Blackwater behind Pakistan bombings: Ex-intel chief

[insaftak]

The former head of Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, Asad Durrani said in an interview with Press TV that Blackwater, a notorious US security firm, is carrying out operations in the country.

His comments came after the US Central intelligence Agency (CIA) revealed that Blackwater, which currently works under the name Xe Services, has been involved in drone attacks in Pakistan.

The CIA said the private security company has been loading bombs on US drones that target suspected militants in Pakistan. The attacks, according to Pakistani media, kill civilians as well.

General Durrani, however, said the group may be involved in actions that destabilize the country.

"My assessment is that they [Blackwater agents] — either themselves or most probably through others, through the locals — do carry out some of the explosions," he said.

"The idea is to carry out such actions, like carrying attacks in the civilian areas to make the others look bad in the eyes of the public."

Pakistan, suffering from a wave of violence, has witnessed the loss of lives of more than two thousands civilians in the past two years because of bomb attacks across the country.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id...onid=351020401

[90MPH]

Its possible.

[Vegitto1]

Its possible and it is happening.

[Saqlain_doosra]

I don't think Obama will let that happen. After all they don't give peace awards to terrorist.

[waqar_ahmad]

American agencies are involved in terrorist activities in pakistan for sure. SO blackwater might be involved too

[Gabbar Singh]

But I thought it was the Indians.

[Random Aussie]

Heh that is some nice twisting of words there.

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by Gabbar Singh But I thought it was the Indians.

No it was the Israelis.

[12thMan]

"My assessment is that they [Blackwater agents] — either themselves or most probably through others, through the locals — do carry out some of the explosions," he said.

These are the big problems. Blackwater shouldn't be there and be dealt with but if locals can be bought for few dollars then that is big problem. The deals can be made using internet and phonecalls or with couple of guys coming to meet in person too.

[Zechariah]

They all do their dirty work through the locals.

[12thMan]

If anyone caught or are under suspicion and doesn't matter who it is (Blakwater or anyother foreign agency) should be arrested and kicked out and if some evidence is there then exposed to public before kicking out or prosecuting. Enough of this we have evidence and no one sees or knows about it. This is also where Pakistan loses media or PR war too.

Take Rehman Malik's comments that this country/agency is involved. And it stops. Take any other country andtheir media and it will be exposed (rightfuly or wongly). Pakistan in the end is made to look like conspiracy theorist (and forgotten two days later) or Government people don't make statements if you don't have the guts.

[161]

oh yes .. it's blackwater agents who strap on suicide bombs and explode themselves in markets, school and mosques ?

90% of terrorist attacks in pakistan are SUICIDE ATTACKS.

but go ahead and keep ignoring the obvious ... ... the retardation continues.

[Zechariah]

Originally Posted by kashif77 oh yes .. it's blackwater agents who strap on suicide bombs and explode themselves in markets, school and mosques ? 90% of terrorist attacks in pakistan are SUICIDE ATTACKS. but go ahead and keep ignoring the obvious ... ... the retardation continues.

Kashif I think they only talk about the car bombs and such.

Of course suicide bombs have nothing to do with backwater - those are brain washed retards.

[161]

Originally Posted by Zechariah Kashif I think they only talk about the car bombs and such. Of course suicide bombs have nothing to do with backwater - those are brain washed retards.

why would united stated want to set off car bombs in pakistan ?

aren't the homegrown terrorists already doing a well enough job ?

[Zechariah]

kashif for the same reason they were used in Iraq? Divide and rule.

To make the problem more worse.

[161]

Originally Posted by Zechariah kashif for the same reason they were used in Iraq? Divide and rule. To make the problem more worse.

Divide and rule ?

America already gets Pakistani cooperation in return for military and civil aide.

Blackwater planting a few extra bombs makes no sense.

[12thMan]

Kashif77 - More bombs possibly mean do more as you have bad elements or getting Pakistan poulation take certain sides plus more reason for other people's involvement in the area (to sell to their own people). No one gets caught either. I have not heard a word about Mariott bombing since it happened and that must have been the biggest one. Government and media has been sleeping and all I hear this happened and couple of days later all is forgotten and not it has become a norm and sometimes (sorry to say this) boring as no one with responsibilty seems interested otehr than playing some clips

[suhaib]

blackwater are obviously not in pakistan for vaccations they were sent here to do a job and are doing it.

[Mohsin]

The US government will have absolutely no idea of Blackwaters operations within Pakistan.

To say they are involved in the ,majority of attacks wouldnt be true imo, and for those waving this off (apart from being exposed by an American journalist who had first hand sources) do you think Blackwater are in Pakistan on holiday? Or maybe they’re looking for good quality cricket bats/hockey sticks?

Its time for ISI to seriously start doing something, send a message.

[zam]

yes, you are right, its triangle of ISRAEL, AMERICA, AND INDIA........Thanks for pointing OUT.

[Saqlain_doosra]

Originally Posted by kashif77 Divide and rule ? America already gets Pakistani cooperation in return for military and civil aide. Blackwater planting a few extra bombs makes no sense.

Thats my point. It makes no sense for america and obama to carry out terrorist activities on other people soil. Why would he win award for pease making and then send black water kill civilian people in another country.

[Zechariah]

^ Yeah the drone attacks prove his peace making ability

[Yaser]

for those who don't know - blackwater is a QUANGO so not even within the jurisdiction of the USA. they can do what they please. yes, there are suicide bombers, but i refuse to believe they can get hold of the levels of Semtex required to carry out such large operations a la marriot.

[Yaser]

Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra Thats my point. It makes no sense for america and obama to carry out terrorist activities on other people soil. Why would he win award for pease making and then send black water kill civilian people in another country.

well that's what confused everyone! in his acceptance speech he was warmongering!

[Waseem]

Originally Posted by kashif77 Divide and rule ? America already gets Pakistani cooperation in return for military and civil aide. Blackwater planting a few extra bombs makes no sense.

Does the so called Islamic EXTREMISTS blowing up mosques make any sense????

I don't believe in conspiracy theories like other people and i am not even saying that Americans are responsible for all the problems in Pakistan but if you are talking about "making sense" then there are lot of other things happening in Pakistan that are not making sense at all.
There are a couple of messed up taliban lovers on this forum but i see no major difference between your and their ideology.

[Random Aussie]

Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism.

It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims.

Wake up or nothing will ever change.

[Waseem]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism. It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims. Wake up or nothing will ever change.

