Now that Gazans are starving

Now that Gazans are starving (after being bombed, slaughtered, ethnically cleansed), European governments make limp lame threats to wag their fingers at Israel. It's so lame, so pathetic, so shameful. We see you. We also see how your puppets like Rwanda and UAE are fuelling conflicts in Africa. We see how you are attempting to assassinate a leader like Traore who has flung away Western shackles. We see how you destroyed the Syrian state and brought an Al Qaeda animal back to lead Syria, are taking off sanctions , and doing that nonsense at the behest of the US. It's so transparent, it's pathetic. Meanwhile, hope Biden dies a slow agonising death , praying to the new American Pope for salvation.

Kavita learned about the subaltern

Stunned that Kavita learnt "subaltern" in Grade 6. I can't get over it. Subaltern!!!!! I didn't know this term/concept/word until way later. Kavita's read "Bitter Gourd" by Talat Abbasi
and, "Air Conditioning" by Mohsin Hamid for English Lit. The themes taught in class include identity, diaspora literature, power dynamics, class, subaltern, etc. I'm stunned because I wasn't taught these particular concepts in English Literature which was one of my favourite subjects. Have to give kudos to Beaconhouse for this. I have many issues with them (attitudes amongst teachers and families who reinforce class, nationalism, religiosity, English supremacy, they don't give any importance to physical education or music or art, in fact, Music is out 6th grade onwards, E-books, making kids do maths in pen, gender segregation) but this is great. If you wonder whether Kavita got it, she wrote really good answers and seems to understand these concepts.

Oppression of minorities in India v Pakistan

An Ahamdi doctor was slaughtered recently. Pakistanis celebrating their victory over India and, parroting each other's rehearsed lines about how evil Hindutva is, where is the outrage? Instead of introspection about what Pakistani society needs to do to be at permanent peace with India, Pakistanis are just projecting their own problems: we are also facing terrorism, we just want peace, we have memes, we have a better media, etc. Ramachandra Guha in an interview with Karan Thapar said India can't be compared to Pakistan and, India just has to get back to being India. Pakistanis love pointing out that minorities in India are in a mess. But there's a difference: secularism versus enshrinement of oppression in law. Pakistan is not secular , was made on communal lines. So, oppression of minorities is inevitable. We even criminalised the Ahamdi sect and, go after other minorities too. We have a blasted Blasphemy Law. Oppression in India doesn't stem from Constitution or laws but rise of communal politics and, caste system despite having a solid secular socialist Constitution. So, introspection is really needed after the devastating confrontation between our two countries.

Questions to ask our governments

Scroll argues that there are certain questions Indians must ask about Operation Sindoor

1. Let’s start with the casus belli: the Pahalgam terror attack. Why did the government leave a meadow full of tourists completely unguarded?

2. Will this act as a deterrent against future terror attacks?

3. Did the government factor in Chinese weaponry before launching Operation Sindoor?

4. What larger objective did Operation Sindoor serve? If anything, it has shown that all it takes is a few terrorists to precipitate a crisis and drag a country of a billion people into war.

The article is here: Four questions Indians must ask about Operation Sindoor.

What are questions that Pakistanis should ask from their government. I've come up with the following:

1) As the war drums were beating in India, what measures should Pakistan government have taken ?

2) Did India make any demands immediately after Pahalgham and, did we respond to these demands? I looked it up, they didn't, they just meted out one unilateral move after another. (Pakistan also cancelled Indian visas)

3) Are the LeT and JM still operational in Pakistan ?

4) What measures did we take to protect Kashmiri civilians on our side of the LoC when Indian missiles starting attacking Pakistani territory?

5) Were Mazhood Azhar's family members killed and, is it correct that Army officers are participating in the funeral?

6) What diplomatic measures will Pakistan take to further de-escalate the tensions?

7) What is the long term foreign policy of Pakistan vis a vis South Asia? Where will we pick up from now? Pakistan has suspended Simla Agreement and India has suspended Indus Waters Treaty. How do we pick up?  

           8) While we throw out Afghan refugees and long term residents in Pakistan and                   harden the Western border how will this ensure security and peace in the region?  

          9) Were we really close to nuclear confrontation? 

          10) Why was X unblocked thanks to the war? Why was it blocked to begin with? 

