‘Allah’ the Arabic word for god was used by pre-Islamic Meccans to refer to their god and ‘Allat’ was the word for goddess. Allah was believed as the creator of the world and giver of rain. Al-uzza, lat and manat were believed to be his daughters. Pre-Islamic, Abrahamic religions also referred to their god as allah. The government in Malaysia, where the national language is Malay, sought monopoly of muslims over the word allah and contested that its use by practitioners of other religions could disrupt harmony.

Politically, Islam as a religion has suffered a downward slide since Islamic revolution in Iran. Marriage-age for girls has been lowered to 9, fornication is a severe crime and apostasy is awarded the capital punishment of death in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The emergence of al-Qaeda and Taliban, with their beheadings and girl-floggings present the religion as brutal savagery while the ordinary faithful struggle to maintain that Islam is a religion of peace and harmony.

Any effort to harmonize Islam with the UN charter of human rights has been viciously opposed by the Islamic clergy. Muslim religionists gained political importance after the Second World War. Creation of Israel as a Jewish state by ousting Palestinians from their ancestral land caused deprivation and anger. The creation of Pakistan as a separate state for Muslims encouraged the forces of regression. Mussadegh, the proponent of Iranian nationalism and democracy was murdered by CIA. Nasser, the secular, liberal leader of Egypt was portrayed as enemy of the west. The  secular monarch of Iran was perceived as an American stooge by Iranians and Muslims living under US sponsored dictatorship in Pakistan began to identify modernity with imperialist-slavery.

Muslim religionists became the natural allies of US in their war against communism. After the defeat of Soviet Union in Afghanistan, these die-hard Islamists were left with weapons, jihadi organizations and connections within governments in Islamic countries. Saudis found it important to counter the emerging shia clergy of Iran and used the Islamists for propagation of their own brand of Wahabi Islam by sponsoring madressahs among the poverty-stricken Muslims world-wide. The emergence of al-Qaeda, 9/11 attacks and the spread of extremist Islam in Malaysia, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Pakistan are all linked.

Seen in this perspective, the actions of the government of Malaysia and the arsonists burning churches in Kualalumpur, points at a politically regressive movement bent upon hurting Muslims and Islam by keeping them away from modernity and progress. Social movement in 19th century India led by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan urged Muslims to achieve modern education. Similar movements among Hindus propagated education for women and challenged customs and legal system that allowed the marriage of a girl at the age of 9. It appears that reactionaries have brought the Muslims down to the level of 19th century. Social movements challenging religious traditions that contradict human rights must be waged with full speed. Gender equality and education of women is compulsory for the survival of Muslims. Without them there would be no Islam.

Sixty two years of suffering compounded by dismemberment and defeat, plagued by debilitating extremism and war speak for the courage of Pakistanis who still strive for peace and prosperity with hope and vigor. Despite bomb blasts, murders, disappearance of loved ones, cruelty of rulers, poverty and hunger, Pakistanis cherish freedom and dream of a better future.

With division of India to include a separate homeland for muslims, a million people lost their lives and a conflict between two communities became a war between two countries. Until now, this conflict has consumed the two states to the point that poverty and illiteracy is rampant in both countries while Europe and USA, the actors of the two world wars seem to have turned that bloody page of history into peaceful progress and prosperity.

Sir Cyril Radcliffe, who had never been to India before, presided over dividing of borders of a country few times larger than Britain and hastily, within two weeks, the boundaries of Pakistan was carved out with West and East wings of the new country separated by a thousand miles. With a British General as the commander-in-chief of the Pakistan army, war between Pakistan and India started to take shape in Kashmir within a few weeks after independence.

Second world war saw the decline of the British empire and the rise of USA marked a new conflict, the Cold war. Americans took over the mantle from the British and Pakistan became a US ally. USA invested in building Pakistan army and the army took over the country in 1958. Democracy in Pakistan has been an elusive dream since, as the country turned into a war front against India and Russia.

After a bloody break-up of East Pakistan in 1971 Pakistanis started afresh with a new constitution but the army deposed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977 and got him executed with the help of a judiciary. In 1979 Americans started a war against Soviet Union in Afghanistan and Pakistan became the fountain of Jihadist ideology and organization.

Military rulers used the country to build a business- empire of their own that produces missiles to corn flakes and owns the best urban and rural real estate. Feudal and elite politicians squandered country’s wealth in building their own private paradise.

