Strategic Assets strike again
Posted By omar on February 17, 2012
more than 30 Shias killed in an attack on a mosque in Parachinar (including at least three killed in firing by security forces suppressing protests after the blast).
The guy who has “accepted responsibility” (Fazal Haqqani) split away from the Bad Taliban last year and was therefore hailed as “good taliban” by the army. So much for the good taliban.
Some background from Dr Taqi here and from Zia ur Rahman here.
Many friends have said that his is Pak army sponsored Jihad against Shias. But I still think (or wish to believe?) that the army high command does not specifically want Jihad against Shias. They just want Jihad against India and a proxy regime in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, that requires compromises with people who DO want Jihad against Shias. The army, not being under adult supervision, is unable to drop B because it cannot imagine dropping A.
Behind all this lurks the ghost of Jinnahbhoy and his TNT. That he opted to identify as Shia (not that he was religious in any way; there is no record of his ever having participated in any shia rituals, but he did pick that identity) makes one fear that God may have a somewhat harsh sense of humor.
Omar is a Pakistani-American with an interest in history. He also moderates the Asiapeace discussion group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/asiapeace/
Hope you are right that GHQ doesn’t viscerally and personally hate Shiites and Sufis. But I am not so sure.
In my view, anti Shiite/Sufi/minority muslim bigotry is one of the largest problems in the world now. If the global Sunni Ummah deals with this issue, then automatically they will treat nonmuslims with greater respect, understanding and cooperation. In other words, the path to better muslim/nonmuslim relations lies through better treatment of muslim minorities.
Treating Shiites better will lead to treating Jews [people of the book] better, which will lead to treating everyone better. If Islam does this, all the other major global religions would follow. [Imagine how embarrassing it would be for Catholics and Protestants to fight in Northern Ireland if they see muslims becoming some plural compassionate utopia.]
What offends me about these attacks against Shiites in Pakistan is how Americans, Europeans, Indians, Turks, Russians and other internationals don’t make a much bigger deal out of them. It is as if Shiites are lesser people or somehow provoked their attackers. Attacks against Shiites aren’t “terrorist” in the way attacks against Catholics in Madrid during 2004 were. Rather they are “sectarian violence” or muslims killing muslims again, leading to greater anti Shiite and anti Sunni sentiment.
Why don’t all of us understand that we cannot stop terrorism against ourselves unless we stop terrorism directed against muslim minorities by the same terrorists who are trying to mass murder us.
Theres hardly any Jews in Pakistan so they (Sunnis) can be indifferent towards them. Now as far as attacks against Hazaras are concerned, it is convienent for the Taliban /Anti Shia attackers to have people think it is purely sectarian violence when another major reason if not the most important reason is just plain ole racial hate.
I recall old news reports with Hazara saying they are targetted by Taleban/Pashtoons because of their visible phenotypic difference (i.e. Mongoloid eyes).
Not the news report I recall, but below links refrenches The Kite Runner and the racial dimension in the racism against Hazara.
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~laurice/project/Racism2.html
http://www.shmoop.com/kite-runner/race-quotes.html
Pak supported Taleban slaughtered 8000 Hazara prior to 9-11 and raped countless Hazara women. No one should be surprised that Pak establishment will support genocide of people who do not like them, Bangladesh is the best example.
Zia was definitely anti Shia. He punished Shias specially those belonging to Kurram and Gilgit for rallying against his Zakat laws. I think you are underestimating the sectarian hatred in the society. I know many educated people (doctors, MBA) who literally celebrate Shia killings; army personnel are far less educated and quite dumb. Promotions and experience can’t dilute their biases and prejudices. I don’t know about the army, but there is extreme Shia hatred in the Navy.
@ Anan
I am not sure what you mean by “India not making a big deal about Shia killing.”
In the 26/11 attacks by Hafiz Saeed’s boys, total of 165 odd people were killed, of which 50 odd were muslims. Even though we are in Mumbai, we do not have a detailed breakup of how many amongst them were Shias. Indian govt has not compensated anybody (hindu, muslim, christian etc) in a fair and timely manner. Politicians have forgotten about them, NGOs are not particularly worried about them (unlike say the Gujarat victims, quite rightly so in that case) and the common man has too much on his plate to be bothered. The lives of the families are basically destroyed as several victims were sole earners.
India does not “make a big deal” about any category of victims, least of all Hindus, where 100ks of Hindu refugees ethnically cleansed from Kashmir to Bangladesh to Sri Lanka are rotting in camps. Recently Christian Nagas in Manipur carried out a 121 day blockade (temporarily suspended) on valley Hindus, over the objection of Indian Churches. The Indian govt made some mild protests and left it at that. This is the same “Hindu Raj” Congress govt that Zachary often alludes to.
Oh yes, Ajmal Kasab is still enjoying biryani in a high security prison. India should just exchange him for Sarabjit Singh and save a few crores. Off course the victims will not be rewarded with that money, Shia or otherwise.
regards
Exactly we handed a well-oiled British India and Princely States to some really inept govts..
And for what for the ignomy of being the region with the most absolute poverty? When Brownz do not respect Browns (caste, class) we shouldn’t expect others too either.
The army, not being under adult supervision,
Very good one!