Pakistani YouTubers and thinkers rebutting Indian YouTubers and leaders etc

1. Dr Taimur Rahman's conversations and rebuttals at this time of war between Pakistan and India are highly compelling and commendable. Here he gives a reply to the otherwise highly respected Druv Rathee who was seemingly committed to the truth but pushed out hateful jingoism and hysteria against Pakistan without any logic or rationality:

India's attacks against Pakistan without evidence:

1. Reunited the extremists with the Army
2. Undermined the democratic movement within Pakistan
3. Undermined the Pak - India peace forces in both countries

See his Video: Reply to Druv on Pakistani Politics.  

2. The Pakistan Experience - otherwise such an excellent channel by Shahzad Ghias whose personal journey as a comedian, American scholarship scholar and PTI born again analyst is remarkable - is milking its stint at the Piers Morgan show. To be proud of being invited to this platform where Piers Morgan has shamelessly flaunted his pro Israel bias and hounded guests into answering whether they support Hamas or not is a little pitiful. Piers Morgan asks idiotic questions like "What would you do if you were in Israel's shoes" and un-ironically, did the same on this panel "What would you do if 26 innocent civilians were killed?" Shahzad was joined by Hina Rabbani Khar who couldn't string one sentence together and tripped over her disjointed thoughts again and again. Hina couldn't keep up with Barkha Dutt, a seasoned journalist. I have no idea why Beer Biceps was invited on this panel which goes to show what a serious show Piers Morgan is, somewhere you go to entertain yourself , to see guests shouting at each other. Shahzad seems to think he scored big by telling Beer Biceps he is drunk. Shahzad tried to bring up CIA released files on why Osama bin Laden was found in Abbotabad but he floundered. He couldn't answer any one's questions clearly except trying to make rude remarks. It was pathetic. The whole panel discussion was incoherent: 

- people who look exactly the same are shouting at each other

- can you even tell Pakistanis and Indians apart?

- no one answered each other's questions

- we are merely defending state narratives despite internal fractures

- yes India broke international law by striking Pakistan

- but Pakistanis cannot confirm whether we are still supporting these groups or not

- our Air Force did a stellar job by shooting French jets but this isn't a video game , people died both sides

- neither Indians nor Pakistanis love their corrupt governments but defend them

- neither side answered each other's questions clearly

See the video here: "Exporting TERRORISM!" India-Pakistan Debate With Ranveer Allahbadia & Hina Khar.

3. A Question for India by Dr Taimur Rahman

This is a short video made by Taimur for Indian audiences urging them to understand that copying America's horrible War on Terror isn't going to work in Pakistan. RAND 's research on this shows that drone attacks never worked. In fact, it will only create more chaos. Here is a Screen Grab:

4. Shehzad Ghias Sheikh Exposes Godi Media's & Exposed Piers Morgan Show | Syed Muzammil Official

This is a clip from Muzammil's interviewing Shehzad on Express News on the Piers Morgan show where he appeared with Beer Biceps, Barkha Dutt, and Hina Rabbani Khar. Points that were made:

- Piers Morgan is a very problematic shouting-match show

- Piers Morgan asked guests whether they support Hamas or what they would have done as what happened on 7 October

- Piers Morgan did exactly same here

- that Piers Morgan was biased towards Pakistanis

- too much time spent on Osama bin Laden

- ill matched guests (what was Beer Biceps doing there)

- Hina was very graceful and poised (don't agree at all, couldn't string a sentence together)

5. India Pakistan War: A Reply to Shashi Tharoor

I was extremely disappointed , too that Shashi Tharoor is beating war drums but I suppose it is delusional to think that intellectuals and writers one admires are perfect.

Dr. Taimur Rahman makes an excellent rebuttal here: India Pakistan War: A Reply to Shashi Tharoor

6. Dhruv Rathee Exposed | Kirana Hills News Debunked | Syed Muzammil Official Very good rebuttal by Muzammil: Dhruv Rathee Exposed | Kirana Hills News Debunked | Syed Muzammil Official. 7. Lashkar-e-Taiba: A case study by Dr Taimur Rahman

This is very good. See here: Lashkar-e-Taiba: A case study.

