anyone from Pakistan?
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wantmygcnow
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This article was in washingtonpost today...
Why Not Dissolve Pakistan, Too?
Pakistan is not a country. It is a failed British fantasy about the fabrication of a nation-state. It has other failed and failing peers in the Middle East, all fabricated during the 20th century. It is time to seriously review all of these structures and redraw the borderlines.
Pakistan was a phrase coined for an idealistic confederation of five Muslim provinces within the old British-controlled India (Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province or Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh and Baluchistan). However, these are tribal lands with distinct traditions and have very little in common. These provinces were all knocked together, on presumption of a common religion, and a “dominion” was fabricated within the Commonwealth with self-governance authority akin to independence after World War II. It was all part of the post-war fire sale of territorial control of Britain. The ill-conceived plan even set up a separate territory of East Bengal as East Pakistan, a subcontinent away, with the rough-and-ready argument of common religious beliefs and a majority Muslim population. East Pakistan eventually became independent and renamed itself Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s short 60-year history is full of coups and raw, violent tribal rivalry, peppered by jailing or executing the previous rulers. Most recently, we saw a stark and bold example of such rivalry: a returning Pakistani politician, a former prime minister, was deported from his own country.
There is no commonly accepted language among these tribes and thus the official language of Pakistan is English.
For as long as I remember, Iran’s eastern border with Pakistan has always been a hub of instability, smuggling and violent crime. Pakistan is the main transit route for opium and heroin from Afghanistan, where more than 90% of the world’s opium supply is produced. In turn, that cash flow encourages money laundering, armed banditry, murder, violence and corruption. Therefore, several conflicting layers of official structure naturally form, each operating as lawless gangs or states within a state. Drug-infested territories have a poor record of development. Power and corruption leads to uneven, Byzantine relations between groups and to opaque alliances. Meanwhile, the masses remain in poverty: according to the World Bank, that’s about a third of all Pakistanis.
In this kind of political greenhouse of a country, no new politicians or doctrines surface. I wonder why news about Pakistani politics seems to be a game of musical chairs, with familiar names and faces periodically recycled.
There are other issues to ponder, namely a nuclear arsenal, missiles, a brisk small-arms export business (about $250 million a year) and the schizophrenic dual-tracked “friendship” with the U.S., al-Qaeda and Wahhabi extremists. Pakistan’s aimless Kashmir policies are perfect examples of circular political indecision. U.N. peacekeepers have remained stationed in Kashmir for more than three decades.
Pakistan is a relic set up as a counterweight to India -- and its tendency to tilt towards the Eastern Block. I think it is high time to revisit the old composite structure of five provinces combined into one artificial country. A redrawing of borders might serve useful and to cut through the farce. Let each province mature and declare independence. Some will eventually join their long-time tribal allies, leaving two or three independent lands and a more transparent political agenda.
Ali Ettefagh
Tehran, Iran
Dr. Ali Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East. He is the co-author of several books on trade conflict, resolution of international trade disputes, conflicts in letters of credit, trade-related banking transactions, sovereign debt, arbitration and dispute resolutions and publications specific to the oil and gas, communication, aviation and finance sectors. Dr. Ettefagh is a member of the executive committee and the board of directors of The Development Foundation, an advisor to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and an advisor to a number of European companies. Dr. Ettefagh speaks Persian (Farsi), English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Turkish. Close. Ali Ettefagh
Tehran, Iran
Dr. Ali Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East. more »
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Why Not Dissolve Pakistan, Too?
Pakistan is not a country. It is a failed British fantasy about the fabrication of a nation-state. It has other failed and failing peers in the Middle East, all fabricated during the 20th century. It is time to seriously review all of these structures and redraw the borderlines.
Pakistan was a phrase coined for an idealistic confederation of five Muslim provinces within the old British-controlled India (Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province or Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh and Baluchistan). However, these are tribal lands with distinct traditions and have very little in common. These provinces were all knocked together, on presumption of a common religion, and a “dominion” was fabricated within the Commonwealth with self-governance authority akin to independence after World War II. It was all part of the post-war fire sale of territorial control of Britain. The ill-conceived plan even set up a separate territory of East Bengal as East Pakistan, a subcontinent away, with the rough-and-ready argument of common religious beliefs and a majority Muslim population. East Pakistan eventually became independent and renamed itself Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s short 60-year history is full of coups and raw, violent tribal rivalry, peppered by jailing or executing the previous rulers. Most recently, we saw a stark and bold example of such rivalry: a returning Pakistani politician, a former prime minister, was deported from his own country.