You might have missed a few thousand threads we have created about talibans/extremists/animals being involved in terrorism inside pakistan. We have all criticised them a lot and at least 98% of us know who the culprits are but why are purposely ignoring the fact that existance of "Blackwater" has been confirmed by British and American media. They may not be suicide bombers but they surely have their own ways to carry out similar tasks.

[Yaser]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism. It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims. Wake up or nothing will ever change.

[hasanb]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Wake up or nothing will ever change.

Spot on...absolutely spot on.

The amount of muslims/pakistanis on this forum alone that have their heads very firmly stuck in the sand is rather alarming to say the least.

[hussain_0216]

The fact that a organisation like Blackwater is operating in Pakistan and is connected to the CIA should be enough for any Pakistani to demand there arrest and removal from Pakistan or execution.

Blackwaters crimes in Iraq are documented, they are mercenaries who are not held accountable for there crimes.



So the jahil have gone from denying the existence of Blacwater in Pakistan to questioning why they would attack us.




History should be enough proof for anyone, over the last 50 years the actions of the U.S, CIA, MI5 have been nothing short of evil and despicable.

[Yaser]

Originally Posted by hasanb Spot on...absolutely spot on. The amount of muslims/pakistanis on this forum alone that have their heads very firmly stuck in the sand is rather alarming to say the least.

meanwhile you've got your head stuck somewhere entirely less pleasant.

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism. It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims. Wake up or nothing will ever change.

Erm...who i say WHO has ever said that EVERYTHING which is happening is NOT IN ANY WAY due to Muslims? Please, who has ever said that?
Please stop creating POVs and stuffing them down our throats RA.

[Yaser]

Originally Posted by Mohsin Erm...who i say WHO has ever said that EVERYTHING which is happening is NOT IN ANY WAY due to Muslims? Please, who has ever said that? Please stop creating POVs and stuffing them down our throats RA.

he's been acting melodramatically the past few days - its only a cricket series coming up!

[Zechariah]

There are the PP enlightened scholars of this century who know exactly what's going on. They must have immense access to Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Suicide blasts are done by brain washed Muslims who are blowing themselves up because they perceive Pakistan to be an enemy. The funding to TTP who carries out the attacks is not coming from Pakistan - get that into your tiny brains.

We have no choice but to demolish the TTP forever.

Huge car bombs and blasts are also done through the locals. Blackwater killed innocent civilians in Iraq many times, anyone who denies is an ignorant fool living in a delusional world. CIA has begin to cancel contracts with BW due to these kind of things.

They are in Pakistan, confirmed by the Guardian and BBC and they are involved in making the problem more worse than it is.

I hope I have been clear or do we need to take English lessons again?

The lame head in the sand arguments are getting old.

[moumotta]

Originally Posted by Zechariah Suicide blasts are done by brain washed Muslims who are blowing themselves up because they perceive Pakistan to be an enemy. The funding to TTP who carries out the attacks is not coming from Pakistan - get that into your tiny brains.

EXTREMIST groups in Pakistan are using businesses such as schools, housing projects and even media to help pay for their operations in the face of domestic and international attempts to crack down on financing for terrorism.

A wave of terrorist attacks over the past fortnight in Pakistan has left more than 170 people dead, underscoring how well organised and resourced the militants are.

Organisations have constantly changed their names in a bid to avoid government restrictions. Another common tactic has been for militant groups to establish public welfare wings to complement their activities. This ploy has helped groups gain social acceptance and expand their support base.

Muhammad Amir Rana, an expert on Pakistani extremism at the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, says the official curbs have forced organisations to change their structures and networks to introduce new funding methods.

''Despite proscribing scores of militant organisations and imposing curbs on fund-raising, Pakistan has not been able to stop these organisations' access to funding,'' Mr Rana says in a paper entitled ''Financial source of Pakistani militant and religious organisations''.

''After being barred from raising funds, the militant groups have ventured into legitimate businesses such as school chains, housing projects and the media.''

Mr Rana, who studied the financing of 14 Pakistani militant groups, found investment in education was an attractive option for militant groups because it allowed them to educate students according to their own ideology as well as generate healthy returns.

Mr Rana's study showed militant groups were also generating revenue from housing projects, construction, restaurants and department stores.

Another important fund-raising tool was the media, especially popular jihadi publications. ''These media products generate income and help radical groups publicise and promote fund-raising activities like charity work and building programs,'' Mr Rana told The Age.

He estimates that between 55 and 65 per cent of funding for militant groups is raised within Pakistan, with Government efforts to stop donations reaching militants proving ineffective.

''The donation base within Pakistan is huge because of the tradition of giving to religious organisations,'' Mr Rana said. ''People don't often know the purpose for which it is being used.''

Foreign donations remain an important source of finance, despite international efforts to stop cross-border support of extremist groups. This money is being sourced predominantly from Gulf states and Europe.

moer at: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/worl...1020-h5cp.html

[offstump]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism. It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims. Wake up or nothing will ever change.

I don't think anyone is denying that there are no "muslims" involved in suicide attacks, however any level headed muslim will tell you that a real muslim would never carry out such attacks.

RA, let me ask you, do you deny the despicable and disgusting acts committed around the world and at home particularly by the US and Isreal? The genocide committed in Iraq with 1 million dead civilians mostly women and children, a war started under FALSE pretenses...categorically lying in front of the UN security council? Exploiting third world countries for their natural resources, supporting dictatorships and corrupt governments around the world?

The crimes committed against the palestinians? Illegal jewish settlements in the west bank...the open air prison known as Gaza?

Atrocities committed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir?

Again, I am not saying that we are right and they are wrong, but it seems you think that way. You also need to wake up, or things will never change. What drives someone to carry out a suicide bombing? Is it being brain washed, yes it could be. Is it lack of education, yes it could be. How would you feel, if you were asleep in your house and someone dropped a bomb on it killing your entire family? What would you do if US marines kicked down your front door and raped your mother and sister in front of you?

But really, the US, Isreal and India could never do things like this they're leaders of the free world. Lets just do whatever they say and we'll be ok.

[cricjunkie]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism. It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims. Wake up or nothing will ever change.

Well said! Nothing has changed in the last year unfortunately. Nothing at all since the Mumbai attacks in 2008, when i last pointed out on this forum that pandering to these terrorists is like feeding a viper. In the last one year, i have lost count of the number of suicide attacks Pakistan has suffered at the hands of these mofos. While i feel sorry for the innocent victims who laid their lives, am not surprised about the status quo that Pakistan finds itself in. After all, the viper being the predator that is, is biting the hand that feeds it. Its following its instincts as that is what it is hardwired to do.

