Media Watchdog
We are not Malala, we may be the Taliban

We are not Malala, we may be the Taliban

In order for terrorists to flourish, they need more than guns, funding - they need your mind. And they may have it.

Jahanzaib Haque October 15, 2012

In order for terrorists to flourish, they need more than guns, funding and a geographical location to operate in - they also need an ideological space to occupy and work inside.

That is how they persist; that is how they can win.

This fact is one which the majority of Pakistanis have yet to come to terms with: the fact that we ourselves are often individually culpable and involved in the war being waged against the terrorists in our country. Tragically, we are often knowingly or unknowingly on the wrong side of the ideological front.

Nowhere has this been better illustrated than in the current tragedy that is the attack on 14-year-old Malala Yousufzai.

Within hours of the attack, a select group of Pakistanis started creating the ideological space that allows terrorists the upper hand. It would be hard to imagine how a counter narrative could be built around the gunning down of a child, but there it was, coming from our politically charged youth, our parties, our ultra-nationalists and religio-political parties, our extremist/banned organisations and yes, our relatives, peers and friends.

I received this SMS message early yesterday morning from a co-worker:

Zara Sochae! [think!]
MALALA Ko Karachi My Target Kiya Jata; [If Malala was targeted in Karachi]
Ya Hazaron Ki Tarah Isay Bhi Drone Nishana Banata Tou: [or killed like thousands in drone attacks]
1-Na To Wo Qoum Ki Byti Kehlati [nor would she be called nation's daughter]
2-Na Hi yeh Matam [nor this mourning]
3-Na Obama Air Ambulance Offer Karta [nor an Air Ambulance from Obama]
4-Na UNO Ko ko Takleef Hoti. [Nor UNO being hurt]
5-Na tamam Madaris/ulema ka 90 pur data collect hota [Nor the collection of data of madrassas and ulema at Nine Zero]
Aaj Bhi North Wazirastan My Drone Attack My 16 Afrad Shaheed Ho Chuky Hain: [Today also 16 people have died in drone attacks]
1-Na To Qoam Ny DUA Ki? [Did the nation pray?]
2-Na Kiyani Giya Na Kisi kou koi ghum? [Neither did Kayani go, nor did anyone express sorrow?]
3-Na Kisi Ko CMH Muntaqil kiya Geya? [Nor was anyone admitted to CMH?]
4-Qoam Ki Aik Aur Byti AAFIA K Liye Kisi Ny Aaj Tak Yom-e-Duaa Kiyon Nahi Manai? [Why has there never been a day of prayer for Dr Aafia Siddiqui?]
5-Aur Kiyon Na AAFIA K Liye "Azad Media" Ny Aasman Sar Par Uthaya [Why no hue and cry for Aafia in our idependent media?]
6-Aur Laal Masjid ki betiyan? [What about the Laal Masjid daughters?]
Anjuman-e-Ghulamane America Ke Khilaf Awaz Utah Kur Jiyo [Speak out against the US]

You can only imagine how far this SMS campaign has reached if a 'liberal extremist' such as myself has managed to get it sent over to him.

You can only begin to imagine what this campaign looks like on Facebook (I'm sharing a few less extreme images below):

This picture reads: Pakistan's two persecuted daughters -- Malala and Aafia

Is the nation's approach equal in both matters?
Is the media's approach equal in both matters?
Is the world's approach equal in both matters?
Is America approach equal in both matters?

This picture reads: Dr Aafia's ideal and Malala's idea - Obama

Which one would you pick? Aafia's or Malala's? Think and answer, it's a matter of faith

Examine the content above and you will see the attack on Malala being obfuscated among drone attacks, target killings in Karachi, Aafia Siddiqui and Laal masjid, not to mention the suggestion of a grand conspiracy involving the US and our local media.

"But surely forwarding this message does not make me the Taliban? How absurd! There is some truth in all that after all!"

That is the tragedy of our nation. An attempt to murder children must also have a conspiracy and double meaning to it. The shooting of a child must serve an agenda (read: my agenda). No matter if this erodes the little resolve the nation may have to come to an agreement on an act of terrorism. No matter if this results in conversations, debates, perhaps policies and action that eventually shapes Pakistan further into the TTP’s Pakistan.

Kill media people

Later that day the web desk ran a report on the Taliban planning attacks on media houses for their coverage of the Malala attack.

I felt fear. But the fear was less from the possibility of being a potential target (a grim reality), and more from the reactions of the online audience when we shared the story to Facebook:

Innocent Kumar Ab Pata Chalega Tum Logon Ko Media Walon

Jalal Khan Hoti taleban zinda bad

FaiZal Ashfaq Should target GEO first

Salman Shafi Should target geo and express tv first.

Ata Ur Rehman Pehli baar Aqalmandi ka kaam karenge

Shahzeb Hassan Has somebody told them ET's address already?

[and dozens more...]

When this story was shared to the Roznama Express page, an overwhelming majority of the comments supported the Taliban's decision to kill media folk. Perhaps just a vocal minority? Perhaps just a casual reference to supporting murder? This is also when I started thinking about an incident 10 days ago when I was driving home and was delayed for 20 minutes due to a politician blocking the road due to their VVIP protocol and security contingents.

"I hope a suicide bomber blows up all these politicians someday"

That was my casual thought that evening as I waited in frustration for a light to turn from red to green. The ideological infection of extremism is deep-rooted, and in us all.

I spent the last half of yesterday (my day off) browsing Facebook to try and track down the counter narrative being spun around the Malala attack online. What I found was a coordinated effort being made by political parties and their supporters (JI, PTI) along with extremist outfits such as the Sipah-e-Sahaba and ASWJ working alongside ultra-nationalists of the Zaid Hamid ilk to spin, well, this story:

CIA behind attack on Malala; Attackers are in Afghanistan: Royal News

Or this version shared by Pak Nationalist Ahmad Quraishi and his fan base today:

US Govt Is Exploiting Malala: Army Allows Swat Terrorists To Hide & Train Under Its Nose

Or to take it straight from conspiracy pundit Zaid Hamid's mouth:

Under NO circumstances, the Muslims of Pakistan will wage a war against Afghan Taliban, Haqqani or Gulbadin hekmatyar. But by Allah, we will wage a war against those terrorists and murderers who are created, backed and protected by JSOC, CIA and RAW. That CIA should understand this clearly.

Or take it from any number of sources disseminating a new spin on the Malala attack. Some of the images are easy-to-consume 'fun' material like this image below.

Perhaps the most shared image in the anti-Malala campaign has been this image below of Malala and her father meeting the 'evil' CIA agents and top US officials. Many of the images have included false statements attributed to Malala claiming she bashed the Pakistan Army, encouraged operations in Pakistan and other such 'nefarious schemes'.

This picture reads: Malala with her parents present at a session with officials of US Army

The image below builds the argument that the Pakistani public is expressing hate towards the Taliban, not sympathy towards Malala because that is what the US and local media wants them to think.

This picture reads: Conspiracy revealed.First they launched an offensive in Waziristan after a fake video was released.Now, they have attacked an innocent girl to pave way for another operationWe sympathise with Malala and condemn the attack on her. But, why have you not expressed this anger when a number of girls died in drone attacks?

The truth is, you don't have any sympathy for Malala, but only hate Taliban because of the vengeance the media has instilled in you.

Taking spin yet another step further, the image below states that the Taliban have actually condemned the attack on Malala, and this whole incident has been another move by the US.

This picture reads: The Taliban have denied attacking Malala and have condemned the attack on her.
This is another trick to defame Taliban and please America
We request the Pakistani media that it's been 63 years that we have been independent, but sadly you haven't been freed from the slavery of Western media and America
Share this as much as you can, because media will not do so.