There is no commonly accepted language among these tribes and thus the official language of Pakistan is English.
For as long as I remember, Iran’s eastern border with Pakistan has always been a hub of instability, smuggling and violent crime. Pakistan is the main transit route for opium and heroin from Afghanistan, where more than 90% of the world’s opium supply is produced. In turn, that cash flow encourages money laundering, armed banditry, murder, violence and corruption. Therefore, several conflicting layers of official structure naturally form, each operating as lawless gangs or states within a state. Drug-infested territories have a poor record of development. Power and corruption leads to uneven, Byzantine relations between groups and to opaque alliances. Meanwhile, the masses remain in poverty: according to the World Bank, that’s about a third of all Pakistanis.
In this kind of political greenhouse of a country, no new politicians or doctrines surface. I wonder why news about Pakistani politics seems to be a game of musical chairs, with familiar names and faces periodically recycled.
There are other issues to ponder, namely a nuclear arsenal, missiles, a brisk small-arms export business (about $250 million a year) and the schizophrenic dual-tracked “friendship” with the U.S., al-Qaeda and Wahhabi extremists. Pakistan’s aimless Kashmir policies are perfect examples of circular political indecision. U.N. peacekeepers have remained stationed in Kashmir for more than three decades.
Pakistan is a relic set up as a counterweight to India -- and its tendency to tilt towards the Eastern Block. I think it is high time to revisit the old composite structure of five provinces combined into one artificial country. A redrawing of borders might serve useful and to cut through the farce. Let each province mature and declare independence. Some will eventually join their long-time tribal allies, leaving two or three independent lands and a more transparent political agenda.
Ali Ettefagh
Tehran, Iran
Dr. Ali Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East. He is the co-author of several books on trade conflict, resolution of international trade disputes, conflicts in letters of credit, trade-related banking transactions, sovereign debt, arbitration and dispute resolutions and publications specific to the oil and gas, communication, aviation and finance sectors. Dr. Ettefagh is a member of the executive committee and the board of directors of The Development Foundation, an advisor to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and an advisor to a number of European companies. Dr. Ettefagh speaks Persian (Farsi), English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Turkish. Close. Ali Ettefagh
Tehran, Iran
Dr. Ali Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East. more »
Main Page | Ali Ettefagh Archives | PostGlobal Archives
Please e-mail PostGlobal if you'd like to receive an email notification when PostGlobal sends out a new question.
Not to steer this thread further away from the topic of asylum, but the argument concerning partition can be applied to Iraq as well. Iraq has always been an artificial state.
Furthermore, it can be argued (with less force admittedly) that China is an empire waiting to be broken up.
And also I send my regards to the asylees from Pakistan in this uncertain time.
Furthermore, it can be argued (with less force admittedly) that China is an empire waiting to be broken up.
And also I send my regards to the asylees from Pakistan in this uncertain time.
What are you talking about? Do you want to divide the country? Are you serious? Do you think about the consequences? How many tribal countries do they have in Europe? How can they consolidate all of them in one big power? You need to review the world history. All nations had some political problems during a time.
Lazerthegreat
Registered Users (C)
Newspapers will write anything to spark up things which are already on fire. Yes pakistan has turbulent history and so does India. India and Pakistan function the same fundamentally, its just that indians have a bit more stable democracy (what type of BS democracy they have) everybody knows. But on face they have a "stable" government which serves for its full term (4 or 5 years, I don't know).
I think that irony with pakistan is that after 911, it has been too much associated with terrorism. Even though incidences of terror arising from paksitan are too few as compared with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Another tough luck factor for pakistan is that it borders afghanistan.
Pakistan otherwise is as stable as India and their eduction system as good. There is 65% poverty in pakistan so in india. The 65% of inida will mean 650Million people. Its a sad fact that due to poor leadership, pakistan has earned a bad name internationally and havent been able to portray itself like India.
So nobody has power in this universe to even think about "dissolving" pakistan. Otherwise US would have already done so (like Iraq).
I think that irony with pakistan is that after 911, it has been too much associated with terrorism. Even though incidences of terror arising from paksitan are too few as compared with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Another tough luck factor for pakistan is that it borders afghanistan.