Back then, everyone argued that LeT is an innocent organization, JuD is a charity organization, Hafiz Saeed is innocent, Kasab is Amar Singh and Zaid Hameed, a 100% looney-tooney to the rest of the world, is a messiah, ISI is being unfairly blamed & so on. An year has passed, still (inspite of the mountains of evidence) the same old rhetoric prevails. And you can be assured that Pakistan will continue to slouch as an economically backward country, while it continues to fight America's war on terrorism.

And many are quick to point to Indians, Israelis, Americans, corrupt leaders such as Zardari as the prime reasons for Pakistan's current situation. Wake up you all. The buck stops with the citizens of Pakistan. Plain and simple. An year ago, Thomas Friedman wrote in NY times:

Originally Posted by Thomas Friedman @ NYTimes But at the end of the day, terrorists often are just acting on what they sense the majority really wants but doesn’t dare do or say. That is why the most powerful deterrent to their behavior is when the community as a whole says: “No more. What you have done in murdering defenseless men, women and children has brought shame on us and on you.”

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Repeat after me. The root cause of Pakistan's sufferings today is NOT the US. Would the US treat India or China this way (had they been in place of Pakistan) ? Hell no! US knows that Pakistan is a weak economy and a near bankrupt nation, that depends on foreign aid, not just to fulfill its needs but also to polish its military arsenals. That why it kicks Pakistan around for fun.

So fix that first. Fix your economy. If Pakistan is a self sufficient nation, it does not have to depend on American aid. It does not have to bomb its own people.

You dont become a economically strong nation by hosting terrorist orgs in your nation or by touting conspiracy theorists. You do that by focussing on your own welfare such as education, health care, industrialization, jobs, housing etc.

But wait a minute, it is Americans, Injuns and Israelis who are standing in between propserity & Pakistan. Zaid Hamid said so. Its got to be the truth! Righto.

Good luck!

[Yaser]

ICF's really are flooding this forum. the award winning one's not enough it seems

[Saqlain_doosra]

Originally Posted by Yaser meanwhile you've got your head stuck somewhere entirely less pleasant.

.

[161]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Yep there is no way Muslims could be involved in suicide terrorism. It is really the US, India and Israel planning and executing all these suicide attacks. Could not possibly be Muslims. Wake up or nothing will ever change.

Oh but you forgot Random Aussie .. if a so called Muslim commits a suicide bombing then he is no longer a true Muslim ... hence Muslim's can't be involved in suicide terrorism.

[hasanb]

Originally Posted by Yaser meanwhile you've got your head stuck somewhere entirely less pleasant.

How very mature of you.

Care to reply to the actual point at hand? While there are a fair few on here who keep balanced objective views about the situation...there is a hardcore few on here who do have their heads in the sand and you know that yourself mate (im not saying youre one of them).

In my opinion those who do not accept the failings within our own society are the biggest danger to our country.

[abdulkhan786]

It is strategy of India, Us and Israel to prevent Pakistan realising its potential economically.
We need to form partnership with China and then we can move forward.

[Vegitto1]

Why would America sponsor bombings in Pakistan?

For the same reason it does in Iraq and Afghanistan. To justify their presence in those countries. In Pakistan it is being done to undermine Pakistan's military operations in the FATA region.

They do so to say "Pakistan isn't doing enough." and to allow the Puppet government of Pakistan to justify the increase in attacks in that region.

Why would ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST blow up the very things that they claim to fight for? Mosques!

Furthermore, Pakistan is the ONLY Islamic state with Nuclear weapons. That in itself in enough to make America, India and their stooges lose their sleep at night. They would do anything to send the country into civil unrest and chaos.

India and the UK are already frustrated to no ends, A state which was made with the intention to fail within 2 decades and become part of India again is still going strong and is now a security threat.

It is only a matter of time before Muslim states put their differences aside and start entering into international treaties among themselves.

The West and its stooges have every reason to create unrest in Pakistan!

[Mohsin]

^^Careful Vegitto, people will start labelling you Zaid Hamid!

[Vegitto1]

Originally Posted by Mohsin ^^Careful Vegitto, people will start labelling you Zaid Hamid!

I don't really care about people who believe what the Powers to Be want them to believe.

Plus, they can't label me yet since their favorite news channels (Sky news, BBC, CNN, Fox News, Geo) haven't yet run a piece on me.

[hussain_0216]

Everything you do, you do for your OWN interests...

Countries that tout democracy, liberty and other B.S have supported groups and organisations and backed them to commit evil actions.

U.S, Israel, India have they not supported evil actions, waged war on innocents, killed people, tried to legitimise slaughter.


Our problem is that we have these jahil liberal mofo's trying to sell us out and forcing our countries hand and forcing our country to act against our own interests.


I dont think the ISI & our military are completely stupid, they are targeting groups that they are forced to but are resisting all pressure in targeting groups that could be useful.


This is a better strategy, because we will need these people support against India and against the U.S dont be so foolish to think that India and the U.S are not our enemies, they are indeed our enemies and are acting against us



It is because of our own silliness that we have been targeted by both the U.S and TTP & we need to end this situation quickly and direct these forces back towards the U.S & India

[Zechariah]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 Why would America sponsor bombings in Pakistan? For the same reason it does in Iraq and Afghanistan. To justify their presence in those countries. In Pakistan it is being done to undermine Pakistan's military operations in the FATA region. They do so to say "Pakistan isn't doing enough." and to allow the Puppet government of Pakistan to justify the increase in attacks in that region. Why would ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST blow up the very things that they claim to fight for? Mosques! Furthermore, Pakistan is the ONLY Islamic state with Nuclear weapons. That in itself in enough to make America, India and their stooges lose their sleep at night. They would do anything to send the country into civil unrest and chaos. India and the UK are already frustrated to no ends, A state which was made with the intention to fail within 2 decades and become part of India again is still going strong and is now a security threat. It is only a matter of time before Muslim states put their differences aside and start entering into international treaties among themselves. The West and its stooges have every reason to create unrest in Pakistan!

Absolutely spot on.

People on this forum forgot how the British ruled the world in the last 200 years, it was always through divide and rule. They need to re-visit history and realize that peace is never in their interest.