There is even 'Malala was attacked to take attention away from the Anti-Islam film movement' spin.

This picture reads: I, Touqeer Khan, vouch that the attack on Malala was cleverly planned so that people's attention could be diverted from the blasphemous film. Malala attack is not a big deal. Many such Malalas die everyday from Waziristan to Karachi in different acts of terror.
America, the Pakistani government and the Pakistani media have together planned this conspiracy. And as far as I know, these rented murderers do not leave their victims injured.
Pakistani forces were behind the Lal Masjid operation and openly attacking women in Quetta and the blame was placed on the Taliban.

This is the ideological ground that allows terrorist outfits like the Taliban to operate.

It is an information-fueled rabbit hole, which goes deeper and deeper depending on the depths an individual wishes to go, and unfortunately, whether it is a preppy teenage PTI supporter up at the top, or all the way down to a hardened ultra-nationalist being paid to pour out propaganda online, the result is all the same:

Create space for terrorism and extremism to flourish.

To quote Karl Marx's oft cited view on ideology (as a negative force):

“They don't know it, but they are doing it.”

_____________________________________________________

Some of the Facebook pages accessed for this blog post include:

Mai Pakistani Hoon - Al Asir Channel - Muslim Youth

United State of Islam (USI) - WAKEUP PAKISTAN & MUSLIM NATION

Pakistan media - The fifth column of the enemy

Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid [Official] - Ahmed Quraishi

+92 - Plus Nine Two.

Read more by Jahanzaib here or follow him on Twitter @jhaque_

[poll id="219"]

COMMENTS (122)

Yogesh Khandke | 11 years ago | Reply My opinion is that Indians and Indian Muslims. (In the pre-partition sense) have been baited by the trap that the colonialists laid for them - creation of Pakistan, apparently because Hindus and Muslims are two nations and cannot be part of one. (M. A. Jinnah) (India in 2012 has almost as many Muslims as Pakistan has.) Later on when under the communists in Afghanistan, there was universal education, emancipation of women etc., we had Afghan Muslims and Pakistni Muslims used as cannon fodder in the America's anti-communist campaign, Taliban and the Mujahadeen were American heroes then. Now that the threat from communism has been neutralised we have the Talilban, Al Qaeda former American partners being demonised. I am amazed by the gullibility of those concerned. The United States/ Britain created the conditions that lead to the Malala incident, they have sown the seeds of hatred and violence, unfortunately it is Muslims, Pakistanis, Afghans, Indians who are reaping the harvest. One of the posters here has shared a Taliban dos and donts list, well isn't the United Sates propping up the Saudi Arabian regime that has quite similar rules, I am surprised by the inability of anyone to see through US hypocrisy

From USA | 11 years ago | Reply Nice Article!!!! Only for those who have sense... Great work and keep it up

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Ali | 11 years ago | Reply Brave people like Malala can change this country not this American war.We should be proud of this brave young girl who came out for a great cause.I don't know why reformers like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan become controversial and people like Zaid hamid or Hameed Gul become heroes.The writer of this article is certainly looks angry towards the Americans but was not able to create a case.

Sami | 11 years ago | Reply It was the medai which supported Taliban. It was the media which made a hero of Taliban Leader Fazal ullah. It is the media which is misleading pakistani folk. A country run by a whole group of corrupt leaders such as pakistan, TTP like organizations will naturally exist???? What do you think about Target Killing in karachi? What do you thing Civilian casualties in CIA drone attaks? and the whole list can't be described here.......where is media? Actually Pakistani media is on US Agenda, They criticize pakistan army, they criticize pakisan ISI......and so on.......

Tariq | 11 years ago | Reply I am sure the comment that came to favor the article have been put to bin. We know you very well. This is a new technique to publish an article and than neutralizer it with counter comments.

Tariq | 11 years ago | Reply @M Ali Khan: What is wrong with what you have listed ....if you are Muslim or even Christian or Jew......read any of the books revealed in those faiths and you will find no difference. You yourself are an ignorant person who doesn't know what the followers of a faith like you pass your comments on are supposed to observe for modesty. You have very cunningly listed the repeated points and create 10 out of one........Taliban certainly were not to put a liberal charter when they came in to power.....What good they did was not possible for the imperial powers or so called super powers to show. They controlled crime ....the almost stopped drug business, above all they fully control Afghanistan that could not be possible for any one in the history. Internet banning, veil, free mixing of women and thin dress is not a thing that can be argued for a cruel rule. Drones, occupations, social perversion through internet porn is certainly. This paper is visibly part of planted media, where only those letters are selected to publish which can neutralize the good effect of this article where a good argument is presented selected from social media which most of the so called free media is averse to. I know I am also putting my comment in to well but at least it would provide some food for thought for a single stooge editing it.

OhPakistan | 11 years ago | Reply Jahanzaib, you/your article contributed enormously to their media war to counter the incident ! Your article, being widely read and commented, displayed all the "noxious material" they wanted the general public to view which in turn means "you have played into their hands" !

Muhammad Ismail | 11 years ago | Reply Was Usama Bin Ladin an Afghani Pathan(If not then why thousand of Pathan were killed for?)

William Winkelman | 11 years ago | Reply @M Ali Khan: This is the kind of stuff that turns religious people into atheists and that atheists find useful in condemning religion. Those mullahs do God a great disservice.

Rosh | 11 years ago | Reply I usually do not comment but then I decided there is always a first. I wonder why we use the word "Taliban" for people with overgrown beard representing a distorted image of Islam, terrorist should be better, no? ( I have lived in swat so I am pretty much familiar with these terrorist kind.) Secondly I do not understand why Malala got so much attention ( its not that I am jealous, no) Its just that I am sad why are Dr. Afia and the Drone attacks justified ( since I have family living in Bannu, you won't believe me but those people seriously those stories are worth being heard, the people dying, worth being mentioned Now the above article... I am not sure what it is but it seems " too emotional""too directed" "too amateur". Now if you want to portray a point to the people you don't tell them Santa Claus doesn't exist and he is a vampire... Instead you ask them to think about themselves. I am pretty sure there is a huge reality behind the Malala case (I am every bit against killing of being especially girls)but I just don't understand the hype (so you see I am doubting Santa here). P.s I have studied in swat and I am a female and I am against terrorist was then and will be. Peace ( I hope we all get to live the way of the peace)

P1 | 11 years ago | Reply Seeing what's happening in Pakistan... I think it is the lowest level to which a society can sink and no miracle seems to prevent Pakistan from collapsing. A nation can overcome poverty,colonialism and any such difficulty if general population is morally superior and right thinking. But Pakistani population have handed over their destiny to bunch of self serving psychopants who illustrate a living inspired by 2000 year old script and teaching. If Pakistani people can't help themselves then no body can. All religions are just a tool to make general population to maintain mental peace but if religion becomes tool of hatred it is better to discard such religion.

