third eye
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2008
- Messages
- 18,519
- Reaction score
- 13
- Country
- Location
A sane non alarmist view ..
A few random thoughts on Pakistan | Al Jazeera Blogs
By Alan Fisher in Asia on February 4th, 2010
After my recent trip to Pakistan, many people have asked me 'But what's it REALLY like?' For them, and others, here are a few random thoughts about Pakistan.
Despite what you read in some newspapers, despite what you hear from some "news" outlets, Pakistan isn't actually filled with millions of radicalised Muslim extremists who want to kill Westerners.
The biggest problems facing Pakistan are poverty and lack of opportunity. From these two sores, numerous evils flow.
America and Pakistan are more alike than they'd care to admit. Many Pakistanis believe in working hard, making money, bettering themselves and providing a better life for their families.
Pakistani shortbread and diet cola drinks don't taste the same as those in UK.
The Taliban is not about to seize control of Pakistan. Many intelligence reports put the numbers of Taliban in Pakistan at around 15,000-20,000.
Even with a support network of 3-4 people for every fighter, that means the movement is no more than 100,000 strong. In a nation of 170 million. With a 700,000-strong nuclear backed army.
Islamabad is not like the rest of the country. A common phrase is the capital is "fifteen minutes from Pakistan".
Contrary to popular perception, drivers in this part of the world aren't bad. No one can drive that fast, that close to someone with vehicles pushing in all over the place and not crash, without being good. Jensen Button should try it.
Hotels here give their guests free internet access - a lesson for their European counterparts.
Most Pakistanis want you to feel welcome in their country. They too are worried about bombings and killings but they know they can't hide away until things are better.
US drone strikes are leaking support for action against militants. American researchers believe that for every militant killed, 10 innocent people die.
Almost everyone you meet says Pakistan needs better politicians.
Pakistan is facing a water crisis. The last monsoon season was poor and this winter has been cold and dry. This creates food shortages, because crops aren't being irrigated, it means low water levels in dams which impact on power supplies through poor hydro-electric generation. Food is a security issue.
If a man is offered money to feed his family, he's likely to take it, even if it's offered by the Taliban. One source told me the Taliban, in one part of the country was offering $10 a month more than the police service, to his growing frustration. For the average Pakistani, that's a lot of money.
There is still a worry the next regional conflict will be with India. There have been low level problems in the past few months at traditional flashpoints and a lot of surprising rhetoric from both sides. These traditional, nuclear armed enemies may be about the fight again.
Pakistan would like to be a tourist destination again. It is a beautiful and fascinating country.
A few random thoughts on Pakistan | Al Jazeera Blogs
By Alan Fisher in Asia on February 4th, 2010
After my recent trip to Pakistan, many people have asked me 'But what's it REALLY like?' For them, and others, here are a few random thoughts about Pakistan.
Despite what you read in some newspapers, despite what you hear from some "news" outlets, Pakistan isn't actually filled with millions of radicalised Muslim extremists who want to kill Westerners.
The biggest problems facing Pakistan are poverty and lack of opportunity. From these two sores, numerous evils flow.
America and Pakistan are more alike than they'd care to admit. Many Pakistanis believe in working hard, making money, bettering themselves and providing a better life for their families.
Pakistani shortbread and diet cola drinks don't taste the same as those in UK.
The Taliban is not about to seize control of Pakistan. Many intelligence reports put the numbers of Taliban in Pakistan at around 15,000-20,000.
Even with a support network of 3-4 people for every fighter, that means the movement is no more than 100,000 strong. In a nation of 170 million. With a 700,000-strong nuclear backed army.
Islamabad is not like the rest of the country. A common phrase is the capital is "fifteen minutes from Pakistan".
Contrary to popular perception, drivers in this part of the world aren't bad. No one can drive that fast, that close to someone with vehicles pushing in all over the place and not crash, without being good. Jensen Button should try it.
Hotels here give their guests free internet access - a lesson for their European counterparts.
Most Pakistanis want you to feel welcome in their country. They too are worried about bombings and killings but they know they can't hide away until things are better.
US drone strikes are leaking support for action against militants. American researchers believe that for every militant killed, 10 innocent people die.
Almost everyone you meet says Pakistan needs better politicians.
Pakistan is facing a water crisis. The last monsoon season was poor and this winter has been cold and dry. This creates food shortages, because crops aren't being irrigated, it means low water levels in dams which impact on power supplies through poor hydro-electric generation. Food is a security issue.
If a man is offered money to feed his family, he's likely to take it, even if it's offered by the Taliban. One source told me the Taliban, in one part of the country was offering $10 a month more than the police service, to his growing frustration. For the average Pakistani, that's a lot of money.
There is still a worry the next regional conflict will be with India. There have been low level problems in the past few months at traditional flashpoints and a lot of surprising rhetoric from both sides. These traditional, nuclear armed enemies may be about the fight again.
Pakistan would like to be a tourist destination again. It is a beautiful and fascinating country.