They also ignore why Iran is a threat, why Iraq's nuclear site was destroyed and then say Pakistan's nukes are not a threat to anyone.

[Zechariah]

Originally Posted by hasanb How very mature of you. Care to reply to the actual point at hand? While there are a fair few on here who keep balanced objective views about the situation...there is a hardcore few on here who do have their heads in the sand and you know that yourself mate (im not saying youre one of them). In my opinion those who do not accept the failings within our own society are the biggest danger to our country.

Hasan this is getting lame yaar.

Such people have existed in Pakistan in 1947 and yes they have their part in the failings. But why are you forgetting the harsh lessons we have learned by the hands f the British? Mughal Empire and Ottoman Empire were all broken and made into the states by the British - Saudi Royal family was installed by the British, all of this is well documented in history, why do you ignore it? And you think just because Pakistan is independent and British empire does not exist, they are all gone and done with?

Yes people meddle into our affairs because we ourselves are failures but why ignore the other angle as well? Yes its our fault also but please dont ignore the divide and and policy of the British. People who dont understand this are also a great threat to the nation.

[Vegitto1]

Originally Posted by Zechariah Absolutely spot on. People on this forum forgot how the British ruled the world in the last 200 years, it was always through divide and rule. They need to re-visit history and realize that peace is never in their interest. They also ignore why Iran is a threat, why Iraq's nuclear site was destroyed and then say Pakistan's nukes are not a threat to anyone.

Also, let me point to a more recent event. The Israeli assault on Gaza. Do you really think that Israel with all its technology couldn't pin-point the target and take it out. Did it really need a large scale military operation against Gaza?

A country like Israel receives almost all of its ammunition from America (http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.p...USA20090402002) and also produces some own its own.

Like everything else, weapons also have an expiry-date. And disposing them in an official and safe manner is extremely expensive, especially when there is so much of these things piled up.

What better way to get rid of them then to actually use them.

And then the same West, that supported the Israeli offense, takes the cake by condemning Russia when it moved in against Georgia.

It is time that the Pakistani Elite took their heads out of the Western countries collective arses.

Stop trying to be them, stop mimicking them, stop endorsing their way of life as your own. Otherwise the line below will apply to you

Kawa chaala Hans ki Chaal aur apni chaal bhi bhool gaya

[Vegitto1]

I am going to post the lyrics of a song by Immortal Technique. You can listen to it here:

for those who cannot be bothered listening:

We're here because of you. We're here because you were there. We've arrived from every corner of the planet to this nation to seek the fulfillment of a promise of America.

We were promised a better life in our home countries, where we were told that privatizing water and electricity will make things run more efficiently. Instead the quality remained almost the same and the price was increased until it became an unaffordable luxury.

Some corporations are more efficient than government, but their motivation is not the health or the well being of the people; it's only about profit, everything else: their image, their human resources, their public relations, only exist to protect the reality behind it.

Once upon a time, we were told that nationalization would prevent growth by limiting competition; that our countries were nothing without the companies that invested in us and so they privatized everything.

Everything in our country was owned by people that had no connection to our culture, by those who never had our interests at heart, they didn't care about our survival or well being, they just wanted to turn a profit by raping our land, by exploiting our people, our industry and our resources.

They took everything we built and made it theirs. First by creating racism to justify slavery, building the capital for capitalism, and then when they gave us what they call liberty, everything we had was still owned by them.

Our governments told us that socialism was the real enemy and that we would have freedom, but the foreign powers and corporations were the ones with real freedom; the freedom to take all the wealth generated by our work and our land and gave us only a small percentage of the scraps from the table.

Their lust for power and their greed drove them to betray not only us but themselves and the word of their own God.

And while some used missionaries and donations to off set this abuse, other countries and companies were blatant with their crimes, using war, disease, and sanctions that killed millions. They supported corrupt governments that were almost like the old slave masters in their oppression of the people, because their loyalty was to those who enable them, restored them and kept them in power, they became the b@$trd children of American industry, kleptocracy, governments of thievery. They protected the corporations and went to war against their own people to preserve those profits.

The puppet rulers were given billions of US tax dollars to fund civil wars, right wing death squads, execute political dissidents, sympathetic clergy and, even overthrow democratically elected governments. And so the age of revolution began again; they painted it as godless terrorist versus the free world and the market.

But the free market has never been free, because the market does not regulate itself. It is manipulated like a puppet and it survives because of its image. Destroy the image and the enemy will die.

Such is the same in the rap industry. But the major label super powers treat the underground like the 3rd world. When they need new assets, new artists to prostitute a side-ins and put on a shelf to use their songs
When they needed new concepts, music and publishing to steal from the producers, they came to the underground, to the 3rd world, they took our culture, our property and our industry and our resources, even using our own people to help them exploit us.

But behind the mask of efficiency, they claimed that we need them to succeed. They're no better than us; they're economic advertising was always a lie, a few got rich but most were given an illusion of wealth, almost as if it was designed for failure.

Opportunity comes at the price of soul, so remember what they are underneath the fancy architecture, glittering rented jewelry, the cars, the IMF loans, the seeds with suicide genes, 20 year contracts and oil bloody money.

Build your defenses my independent brothers and sisters. They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want. They paint the 3rd world as savage and backward. But the super powers are no less corrupt; they've just learned to disguise it better, ‘cause they fix elections too, they embezzle tax money, they go to war for resources, they fund terrorism for their own benefit, and when there's enough at stake... history's taught us that they'll even assassinate their own president.

[cricjunkie]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 Why would America sponsor bombings in Pakistan? For the same reason it does in Iraq and Afghanistan. To justify their presence in those countries. In Pakistan it is being done to undermine Pakistan's military operations in the FATA region. They do so to say "Pakistan isn't doing enough." and to allow the Puppet government of Pakistan to justify the increase in attacks in that region.

Makes a lot of sense. After all, Pakistan standing before US with its begging bowl has nothing to do with US's presence in the region ? If Pakistan is a regional economic power like India and China, you think US would dare do this to you guys ? Its simple really. You just turn down the aid America dangles in front of you and viola, America no longer has any leverage over Pakistan. Its easy to blame America for your problems, more so when you guys tout Zaid Hamid as a respected speaker & a role model for youngsters.

If you insist on conspiracy theories I have one too. I reckon all this is a handiwork of your ISI to destabilize your democratic govt, so they can overthrow the govt and impose a military rule. Its possible to pretty much make any theory look logical.