Zehra Naqvi | 11 years ago | Reply Salam Aleikum/Hi (whatever you prefer) I've been in Chicago so the only image that I've been getting of Malala is the positive one propagated by the western media. It never crossed my mind that killing a girl could be painted as a hoax until this morning when I saw a photo similar to the ones above on my facebook news feed. This is just one example of how polarized Pakistan has become concerning not just issues on the political forefront but also something as horrfying as the shooting of a child that would unite any normal nation. May God help us all. And protect all religious minorities in Pakistan

cheap wow gold | 11 years ago | Reply Do you have any video of that? I'd like to find out some additional information.

someone | 11 years ago | Reply @Leila Rage: had u read my comment properly, you would have realized that what i said is different from what you interpreted... women these days..are theynot deviated from the right path? are they not finding ways to get noticed in another way? n that doesnt mean that men are right in any way in doing this... and nobody's blaming young kids or the innocents ofcourse who would? my point's if you might notice.

arian | 11 years ago | Reply @Leila Rage: u r saying 100% right..i m also saying to protect women nd girls frm voilation..u can see on news tv channels...men r v.cruel with females..on the other side , these r men who r making crore pati of stage dancers...these dancers get lakhs rupees at one dance by pak muslim brothers..but a pvt school teacher gets just 3000 rupes after a month by hardworking teaching.. point to be noted..if men r good according to islam..then there will b peace in society... thanks

The 21st Century | 11 years ago | Reply As a distant observer of the Pakistani scene, the backlash against Malala is very distressing to witness. Never in my life have I seen such blatant whataboutery (the attempt to distract from a story's narrative by introducing wholly unrelated issues). With ridiculous conspiracy stories rampant, it seems like the entire nation needs to sit down and study Occam's Razor. Why do so many find it hard to believe that terrorists would act like terrorists? The drone attacks cannot be used to justify the violence and horror inflicted on Pakistanis by their fellow citizens. And until Pakistanis understand that far from being a foreign provocation, the drones are merely a response to your own failed state's unwillingness to deal with its own problems, they will most assuredly continue. Religious extremists who believe that their god--who has failed to protect them thus far--is capable of defeating the forces of liberalism and secularism, are sadly deluded. The overriding arc of history moves in one direction and one direction only--and it's not backwards.

Leila Rage | 11 years ago | Reply @asma and @someone: By your logic, women who are assaulted or raped in Pakistan, want to be attacked because if they wanted to be protected no one would harm them? You are seriously delusional. Do you think young infants want to be raped? What about young children below the age of even 8 years? Why are they not protected from sick perverts- children clearly can't want to be attacked. You can take all the precautions you want, but if a pervert has a diseased way of thinking, then he will still assault someone. Such sick perverts need to be treated. Its their thinking that needs to change. they need to start seeing women in a respectful way rather than just thinking of women as sexual objects.

asma | 11 years ago | Reply @someone: you are 100% right ..i must say to punish all sinsters, there shud b no limitation for man or woman ...but muslim brothers should take steps to stop voilations against simple girls/women ...i hav seen in my society , where 3 girls are divorced without any kind of reasons...i have seen , boys r finding rich girls for marriages....i hav seen bad behaviours of men nd guys in public transports.. I am realy THANKFUL OF ALLAH TA'ALLAH , ALLAH (SWT) kept me save frm e.problem...and i hav no complain with any boy/man personally...but i feel pain for others.. i say openly to punish e.one who acts wrong , but by legal ways.. sorry if someone dislikes my views..

someone | 11 years ago | Reply @asma: that still doesnt justify attacks on innocent ppl by americans through drones... and if muslim women want to be safe, they should first follow the religion n understand why there hav been certain restrictions and rules for women to follow in Holy Quran n Sunnah... Nnd Allah surely protects those who want to protected...the rest is their own conduct, be it man or woman...if you want to follow your own devised rules only..then dont bring islam into question...and pakistan is not filled with this filth only

asma | 11 years ago | Reply i request u all pakistanis pllllllzzzzzzzzzz 1.stop the rate of divorce by law.. 2.stop the misuse of mob and internet.. 3.stop the harrasments in public transports... 4.stop the rate of sexual voilation... 5.stop the game to to in girls houses (of boys/men nd their mothers , sisters )to searching girls for marriage... 6.stop the harrasments on roads...

tahira | 11 years ago | Reply @vasan is india citadel of islam?

mohammad akram | 11 years ago | Reply we codemn the THE ATTACKE ON MAMAMA but it is just mystry that why Taliban want to kill Malala even it is admitted for a while that taliban want to prevent the women to be educated so there are so many other women who are get the education and are not being killed by taliban it is clear the conscpyrcy and some anti-islam people want to divert attension of muslims from blashphemous film and saving the position of those film makers.

asma | 11 years ago | Reply A.A malala attack proves that , here no girl or woman is safe or free.. men are divorcing their wives daily , its also a thread....... bad boys and men staring the girls / women on roads and in public transports.but there is no ISLAMIC brother to stop them..... respects of girls are destroying by mob. fones and internet ,, but no one is stopping them....... in pak , every girl and woman is malala , who is ever thread by muslim men....okkkkk Afia is facing hurdles in non-muslim country ,,, terry jones is american.... buttttttttt in pakistannnn........muslim boys and men are threating girls , women , daughters ,,, here no girl is safe frm muslim pakistani boys/men , if she is alone .. its easy to insult Americans , bec they are non-muslims ,,,ALLAH has informed us in QURAAN....But what are pakistani muslims doing?????????

peer omer | 11 years ago | Reply all i can say is.. we all judge a incident in our own way.. but we should do so.. considering our faith and humanity. in the end just to add one thing ( TALIBAN IS NOT REPRESENTING MUSLIMS OR MUSLIM FAITH). its an organization who claims to have Muslim beliefs

Nomi khan | 11 years ago | Reply m agree with touqer khan .. that this all was dramaa to diverted the muslims from the blasphemous film by the gov of pakistan n pakistani media n the leader of both is USA ..

Ali | 11 years ago | Reply Since the Nazzi's Taliban are the most evil and brutal force that has been assembled. Thank you Pakistan Army for this. Also to all those who will come to defend the army: who treated Pakistani POW's better Indians or Taliban?

Berisha | 11 years ago | Reply What are drone strikes exactly. Are they not terrorists attacks, do they not kill people everyday. At least Malala is alive. Apparently she was shot point blank by two "bloodthirsty" talibani and yet is alive and recovering well. This story will be used to justify American drone strikes and Pakistani military attacks on their own people, which will kill hundreds of people. I don't want to play conspiracy theororist but propaganda including false flag operations made up atrocities and emotionally manipulative lies have a long history in warfare. Do I think that the US and or Pakistani government is capable of such a sleazy and immoral lie. I think they are capable of genocides, in Vietnam, former West Pakistan etc. But woe to anyone who questions the official story, I must be some kind of raging misogynist.

dastan | 11 years ago | Reply your big big comment is nothing but a copy paste set of lies. at least do your own research.@M Ali Khan:

Javed Karim | 11 years ago | Reply Another conspiracy people are forgetting, This all was the game from Zionists and illuminate. I know there is a guy who talks a lot about them :)

Sab33N | 11 years ago | Reply @Zalim Singh: Dear Indian Singh Sahib .. (Yes I have noticed your hate spilling words for quite some time now on ET). Please keep your comments to yourself and spread the hate elsewhere. We have enough problems of our own then to deal with trolls like you on a regular basis. Wonder why a country of one billion people is not able to create one media website for their hate mongers .. in absence of that, they feel the need to visit our media sites constantly and talk nonsense.

Rex Minor | 11 years ago | Reply The article and the commentries simply indicate the deep split of a Nation which is not a Nation! Goeble would look like an amateur in the field of propaganda and Blairites and Bush think tank as naives in the art of political spins. Machiavelli is probably turning in his grave!! Admittedly this region has seen wars and occupation, the time of Buddhas and Hindus as well as sikhs and the Bacha Sacha who introduced leather coins and those before him coins made of copper bronze and silver. The land pf Pashtuns has seen more foreign warriors who found their resting place in the lush mountains of Swat and Hindukush, and those who survived and returned to their native lands thousands of kilometres away told their loved ones of the brave warriors of the land they fought with and these tales are even today the part of their heritage in foreign lands. The region today is in turmoil because of the destabilization and foreign occupation and this must not under any circumstance be underestimated or ignored. Many innocents have lost their lives and many more shall be lost until the land is free of foreigners. Those who do not speak Pashto language nor understand the culture of the land are foreigners. The rest is simply a lot of hot air which is counterproductive. Peace is what the people of the region need and not any political Gang ho!! Rex Minor

sadam khan | 11 years ago | Reply pak army the great the tilaban are great the islam is gret pakistan is great.

