Which ideological fissures (coming to the fore currently) specifically do you see as contributing to Pakistan's downfall?
AM.
It is, as I had said in a brief interaction with you back in 2009, the advent of the radical version of Islam which has evolved into an 'ideology' in certain parts of the Pakistani society. It is an admixture of the result of the '
islamisation' of the education as a state policy coupled to a generation of
mujaheddin created and indoctrinated to wage
"jihad" against Soviet Union. A robust infrastructure to churn out such motivated individuals was put in place, which has, by and large survived as Pakistani State shifted it's focus from Afghanistan to Kashmir also.
We have had an interaction on this briefly earlier in 2009 also.
I will just post excerpt of the post I had made in another thread:
However, it is worth mentioning that this re-wrting of the narrative especially gained currency under the late Gen Zia-ul-Haq government.
The task of rewriting history books, and I rely on 'Rewriting the History Of Pakistan' by Pervez Amirali Hoodbhoy and Abdul Hameed Nayyar when I state the following, started in earnest in 1981, when General Zia ul Haq declared compulsory, the teaching of Pakistan studies to all degree students, including those at engineering and medical colleges. Shortly thereafter, the University Grants Commission issued a directive to prospective textbook authors/writers specifying that the objective of the new course is to
'induce pride for the nation's past, enthusiasm for the present, and unshakeable faith in the stability and longevity of Pakistan'
[
University Grants Commission directive, quoted in Azhar Hamid, et al. Mutalliyah-i-Pakistan (Islamabad: Allama IqbalOpen University, 1983), p. xi.]
To eliminate possible ambiguities of approach, authors were given the following directives:
To demonstrate that the basis of Pakistan is not to be founded in racial, linguistic, or geographical factors, but, rather, in the shared experience of a common religion. To get students to know and appreciate the Ideology of Pakistan, and to popularize it with slogans. To guide students towards the ultimate goal of Pakistan - the creation of a completely Islamised State (p. xii-xiii of aforementioned report)
In fulfillment of this directive, modern texts of Pakistani history are centred around the following themes:
1. The 'Ideology of Pakistan', both as a historical force which motivated the movement for Pakistan as well as its raison d'etre.
2. The depiction of Jinnah as a man of orthodox religious views who sought the creation of a theocratic state
3. A move to establish the ulema as genuine heroes of the Pakistan Movement.
4. An emphasis on ritualistic Islam, together with a rejection of liberal interpretations of the religion and generation of
communal antagonism.
Source:
https://defence.pk/threads/pakistan...-in-history-ayaz.446122/page-10#ixzz4Jb1bmUTG
This thrust as an official state policy, together with the effects of the Afghan War and ideological radicalisation undertaken in support of the same, am sure has created a situation wherein the
takfiri ideology has gained traction and the schism of shia-sunni is likely to increase, wouldn't you agree?
To quote David Satter;
A religion becomes an ideology when its man-made elements become an idée fixe and are seized upon as an idea that can be imposed on all political and social institutions in the interests of power. The temptation was explained best in Dostoevsky’s tale of the Grand Inquisitor where the inquisitor explains to Jesus the essence of an ideology’s appeal:
Instead of the strict ancient law, man had in future to decide for himself with a free heart what is good and what is evil, having only your image before him for guidance. But did it never occur to you that he would at last reject and call in question even your image and your truth, if he were weighed down by as fearful a burden as freedom of choice.
Based on this, would it be wrong to say that the obligation in Islam to wage jihad (although it is strictly a personal issue), if "properly" interpreted, can be made the basis of an ideology which treats waging war on unbelievers as the highest obligation of a Muslim and serves as a template to evaluate and appreciate all actions in terms of the extent to which they support this sacred obligation? Is that not what we see in the rise and the mass appeal to AQ and now ISIS?
How then, do you propose, to label the Pakistani society being free of the same deluge? Is the increased incidence of terror attacks in Pakistan, not an indicator of the same?
You can see it. I can see it. The whole world may see it. But does Pakistan see it this way?
Well, the price, in that case, will be paid and it shall be heavy.
@nair something we discussed. Collate with earlier posts
@Joe Shearer i think you should come back now