US war in Afghanistan opened a divide between Pakistan army and US. General Musharraf had to exit Islamabad. Democracy, weak but growing has many problems to tackle and the response of politicians appear removed from the gravity and urgency of the situation.

Pakistanis face rolling black-out for extended periods. Baluchistan demands autonomy and rights over its resources. War in NWFP continues. Stumped by the fear of bankruptcy and disintegration of the country, some Pakistanis advance revolution as the only way to cure all ills. Inept political leadership, US role in the region, abolition of feudalism and eradicating religious extremism are cited as some reasons for a revolt.

How do they intend to carry out a revolution is not discussed, though eagerness to dismantle the democratic set-up and replace it with honest, patriotic, people loving, god-abiding leaders, is expressed in public conversations.

These concerned Pakistanis believe that democracy and elections would keep churning out the same corrupt politicians. Democracy empowers people, they concede, but people need jobs, food, electricity and health-care, they argue. They would not mind curbing democracy and freedom of expression to provide for immediate relief, they say.

A revolution without a revolutionary party could only mean a military take over. General Ayub Khan referred to his military coup as revolution. In his book ‘Friends not masters’ he wrote, “…revolutions take long and painstaking preparation, detailed planning, clandestine meetings, and country-wide movement of troops. In our case there was little preparation. It was handled as a military operation”

After living in a turmoil for 62 years, Pakistanis understand that democracy and freedom of expression are valuable qualities that make their lives worth hoping for a better future. General Zia once said, “The Maulvi has got stuck on the T.V. screen; and let me tell you he will remain stuck there.”

On this anniversary of Pakistan let us hope that democracy stays in Pakistan and grows stronger to establish a rule of law that delivers against all those who think of themselves beyond law. Let us support the judiciary to become stronger and capable of dealing with the rich, the mighty, the feudal lords, military and ISI under the constitution of Pakistan. Let us get the maulvi un-stuck from the TV screen.

Karachi is bleeding again. The Mohajirs against Pathans, MQM against ANP or the ISI against Karachi, the cycle of blood-shed has hit the city. Six months ago 35 had perished in a similar violence. The media reports two dozen dead but the numbers could be as high as 40 in one day of violence this time.

In April 2008, Sher Afgan Niazi, who used to be a minister in President Musharraf’s cabinet, was beaten up by a group of lawyers in Lahore and somebody slapped the ex-chief minister of Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim with a shoe. Karachi saw a bloody day with seven dead, scores wounded and property destroyed. Karachi turns out to be the action ground where the powerful fight their gunbattles for supremacy.

For a city of seventeen million Karachi holds a variety of ethnic migrants from India and the rest of Pakistan. The majority of the citizens are migrants or descendants of migrants from India represented by the MQM. This party came to eminence by prevailing in a series of gun-battles that pitched them against other ethnic groups, specially the Pathans.

After the ethnic riots in 1985 and 1986, MQM had gained dominance of the city politics and it did not take them long to translate their street power into votes. They run the city government. The exercise of governing a big city is different than running an extortion scam but this urban political outfit did not lose touch with its past.

Pathans voted for the Awami National Party in 2008 elections. The two parties have been clashing for some time but the current spate of violence is being connected to the incident of 12th May 2007. MQM was an ally of the Musharraf government in Islamabad and the chief justice dismissed by Musharraf was supposed to address a rally of lawyers in Karachi. Those who wanted to attend were fired at, killing dozens.

ANP supported the peace deal with Taliban in Swat and MQM opposed it on the floor of the National Assembly. MQM had been complaining of Talibanisation of Karachi for some time. Pakistan Peoples Party, the ruling party in Sindh and Pakistan has been ambivalent to the MQM complaint. More than one hundred thousand migrants from FATA and NWFP have moved into the city in recent months.

After their show of dissent in the National Assembly, MQM blamed ANP pointedly for the passage of Nizam-e-Adl resolution deliberately ignoring the fact that this peace deal with Taliban was signed after the military had decided to back-off from Swat. MQM never mentioned the army, PPP or PML in their opposition of the new law.

President Asif Zardari has lived a good part of his life in Karachi and he has seen the MQM rise. All political parties have seen their share in popularity taken away but the power of MQM always came through when challenged.