Why would ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST blow up the very things that they claim to fight for? Mosques!

This makes even less sense. You seem to believe that all suicide bombers seriously believe in their religion and after life to the extent that they are ready to kill themselves in the process of killing others. Wake up!

Terrorists are in the business of killing people. They want to put the fear of god in their enemies. They dont care how that is achieved. By definition terrorists lack conscience. To be religious you need conscience of some kind. These goons just use religion as a cover to justify what they do. Religion also provides them a channel to recruit people (all they need to do is to manipulate Islamic brotherhood by pointing at killings in Palestine) & brain wash them.

So yeah, the terrorists will blow themselves up to advance their agenda, even if that meant killing fellow Muslims.

Furthermore, Pakistan is the ONLY Islamic state with Nuclear weapons. That in itself in enough to make America, India and their stooges lose their sleep at night. They would do anything to send the country into civil unrest and chaos. India and the UK are already frustrated to no ends, A state which was made with the intention to fail within 2 decades and become part of India again is still going strong and is now a security threat.

You are seriously delusional man. Pakistan is going strong ? On what basis ? If anything it has its fingers firmly pressed on the self-destruct button. The rest of the world does not have to do anything to Pakistan right now.

Security threat ? May be, with your nukes falling in the wrong hands & all. But as a regional economic power, Pakistan is synonymous with the Bangladeshs and the Nepals of this world! The only power Westerners fear in Asia are India and China. Because China is a communist nation, it is seems to be a bigger threat to Western nations, more so because it is likely going to emerge a super power in the next two decades.

It is only a matter of time before Muslim states put their differences aside and start entering into international treaties among themselves.

What is stopping them from entering into treaties today ?

[Vegitto1]

Originally Posted by cricjunkie Makes a lot of sense. After all, Pakistan standing before US with its begging bowl has nothing to do with US's presence in the region ? If Pakistan is a regional economic power like India and China, you think US would dare do this to you guys ? Its simple really. You just turn down the aid America dangles in front of you and viola, America no longer has any leverage over Pakistan. Its easy to blame America for your problems, more so when you guys tout Zaid Hamid as a respected speaker & a role model for youngsters.

1. I suggest you increase your memory span to more then just 1 year back. Going to the roots of this conflict, Pakistan was forced into this conflict by a threat. After 9/11 the word from America was that either you are 'With us or against us.'

2. I did not say that Pakistan is an economic power. Although for a state designed to fail within 2 decades, it is doing rather well.

3. America does have leverage, because it made sure that a corrupt person is in charge of Pakistan affairs who will only do the bidding of the highest bidder. You pay Zardari enough and he will sleep with his own daughter.

4. America is the problem. For some reason, it thinks that 9/11 was a licence to fulfill America's Imperial desires.

Originally Posted by cricjunkie If you insist on conspiracy theories I have one too. I reckon all this is a handiwork of your ISI to destabilize your democratic govt, so they can overthrow the govt and impose a military rule. Its possible to pretty much make any theory look logical.

1. Your theory is flawed. We do not have a democratic government. We have an American approved government.

2. If military wanted to throw out the government, the drone attacks provided the justification to do so. No need of suicide bombings.

Originally Posted by cricjunkie This makes even less sense. You seem to believe that all suicide bombers seriously believe in their religion and after life to the extent that they are ready to kill themselves in the process of killing others. Wake up! Terrorists are in the business of killing people. They want to put the fear of god in their enemies. They dont care how that is achieved. By definition terrorists lack conscience. To be religious you need conscience of some kind. These goons just use religion as a cover to justify what they do. Religion also provides them a channel to recruit people (all they need to do is to manipulate Islamic brotherhood by pointing at killings in Palestine) & brain wash them. So yeah, the terrorists will blow themselves up to advance their agenda, even if that meant killing fellow Muslims.

1. You seem to have lost the plot. In Pakistan, the attacks are being blamed on 'Islamic Militants'. They believe that by blowing themselves up, they go to heaven among lots of hot virgin girls. So why would such hardcore muslims blow up mosques? It might mean fewer virgins or no virgins or even hell, I am sure they won't take that risk.

2. But what is the point of killing people in mosques and that too in the FATA region or NWFP?

3. They are terrorists, not Americans.

Originally Posted by cricjunkie ]You are seriously delusional man. Pakistan is going strong ? On what basis ? If anything it has its fingers firmly pressed on the self-destruct button. The rest of the world does not have to do anything to Pakistan right now.

1. On the basis that it is still on the map, doing pretty good for a nation meant to fail. Still standing are we not? Remember, its darkest before dawn. I have strong feelings that Pakistan will soon turn a new page in its history. A positive one. Keep it patriotism speaking or whatever.

Originally Posted by cricjunkie Security threat ? May be, with your nukes falling in the wrong hands & all. But as a regional economic power, Pakistan is synonymous with the Bangladeshs and the Nepals of this world! The only power Westerners fear in Asia are India and China. Because China is a communist nation, it is seens as a threa to Western nations, more so because it is likely going to emerge a super power in the next two decades.

Did I argue otherwise?

Originally Posted by cricjunkie What is stopping them from entering into treaties today ?

1. American interest. It has puppets in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan itself.

[moumotta]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 1. On the basis that it is still on the map, doing pretty good for a nation meant to fail. Still standing are we not?

The design flaws you refer to were inherent in the proposals of your founding fathers. In any case, doing better than the worst expectations of your enemies or the worst possible outcome of the designing faults of your founders is hardly a reason to self congratulate, is it?

[Vegitto1]

Originally Posted by moumotta The design flaws you refer to were inherent in the proposals of your founding fathers. In any case, doing better than the worst expectations of your enemies or the worst possible outcome of the designing faults of your founders is hardly a reason to self congratulate, is it?

Don't even try to twist this one. What our founding fathers demanded was very different to what we got. We just wanted Independence from the British and the Hindus so badly that we were willing to accept anything at that point. Now looking towards India and the state of its Muslim population, I feel the founding fathers were justified in accepting whatever we got.

[moumotta]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 Don't even try to twist this one. What our founding fathers demanded was very different to what we got. We just wanted Independence from the British and the Hindus so badly that we were willing to accept anything at that point. Now looking towards India and the state of its Muslim population, I feel the founding fathers were justified in accepting whatever we got.

So whose fault was the design? Those who did not give you a corridor or those who asked for a geographically anomolus nation.

