Dear Dr. sb, I know that you would not be answering me here & I do not expect you to do so either. Let me just appreciate your post & tell you that many years ago, after mistaking you for someone who was anti-Pakistan I realized that you were more caring than most here & my respect for you grew. I certainly read your posts with interest & attention because of the quality of your thinking. If one were to never consider a seemingly opposing POV, one would never grow.
My purpose in coming here & 'wasting' my time is to provide a counter to the dominant ultra-nationalist & sometimes fascist narrative that is toxic & damaging to the environment & the persons who profess such a mind-set. Many sane people have given up & I feel that at least a few people ought to counter it to provide perspective.
It is only fitting that trolls bite back those who reared them in name of 5GW or whatever else they call this group-think. It is just & proper wages for what they did. But after the initial satisfaction of seeing this happen, it breeds worry not just for the country, but also the nationalist trolls themselves. The obsession with control ignores the patriotism & perspective of common people who may need just the space to express themselves. There never was a need to control speech, politics, & policy. One hopes that the 'institution' which did much to damage society & polity understands its limitations; and that the people who got used as mere tools learn from the hard U-turn & its outcomes.
I believe in growth. I used to think like most nationalists & its been quite a journey over many years to become who I am now. And I sometimes feel ashamed of my former self. I have hope that many young ones here would grow & be different people. I hope that my opposition to their current cultish mind-set would hasten the process of wearing off the said mind-set so that growth may occur.
Perhaps you never were like me & therefore you see grounds for pessimism. Having been through a journey, I can look back at the milestones I crossed (Kargil being a major one) I can empathize with some people with opposing POV (nationalism, parochialism, etc...).
As IK's regime collapses & it drives many here nuts, it is an opportune time to remind people (& management of PDF) that without a strong base in the electorate & hearts of people, no political structure can survive. It is best to let the system stabilize & to let the political processes drive themselves according to the Constitution.
Thank you again for your post & your time. I appreciate your attention. May you prosper & flourish. Wa Salaam.