ANP had decided to hold a memorial rally on the 12th of May and MQM opposed it. There were clashes and killings. The Sindh government announced a ban on public rallies and ANP declared a shutter down strike instead. Killings continued. The atmosphere is charged with ethnic hatred but it could be more than pathans and the ANP involved.

The businessmen in Lyari refused to pay the extortion money they used to pay and confronted the collectors with guns. Lyari is the stronghold of Peoples Party and it looks like ANP has a partner in this fight. President Zardari, after failing in Punjab could be playing politics Karachi style quite tactfully with the ANP in front.

Taliban have built hundreds of madressahs and mosques in and around Karachi and they guard their areas with loaded guns and RPGs in broad daylight. MQM has been unable to scare them away and the fighting this time could be deadlier than ever. Taliban have already warned the co-ed schools to shut down in Karachi.

No matter who wins this fight, innocent lives would be lost. A Pathan working in a Mohajir neighbourhood for small wages could lose his life and a Mohajir living next to a Pathan settlement could be decapitated.

The mayhem thus created would provide Taliban the golden opportunity to take-over the city and accomplish their goal of stopping the US/NATO supplies through Karachi port. The nuclear power plant of the city would be another asset to fall in Taliban hands.

Such an event could cause a chain reaction. The government in Islamabad could fall and eventually the country could disintegrate. Loss of innocent lives do not compare to the lofty political ambitions of the few.

 Malik A. Rashid

Pakistan, after surviving a serious threat of collapse finds itself weak and hurting. The finance minister has asked for a 4 billion dollar loan from IMF. Shortage of electric supply has aroused protest and destruction.  Displaced persons return home to find Taliban FM radio still blaring. It is not only the war in the north; Baluch also demand the right to secede.

Government had to reduce the budget deficit, retract subsidy and raise price of energy under IMF conditions so they imposed tax, but they resorted to artful deceit by calling it a carbon tax as if they planned to cut carbon emission. Supreme-court ruled against the tax and the government re-imposed it as a Petroleum Development levy though this tax is intended to reduce the budget deficit without contributing to development of petroleum.

Generous offers of aid from the friends of Pakistan may not materialize on time so Finance Minister requested for another loan from IMF. A country already under a huge burden of debt receives harsher conditions for new loans. IMF had offered a list of conditions but the government chose to leave the agriculture sector exempt from tax. Instead, citizens already hurt from economic crisis will be squeezed at the pump as well.

Shortage of electric supply has drawn protests in Lahore and Karachi. Protesters burnt down a train in Punjab. Karachi witnessed another power failure after the first rain of the season. Some parts of the city are without electricity and water for last 4 days. Textile manufacturers say they are moving out to Bangladesh because of un-favorable conditions in the country.

War continues in the north though some areas have been declared safe for the return of displaced people. No insurgent leader has been reported killed or arrested and returning citizens still hear the FM broadcasts of Taliban propaganda. Military spokesman General Athar Abbas offered to bring Taliban to negotiate with the Americans in Afghanistan.

Baluchistan, the province that provides natural gas to the whole country, constitutes 43% of the total area of Pakistan and resides only 4% of the population. The province was annexed by sending military to Kalat in 1948. Demands of autonomy and secession have been countered by brutal military force and there has been no effort at comforting the grievance of the people. The actions of Pakistan government come close to genocide compared to the size of population.

The richest province is the most under-developed. The gas fields and airstrips were built to accommodate migrant workers and technicians but Baluchistan did not see any infra-structure development aimed to benefit its people. Gwadur port has been completed with the help of China. An Australian company is mining a single gold reserve in Baluchistan estimated at 65 billion dollars. A gas pipeline running between Iran and India through Baluchistan was announced a few years ago. A US plan for a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India running through Afghanistan and Baluchistan has been reported in the media.

Baluch have continually expressed dismay against plundering of their resources. Increased business activity in this resource rich province in presence of warring armies in the region makes situation particularly volatile. Pushtuns have been devastated by three decades of war and a political change in their situation could be imminent. The establishment suggested dividing Punjab into an ethnic Seraiki and Punjabi province instead of addressing the demands of smaller provinces.

The mass protest against shortage of electric supply has not been supported by any political party. Politicians, the parliament and senate appear numb to the pressing issues faced by the people and the country. The movement for restoration of judiciary had invigorated the people but that activism has dissipated. General Musharraf’s ministers blamed CIA for instigating that movement.