Kakar | 11 years ago | Reply There are many people which are trying the confuse the people and this propaganda is also the aim of these people. I would like to name all these people , the leaders are Imran Khan and his PTI, PML N, JI, JUI(all parts etc. They are providing ethical and moral support to Terrorists (Taliban) and they are giving them more will to repeat such incidents... Very shame on all these supporters...

Leila Rage | 11 years ago | Reply @Taliban- "true" way of Islam: . Taliban is not the true way of Islam, because Islam does not preach violence, murder and sedition which is what the taliban do. Also, your Yvonne Ridley example is so unrealistic. Do you know why they treated her well? Because she was a FOREIGNER and they wanted people like YOU to be fooled into thinking they are actually human (when in fact they are lower than any animal). How would they have treated a Pakistani local woman, tell me that! They would have flogged her, or forcibly marriedd her off to someone (like they love threatening social workers in the KP) or defiled and killed her and made her 'disappear'. Look how they treated opposition in the form of such a young and innocent girl like Malala. You are just brainwashed and blind to their injustice and corruption.

Aamir | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: Yeah we cannot do anything, Allah will himself eradicate this menace of Taliban from the face of not just Pakistan, but from the whole world soon, InshAllah.

Salma | 11 years ago | Reply a neighbour called to give me all this BS and also said 'bechareh Taliban 32 years seh lar rahe hain"! an educated woman an ex UN employee.

Dee Cee | 11 years ago | Reply @Khan: I agree with you that no sovereign nation allows any other nation to kill its criminals. If Pakistan brings the criminals to justice, there will not be any drone attacks. You see even a weaker power like Bangladesh is not attacked because they are arresting their criminals and bringing them to justice.

Sab33N | 11 years ago | Reply @Taliban - True way of Islam: Dude .. please get a life .. Talibans are disgusting and for siding with them and defending their horrendous ways and distorted religion that they term as Islam, you are even more disgusting .. actually repulsive is the right word .. its people like you who know nothing about Islam and yet are quite helpful in giving it a bad name .. Shame on you for advocating barbarians like Talibans and justifying for what they have done to a 14 year old! I do not support the drones but I cannot and will not support barbarians who want to take us back to stone ages!

Feroz | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: Does Allah need soldiers to protect him or his faith ? You think HE is so weak ?

Muhammad Rafique Akmal | 11 years ago | Reply There can be no justification for killing a young girl whose only sin was that she raised voice for education of girls. This is a brutal action.

Muhammad Imran Khan | 11 years ago | Reply The Taliban don't have a media like the liberals enjoy, but their support is well beyond popular, it's not because what they are doing, it's because what America and the powers that be are doing to the civilians in the name of Taliban. Since the common tools of consent manufacturing are failing e.g. killing some innocent[s] and blaming it on the 'enemy' you want to abolish etc. because of mass awareness about the colossal lie that is 9/11, the liberals are finding it hard to stand ground in the face of dozens of deaths everyday through drones etc. People have started to learn from the recent events like Raymond davis, Abbotabad, Salaala, etc. The liberals have got an uphill task at hand, and I don't think they are going to make it.

Pervaiz Kareem | 11 years ago | Reply sir bhut khushi hoe parh kar. aap 16 aanay k 20 aanay saheh kah rahay hain...

sundas | 11 years ago | Reply Pakistani nation is very emotional, they rarely think about the exact scenario and its background.... that why such type of incident are occurring in our country?????? In fact the the western nations just spoil our thinking and creating abilities by giving us a new "CHAT PATI" story that we remain busy in such bogus task and never do any task....

cabs | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: allah requires soldiers to murder for him how foolish ,murder in the name of allah or murder for allah,is this your understanding of religion according to some salafist cleric,shame on you for such an idea ,allah is most powerful ,he doesn't need anyone to kill for him

b0b | 11 years ago | Reply @Sana: Poor Sana. Where were the silent majority of Pakistan, the fathers and mothers of the nation, when she was a whole and viable proponent of equality? Why did they wait to come out to show their respect after she'd been neutralized? Sana, leave while you can, Pakistani women are respected only when they bend and submit to their fathers, brothers, uncles, and husband or after they've been neutered and paralyzed by them.

Rahim | 11 years ago | Reply @ M. Ali Khan, after reading your comments I felt like living in stone age. These people are insane. Get well soon Mamu (Talibaan)!!!!!!

Ahmad | 11 years ago | Reply @B.Ali: Secular Extremists? What is this non-sense, there's no such thing. You don't see seculars shooting little girls, or calling out for genocide. Nor do you see them speaking against fundamental humanitarian values, state one example of your so called "secular extremism".

Insaan | 11 years ago | Reply @Taliban - True way of Islam: "Yvonne Ridley, a British journalist, was caught by the Taliban who kept her imprisoned for 11 days. During her captivity she was offered to embrace Islam but she refused." What is the big deal about this? Why did talibans hold Yvonne in the first place? Why did they ask her to convert to Islam? Every one can see what Islam has done to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan are top exporters of heroine (opium drug) and terrorism. Why did taliban shot a 14 year old Muslim girl in the head in the name of Islam? Do you know a Belgian lady convert to Islam holds the honor of being the first suicide bomber who killed many Muslims in a wedding? Your brother Shoe Bomber, another convert to Islam tried to blow up an Airliner. Many converts to Islam hold high positions in terrorist organizations. I hope you find peace SOON,

deep space | 11 years ago | Reply Sigmund Freud's theories can explain the neurotic behavior of this mob.

Loneliberal PK | 11 years ago | Reply Oh, the Taliban could not have done this. They have such an impeccable record of not burning girls' schools, and not attacking innocent civilians. Really, what makes you think they're capable of attacking Malala?

Myla | 11 years ago | Reply @Taliban - True way of Islam: Are you serious?! Kidnapping a woman (by the logic stated by you, you can kidnap a woman but not look at her) is OK? Shooting at a young girl, a mere child, whose 'crime' was going to school, is also OK?? Which part of our - or anyone else's - deen allows that?! The Taleban spokesperson has claimed responsibility for the attack on Malala so please try and answer without bringing up the stale 'its a conspiracy' and the trite 'yeah but the American attack us with drones' arguments. NOBODY in their right mind supports the drone attacks, but neither does anyone in their right minds support the attempted murder of a child, or kidnapping of a woman journalist.

Dwellers of Hell :- Taleban | 11 years ago | Reply Taliban worshippers should offer their prayers 5 times a day to taleban

Khan | 11 years ago | Reply @Dee Cee: You are correct in stating that the apparent way of the Pakistani Taliban is not the way of the Prophet (pbuh). They are acting like thugs and criminals, not soldiers of Allah. However, this does not mean that we can support a foreign nation in attacking our villages with drones that more often than not kill innocents. This is not Islamic justice. No sovereign nation allows another nation to come kill its criminals. Can you imagine the US being okay with the Pak Army coming in and killing people they deem to be criminals. We must end our subjugation to imperial powers, only then will our government have the legitimacy to deal with these criminals.

Michael | 11 years ago | Reply @M Ali Khan These Taliban "laws" on women represent a twisted and corrupted view of humanity. We must resist the perverse attempt to oppress and marginalize women. Not only do women deserve equal opportunity, but society is a better place when they receive it. Women have great contributions to make to society outside of a home, and men have no right to deny them. Men of Pakistan, support equal opportunity for women!

