His name is Khan, and he is not a terrorist

[Amal]

Re: His name is Khan, and he is not a terrorist

@khoji

I am not sure why you are combining the two.

The demand for stopping drones has almost become a synonym for sheilding the Taliban. If this is an incorrect assessment and we are actually speaking for the peaceful civilians in Fata, than what IK is saying wrong?

@khoji

He says that he is against some of US policies, but this is the talk to win liberal votes. On the other hand, he goes to Akorra Khattak (the bastion of Taliban), he refuses to clearly disavow Taliban on their savagery, he wants to stop any military action against Taliban, and he continues to call this war against Taliban an American war. All this to win conservative votes.

He visited Akorra Khattak in April 2011 and his stand was no different from his recent statement on Afghan jihad. I think if we do not mix Afghan Taliban and the TTP, than we can easily understand the difference between what’s happening in Afghanistan and what the TTP is doing in Pakistan. We cannot say that Afghans were waging jihad against the Soviet forces and are now involved in terrorism against the foreign militaries stationed in Afghanistan. It will be a classic case of contradiction in terms.

As far as the TTP is concerned, IK never said that they are waging a jihad. He stand has been that what they are doing is a reaction to drone attacks. And by saying that drones must stop, he wants to deprive the TTP of their most logical argumentative weapon — retaliation against drone attacks. He is also on record saying that if the TTP still does not stop, than power of the state should be brought into action.

Having said that, I personally believe that IK is not going to all lenghts in criticising their criminal acts. He should have been more expressive while still standing his ground in his logical argument that drones must stop at once.

@khoji

Just a few weeks back there were major violent rallies happening all over Pakistan against the US. They were not against the drones but against US refusal to stop an anti-Islam movie. This is just one example of the anger and hatred against the US our people have.

You are right. Majority of Pakistanis love to hate the US. The anger was widespread and intense, but the reason was religious, not political. I would, however, beg to differ with you if you are trying to imply that the majority actually does not oppose drone attacks.

@khoji

America … wants … that all terrorism activities be stopped from Pakistan. But Imran doesn’t think it is Pakistan’s problem at all. This is why he says that there was no terrorism before 2003 when US invaded Afghanistan and Pak joined in. But he ignores that the reason of it was that Pak was overlooking Taliban’s terrorist activities elsewhere in the world.

Even if it is not demanded by the US and by the international community, Pakistan still needs to make sure that its soil is not used as a lunching pad for terror activities in any part of the world. When IK refers to pre-2003 state of affairs, he is merely bringing to the fore a reality which actually existed. And may I also point out that it wasn’t only Pakistan overlooking the Taliban, the US was also equally permissive of the menace.

@khoji

Now America wants Pakistan to stop allowing its territories to be used for such acts. If Pakistan does it then Taliban terrorism in the country will continue. This is why it is our own war. Not just America’s war. And if Imran doesn’t agree with this argument then he will continue to be in bad books of America. Even when drone attacks are stopped.

I believe that it is impossible for any human being to be correct all the time, IK is no exception. I disagree with IK on the ownership of the war. But we must have an answer as to how long can we afford to be at war? Fourty-two countries fight with the Taliban only to beseech them to open a political office in Qatar? If the war has to end on a negotiating table in Qatar, than why not skip the military process and start the political endgame?

As far as the TTP is concerned, the IK formula of stick and carrots is no different than the one being mulled by the US and the Nato.