Sunday 22 May 2011
After Osama: New Guidelines for The Muslim
By Fasihuddin
Perhaps no topic can surpass the volume of literature, analyses, articles and speculations than on the death of Osama Bin Laden (OBL) and its implications for everyone. Some still doubt the authenticity and veracity of the whole 'drama', 'hatched to terrorize Pakistani government, its people and its spy agencies', and consider it the worst of 'subtle conspiracy theory' 'to come close to the Pakistani nuclear arsenals' and also concomitantly look at a 'plausible excuse for US withdrawal from the Afghan quagmire'. The apparently understandable jubilation of American people and US high officials' statements have not only relieved them of a decade long psychological depression of a failure hunt of billion dollars, but also have restored their faith in their institutions that they are competent enough to fix things, no matter after a hot pursuit over a period of ten years multi-billion war, all coming from tax-payers. The statements of revenge from the White House have once again re-inforced the validity and currency of the theory of retribution and just desert, which were gradually giving way to other modern theories of punishment like the mild restorative justice, victim-offender mediation and reformation and de-radicalization. "Victims of the 9/11 are revenged and justice has been done" (Obama).
Pakistani government is in a fix whether to take the credit, or discredit itself by not taking it. Serious paradox for them. Pakistani people and government are not an eye to eye on this subject. To the western world, the government and military establishment cautiously and diplomatically want to communicate that the said operation at the otherwise peaceful city of Abbottabad (name after Abbott), was not possible without credible intelligence-sharing (actionable-intelligence in this case only!), and so the partners of the war on terror be duly awarded with loans relaxations and definitely more loans. On the domestic front, the repercussions from the militant outfits would be serious, properly worked out, devastating, deadly and targeted. The militant networks might be waiting for the de-brief leakages. So, the second rank politicians and that too in the local media, express ignorance of any information and planning of the operation midnight which led to the death of OBL in a fortified compound, an unusual construction in the locality of Bilal Town, Abbottabad. This ignorance gives a sigh of relief to the decision-makers who try to pretend innocence, and exploit the anti-American feelings for violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, which has already been left very little after the successive drone attacks. It seems that the Americans are well-aware of these sensitivities of the Pakistani government and that's why the paradox of statements is evident from DC where, firstly Obama appreciated the role of Pakistan (in a bid to say the truth and pacify the US masses about the intentions and commitment of their front-line ally), and subsequently, criticized by Leon Panetta for not informing Pakistan beforehand as it would have led to the failure of the said operation. This is portrayed as a US double standard strategy in Pakistani media, resembling a carrot and stick policy. Pakistani establishment is a little saved from any sudden attack and wrath of its people on the technical ground of being jammed in their tentacles of sensation and identification of any foreign movement in the air. This is basically propagated for generating a sympathetic view of the weaknesses of the military capabilities amongst the general masses who are mostly bereaved and illiterate, and to portray a wicked picture of the US invasion. Politically, it may work, but professionally, it puts many questions to the credibility of our existing air-defence system and the response capability of our ground forces. These strategic debates with concomitant accusations and speculations will continue for a longer period of time. However, the lessons learnt are to be vividly looked for. In my view, following are some of the very common points of consideration and lessons learnt for both the US, the international community and Pakistan; especially a new line of action is proposed in this article for the muslims who stand a little depressed on being defeated, whereas they should not feel so.
- The US military prowess is insurmountable and those who want to dismantle or destroy it shouldn't waste their energies and resources in futile exercise.
- The Muslims around the world should work for a victory in science, technology, research and morality. Strong character with oriental values and traditions of sublimility and refinement will bring them a respectable place in the ranks of civilized nations. Educational progress, democratic ideals as given in Islamic shura system, and peaceful co-existence, tolerance, accommodation, adjustment and mutual work for the common good of human progress and human civilization will put them ahead of many in the civilizational and cultural development all over the world.
- The teachings of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan in India after the 1857 War of Independence (mutiny to foreigners) and his fellow scholar Justice Amir Ali (the author of the Spirit of Islam) and the constitutional struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah (the founder of Pakistan) shall be a model for the politically exploited, financially weak, internationally isolated, militarily compromised, educationally backward and psychologically depressed masses of the Muslim world.
- The west, especially the USA and the UK, should open their doors to the young Muslim youth for modern education, enlightenment, respectable employment and engagement at all levels. The Muslim youth should be considered as a valuable resource for advancing human progress to its ultimate refinement and their best faculties be utilized to the maximum for the benefit of all. People out-reach programmes and community engagement through minds and hearts be extended to all Muslim communities in the US, and Europe. A rational and tolerant approach to the seemingly isolated Muslim youth be adopted to save them from being slipped into the hands of any unpleasant group.
- Pakistan's sensitivities and inherent weaknesses of some elements should not be generalized and her positive role and sacrifices be ignored. Rather, causes of failure of developing Pakistani law-enforcement sector into a viable, intelligence-led apparatus be explored for future improvement. This is how the dialogue will start and come fruitful if intentions are not doubted and responsibilities are shared reasonably, friendly and openly.
- The military of the underdeveloped Muslim nations should immediately stop further expenses on any unwarranted adventures. The money should no more go into bombs and bullets. It should rather be visibly allocated to education, health, development and human progress. The inability of even detecting any foreign intrusion has put serious questions to the unaccounted colossal expenses on security sector. Time has come to spend on human beings than on tanks.
- The Muslims shouldn't feel disheartened and must recall that it was Islam which saved the Muslims and not vice versa throughout the annals of history. It was the intellectual supremacy, human tenderness, cultural sublimity, linguistic refinement and literary embellishment in Islam that conquered the conquerors every time the Muslims felt small on their timely defeat and failure. The Muslims should work hard for the revival of that civilizational excellence of Islam which has long been receded into the backyards of intolerance, opposition and non-assimilation. Islam believes in interaction, diffusion and dialogue and not in clash of civilizations.
editor@thelondonpost.net
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