Rahim | 11 years ago | Reply @Taliban - True way of Islam Dude, that's just one example and it doesn't justify what you guys are doing!! Keep your ideologies and thinking to your self, why imposing it on others. Cover your girls but don't force other to cover'em if they don't want to! You believe that Islam wasn't spread under swords at the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), right? So why don't you just follow that rule at this time either?? You guys are enemies of ISLAM bro, you have nothing to do with peace loving Islam.

burgers and fries | 11 years ago | Reply It is disturbing that most commenters here feel it is more likely that the Pakistan Army orchestrated Malalas killing. After all the blasts, burned down schools, kidnappings and attacks on foreigners - Pakistanis claim TTP doesnt even exist.

Ducky | 11 years ago | Reply ET, judging by some comments here, the Taliban themselves have graced your page with their presence. Too bad, it was the last liberal standing in Pakistan.

Zalim Singh | 11 years ago | Reply Pakistan is Taliban. We knew this all along.

Whatever | 11 years ago | Reply After sensing a failure in assassinating Malala, the MINDSET has decided to character assassinate her. Pakistan is fast becoming a dangerous place to live, as it now has all the ingredients for a Civil War.

Insaan | 11 years ago | Reply @M Ali Khan: "how beautiful. your love of Taliban is AWESOME! Maybe you should read the list of ‘holy practices’ they ordered when they took over in Kabul in 1996! The Talibanic Laws 1996-2001 For Women." Don't forget these talibans were created (educated in madrassahs about Quran for months) by Pakistan to help make Afghanistan an Islamic country. Hiding women in burqa or home and not allowing mixes of sexes in an Islamic thing. If a woman has sex without marriage, it is a sin and she should be killed. If a man has sex it is more of an attitude "boys will be boys".

zeeshan sheikh | 11 years ago | Reply The picture of Obama laughing is so true. And the lady holding the play card to carry on drone attacks is so much stupid. This is the main reason of extremism

zeeshan sheikh | 11 years ago | Reply Malala is innocent . she just wanted to get education and she was getting that. and taliban didn't harm her when they were ruling swat so why they harmed her now when there was a huge pressure on USA against drone attacks. Liberals open your eyes you're also pakistani and muslim as much as we are. we should be united and believe me we do not need to depend upon america. We need to differentiate between fundamentalist/extremest from the terrorists. Malala is being used by NGOs, USA and secular terrorist political parties. Also show some symphty with drone victims .

Anoop | 11 years ago | Reply Great article. A healthy doze of reality. Another moral question I pose often is Afghan Taliban too persecuted women in Afghanistan, but are supported by many Pakistanis, including Imran Khan, a possible PM of the future! Afghan Taliban are good, but their ideological brothers in Pakistan, bad? I like Imran Khan because he thinks both are good. He is at least uniform in his opinions, but cannot say the same about everyone else in Pakistan.

Anoop | 11 years ago | Reply @salman: The other day, in another blog, when I talked of this menace you rubbished me. Nice to see you agreeing with me and you had issue only with my name. If you had disregarded my name, we could have arrived at this point sooner, don't you think?

Aliya | 11 years ago | Reply My mind is racing. I don't know whether to listen to people who are saying that it is a conspiracy and Malala is a so-called AGENT or keep fighting because I believe that she hasn't committed any major sin.. Seriously! If I undertake any effort for the education of girls, would this be my future?

Jay | 11 years ago | Reply The entire muslim world is a write-off. Time to hit the reset button.

Sid | 11 years ago | Reply Agree 100% with Moiz Hussain. You can condemn all you want and write all your pieces in your fancy english but it won't do any good. The liberal voice needs to get to the masses and how can you do that? Practice urdu writing skills. It can't be that hard. I think most journalists take the easy way out by condemning here rather than in an urdu newspaper. First, it's not considered COOL to write in urdu, second, it would be a daring move because then, the extremists would be able to read it too. And nobody wants to be on their hit list. But somebody has to take the first step, otherwise, Jinnah's Pakistan will be lost to these barbaric beasts forever.

NS | 11 years ago | Reply Debate among the commentators just reminds me of 'Bilnd men and an Elephant' (John Godfrey Saxe) It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind. . . . . . And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

Intelektualtelektual | 11 years ago | Reply Dear Jahanzaib please publish the counter argument to all these nefarious schemes These need to be proven wrong in a manner every class 2 student can understand a subtle argument is not gonna sit well wid ny of them and this article is gonna serve the opposit purpose ! Please state the facts, and plz write in simple words.. Irrelevency, unsubstantiated exaggerations and pointless comparisions do not at all justify it and Y is it nt malala responsibilty nor fault wat happnin in Karachi or the fact that Malala never flew a drone or the fact that the pictures with US standing committee are not a secret and she was securing the Funds that helps millions of IDPs'

NouraP | 11 years ago | Reply This may sound harsh, but a people usually get what catastrophe they deserve. America, sadly, deserves the extremist anti-woman ideologues spewing from the Tea Party largely because most of us spend our time ignoring it while the ones who support it continue to gain traction. Pakistan has always been a haven for any type of extremist view, and while I remained unsurprised at this reaction I really wish I was.

Maria Aziz | 11 years ago | Reply America is playing big games . Malaya is a Muhra for it. Nothing more.we Pakistani r giving extra importance to this issue.

NouraP | 11 years ago | Reply @Taliban - True way of Islam: What is "setup-ed"? And you believe that treating ONE woman decently while she was CAPTURED which by definition is an indecency forgives the way you treat every other woman, especially those of your own ethnicity?

Parvez | 11 years ago | Reply Nice article. As the state has failed its people the vacuum created has been filled by extremists who's only goal is to grab power and religion with compromised pillars of the state ( including the armed forces, politicians, judiciary and media) is being used for their agenda. It appears that they have succeeded in their attempt. The basic flaw that will bring this house of cards crashing down is the simple fact that it is not Islam but a distorted version being used. This could not be sustained in Afghanistan and will collapse here as well. The destruction that will follow is the ultimate goal of these people and those that fund and support them.

Anti Taliban Anti Drone | 11 years ago | Reply let this debate be not about 'their' and 'our' religion. Lets keep religion and ethnicity out of it. This is wrong by all standards. No one should be allowed to impose their 'ideology' on anyone forcefully. And all the political leaders and islamic scholars should stop confusing the nation. stop this and have the guts to call a spade a spade. Live and let Live!

Huma | 11 years ago | Reply well done Jay!

Taliban - True way of Islam | 11 years ago | Reply @Sardar What do you expect in battlefield you have setup-ed? You kill Taliban, their children, women and they will flower you.