Should we request the CIA for leadership and organization again in resolving the electric supply problems and providing tax relief to people? Imposing tax on agriculture could lead the country towards financial strength and self-dependence. Allowing people to share in the resources of their land could harmonize relations between peoples and government. Pains of political change in the region could be less agonizing if clarity of mind, openness of heart and urgency of action is deployed.

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As soon as we arrived at the church, we found out that my mother had a heart-attack and she was at the emergency of Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. I went inside the church and stood for some group pictures with the bride and groom. A few minutes later I drove to the hospital where my brothers, a sister and other family members were standing outside the emergency entrance.

She survived the evening and they moved her to the cardiac care unit. I stayed beside her with my brother Sajid while the rest of the family participated in the wedding dinner. On Saturday morning the doctor in-charge of CCU told us that she was getting better and we should be able to take her home (a four hours drive) by Monday. He gave us his contact number in case she fell sick at home. The same evening around 8 PM her blood pressure went down to 50 sounding an alarm. We were told she may not survive. Around 6 PM on Sunday, my dear mother was pronounced dead.

She was 80 years old with a heart condition for the last 15 years. She lived independently in her apartment in Karachi where my father passed away in 2004. Before leaving her house for her last trip to North America, my mother called all her relatives and acquaintance and insisted that they come and see her. Death, the un-wanted destiny was on her mind when she embarked on this trip.

Being carried to her grave on the shoulders of her four sons was her most pronounced wish. Had she died in Pakistan, it would not happen. Five of her seven children, her son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws and grand children were by her side when she breathed for the last time. Her two daughters and her grand children who could not make it to Rochester had no bounds to their grief.

Her children and grandchildren cried, hugged and kissed her as she lay dead on the hospital bed. Sachal, my 10 year old nephew kept crying despite my efforts to explain the cycle of birth and death. Fifth.of July is Sachal’s birthday and he was anguished over the fact that grandma passed away on his birthday. I kissed my mother and took the kids to Chuck E Cheese where they had some fun and laughter.

During those two days at the hospital we experienced kindness of strangers. The hospital staff took good care of their patient as well as the visitors. The doctors spoke with us as equals and convinced us on all available options before under-taking one. An Indian doctor was so frustrated after all efforts of healing her that he almost cried. Some hospital staff hugged us and cried with us.

Kuldip is a nursing aide at the hospital. She directed me to the Indian restaurant and offered to bring home-cooked meal for all of us. Kuldip hails from Delhi. Her husband, 45 year old, passed away at the same hospital and she was left alone to take care of her two kids. They lost her husband’s business and house after his demise but Kuldip’s mother-in-law came from India to help her out. Kuldip works at the hospital while her two children go to school. The presence of her deceased husband’s mother at home provides her support.

When I got back to the hospital after entertaining the kids, my mother’s body was waiting for the folks from funeral home. She was transported to Newburgh, New York, a six hour drive from Rochester. She was buried in Newburgh cemetery where they have a portion reserved for muslim burials.

The funeral home provides facility for bathing the dead in their building. My oldest sister, my wife and sister-in-laws bathed her for the last time. Her sons and grand sons transferred her into the wooden casket. Her funeral prayer was conducted at the local mosque. I asked the Pesh-Imam if women could form their own row and stand behind the men for prayers. To my amazement, he said yes. Though they stood behind men, it was for the first time in my life I saw muslim men and women standing for prayer together.

Her body was taken to the graveyard in a solemn procession. A black limo was in front, the hearse behind it and many cars followed with their hazard lights flashing. We proceeded slowly to complete a 5 minute drive in thirty minutes. The procession did not stop for traffic lights and the good people of the city waited patiently to let my mother’s funeral pass. The gentleman who led the Asr (after-noon) prayer and the one who led the Janaza (Funeral) prayer accompanied us to the graveyard along with other members of the muslim community in the area. They helped us shovel soil onto the grave after her casket was lowered.

It feels as knowledge of impending death brought her to North America this time. The time came when we were all together in Rochester. Death must be repugnant because she got up from bed and wanted to walk out, a couple of hours before passing away, though she had been so weak during this ordeal that she could not lift herself up in bed. Death, no matter how we look at it, is mysterious in essence.