[hussain_0216]

Lets work for our own interests.

Is it not destiny that before the end that will be war between the muslims and the kaffir, everything that happens just sets us up for that time


Its not in our interests to allow the U.S any leverage or influence in Afghanistan, the same goes for the hindians.

We know these people are our enemies, so we need to do out utmost to work against them.

The Taliban only require MINIMAL, BASIC help to defeat the U.S & NATO, give it to them.

Fine lets hit the TTP, if they screw over Pakistan too much, but Pakistan is doing the right thing by not bowing to pressure and going after the real Taliban who have to ill intentions towards Pakistan, only against our enemies.



They are gonna hit Pakistan SOONER OR LATER, its just REALITY, ACCEPT IT, they will attacks us, wage war against us, the western media and propaganda will attempt to do the same against us that they have done against Iraq, iran and afghanistan.

DONT DENY IT, ITS GOING TO HAPPEN sooner or later


Why set ourselves up for that moment.

The politicians of Pakistan have been a DISASTER for us, but we need to let the ISI and Military defend our interests.

[googly]

All I can say is I pity the people who think Blackwater/Mossad/CIA/RAW are carrying out attacks in Pakistan, think it's perfectly fine to beat up your wife, Qasab was not a Pakistani, LeT does not exist, global warming does not exist, nothing genocidal happened in '71, clap and cheer a loony like Zaid Hamid etc. etc. In fact I just don't pity you, it has reached the point where I have become insensitive to the suffering you and your fellow countrymen are going though. Just keep your crap confined to your side of the border, please!

[cricjunkie]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 1. I suggest you increase your memory span to more then just 1 year back. Going to the roots of this conflict, Pakistan was forced into this conflict by a threat. After 9/11 the word from America was that either you are 'With us or against us.'

I suggest you stop living in the past & get to the present. Back in 2001, after suffering the biggest disaster since Pearl Harbor, American govt was under severe pressure to retaliate. What do you expect the world's super power to say, when Pakistan is the only thing standing between the US and the Taliban ? With emotions riding high, the US threatened Pakistan with dire consequences if it did not participate in its war on terrorism.

Times have changed. US has gotten its revenge (at least to a degree). Today if Pakistan were a big enough economy it doesnt have to sell its country for a couple of billion dollars per year. Americans know how desperate Pakistan is for this money. Infact Pakistan needs this money so much that it is the only country that allows foreign forces to bomb its own people.

2. I did not say that Pakistan is an economic power. Although for a state designed to fail within 2 decades, it is doing rather well.

Rather well ? This is delusion grandeur. Do you live in Pakistan ? If you are educated in the West and go back to Pakistan what are your job prospects ? What is the standard of living you can afford with that job ? Heck, can you even get a life insurance policy there with two suicide bombings per day being the norm ?

Do your citizens feel safe ? Can they visit a local supermarket & return safely ? Do Pakistanis living in the west feel safe visiting the country for a vacation ? Do you have any foreign companies (other than China) investing in Pakistan ? Heck, do you even have a cricket team visiting your country ?

You dont have to answer these questions. If Pakistan is doing rather well, answers to all of the above would be an automatic yes.

3. America does have leverage, because it made sure that a corrupt person is in charge of Pakistan affairs who will only do the bidding of the highest bidder. You pay Zardari enough and he will sleep with his own daughter.

This is called circular argument.
How does American have leverage over Pakistan ? Because it has its leaders under control ? How does it have that control ? Because it installed its own puppets ? How is America able to do that ? Because it has leverage over Pakistan. Duh! So according to you this wasnt Pakistan's fault ?

How or why did you let America do that to your country ? Are your citizens and leaders so weak that they could be manipulated by any foreign govt ? I didnt see Ameircans plant puppets in India & China, as much as they would like to.

Stop blaming Zardari. Zardari is one of your citizens. He is a Pakistani. He is a democratically elected leader. If he is no good, your political system is flawed. If you have a system that can be manipulated, people will manipulate it. Dont blame the manipulators, blame your system instead.

4. America is the problem. For some reason, it thinks that 9/11 was a licence to fulfill America's Imperial desires.

Only as long as you let America screw you. Become self-sufficient & the results will follow.

1. Your theory is flawed. We do not have a democratic government. We have an American approved government.

But isnt the puppet democratically elected ? If he is, then how does America manipulate the voting process ? Did you guys not know that Zardari was corrupt when you voted him into power. If he is not voted democratically, then why is the current govt called democratic ?

1. You seem to have lost the plot. In Pakistan, the attacks are being blamed on 'Islamic Militants'. They believe that by blowing themselves up, they go to heaven among lots of hot virgin girls. So why would such hardcore muslims blow up mosques? It might mean fewer virgins or no virgins or even hell, I am sure they won't take that risk. 2. But what is the point of killing people in mosques and that too in the FATA region or NWFP? 3. They are terrorists, not Americans.

That is how suicide bombings started. But it has evolved into combat weapon or modus operandi if you will. Taliban does not have conventional military. This is how they can hit their enemies hard. Religion is a red herring. It is just used to glorify such suicide acts.

TTP's former leader Baitullah Mehsud was called a true patriot by your own military. I think it was Hamid Gul who even suggested that if India and Pakistan go to war, it will be good for Pakistan as Taliban will stop fighting them. How come suddenly the same Talibans have become India and America's friends ? Even fools wont believe this theory.

1. On the basis that it is still on the map, doing pretty good for a nation meant to fail. Still standing are we not? Remember, its darkest before dawn. I have strong feelings that Pakistan will soon turn a new page in its history. A positive one. Keep it patriotism speaking or whatever.

But just Zaid Hameed type 'feel good' speeches wont do. Your country has to sincerely act against all forms of terrorists. Clean up the LeT bases. Dont host gundas like Dawood Ibrahim. Stop calling sects of Taliban "good" while the others bad.

This hypocrisy wont do. Unless the security situation improves in Pakistan, nothing will change. No investments will flow in. Effectively Pakistan will remain the same for the forseeable future.

1. American interest. It has puppets in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan itself.

This is not going to change any time in the near future. So the type of treaty that you are talking about is just a pipe dream.

[cricjunkie]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 Don't even try to twist this one. What our founding fathers demanded was very different to what we got. We just wanted Independence from the British and the Hindus so badly that we were willing to accept anything at that point. Now looking towards India and the state of its Muslim population, I feel the founding fathers were justified in accepting whatever we got.