Almani | 11 years ago | Reply since 9 11, which was true.? it is very usefull weapon by USA for all muslims for their internal fighting so USA needs no external enemy to kill these foolish without spending a peny to source.basically in Pakistan, there is no nation but masses, like heardle of sheeps or cattles which every one want to go on different side of ground. these are having worse nature than these elements like sheeps etc. they have no comparison even with ants which follow the each other in a single line.here in this country no one is pakistani, all are working for their own benefits and profits. all policians, media person and also the military authorities are selfish, thay have no sense to serv but want to be served with the best by this masses crowd as slaves. this sad to say anation, is still living like slaves, which has no manefisto or agneda of their life. any body (inflential) can get his benefit by pay even small ammount for his services like "Kery Loger Bill". all are so called muslime, the military and political persons has no believe on their creature like Allah and prophet Muhammad(S.A.W), they don't beleive on thereir death and on doomsday. these are like dehria. they have no concern with their so called nation pakistan to serve for live long. the USA is using deffirent techniques to use these national enemies to destroy their national interest. in near future, the armed forces will be docates for their salaries to fill their belly, because all population be go beneath the lowest livings. all industry is being closed, energy is being vanished, transport is being paralysed, all national institions are being destroyed by coruption. taxes level is being lower and lower, then from where this so called corrupt military and politicain will bear their lexurious life style. one day this country will be vanished from the map of world. these keys are not undersatnding the facts. they are only getting the dictation from their big boss USA. only Almani

Ahsan | 11 years ago | Reply @Jyx: Yvonne Ridley, a British journalist, was caught by the Taliban who kept her imprisoned for 11 days. During her captivity she was offered to embrace Islam but she refused. She promised Taliban that after her release she will study holy Qur’an and the teachings of Islam and she later fulfilled her promise. She studied holy Qur’an and converted to Islam in summer 2003. In her book “In the Hands of the Taliban” she particularly thanked them for being nice and hospitable with her during her captivity. Now she started wearing hijab and considers it protection for women against evil eyes. She teaches the advantages of hijab to her 13 years old daughter named Daisy who is yet not Muslim but she is upbringing her according to the teachings of Islam. She wants her to study Islam herself. Ridley has stopped drinking and smoking and trying to avoid all those activities which are considered sin in Islam. She says that in Islam maintaining moral conduct is compulsory for both male and female. If she advises women to cover themselves then it also orders men to lower their gaze. She confessed that during investigation in Jalal Abad she was not even stared once by any captor rather they were used to look at the walls and ceiling while asking questions. Many times she was alone but she was never harassed or paid any attention by a male. Now she feels proud to be a devout Muslim and part of larger Muslim Ummah.

Sardar | 11 years ago | Reply If Taliban are true Muslims, why are they going around killing innocent people. Where was their chivalry when they tried to kill this girl. Please stop becoming an instrument to people who were always against Pakistan and who wanted it to never become a reality. Read history and you will find out. Who is pro you and who is against you.

Moiz Hussain | 11 years ago | Reply The problem is that liberals and those who support Malala and hate Taliban do not have concerted efforts to propagate their ideas and believes. This is where we allow the others to win every time and let go the opportunity - complaining and whining in the end on the spread of false narrative. This needs to be countered and can only be done when we just don't sit, read and think we have done our part by letting out a comment or tweet on the subject, but should create equal blogs, facebook groups etc. to propagate the real facts and the analysis of this side of the continuum. Who are we really kidding by writing such a piece on ET where readers already have similar though patterns running. This sort of piece should be published in Urdu newspapers for the masses to read and distinguish facts from propaganda. Second, if we really need to reach the masses, we'll have to limit our use of English, and use Urdu to disseminate the true information.

Taliban - True way of Islam | 11 years ago | Reply Now please do not argue that Taliban Pakistan and Taliban Afghanistan are two different things and etc, Taliban, Al-Qaeda and etc anywhere in the world is same, work under the Ameer Ul Momineen Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid and are true representative of Muslims.

ikhlaas | 11 years ago | Reply to name pti in this is just distasteful...majority of pti supporters condemned ttp ... yes i agree some zaid hamid and ji types are responsible for this propaganda.

Taliban - True way of Islam | 11 years ago | Reply Yvonne Ridley, a British journalist, was caught by the Taliban who kept her imprisoned for 11 days. During her captivity she was offered to embrace Islam but she refused. She promised Taliban that after her release she will study holy Qur’an and the teachings of Islam and she later fulfilled her promise. She studied holy Qur’an and converted to Islam in summer 2003. In her book “In the Hands of the Taliban” she particularly thanked them for being nice and hospitable with her during her captivity. Now she started wearing hijab and considers it protection for women against evil eyes. She teaches the advantages of hijab to her 13 years old daughter named Daisy who is yet not Muslim but she is upbringing her according to the teachings of Islam. She wants her to study Islam herself. Ridley has stopped drinking and smoking and trying to avoid all those activities which are considered sin in Islam. She says that in Islam maintaining moral conduct is compulsory for both male and female. If she advises women to cover themselves then it also orders men to lower their gaze. She confessed that during investigation in Jalal Abad she was not even stared once by any captor rather they were used to look at the walls and ceiling while asking questions. Many times she was alone but she was never harassed or paid any attention by a male. Now she feels proud to be a devout Muslim and part of larger Muslim Ummah.

Taliban - True way of Islam | 11 years ago | Reply Taliban are true Muslims, all these liberals can not do anything except the screaming all the time. Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.

Xara | 11 years ago | Reply Just tell me one thing why this happened after Imran Khan's rally against drone attacks. Malala was going to that school since long....then y did they attack her after the rally. Why our media is creating a hype of it...... why every politicians is talking about it.....You need to find out the answers to these question

Fizza Rahman | 11 years ago | Reply Haha people swearing on @sdfaf - I am sure this was a fake ID created by the ET highness themselves. LOL.

fdssf | 11 years ago | Reply Has any journalist done an actual investigative reporting to find the truth. Swat Video was fake and everybody knows, why after that incident, media have not tried to do a proper truthful journalism. Being computer illiterate i think you know it wont take a genius to make a false id, there are millions of bogus ids on facebook. So how come we believe one phone call which is always done to BBC and put the blame on the TTP. Who are TTP, who are there members.? Why media does not try to find the actual truth? why time and again media is exposed with their own deceits and falsehood.? These SMS compaigns are successful because media has not been loyal, truthful and honest with its own viewers.

Yumna | 11 years ago | Reply Excuse my language but nothing upsets me more than seeing these ignorant folks BS-ing without any relevant source. Get your facts straight before you make an argument because if you cannot back it up then you just make a fool outta yourself. I am referring to all those Taliban apologists who keep on insisting that it's CIA and god-knows-who that perpetrated this Malala incident.

Hyder | 11 years ago | Reply you didn't answer that why media is so highliting malala rather then others? Oh sorry you are too secular media part.

Jyx | 11 years ago | Reply @vasan: It is the followers of islam that is giving islam a bad name. especially the talibans.

JustSaying | 11 years ago | Reply @JawedSaleem

Recall, Sri Lanka/Tamil Tigers saga was successfully resolved by dialogue – when 20 years of Use of Force FAILED

Not quite, Prabhakaran was killed in a military encounter which ended the conflict. But a very important point highlighted by the author. This is not a one man leadership that we are fighting, the general population of Pakistan is overwhelmingly that of Taliban sympathisers. This makes fighting the menace tricky for the Government as any military action makes them highly unpopular among the people.

Mohsin | 11 years ago | Reply this is true.......just for making ground for waziristan operation & weakning anti drone compaign...Malala was shot by CIA agents..........nd blamed Taliban...........if Taliban do this, y didnt they burn any school from 1989 to 2003............

BlackJack | 11 years ago | Reply @Jawed Saleem: Recall, Sri Lanka/Tamil Tigers saga was successfully resolved by dialogue – when 20 years of Use of Force FAILED I don't know where you get your news from. A bit more research and less use of CAPITAL letters in your comments would be most appreciated.

vasan | 11 years ago | Reply Islam is a religion of peace and Pakistan is the citadel of Islam. Ha Ha Ha,. what a cruel joke.

Dee Cee | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: I have no problem with Allah's soldiers ruling the world, as long as the soldiers follow the Prophet (PBUH) and not the Taliban. Siding with Taliban is opposing the Prophet (PBUH) and opposing drones that kill those beasts is opposing the Holy Prophet's command of bringing justice. I do not understand how anyone can claim to be a Muslim and still support the Talebs?