A screen grab which say says it all:

While Pak and Indian Armies are throttling each other with missile and drone attacks

While Pak and Indian Armies are throttling each other with missile and drone attacks and engaged in heavy shelling across the LOC and murdering civilians both sides, and terrorising the Kashmiris again, Pakistanis are in love with their Army, praising the elegance of how restrained the Army is, as if admiring a flower vase, and, living in a sort of denial at how non-jingoistic they are! How do you praise an Army and pretend to be anti war?? Just say "No to War".

If you are a military strategist and, realist, then this statement is correct: Pakistan has to retaliate. But I would argue there was a window where Pakistan should have done more to prove we weren't involved in Pahalgham. We were involved in all other terrorist incidents. But as a moral position, we don't have a leg to stand on. We can't defend military activities, we can't defend it. We can't defend it especially if you oppose it in Balochistan. Hold your state to account first before you beat your chest and lie about lie about how much you love peace. (Let Indians hold their own state to account, should have provided evidence, we don't want war, etc etc)

My Facebook posts

The gushing over Pak Army's "restraint" is the most delusional alignment with the status quo there ever was. A kind of 1984-esque descent into how good war actually is for your morale, for your class, for your interests.

School's been closed for two days this week in Islamabad. Yesterday, Kavita heard boys chanting "India Murdabad." Tell me more about how Pakistani celebrities and social media accounts and leaders aren't calling for war while while having no clue that children have been conditioned to hate India and Hindus since cradle. So, Kavita has been targeted by her classmates. These are kids. She's been in school in Liberia and Pakistan these past few years. Since Grade 2, her classmates ask her " what's your religion?" . Like they can't stop harassing her. No, it's not innocent curiosity. She's been made to hear all kinds of jingoistic Indian hating Hindu hating rhetoric coming out of the mouths of children. Just yesterday boys were chanting "India murdabad." These are kids, not social media accounts. Our Textbooks preach anti Hindu anti Indian hatred. So, let's not "we are not jingoistic." And, let's not start analysing this conflict NOW. WE have a 75-year old history of wars. Even if you didn't have a fascist like Modi across the border, do Pakistanis want peace or not. Let's say the exchange of fire stops now, what do Pakistanis want and, can we demand our own Foreign Policy that normalises relations? I would ask the same of our neighbours. To the question: "what do Pakistanis want"? we need to answer this. Because we don't want to seem to want peace, real peace , a border we can cross, all cessation of hostilities, reckoning of the past, and economic and diplomatic relations. Vijay Prashad answers this for us: we have to live together as neighbours and stop fighting: Vijay Prashad on the escalation of tensions in South Asia.

Even if you didn't have a fascist like Modi across the border

Even if you didn't have a fascist like Modi across the border, do Pakistanis want peace or not? Let's say the exchange of fire stops now, what do Pakistanis want and, can we demand our own Foreign Policy that normalises relations? I would ask the same of our neighbours.

Pakistani public is less war mongering than Indian public

 Apparently:

1. Pakistani public is less war mongering than Indian public.
2. Pakistan state has shown remarkable restraint and plausible and level headed posturing since Pahalgham
3. Pakistani Airforce put up a great performance in the dogfight two nights ago
4. Modi's India is a nightmare and way worse than what we have on this side
5. India has violated our sovereignty with the missile attacks and, is hell bent on straight out war
6. Pakistan is showing remarkable restraint
7. Pakistani media way better than Indian media
8. Pakistan is a bigger victim of terrorism
9. Pakistan is no longer engaged in proxy wars and use of militant jihadi groups
10. Indians are rabidly anti Muslim now
Is this accurate? But much more importantly, what do really want?

Hardening of the Indian liberal towards Pakistan after Mumbai attacks

If I have to think back within my lifetime, the 2008 attacks in Mumbai (originated from Pakistan) were a turning point. Liberal Indian friends of mine started attacking me as I've personally orchestrated those attacks. I think this is when the Indian liberal started hardening towards Pakistan , 6 years before Modi comes to power. And, we know how much liberal democracies love war.

I would urgent to not use the word "martyr" for a child killed by Indian missile strikes.

I would urgent to not use the word "martyr" for a child killed by Indian missile strikes. Children don't want to die, they didn't ask to die and become a "martyr." Civilian casualties can't be martyrs. They didn't sign up to fight or die. Its weaponisation of a child's life . Which isn't morally, ethically and legally correct. Children cannot fight in wars in international legal law. So how can they be martyrs. We should protect identity of this child.