Right! The state of Muslims in India is so bad that they'd rather be in Pakistan today and risk getting blown up, than living in India prospering from its rising economy. For example:

1) Azim Premji @ networth 13.3B who ranks among the world's top 25 richest man, would rather be in Karachi today selling vegetables earning his daily wages.

2) Or the Bollywood Khans and AR Rehmans would rather be working in Pakistan's rich film industry that is floating in money

3) Or Abdul Kalam, our former president & chief missile scientist would rather be in Pakistan functioning in Zardari's govt rehearsing his well versed rhetoric for the umpteenth time.

4) Or our leading Muslim cricketers would rather be in Pakistan so they could get to play for the cash rich local leagues

Sad indeed. All i can say is look in the mirror. "1971" is all you need to know about how Pakistan treated its own Muslims.

[offstump]

with india being a world economic superpower and champion of human rights especially equal treatment of muslims, is it really that hard for you guys to make your own cricket forum where you can basque in self glory?

[offstump]

Government report concedes India’s Muslims are a socially deprived, victimised minority

By Deepal Jayasekera

A report prepared by a seven-member committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar has conceded that India’s Muslim minority faces appalling socioeconomic deprivation and is the victim of official neglect and frequent police harassment and violence.

The committee, which was charged with investigating the socioeconomic status of India’s 150 million Muslims and recommending means of improving their lot, was appointed by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in March 2005.

It has long been patently obvious that India’s Muslims are disproportionately represented among the poor and that they have been the target of official discrimination. From 1998 to 2004, India’s government was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which openly espouses the Hindu-supremacist doctrine of Hindutva. In 2002, more than 2,000 Muslims were killed and tens of thousands more left homeless by an anti-Muslim pogrom in BJP-ruled Gujarat.

Nevertheless, the Sachar Committee’s findings constitute a devastating indictment of bourgeois rule in India. In particular, they puncture the claims of the Congress Party, which dominates the current UPA coalition and has governed India for most of the 60 years since independence, to be the architect of a secular democracy.

Representing 13.4 percent of India’s population, Muslims are far and away India’s largest religious minority, living, albeit in varying concentrations, in all parts of the country.

The Congress-led UPA had two major motivations for appointing the Sachar Committee.

Addressing or at least appearing to address some of the grievances of India’s beleaguered Muslim minority is a way the current government can differentiate itself from the former BJP-dominated coalition, while pursuing the same socially incendiary neo-liberal economic agenda. Sections of the Indian establishment have become apprehensive over the politically destabilising consequences of the growing alienation of India’s Muslims, and in particular of a spurt in support for Islamicist organisations, some of them with terrorist affinities.

However, so damaging were the Sachar Committee’s findings to the Congress’s secular pretensions that the UPA government delayed the report’s release for some two months. Discrepancies between leaked copies of the report and the final version indicate, moreover, that the government insisted that some parts be deleted before making the Sachar Committee’s findings public.

The report concedes that India’s Muslims live under a shadow of fear due to a communalised political establishment and state machinery: “Communal tension or any untoward incident in any part of the country is enough to make Muslims fear for their safety and security. The lackadaisical attitude of the government and the political mileage sought whenever communal riots occur has been very painful for the Community.”

The report adds that Muslims have come to fear the police and security forces: “Concern was expressed over police highhandedness in dealing with Muslims. Muslims live with an inferiority complex as ‘every bearded man is considered an ISI [Pakistan’s foreign spy agency] agent’; ‘whenever any incident occurs Muslim boys are picked up by the police’ and fake encounters [between security forces and alleged Muslim terrorists] are common. In fact, people argued that police presence in Muslim localities is more common than the presence of schools, industry, public hospitals and banks. Security personnel enter Muslim houses on the slightest pretext. The plight of Muslims living in border areas is even worse as they are treated as ‘foreigners’ and are subjected to harassment by the police and administration.”

The treatment accorded Muslims by India’s security forces is directly bound up with Indian bourgeoisie’s use of anti-Pakistan and ant-Muslim chauvinism as a weapon of its class rule—as a means to manufacture “national unity” and to divert the social antagonisms and frustrations born of acute poverty, inequality and economic insecurity in a reactionary direction.
Ghetto-isation

The Sachar report points out that communal harassment is increasingly forcing Muslims into impoverished ghettos: “Fearing for their security, Muslims are increasingly resorting to living in ghettos across the country. This is more pronounced in communally sensitive towns and cities.”

This ghetto-isation, in turn, facilitates official neglect and discrimination. “It was suggested that Muslims living together in concentrated pockets (both because of historical reasons and a deepening sense of insecurity) has made them easy targets for neglect by municipal and government authorities. Water, sanitation, electricity, schools, public health facilities, banking facilities, anganwadis [day care centers], ration shops, roads, and transport facilities—are all in short supply in these areas.”

India’s Muslims, reports the Sachar Committee, face “deficits and deprivation in practically all dimensions” of socioeconomic development.

In most socioeconomic indicators that the committee considered, “Muslims rank somewhat above SCs/STs [the historically-deprived former untouchables (Dalits) and tribal (hunter-gather) peoples],” but below all other groups, that is “Hindu OBCs [Other Backward Classes or lower caste groups], Other Minorities and Hindu General [mostly those who come from families that would have traditionally been considered upper caste].”

For some measures of social deprivation, Muslims as a group fell below the Dalits, who more than a half-century after the abolition of untouchability continue to make up a grossly disproportionate share of India’s landless, poor and illiterate. And some particularly disadvantaged Muslims groups fell consistently below the Dalits.

The head count ratio (HCR) of poverty among Muslims is 31 percent—second only to the SC/ST communities whose HCR is 35 percent. The poverty figure among urban Muslims is higher, with 38.4 percent deemed to be living in poverty, as compared with 36.4 percent of urban Dalits and Scheduled Tribes.

Here it needs be emphasised that India’s official poverty line is pegged at the bare subsistence level, the income necessary to meet the caloric requirement to do a full day’s work.

Using data from the 2001 National Census and National Sample Survey, the Sachar committee shows that Muslims are disproportionately poorly housed; that they use less electricity than other Indians, with “the share of villages with no electricity increasing substantially” as the size of the Muslim population rises; and that they have less access to running water. While only 25 percent of households in rural India have running water, the figure for Muslim households is a mere 10 percent.