Jawed Saleem | 11 years ago | Reply Jahanzaib : Appreciate your down to earth and carefully worded article, great write up ! This "MEDIA WAR" is part of "their" strategy and (unfortunately) they thrive on the fact that majority of us (pakistanis including so called educated ones ) are illiterate (vision wise) with NO (or little) BRAIN SCAN at all. (apologies to many who will not like/approve/agree). I want to draw your attention and request to write about "NATION'S DIRECTION" in the wake of Malala tragedy. IMHO; The prevailing scenario has all the right recipe/ingredients for a CALAMITY ! The Nation is DIVIDED/POLARIZED/FRAGMENTED and at a critical point the political leaders, Media (print & social) are sadly exploiting the incident to gain points or settle old scores. Whereas Political leaders and Media should have played its part forming consensus among their followers and build the public opinion in RIGHT DIRECTION, EXACT OPPOSITE is taking place ! Jahanzaib, MAKE NO MISTAKE: *** The fire originating from OUR AND US ADVENTURES in Afghanistan and subsequent fall out (of US-led war) IS GOING TO BURN PAKISTAN in due course ! We are already FEELING THE HEAT (last 10 years or so). US has carefully LET LOOSE THE MONSTER - FRANKELSTEIN (TALIBANS) on Pakistan and now its our/Pakistan's turn to face the MUSIC ! Part of GREAT DIRTY GAME orchestered/engineered by US think tanks ! Sadly, our (so called) LEADERS notably Gen. Zia (devoid of vision/brain scan) played into hands of US and could not see the trap ! *** USE OF FORCE will further aggravate/fuel the INFERNO! Jahanzaib, recall what transpired in the then EAST PAKISTAN (1971). Also have a good look at what FORCE achieved in BALUCHISTAN- make up your mind ! *** WARS ARE FOUGHT BY NATIONS ( NOT ARMIES OR GOVTS. ) – ARMIES ARE TRAINED TO FIGHT ARMIES ( NOT THEIR OWN PEOPLE). In prevalent scenario (polarization/frangmention) Pakistan is in no position to initiate war on its OWN PEOPLE. JAHANZAIB, GET THIS RIGHT - IN WARS NO BODY IS A WINNER – EVERYONE IS A LOOSER ! Even the mighty USA (and USSR in 50’s) LOST/FAILED TO BREAK THE RESOLVE OF PEOPLE in Vietnam, Iraq (post Saddam adventure), actually LOST the day when using Nukes/killing 200000 humans (Hiroshima/Nagasaki) and USA has LOST in AFGHANISTAN as well ! Already majority of Afghanistan is under TALIBAN control and it’s a matter of time (US withdrawl) the ruling will be complete ( FEW YEARS). *** AT this juncture, WE need LEADERSHIP ( which sadly does NOT exists ) to find a POLITICAL SOLUTION ! Recall, Sri Lanka/Tamil Tigers saga was successfully resolved by dialogue - when 20 years of Use of Force FAILED ! *** Time is running out and apocalypse looms large ( Matter of 10-15/20 years )! Once again commend your brilliant work.You pack too many guns (unlike TALIBANS) in your words !!!

ignorantways | 11 years ago | Reply @ Jahanzaib Haque chorr yaar sb baaten yeh btao are you in Pakistan right now or enjoying the journey ??

Sana | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: I am so scared!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BlackJack | 11 years ago | Reply Hi Jahanzaib, I enjoy reading your articles, but those that are in the Media Watchdog section often contain images from social media with Urdu content in them that is not translated, and is difficult for me (and most of the other Indians who visit ET) to follow. Would be great if you could include a short translation below each image. Thanks.

Syed Irfan Ashraf | 11 years ago | Reply Mr. Jehanzeb you did a 'nice' job by spreading conspiracies. I think this space is not for this type of mess. You could have done something better than dragging the already suffering people into controversies. Don't spread sickness, please. Before writing about others put yourself in their shoes. She is already on ventilator. Best irfan

Myla | 11 years ago | Reply I was trawling the web trying to gauge the reaction of the Pakistani youth and hoping that this perhaps would be the turning point that would make them perhaps take a closer look at themselves or their immediate environment. I was shocked when I first read the views that in fact did not seem to wholly support Malala. I don't read Urdu so the comments I read were just a small sampling, nonetheless, I was shocked. How CAN there be a counter view to a shooting of a child? Who are these people? The Pakistani foreign minister (gasp, an educated woman!) said on CNN that Malala has drawn a clear line for Pakistanis: you can decide if you want the Pakistan of Malala or the Talib's Pakistan. I would like to extend that and say, you want an educated, progressive Pakistan (and I say this as a fairly conservative, Muslim woman) or an uneducated, jahil Pakistan.

M Ali Khan | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: how beautiful. your love of Taliban is AWESOME! Maybe you should read the list of 'holy practices' they ordered when they took over in Kabul in 1996!

The Talibanic Laws 1996-2001 For Women
1. ”A denier of veil is an infidel and an unveiled woman is lewd. Conditions of wearing veil”:
2. The veil must cover the whole body.
3. Women’s clothes must not be thin.
4. Women’s clothes must not be decorated and colourful.
5. Women’s clothes must not be narrow and tight to prevent the seditious limbs
6. from being noticed. The veil must not be thin.
7. Women must not perfume themselves. If a perfumed woman passes by a crowd of
8. men, she is considered to be an adulteress.
9. Women’s clothes must not resemble men’s clothes.
10. Muslim women’s clothes must not resemble non-Muslim women’s clothes.
11. Their foot ornaments must not produce sound.
12. They must not wear sound-producing garments.
13. They must not walk in the middle of streets.
14. They must not go out of their houses without their husband’s permission.
15. They must not talk to strange men.
16. If it is necessary to talk, they must talk in a low voice and without laughter.
17. They must not look at strangers.
18. They must not mix with strangers.”
19. All ground and first floor residential windows should be painted over or screened to prevent women being visible from the street. A Taliban representative explained that “the face of a woman is a source of corruption for men who are not related to them”.
20. The photographing or filming of women was banned as was displaying pictures of females in newspapers, books, shops or the home.
21. The modification of any place names that included the word “women.” For example, “women’s garden” was renamed “spring garden”.
22. Women were forbidden to appear on the balconies of their apartments or houses.
23. Ban on women’s presence on radio, television or at public gatherings of any kind.
24. Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with their mahrams.
25. Women were forbidden from riding in a taxi without a mahram.
26. Segregated bus services introduced to prevent males and females traveling on the same bus.
27. Are forbidden to work outside the home. On September 30th 1996 the Taliban decreed that all women should be banned from employment. Some 25 percent of government employees were female. All lost their employment. Elementary education of children, not just girls, was shut down in Kabul, where virtually all of the elementary school teachers were women.
28. Are banned from studying in schools or universities.
29. Are not allowed to gather for any recreational purposes.
30. Are prohibited from practicing family planning.
31. Cannot be treated by male doctors.
32. Cannot be operated upon by a surgical team containing a male member.
33. Are banned from playing sports or entering a sport center or club.
34. Have no legal recourse. A woman cannot petition the court directly; her testimony is worth half a man’s testimony.
35. Are publicly stoned and sometimes executed if accused of having sex outside of marriage.
36. Are forbidden to deal with male shopkeepers or talk or shake hands with men outside their families.
37. Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with
38. Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.
39. Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.
40. Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. (A number of
41. lovers are stoned to death under this rule).
42. Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.
43. Ban on male tailors taking women’s measurements or sewing women’s clothes.
44. Ban on female public baths.
45. Ban on flared (wide) pant-legs, even under a burqa.
46. Banned the watching of movies, television and videos, for everyone.
47. Banned celebrating the traditional new year (Nowroz) on March 21. The Taliban
48. has proclaimed the holiday un-Islamic.
49. Disavowed Labor Day (May 1st), because it is deemed a “communist” holiday.
50. Ordered that all people with non-Islamic names change them to Islamic ones.
51. Forced haircuts upon Afghan youth.
52. Ordered that men wear Islamic clothes and a cap.
53. Ordered that men not shave or trim their beards, which should grow long enough
54. to protrude from a fist clasped at the point of the chin.
55. Ordered that all people attend prayers in mosques five times daily.
56. Banned the keeping of pigeons and playing with the birds, describing it as
57. un-Islamic. The violators will be imprisoned and the birds shall be killed. The
58. kite flying has also been stopped.
59. Ordered all onlookers, while encouraging the sportsmen, to chant Allah-o-Akbar
60. (God is great) and refrain from clapping.
61. Ban on certain games including kite flying which is “un-Islamic” according to
62. Taliban.
63. Anyone who carries objectionable literature will be executed.
64. Anyone who converts from Islam to any other religion will be executed.
65. All boy students must wear turbans. They say “No turban, no education”.
66. Non-Muslim minorities must distinct badge or stitch a yellow cloth onto their
67. dress to be differentiated from the majority Muslim population.
68. Banned the use of the internet by both ordinary Afghans and foreigners.

