Pakistan: One Ball-Six Runs
Posted on 02. Jul, 2011 by Hanan Habibzai in Af-Pak
The country is situated in a pressurized and tense position, like, a batsman who needs six runs from one ball to win, that only all-rounder Imran khan can hit.
BY Hanan Habibzai
In early 1980s when I just opened my eyes, I found myself under a tent provided by UNHCR, far away from my own hometown in a neighbouring country, inside Punjab province of Pakistan. It was a tough time not only for my family, but for entire Afghan nation. Like other millions of Afghan my family migrated to Pakistan as the Soviets invaded my country. Soon after the invasion, they set up a major army base, the 40th military regiment near my village, in Baghlan province, north of Afghanistan.
At the end of 1979 Russians built their base across the Kabul – Polikhomri high way, and began to raid the nearest houses where only local farmers lived. On first day of the raid they massacred around 40 civilians and arrested dozens others, including children. Among the deaths there were my close relatives, who were shot to death whilst working in cultivated area. The killing forced nearly whole village to rise up against the Soviet occupiers. They called themselves Mujahedeen. My father and three brothers also joined them.
Their lands and properties have been occupied by local officials who wanted to impose communist ideology by force. The Mujahedeen were forced to leave their homes and took their families out of Afghanistan. They entered Pakistan as refugees and set to begin a new life. Pakistan welcomed the villagers and my family, and we were treated as honourable guests, each family was given tents, foods and some cash to restart the life. The refugees were in grief, they lost their wealth, properties and country occupied by foreigners, something they gained in centuries easily destroyed or occupied by foreign troops.
I grew in a refugee camp in Mianwali, Panjab province, I joined a UK funded primary school called Afghan commissionaire. Most of our teachers were Pakistanis, they taught us Pashto and Urdu languages. Later my family shifted to Peshawar, as it was difficult for my brothers to visit us when they were returning from the front line of the war against Russians. I started my school in Peshawar and began to know Pakistan as a good friend of Afghans; usually I was listening to speeches which praised Pakistan.
I began to know Pakistan as an honest friend of Afghanistan. I read a lot about Pakistani military, they were an enemy of India and great friend of Afghans. People were talking about Indian atrocities against Muslims in Kashmir, and this way they were trying to attract sympathies. Many elderly Afghan refugees influenced by those campaigners who wanted people to took part in the war against India in Kashmir while their own country was occupied by Russians.
I was just 13 years old; I was interested in fighting the Russians, when the Mujahedeen visited my father at home, I wore their martial shoes to act as an anti-Russian fighter,
but I was told to focus on my studies. Western officials including Americans were flooding to Peshawar to support Afghans against the Soviet Union, I witnessed them smiling with those who later appeared as Hikmatyar and Mullah Omar.
Apart from school, I started to read news and commentaries in local newspapers on Afghan Jihad against the Russians, and Pakistani military engagement in Kashmir. I learnt that Pakistan stands against India to free Kashmiri Muslims from Indian occupation. This way I grew up in an environment where every single talk was dominated by politics that could be characterised as preparation for future wars. Afghanistan never survived from the war started by Russian invaders. I was born exactly on that year, since then I saw my generation dying.
Afghanistan was in the war; Russian invaded the country and forced Afghans to fight for their land and honours. Finally, Afghan blood and western money defeated the Soviets, American power increasingly spread across the world, and my country was forgotten. However, Pakistan was not in direct war against anyone, but preparing to defend the country against India.
In 1990s, the politics in Islamabad handed to a group of people who wanted to challenge the sovereignty of Afghanistan when western countries left Kabul behind. India, Iran and Russia potentially invested on civil war in Kabul to challenge Pakistani interests. Afghanistan became a ground of meaningless civil war. Thousands of Afghans have been killed, many others left their homes, gunfight dominated the streets in capital Kabul, and the anarchy led to the rise of Taliban.
They destroyed armed checkpoints collecting illegal taxes from passengers throughout high ways. I witnessed a money exchanger in Kabul loading sacks of cash to a vehicle, and carried out that cash to Herat province; there was no robbery and no street killings.