Malik A. Rashid
13 July 2009

By Malik A. Rashid

Do Muslims view the West as hostile because of modernity and globalization?
It is hard to find a Muslim who hates telephone, radio, air travel, news-papers, computers, television or films. There could be some Amish among Muslims but they would be an exception.
If the President was referring to the absence of democracy among Muslims as a sign of their aversion to modernity, his mention of US role in ousting of Mussadeq provides the right answer.
Globalization has not found many opponents among Muslims yet because the US war on terror received all attention in recent years. The President said, ”…Muslim majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspiration.”
The President mentioned founding of Israel as the cause for displacement of Palestinians. Instead of a shy admittance, USA and Britain could accept responsibility along with Israel for the death, destruction and displacement of Palestinians. That could be a starting point towards building a bridge to peace.
On the nuclear issue, the President sounded accommodating of Iran’s use of peaceful nuclear energy but insisted on implementation of NPT. Israel’s nuclear weapons were not mentioned.
President Obama declared that US does not seek permanent bases in Iraq or Afghanistan. US insistence on entrusting India with the Afghan affairs is a cause of major concern for Pakistani establishment
The President announced support for education, health and economy in the Muslim countries. He reiterated US resolve for gender equality but his support for democracy seem to allow for dictators and monarchs as long as they pledge a peaceful evolution of participation in governance. Isn’t it the same old policy of condoning dictators?
The President however did cast USA as a Muslim inclusive country in his speech, instead of a Judea-Christian imperialist power. He pleaded for tolerance of other faiths among Muslims and asserted that moral authority can not be claimed by violence.
Moral authority is what the USA needs to re-establish itself in the Muslim world, as a friend and a partn

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By Malik Rashid

1.5 million Pakistanis rendered homeless by war, face tough living conditions in camps and cities. Thousands are held hostage by the insurgents and a large number did not make it to safety for lack of roads and transport.

The war against Taliban and the displaced persons make aid-worthy news but the blood-shed of those caught in cross-fire has been kept out of bounds for the media. Blocking access to war-zones raises suspicion of cover-up, for heavy-handedness and disregard for collateral damage. UN refugee agency describes the displacement as one of the most dramatic crisis of recent times.

Government is restricted within Islamabad due to security situation and the President could not visit camps. He traveled overseas to perform the task of international aid collection. New York Times reported that Pakistan is rapidly adding nuclear arms, raising doubts over delivery of US aid. US congressmen had cited corruption as another reason for their reluctance in approving the aid package.

Military adventurism, corruption and extremism, have dispatched the country of 170 million, spinning into disaster. Fear of war over nukes multiply the anxiety of civilians. Talibanisation is another monster that scares the life out.

Three quarter of Pakistanis live in abject poverty, earning less than two dollars a day. Health-care, education and other services are almost non-existent for the majority that resides in rural areas.

The princely feudals maintain lavish mansions, private armies and jails. Retired army officers are provided with expensive cars and hefty pensions from the national exchequer. Politicians, ministers and members of parliament are not behind in making a fortune off the public money.

Major cities face lengthening power outage daily, as energy supply is depleted. Industries and businesses face extinction and hospitals work under candle-light. But nuclear-bomb factory is reportedly producing at an alarming rate.
The people are led to believe that a conspiracy to disarm Pakistan of its nukes is about to be executed by US, India, Israel and Europe, jointly. Meanwhile, political and military leaders pay regular visits to US and Europe, seeking aid.

The New York Times reveals, US has already paid $100 million for the safety of 80 to 100 nukes. This money is assigned to help Pakistan secure its weapons and materials from Taliban, Al-Qaeda and insiders with loyalties to the insurgents.

The rulers sprint for international aid as the military pounds Taliban-held areas. It is not beyond the glorious minds that rule Islamabad to think of adding nukes as another way of securing foreign aid, just like nurturing Taliban.

As the bombs are churned out, the people are left to suffer without electricity, health-care, rule-of-law, employment and education. Critical issues like reduction of poverty and abolition of feudalism do not find any attention.

Keeping the people confused between allegiance to USA and a predatory conspiracy to steal their bomb, Pakistani political leadership has failed to make any friends. General Musharraf gleefully announced on CNN that the world is lucky to have Pakistan army and ISI. ” These are the only institutions in Pakistan that could deliver,” he insisted.