Utkarsh | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: Don't hold your breath.

salman | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: Unfortunately that day won't ever come. The Americans are the kindest and fairest of people in comparison to any existing nation. Pakistan is on the path to doom and no amount of backtalk will change that fact until we change our tracks and our thinking.

Azeema | 11 years ago | Reply Totally agree with you! Thanks for this thoughtful and timely blog!

B.Ali | 11 years ago | Reply war betwean secular extremists and religious extremists and v people of pakistan are confuse betwean thise two

Grace | 11 years ago | Reply Oh.. Pakistan :(

Pakistani Student in Canada | 11 years ago | Reply Situation is hopeless and depressing. Half of my family still in Pakistan have started adopting Taliban views which is quite dangerous as we were the liberal elites. If Quran is right about Armageddon then for sure its going to start and end in Pakistan- a nuclear armed state where even people who were educated in US/Canada have started supporting a entity which can kill anyone who it doesn't like.

Dante | 11 years ago | Reply You're an excellent journalist. I've yet to come across a well researched blog on ET. On the other hand, this is just saddening where we're headed. Here's what a normal course of action would be: Tracking down the people responsible for the attach and prosecuting them for attempted murder of a child. It has unfortunately become a really twisted tale.

furqan | 11 years ago | Reply definitely this is a diversion from drone attacks ,some people are just slaves to the media n dont have ne idiology of their own.thats why this country will perish very soon.then maybe we can b an example to other nations.

Rahim | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf, you mean you are Allah's soldier???? Wake up dude. Pakistan as a nation are way far from Allah's Army! You're making consipiracy theories against innocent people and you think you are part of Allah's Army!!!! Huh.... Leave me alone man.

Insaan | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: Allah's soldiers are doing a good job in Pakistan and Afghanistan. They have taken Pakistan back to 7th century. Why most Muslim countries only follow little Sharia?

Faraz Talat | 11 years ago | Reply With a nation beset by Taliban-apologists who think the 14-year old terrorism victim was conspiring with the Americans to sully Taliban's 'good name', we don't need any mild-mannered moderates. We need all our "westernized', "pseudo-liberal', "secular-extremist", 'burger-bachas" to unleash an ear-splitting blast of anti-terrorism rhetoric. Under normal circumstances I would recommend a nuanced approach, with due consideration being paid to the concerns of those who oppose the drone program. But not now. We need to get our side of the story properly heard, without it being completely drowned out by the anti-drone demagoguery every single time!

Imran Khan | 11 years ago | Reply Social Media has given that voice to people to talk and look at things differently, so social media user are not CONTROLLED anymore by our MEDIAGROUP who get paid to generate a PUBLIC OPINION .... I Support the Social Media .... Our Media is always Biased ... and even exposed so many times , we have seen no corrective actions ... so its clearly business for them ...... We don't believe what you tell us ....... we are NOT CONTROLLED anymore ...

bigsaf | 11 years ago | Reply Just insane. How do we cure this malaise? @sdfaf: Why can't one be both? Against Taliban and drones? I'm against drones on humanitarian principal, but honestly acknowledge they target militants and terrorists, one that included the likes of Baitullah Mehsud (but also killed his wife and child). Cannot, however, see a single purpose or rationale behind the insanity of excusing the Taliban, who are the majority culprits of civilian deaths in Af-Pak and only appeal to those who don't value individual freedoms and would rather deny it through twisted Wahhabi/Salafi/Deoband/Sunni Islamist extremist ideology, oppression and brute violence, and are indeed the ones who couldn't give a hoot about girls' education, as proven by them. Shooting a school girl for speaking against their un-Islamic and inhumane brutality your idea of 'shariah'?! If there is any sort of 'devil worship', this is it...

Arijit | 11 years ago | Reply Taliban are not soldirs of allah. But they are men of dajjal the liar.

Ducky | 11 years ago | Reply @sdfaf: Wow, just wow. No words

Anam Gill | 11 years ago | Reply Sad to be living in a world where sanity has it's limits but perpetual ignorance and stupidity are limitless.The general uncertainty as to what is really happening makes it easier to cling to lunatic beliefs. These innumerable commentators, like astrologers, can survive almost any mistake, because their more devoted followers do not look to them for an appraisal of the facts but for the stimulation of some"bizarre nationalistic loyalties." Like always, and i repeat always as this is not the first time i am hearing or reading such a thing, conspiracies are orchestrated by extremely powerful and influential groups or people. My only concern is that i want to live in peace, i condemn american imperialism, i condemn the acts of TTP and all the fascists who want to impose their ridiculous demands. Enough of this nonsense! History has taught us that it is your weakness that makes people take advantage of you, so enough of this bashing, it's high time we look into ourselves and see who we actually are.

sdfaf | 11 years ago | Reply @Tariq Saeed: Allah soldiers will rule the world, and yourself can do nothing about it.

Talha Khan | 11 years ago | Reply Pathetic smear campaign started against a small girl by the religious elements in our country.They claim to have the moral high ground,that because they are religious,so they must be pious and honest.But instead their lying,cheating mentality has been exposed by Malala.The way blame shifting tactics,deliberate misinformation,diversion tactics have been employed on internet and in talk shows by the religious apologists shows their true hypocritical faces. They are deliberately spinning tales to divert attention away from the ones who have murdered Thousands of our people in the name of religion.These religious apologists are the ones who provide justifications and excuses for the atrocities committed in our society.They are the protectors and defenders of the terrorists.

Tariq Saeed | 11 years ago | Reply These pics are a sample of the filth that is being propagated actively by religious parties in our society.the hatefilled,bigoted,conspiracy ridden brains behind such campaigns want to feed on the fear and paranoia found in our public.We want to blame everything bad on outsiders,must have been the yahodis or the Hindus because a Muslim can never do such things.This inability to accept responsibility for our own misdeeds has led to a sick society. We are so deeply in denial that we have actually convinced ourselves that we are innocent and that the entire non-muslim world is out to get us,that we are the targets of vast yahodi and Hindu conspiracies.This cowardly refusal to accept responsibility for our actions & blaming everyone else is only harming our society and nothing else.

Nadir | 11 years ago | Reply The terrorists have already won, we just dont realise it.

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

We are not Malala, we may be the Taliban

FOLLOW US