The Taliban regime collapsed as a result of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks on Washington and New York. The US and its allies formed a new government in Kabul and the war-shattered country came on the top of international political agenda.
The majority ethnic Pashtuns, who generated the Taliban were marginalized, but still many of them previously working under Taliban, prepared to work with international community. Most of them participated in 2004 presidential election, they allowed their women to register for polling, who never been outside home even for medical check-up in the course of pregnancy, because of conservative traditions. In the aftermath of election those who took part in election, were either arrested or bombed from the air, as a result, many people either decided or were forced to leave Afghanistan and enter Pakistan once again.
Americans pressured Islamabad for apparently being a supporter of the Afghan Taliban, in reaction to those claims tens of thousands of military personnel deployed in tribal areas, Pakistan turned into the ground of potential armed activities; as a consequence its military used full power against their own people. The attack on Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad by General Parvez Musharraf increased the anger within conservative Muslims in Pakistan. On 15th June, 2009, when I saw the most powerful man in Pakistan General Ashfaq Kayani fly an F-16 fighter jet with a co-pilot to take part in an air operation against his own people in northwest of the country, I understood Pakistan’s future and its consequent destabilization.
Killing of its own people was a wrong step no matter what the exigencies were. Now, its people need to think more for Pakistan to uplift their country from present shatters. The power that was supposed to be used against its traditional enemy, stands used against own people. Now its not only the economy but the infractious society that needs to be woven back.
As a result according to cricket legend and current politician Imran Khan, corruption grew, joblessness grew and violence across the country increased. Islamabad’s ties with its neighbor Kabul overshadowed by political conflict and inconsistency. When Parviz Musharaf allowed American military to attack Afghanistan from a Pakistani air base, Afghans decided to rethink their stances about Pakistan, because its government appeared as an unfaithful friend. Even though, recently Afghan officials accused Pakistani counterparts on shelling artillery on an Afghan village across Durand Line. It is what India wants to see their rival in a bloody war, as a weapon which may break up the country, you know, India is in two fronts now, Kashmir and Afghanistan.
Recently I have been following Imran Khan’s manifesto for a better Pakistan, under his leadership it will emerge better neighbor to Afghanistan as well. I remember 1980s Pakistan, peaceful country, a host for millions of foreigners including western citizens. Contrary to that, today’s Pakistan turned a dangerous place not only for foreigners, but also for local people. The country is situated in a pressurized and tense position, like, a batsman who needs six runs from one ball to win, that only all-rounder Imran khan can hit.
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11 Responses to “Pakistan: One Ball-Six Runs”
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Hanan Habibzai
Dr.Arshad Afzal
03. Jul, 2011
This Afghan’s account is full of errors and lies. Can an army Chief fly a war plane let alone a trainer aircraft? How come Pakistan started bombarding its own people? This Afghan bastard is simply misguiding readers and his masters who pay him to vilify Pakistan. Pakistan was attacked by Afghan agents backed by Middle Eastern sheiks and others to destabilize it. The thankless Afghans and their local sympathizers started attacking peaceful civilians. Should Pakistan remain inactive and in state of inertia in face of blatant attacks on its innocent civilians? Pakistani policy makers must realize that religious zeal and fervor is merely an eyewash that enemies of Pakistan are using to destabilize Pakistan. In fact, Afghanis are Pakistan’s no.1 enemies. They are jealous and racists. History is not going to forgive this traitorous nation.
Octol
04. Jul, 2011
Why do the Pakis have so many enemies? It is because nobody likes the dirty Pakis.
Tiger Man
05. Jul, 2011
Well its a fact that Gen Kayani did fly F16 with a pilot. This was a media news and did fly over the war zone.
Those who use abusive language have some moral deficency in them.
Syed
04. Jul, 2011
Not as dirty as Indians
Vellach Samie
04. Jul, 2011
Dear Mr Hanan Habibzai,
Your story is so remarkable that it could come only from a British trained agent. It is full of stories specifically created to fit an agenda. Truth is always more complicated.
Soviet Union did not invade Afghanistan, it was invited by the official Government of Afghanistan. Your story of people rising up against Soviet Occupation is actually the reaction to propaganda made by Pakistani ISI Agents working for CIA and the British and made against the Soviet Union.