The ground beneath democracy has started shifting because US interests are best served by military dictators and monarchs, and their commitment to democracy in Pakistan is as hollow and hypocritical as the allegiance of Pakistan military to the people.

The other reason for the mortal disease ailing democracy in Pakistan is the non-representative, dishonest, ill-educated political leadership. Political parties are fiefdoms. Leadership is inherited like feudal property. Democracy is way distant from the cultural attitudes of those who lead.

Absence of political leadership on a federal level provides for strengthening of ethnic, racist, regional and divisive regimentations. Instead of paying attention to their complaints, the Baloch protest is labeled as foreign intervention. The killing and displacement of Pakhtuns would eventually turn them against the federation.

Political leadership with clarity, honesty and determination for the triumph of democracy has not evolved yet. Hope for the future sounds like belief without reason.

By Malik Rashid

As hundreds of thousands flee the war-ravaged areas in Pakistan, a status-quo in US-Pakistan relations has been regained. US officials express no immediate danger of collapse of the state and the two week alarm raised by General Petraeus has been changed.

The US congressional committee has approved $1.9 billion in aid for Pakistan. President Zardari thinks this amount is very little compared to the government money given to AIG. He wanted some drones and managed to get some helicopters.

Pakistan army will receive an extra $400 million in aid this year as their artillery, helicopters and fighter jets pound areas occupied by Taliban. The US resolve to strengthen democracy in Pakistan came under suspicion since the army was reinstated as the key player in US-Pakistan relations, once again.

US administration is determined to change the mind-set of Pakistani military into acceptance of India as a friendly neighbor. A common Pakistani may not find this US suggestion objectionable for the sake of peace in the region, but hatred of India is the soul and spirit of Pakistan army.

US fears a coup by army officers supportive of Taliban so they insist that the army stays engaged against the internal threat. The rehabilitation of army as the leading role player comes with a reward of increased aid.

Mr. Holbrooke advised congress that Mr. Zardari’s government and democracy is stable in Pakistan. He suggested that conditions for US aid to Pakistan regarding transparency about their nuclear weapons should be deferred for now, as the country fights insurgency.

Pragmatic decisions could defy allegations of hypocrisy when proclaimed goals are not compromised. Establishing sovereignty of civilian rule in Pakistan was stated as an objective by the US, not so long ago.

At a tripartite meeting in Washington, Secretary Clinton introduced the Afghan and Pakistan delegations to US administration officials including the Attorney-general and the Secretary of agriculture. The Attorney-general would review the rule of law with the two delegations and the Secretary of agriculture would discuss ways to help agriculture in the two countries.

On CNN, Christiane Amanpour suggested legitimizing opium trade to cut the source of funds for insurgency in Afghanistan. Abolition of feudalism in Pakistan was absent from conversations. Agriculture in the developing world is one of the few profitable sources of investment left, in times of global recession.

The military is left to guard democracy in Pakistan and the ruling elite are entrusted with implementing the rule of law. The oppressive status quo responsible for the suffering of 170 million people has thus been upheld.

General Petraeus believes al-Qaida leadership is rooted in Pakistan, and the country faces severe threat, but he praised coordinated effort to beat the Taliban uprising.

President Zardari revealed that Osama bin Laden paid ten million dollars to oust Benazir government, and she thought bin-Laden was a US operative acting on America’s behalf.

The complicity and duplicity allegations fly back and forth as President Zardari sounds like ZA Bhutto from his death cell. Coup d’etat and re-organizing government, according to the wishes of military, is politics as usual for Pakistan.

The military did not regard Taliban as a formidable foe but they are pounding Swat and Malakand region with the explosive force of artillery, helicopters and fighter jets. The heaven-like Swat valley is facing destruction and ruin.

This operation could re-vitalize the strength of Taliban and al-Qaida, insists Fareed Zakaria in a BBC interview, warning that application of excessive force could be counter-productive. Only a counter-insurgency operation may have the required precision to minimize collateral damage.

Such a heavy deployment and operation of troops must have been planned weeks in advance but the preparedness for human exodus from the disaster zone falls far short. Facilities and food for the displaced persons is scarce and looting has been reported.

As hundreds of thousands flee their homes, and many towns and villages are destroyed, it is the same old politics, played in a cold-hearted, secretive manner, in Washington and Islamabad.