Words are Weariness

I had a fascination of James Hadley Chase novels when I was in School/College.  I used to specially like the  titles of his books. The crisp and stylish phrases like ‘ Tiger by the tail’, ‘Like a hole in the head’, ‘Dead stay dumb’,   ‘Y’re lonely when you are dead’ , ‘Vulture is a patient bird’ hold me in thrall to this day even after I have out grown his novels. When I observe the  the Paksitani army and its ruling elite, I see these titles in new context, as fitting descriptions of their shenanigans. 1.‘ Goldfish has no hiding place ’ reminds you of their attempt to hide Osama in their military base. 2. ‘ A Lotus for Miss Kyon’ / ‘ No orchids for Miss Blandish ’  would have been a fitting epitaph on  on Benazir Bhutto’s grave. 3. ‘ Dead stay dumb’   could well be the tagline for the the official policy of muzzling Balochi rebels by large scale killing and dumping  tortured and murdered dead bodies all across Balochistan. 4. ‘ Like ...

http://carnegieendowment.org/files/pakistan_dysfunction.pdf The link above is a Policy Outlook authored by George Perkovich recommending a course correction for US vis-a-vis Pakistan. The analysis is accurate when, in one broad sweep from 1947,  captures the evolution of Pakistan as the 'migraine of the world'. But curiosly, the author is suggesting that  if Pakistan is today a demented dog, some blame is to be placed on America and in fact, the whole world for Overindulging India! We are not taken in by America and the West wooing us, sir. They are doing it in their own self-interest. The author has cited slow progress on the Samjauta case and in the same breath adds that the perpetrators of Gujarat and Ayodhya violence has not been brought to justice!. While admitting that Paksitani nationals were killed in Samjauta terrorism, pray how is Pakisan concerned with gujarat and ayodhya ? Does the author think Pakistanis were killed in Gujarat or  is Indi...

How would you deal with a country that holds a gun to its head as it negotiates with the world? How would you engage with a neighbour whose elite are bent upon creating chaos in their own country out of spite? This is one ring-side view you never wished for.   More on it later.   How things to came to such a pass?   It is a long story. When Pakistani intellectuals discuss their descent, you are reminded of Atticus's children in the Harper Lee's famous 'To Kill a Mocking Bird'.    Some say it all started with Musharraf   joining the Bush's   war on terror, some say it is the fallout of   Zia-Ul-Haq's 11 year rule , his deadly embrace   of US and his wholesale import of Saudi Wahhabism, still others say it was inevitable when even the most charismatic and powerful civilian ruler aka Z.A Bhutto had to play to the Islamic gallery to stay in power, some even go as far back as   the days of Objective Resolution when Liaquat Ali Khan propose...