Thank you ever so much for reaching out

Thank you ever so much for reaching out. Pakistan and India are at it again: locked in a 75 year conflict over Kashmir, over communal identity and, to project the nation state that was carved out by the British. Folks refuse to see this conflict in a larger context, we have literally been at war since the British partitioned India. 

Ordinary people who are not swayed by ideology and the atrocious state, corporate and social media do not want war. However, a large chunk of the population in India seems to be heavily swayed by the war mongering that India under Modi is pushing. Liberal democracies seem to have a bigger hunger for war as we have seen the Americans thirsty for blood after 9-11 and, what Israel is doing now.  Modi’s India is punishing its Muslim population and, the attack in Pahalgham gave them a good excuse to dial up the anti Muslim frenzy. 

Pakistani state has been fully captured by the military so it doesn’t need to push any agenda more strongly than before. Analysts are saying that it is unlikely Pakistan is involved in Pahalgham because it has been working to take itself off the Terror Financing List , is hardening border with Afghanistan and is not involved in proxy wars. 

Without proving that Pakistan was involved in Pahalgham, India struck missiles into Pakistan which has really escalated the situation. The Indian military statement is that they struck terrorist training camps (which Pakistan absolutely hosted for use in proxy wars before) killed civilians but independent analysis is that these camps are not longer operational. 

There’s a lot of unverified information going around. Citizens on both sides of the border need to make their states accountable. 

The people are suffering the most are ironically Kashmiris as there’s heavy shelling going on the border that divides Kashmir. 

Apparently, today Indians sent 12 Israeli drones across to Pakistani cities. That the Indians are so close to Israel (once so close to the Palestinian cause) and buying their military technology to terrorise our civilians is a tragedy. 

Pakistanis are saying that most of us are not calling for war but most Indians are. If true, that’s  disturbing and worse than the military conflict. 

How do you roll back this hostility and measures that Indians are taking? Banning of independent Pakistani media, kicking out Pakistani nationals married to Indians, Pakistanis with medical visas, suspending trade etc? 

When Mumbai was attacked in 2008, I noticed that Indian liberals started flipping and becoming anti Pakistan. This is way before Modi came to power. 

We are waiting to see if anything more will happen. Flights are suspended and schools are closed. 

Pakistan and India are at each others' throats again

Disgusted with the hypocritical rhetoric of Pakistani politicians with regards to the events in Pahalgham: Pakistani state has no legs to stand on when it comes to oppressing its own people. The height of absurdity has to be with members of Parliament sword rattling in English. (Modi also delivered an address in English interestingly). A few points:

- Kashmir is an occupied territory with more than half a million troops, how did this heinous attack occur?
- Indian citizens should demand how this terrible attack took place in presence of more than half a million troops
- The picking off victims by religion happens in Pakistan too, passengers of buses are first identified and marked and then slaughtered by armed groups
- Citizens of Pakistan should also demand how armed attacks take place despite having a well funded and organised security state
- Timing is interesting : Vice President of US visiting India and , Modi visiting Saudi
- Modi has been saying things are normal in Kashmir when they are clearly not, regardless of who is supporting this insurgency as per the claims
- Pakistan says the same when it comes to insurgency in Balochistan, India is supporting it, invalidating and erasing occupation, oppression
- Kashmir has always been ruled by outsiders and not by the indigenous peoples themselves for past couple hundred years
- Suspending Indus War Treaty is a terrible act of aggression and, shows how badly we got divided under colonialism that we throttle life lines of the people
- Neither India or Pakistan give a damn about Kashmiris
- It's a constant simmering tension and, is fuelling more anti Muslim frenzy in India and anti Hindu frenzy in Pakistan
- It's extremely disheartening and depressing that we have gone to war-like threats, closure of border and kicking out peoples
- Citizens of both countries should demand for peace, diplomacy, solutions and normalisation

Depressing that we can't have normal relations with our own neighbours. I don't want to visit Europe or US or Australia or Canada more easily than our own neighbours. I want to be able to freely visit India! The horrific events in Pahalgham are another backward turn and, we remain frozen in a war like stance.