Today Pakistan and ISI are just paying the price of making a deal with the devil just as Libya's Qaddafi is learning from his mistake of trusting the western propaganda about democracy and capitalism.
Enjoy your peaceful life in London. At least have the courtesy to stay away from Afghanistan or Pakistan. Stop your meddling and trying to "make opinions". You are fooling no one but yourself.
babur
04. Jul, 2011
Now I know why Afghanistanis call Pakistanis BULLSHIT. World hates Pakistanis with passion why? Pakistanis sent Tali Ban to take-over Afghanistan. Smart! And see what? Afghanistanis are in Pakistan for almost 30 now and the effect…no Pakistani man now up to the age of 45 is left unmolested and raped by Pashtun or an Afghan.
See how Pakistani men talk and walk – bent and twisted in different angles with perferated arse when they walk. Thank to Afghanistanis No Pakistani can walk straight today. Allah is great.
Why Pakistani women prefer Afghanistani men? Will anyone comment on that?
Thanks.
BABUR
Dr.Arshad Afzal
05. Jul, 2011
Babur thank you for having raised this point under this thread. I sometimes wonder why is it that Afghans are so enamoured of foreigners’ cocks ! Since antiquity this race has been trampled over/molested by at least fifteen invaders. Every known Nation in either Europe or Asia has rammed their cocks in Afghan pussies and asses. Despite being molested this Nation brags over their so-called bravery and heroism. This strange personality disorder is still reflected even among their literate people(if any).I know these Afghans are descendents of prostitutes and pimps who peopled the Harems of various Sultans and Ghazis(of Turkish, Persian, Arab ,Mongol and other Central Asian descent). More recently they took pride in sending their females to Soviets. They are such thankless people that they curse their benefactors (Pakistanis)who liberated their women and boys from Russians Harems!Having come to Pakistan as refugees this thankless race started whinning and grumbling over their price tag that an ordinary Pakistani appended over their pussies and asses. Dissatisfied over the price that was normally set for a virgin Afghan pussy ,these rascals turned to Arabs and peddled their pussies and asses (only products made in Afghanistan apart from opium and heroine). These Arabs under the leadership of OBL used their pussies to hilt and taught Afghan Nadas to attack Pakistani interests! But Nature as ever is not siding with this traitorous Nation. Now it’s being fucked by forty plus Nations led by US of A. I think this explains your chagrin and anger against Pakistanis. Had Pakistanis bought these pussies who came rushing to Pakistan in 80’s with fair price the way Arabs had I wouldn’t have noticed this resentment in your writings/comments!
Octol
05. Jul, 2011
A dirty Paki at his finest. You dirty Pakis deserve all the misery this world has to offer.
Also, one usually doesn't expect such garbage from a doctor unless that doctor is a dirty Paki.
In addition, you dirty Pakis would let the CIA sodomize your grandmothers for a few rupees.
Udaho
05. Jul, 2011
Dirty minded dirty Paki faggot, f— you and may you die a miserable death like the one that every dirty Paki deserves.
Dr.Arshad Afzal
05. Jul, 2011
truth hurts! It pricks your brahman mothers' huge clits (or Afghan mothers'pussy lips) whatever the case may be. Do you recommend that Pakis should either dip in your Ganges or drink cows" piss as you do to "cleanse" themselves?
Dr.Arshad Afzal
05. Jul, 2011
@Tigerman your point taken! But see how others are reacting in their sloppy posts.I was left with no other alternative but to settle score using their derogatory style. Amazingly I have my arsenal full of armoury that can effectively silent these creatures if they persist . It's no brainer that Indians and Afghans are a scourge to the civilized humanity. These Neanderthals love their lusterless past but lack the futuristic vision to at least feed millions of hungry mouths. On the eastern flank of Pakistan 500 million poor wretched live and die( ignoble deaths) either on footpaths or shanty towns and on western flank we have these Afghans dying in caves or on poppy fields! So much for shining India and Proud Afghanistan!Leave dirty Pakis alone. Deep down in the dark recesses of their hearts they love Pakis!