of failed attempts to run a system or a nation.
Pakistan is a country in which emotions, fanatism, religion etc assume more importance over humanity, nationalism, secularism, sensibility etc. Pakistan is a country which has ammended its constitution numerous times (its a world record) and no national leader has given the constitution its due importance.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were both part of India but decided to be an independent state during the Independence of India and led to the partition of this country. They wanted to make a country for Muslims and according to me the basic foundation for making the country was wrong and the partition made lacs of people homeless and numerous people were killed, womens were raped and most henious of crimes were committed.
All i want to say is “Udhar main mili hui zameeen se mulk nahi banaya ja sakta” “mulk banta hai mehnat se, desh bhakti se, mahatma gandhi se…bhagat singh se…lala lajpat rai se… sardar patel se…infosys se… Janshedji Tata se…Birla se..manmohan singh se…Rajiv Gandhi se… Mulk banta hai qurbaani se…pyar se…mohabbat se…aastha se…sachai se… imaandaari se..janta se..aur in jaisee bahut seee takat jab ek saath ikatthi hoti hai toh MULK BANTA HAI…”
Na ki 10-15 hazaar logo ko behla pusla kar jihaad ke naam par maar kaat karne se…na ki chand masoomo ko gumrah karke dharm ke naam par andha banane se…mulk logo ko dara dhamka kar rakhne se nahi hota…balki logo ko pyaar karne se banta hai….