The share of Muslims having government jobs is just 4.9 percent. Only 4.5 percent of railway workers are Muslim, and of these, 98.7 percent occupy lower-level positions. Muslims constitute just 3.2 percent of those in India’s elite civil service corps.

The situation is worse in states with large Muslim populations. For example, in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam, where Muslims form 25.2 percent, 18.5 percent and 30.9 percent of the population, respectively, their share of government jobs is 4.7 percent, 7.5 percent, and 10.9 percent, respectively.
Less access to education

According to the Sachar report, Muslims in India have less access to education than other religious groups. As a result, the literacy rate among Muslims is only 59.1 percent while the national average is 64.8 percent. School enrollment among urban Muslim boys is only 80 percent, as compared with 90 percent of SC/ST boys. Only 68 percent of Muslim girls attend schools, while the figures for Dalit girls and girls categorised as non-Dalit are 72 percent and 80 percent, respectively.

When it comes to higher education, the Muslim presence is even lower. The report says that in the elite Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Muslim students constitute only 1.3 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively, of the student body.

One of the means through which the Indian ruling elite has discriminated against the Muslim minority is through its treatment of Urdu—a north Indian language that, like Hindi, is a variant of Hindustani, the major distinction being that Hindi uses a Sanskrit-derived script, while Urdu is written in a Persian-Arabic type script. (As a result of the activities of Hindu and Muslim communalists, Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, was redefined as a “Muslim” language during the first half of the twentieth century.)

Reports the Sachar Committee: Urdu “has been neglected. The fallout of this has been inadequate access to education in the mother tongue for many Urdu speaking children. The neglect has also resulted in poor performance of Urdu medium school students because of poor infrastructural facilities and absence of adequate number of qualified teachers.”

There is evidence that India’s banks, both public and private, also discriminate against Muslims. According to the report, the average bank loan disbursed to a Muslim is two thirds of the amount disbursed to other minorities: “[S]ome banks use the practice of identifying ‘negative geographical zones’ on the basis of certain criteria where bank credit and other facilities are not easily provided.”

According to the Indian Express, the Sachar report also contained statistics showing that Muslims make up a disproportionately high percentage of jail inmates in all parts of India. But these figures have been excluded from the final version of the report.

Citing an earlier draft of the report, the Express says that in Maharashtra, India’s second most populous state, Muslims constitute 32.4 percent out of all inmates even though Muslims represent just 10.6 percent of the state’s population. In Gujarat, also in western India, Muslims account for more than a quarter of all prison inmates although they constitute just 9.06 percent of the population. In Karnataka, in southern India, 17.5 percent of jail inmates are Muslim as compared to their 12.23 percent of the population. In Delhi, the Union Territory that is home to India’s capital city, Muslims account for 11.7 percent of the population but 29.1 percent of prison inmates.

The high presence of Muslims in Indian prisons is a product of the deplorable socioeconomic conditions that they confront and of systematic anti-Muslim bias on the part of the police and judiciary. Thousands of innocent Muslim youths have been caught up in various “anti-terrorism” dragnets—dragnets that have made use of such draconian anti-terrorism laws as the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and allow the authorities to hold people for weeks and months without charge.

Meanwhile, the Indian state has done nothing to prosecute those responsible for the 2002 Gujarat pogrom and other anti-Muslim atrocities.
The Congress and the communal partition of India

Despite the claims of India’s ruling elite concerning the secular and democratic character of India’s polity, Muslims have faced systematic and escalating discrimination since independence.

That discrimination has its roots in the 1947 communal partition of then-British India along religious-communal lines into a Muslim Pakistan and a Hindu-dominated India. Partition was implemented through violent communal clashes fomented by both Hindu and Muslim chauvinists. These clashes resulted in the deaths of some 2 million, while another 12-14 million people were forced to flee their homes and cross the artificial border that had been drawn across the subcontinent. As a part of this forcible exchange of communities between the newly independent states of India and Pakistan, millions of Muslims were chased out of India.

Although the Indian National Congress (INC), led by Gandhi and Nehru, denied any responsibility for partition, portraying it as entirely the product of the machinations of India’s departing colonial overlords and the Muslim League, the Congress played a pivotal role in implementing partition.

It was the Congress leadership that insisted that partition be taken to its logical conclusion and that the British Indian provinces of Bengal and Punjab be partitioned on communal lines, so as to ensure that the new states were as communally homogeneous as possible.

Even more importantly, it was the Congress that joined forces with the British and the League to reorganise the state structure in South Asia, so as to contain and suppress a mass anti-imperialist movement that between 1945 and 1947 had given rise to a myriad of social struggles—including strikes, peasant land-seizures and challenges to feudal obligations, popular revolts against various princely rulers, and mutinies in the British Indian armed forces—and was assuming revolutionary dimensions.

Organically incapable of leading—and opposed to—a struggle to unite India from below through an appeal to the common class interests of the toiling masses, the bourgeois-led Congress chose to “unite” India from above by accepting partition and inheriting the British-colonial-engineered Indian state.

Moreover, a large section of the Congress leadership led by Vallabhbhai Patel collaborated with Hindu-chauvinist forces such as the RSS and the princely ruler of Alwar in stirring up anti-Muslim communalism, both before and after partition. Within weeks of independence, Patel and other senior Congress leaders were pressing for measures to reduce the use of Urdu in government and restrict Muslim participation in the police and security forces. Patel, in particular, demanded that India’s Muslim minority prove it wasn’t a fifth column for Pakistan.

The subsequent decades of Congress rule failed to address the basic socioeconomic needs of India’s working people. The deplorable socioeconomic conditions facing the Muslim minority are only an extreme expression of the situation facing the vast majority of Indians.

In the 1980s, as the Indian bourgeoisie’s post-independence national economic development strategy began to unravel, the Congress, first under Indira Gandhi and then under her son Rajiv, increasingly resorted to Hindu-chauvinist appeals. This in turn helped pave the way for the Hindu-supremacist BJP to emerge as a major political force.

In December 1992, a BJP-RSS anti-Muslim chauvinist campaign to build a Hindu temple on the site of the Babri Masjid mosque in Ayodhya culminated in its demolition by Hindu-chauvinist fanatics and the worst communal rioting since partition. The then-Congress government of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao passively allowed this to happen, thereby further strengthening right-wing Hindu communalist forces.

Some six years later, the BJP managed to become the ruling party in India, indicating a further shift of the Indian bourgeoisie and political establishment to the right and its embrace of an explicitly anti-Muslim Indian/Hindu nationalism.