Pakistan otherwise is as stable as India and their eduction system as good. There is 65% poverty in pakistan so in india. The 65% of inida will mean 650Million people. Its a sad fact that due to poor leadership, pakistan has earned a bad name internationally and havent been able to portray itself like India.
So nobody has power in this universe to even think about "dissolving" pakistan. Otherwise US would have already done so (like Iraq).
We probably need to move to a democracy system in Pakistan. However, I believe that Pervez Musharraf is not the problem nor Benazir Bhutto is not the solution for a such system. Only the whole society can build this democracy. We are fighting now to build it and we have to wait to see what will happen.
WoosterLad
Registered Users (C)
Lazerthegreat, you are deluding yourself if you think that there's not much difference between India and Pakistan. India, while with many problems, is a fundamentally sound nation, which Pakistan is not. Furthermore, the rule of law and democratic principles are entrenched in India's social and political fabric, while in Pakistain, they are not. Pakistan may have, in the past, had better education and a slightly higher standard of living. It doesn't take a blind man to see that isn't the case anymore and will never be so again. India still has abject poverty, agreed. Yet, it is undergoing such a phenomenal economic transformation, that the question is not IF India will become a developed nation but instead, HOW FAST. Can one say that about Pakistan? For India, Pakistan must stay intact. Its a bothersome neighbor as it is. Imagine how terrible it would be if Pakistan splits up and hands the nuclear arsenal it irresponsibly accumulated over the years, over to militant Islamic tribes? I shudder to think of the ramifications for India and the entire world. Pakistan and India are nothing similar except the way the people look and the language we speak. Don't kid yourself into thinking that.
Lazerthegreat
Registered Users (C)
WoosterLad!
I know that pakistan has had some political troubles in its late past, but everything is fundamentally sound in that nation. I know India can boast that they had Army rule in their history of independence, which is fine. Just because pakistan had come under military rule does not make it a shaky country. Regarding Islamic militants grabing power in pakistan, same can be said against india. India has had as many terroists attacts on its soil as pakistan had in recent past. India's stragtegy had been to blame pakistan for these attacks and protray that its people are very innocent (meaning terrorists cannot come from india). This is not true.
India has made some strides towards economic growth in recent past which has been swifter than pakistan, agreed. However looking at INdian poverty as a nation, I wonder how much effect it would have. Indian and pakistanis not only look same, both countries are similar in thier laws, regulations, corruption issues and such. So never portray india to be a nation above pakistan because it is not.
I know that pakistan has had some political troubles in its late past, but everything is fundamentally sound in that nation. I know India can boast that they had Army rule in their history of independence, which is fine. Just because pakistan had come under military rule does not make it a shaky country. Regarding Islamic militants grabing power in pakistan, same can be said against india. India has had as many terroists attacts on its soil as pakistan had in recent past. India's stragtegy had been to blame pakistan for these attacks and protray that its people are very innocent (meaning terrorists cannot come from india). This is not true.
India has made some strides towards economic growth in recent past which has been swifter than pakistan, agreed. However looking at INdian poverty as a nation, I wonder how much effect it would have. Indian and pakistanis not only look same, both countries are similar in thier laws, regulations, corruption issues and such. So never portray india to be a nation above pakistan because it is not.
A lot of people clutch at straws to find some kind of solace. This is exactly the kind of delusion that the Pakistanis need to loose to make any progress as a country.
WoosterLad
Registered Users (C)
KMax. I couldn't agree with you more. Delusion will get Lazerthegreat and other Pakistanis nowhere. Its a shame.
Dear WoosterLoser,
You may think you are cute and special when you use words like "behoove" and make holier-than-thou statements like you did above but you are not. You specifically mention in previous posts that "gross generalizations make [one] look uneducated and thoughtless." So by those standards, you should know that your above-mentioned comments make you look like even more of a retard. You are so righteous one moment, and the next, you are making generalizations about another country. Crack is WHACK, man. Don't do it!
Oh, and also, to wantmygcnow...one of the so-called moderators of this forum. By your standards, this post, especially YOUR entry does not belong on this forum. Of course now that I have posted this, it will be CONVENIENTLY moved to the Unrelated Topics or even deleted.
Last edited by a moderator:
Lazerthegreat
Registered Users (C)
Well Indians are in real delusion that by becoming America's "Technology Partner", they have become a first world country and not a 3rd world country, while it still remains the later.
