Munaeem's Blog

My instinct too would be to go on the rampage against the perpetrators of such barbaric acts.

There are, however, two issues here.

Firstly, events in and around Pakistan (specifically Afghanistan) over the last quarter of a century or so have contributed to the spread of a beheading (literally and figuratively) culture. Without in any way condoning such inhuman and unislamic behaviour, the whole Barbaric-Islam Culture has come about, in no small part, as a direct consequence of Uncle Sam's short-term, expediency-based policies in the region, and it's interference (which, it must be said, was allowed by successive governments in Pakistan) in our political affairs. The other contributing factor is, of course, our militray’s hubris and its desire play the sandlot bully in the only country where we could get away with it, viz Afghanistan. The cultivation of pseudo-jihadis was a key element in this disastrous game.

This leads to the second issue. Targetting certain people would have little positive effect and considerable negative effect. Such action would only strengthen both the resolve of the people involved and the organisation of the groups. This is precisely because these groups have individually and collectively become so strong. It is also a factor of the loose organisation of these groups, operating hydra-like, with many self-regenerating heads. And anyway, fighting fire with fire often leads to a further spreading of the fire. Plus you have to factor in the support for the groups within the military.

The most effective way to tackle the problem would be to create an equitable Pakistan in which justice, the rule of law and universal human rights triumph, thereby cutting off the supply line to brutally militant Islam. The problem with this approach is that the situation has been allowed to get so out of hand that there seems to be no time to allow the development of a caring, egalitarian society. By the

[the end of the comment was cut off for some reason. Is there a word limit on comments?]

The most effective way to tackle the problem would be to create an equitable Pakistan in which justice, the rule of law and universal human rights triumph, thereby cutting off the supply line to brutally militant Islam. The problem with this approach is that the situation has been allowed to get so out of hand that there seems to be no time to allow the development of a caring, egalitarian society. By the time such a society existed in Pakistan (assuming that we can even begin to go down this path following the forthcoming [s]elections) it might well be too late.