The Pakistani Spectator

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The Taliban is a concept. Or more accurately, the reputation that a concept has. Without the concept, they are a loose militia band that can just as easily turn on each other. However, they are bound together by an extremist ideology that is a very strong unifying force for otherwise not unity prone tribals. That this ideology borders on the insane is besides the point. The real point is their unity around this ideology.

They stand for some things by their own admission and actions. The rest is ascribed to them by admirers and detractors alike. The result is conjuring of an incredible hulk like entity in people’s consciousness—a green giant in a righteous rage. A section of the society thinks this rage and strength can be unleashed on target while keeping the beast on a leash. Others believe, the rage is inexhaustible and has inevitably turned on the master. There is another section that considers them noble, valiant saviors. Furthermore there are varying shades of opinions along this tripod.

In the meantime, the Taliban are now waging war in Pakistan .

In this war they are unified around an extreme position bordering on the insane. Their opponents are not unified around Unity Faith Discipline, more esoterically referred to as Quaid-i-Azam’s Pakistan . The Pakistan that religious clerics, more fondly referred to as mullahs, rejected wholesale and opposed wholeheartedly during the movement for Pakistan. In case there is any confusion, the same people that now claim from the pulpits that Pakistan should live by their decree. They are but a minority. And the Taliban are but a handful bunch. And a nation of 170 million is held hostage by the latter and to ransom by the former.

But their appeal has been growing in part because of disillusionment of a vast section of society with the liberal moderates’ promise for a better future. People have experience with  the corruption of the system more than they have faith in their leaders’ ability to defend Pakistan . They live in fear that their country will be sold out or ceded by its corrupt politicians and they find no hope on the horizon.

These people need hope from the center, not from the right nor from the left. This is the hour of opportunity for politicians, army, bureaucracy and judiciary alike to shape up a little, and demonstrate that they can offer a better future through tangible action not rhetoric. Let people see that the system is not in so hopeless a spiral of corruption, that an extremist ideology like that of the Taliban may find currency with those wanting to shock it. 

We need a unified voice saying we reject the mullahs that opposed Quaid’s Pakistan. And we reject the Taliban that are mullah’s ideological offspring gone bad under fire and neglect.

The mullah’s are loud and the Taliban have guns and both rely on fear as their principal lever.

All of which is of no use against a nation united around its ideology. Just in case there is some debate on what the Quaid’s Pakistan stands for, let it be crystal clear that it is most certainly without a shadow of a doubt not what the Taliban are offering.