Punjabi_Munda
Registered Users (C)
Dear wooster
My Dear Woosterlad or Roosterlad or whatever, you know what? I can't say that Pakistan is the best country in the world but people who live in a glass house should definitely not throw stones. Indians should come out of the dream of becoming a developed nation until they find a solution to some very fundamental issues, like poverty, Caste system (this one is really bad), corrupt politicians and police, burning girls alive for not bringing enough dowery. Above all, India would have to learn how to be a good neighbor instead of a back stabber. The country is not even honest to its own people, for examples Sikhs. They are the fighter and brave people who helped you all along in 1947 and afterwards and now all they have is an empty promise from Indian Government. What about the atrocities going on in Kashmir? Due to India's unfair politics, they have to spend so much on the military that could be better spent in your villages where poverty lingers everywhere. None of the neighboring country likes India, I wonder why?
My Dear Woosterlad or Roosterlad or whatever, you know what? I can't say that Pakistan is the best country in the world but people who live in a glass house should definitely not throw stones. Indians should come out of the dream of becoming a developed nation until they find a solution to some very fundamental issues, like poverty, Caste system (this one is really bad), corrupt politicians and police, burning girls alive for not bringing enough dowery. Above all, India would have to learn how to be a good neighbor instead of a back stabber. The country is not even honest to its own people, for examples Sikhs. They are the fighter and brave people who helped you all along in 1947 and afterwards and now all they have is an empty promise from Indian Government. What about the atrocities going on in Kashmir? Due to India's unfair politics, they have to spend so much on the military that could be better spent in your villages where poverty lingers everywhere. None of the neighboring country likes India, I wonder why?
John Smith 1
Registered Users (C)
and i thing its a disgrace when you see the indian government spends billions
od dollars on military while millions of indian citizens are inffected of HIV virus
and thousands are dying of AIDS every year,
and i think is a disgrace to see that the SEX INDUSTRY AND THE SEX SLAVERY ARE BOOMING IN INDIA
od dollars on military while millions of indian citizens are inffected of HIV virus
and thousands are dying of AIDS every year,
and i think is a disgrace to see that the SEX INDUSTRY AND THE SEX SLAVERY ARE BOOMING IN INDIA
Punjabi_Munda
Registered Users (C)
Absolutely
Amen, John smith you are absolutely right. Most commonly, Indian Truck Drivers pick up these prostitutes while on the road and dirver and his helper take their turn with unsafe sex and move on to their next stop and act as a virus carrier from one place to another.
Amen, John smith you are absolutely right. Most commonly, Indian Truck Drivers pick up these prostitutes while on the road and dirver and his helper take their turn with unsafe sex and move on to their next stop and act as a virus carrier from one place to another.
John Smith 1
Registered Users (C)
how are you doing brother punjab? it always nice to hear from you
Punjabi_Munda
Registered Users (C)
Great
I'm doing great John, thanks for asking. Its always nice to hear from you too.
Have fun on the Big Turkey day.
I'm doing great John, thanks for asking. Its always nice to hear from you too.
Have fun on the Big Turkey day.
Please advise
I don’t know the whole story but question was asked for me to post is related to submission of brief. I think an appeal has been filed, some documents were not submitted on time, and now a brief has been requested by November 28th. Individual has decided not to pursue the case and would like to leave US.
What will happen if brief is not submitted and a letter is mailed stated that I would like to leave the country how much time one get to leave?
I wonder if that individual has to obtain proper deportation papers before catching the flight back home or can an individual just leave the country and will not face any problems at the air port?
How INS knows that person has left the country, should a letter me mailed out stating that one has left the country?
Please advise.
I don’t know the whole story but question was asked for me to post is related to submission of brief. I think an appeal has been filed, some documents were not submitted on time, and now a brief has been requested by November 28th. Individual has decided not to pursue the case and would like to leave US.
What will happen if brief is not submitted and a letter is mailed stated that I would like to leave the country how much time one get to leave?
I wonder if that individual has to obtain proper deportation papers before catching the flight back home or can an individual just leave the country and will not face any problems at the air port?
How INS knows that person has left the country, should a letter me mailed out stating that one has left the country?
Please advise.
If you are leaving the country for good, who cares? Just leave and do not look back.
Good luck.
Make sure you have some documents allowing you to travel.