Today we mark the one year anniversary of the darkest day in South Asia’s history. On November 26, 2008, ten misguided young men who were being controlled by a command center in Pakistan reached Mumbai in a small fishing boat. Before entering the shores of Mumbai these terrorists had already killed the captain and crew of the boat.
HBO today televised a documentary narrated by Fareed Zakaria, a Mumbai born American journalist. ‘Terror in Mumbai.’ an extremely informative documentary compresses three days of mayhem – three days when ten Pakistani young men who had mobile phones and machine guns killed 170 people and wounded 300 more, sending shockwaves of fear around the world. I was horrified watching this 360-degree view of the terrorist act, recounted in harrowing detail – especially because these young men came from a country, I call my own.
Phone calls intercepted and recorded between these men sent on ‘jihad’ and their commander in Pakistan were heart wrenching. And, so was statement of Kasab, the only gunman who survived. As this documentary depicted, these young Pakistan men received instructions over the telephone, leaving a trail of evidence that led Indian investigators to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a group fighting Indian rule in the disputed region of Kashmir. Pakistan’s military and ISI were also accused of backing the militants, a charge Islamabad has denied. New Delhi named 38 people in an 11,000-page charge sheet filed in a Mumbai court in February.
At some level I feel sorry for these lost souls- poverty stricken, uneducated young men who were fooled by conniving leaders of LeT and other fundamentalist organizations, However, I have no sympathies for their leaders- whomsoever they maybe. These characters have eroded the Pakistani society and have pushed us in a state of profound crisis.
I can’t forgive them because these morally corrupt LeT leaders have pushed us in a crisis that is complex, and multi-dimensional with facets that touch every aspect of our lives: our health and livelihood, the quality of our environment and our social relationships, our ideology, economy, and politics. It is a crisis of intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions; a crisis of a scale and urgency unprecedented in Pakistan’s 63 year history..
As a Pakistani, I stand today with my head down – embarrassed that my country has been hijacked by illiterate and irrational people – from self styled clergy to the army. These men will do anything they can to pursue their fantasy. Even if that means hoodwinking simple, young Pakistani men and murdering of innocent civilians on both sides of Indo-Pak border.
Undoubtedly, India is a belligerent regional hegemony and we must protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, independence and dignity. But these wayward leaders who exploit religion and patriotism have managed to drown the voices of reason and rationality. With Petro dollars supported tribal and Wahabi influence Pakistan’s social structures and behavior patterns have become so rigid that this country can no longer adapt to changing situations, it is unable to carry on the creative process of cultural evolution.
Read response to my earlier blogs and you will find an eerie uniformity of opinion. Even those who are tolerant, progressive, democratic are willing to condone terrorists in the name of Islam and nation. This uniformity and lack of self-reflection are clear signs that our society is in the process of disintegration.
As I watched this documentary I was reminded of acts of terrorism Pakistanis witness everyday- every Pakistani is a victim. Unless Pakistan’s progressive and democratic forces are willing to take on the retrogressive elements we will concede our right to opinion, education and way of life. Fundamentalists will prohibit freedom of expression and use all coercive apparatus to crush opposition. Education will be discouraged and whatever little is allowed, will be subverted by distortion of curricula. You can argue what is new- it has always been the case? It is the intensity that will change. We are not talking about FATA or NWFP or the tribal areas. This monster is already in cosmopolitan cities like Karachi and Lahore.
I was horrified to hear the Punjabi accent of those controlling these 10 terrorists. I was horrified when these young men were ordered to shoot hostages- I can’t express my anger and fear.
We, the Pakistani people should seek forgiveness from the families of those who lost loved ones in Mumbai. We should let the people of Mumbai know that we are just as much a victim. We should let them know that we don’t condone these acts of violence.
We, the Pakistani people should let our rulers know that they can’t indulge in adventurism like LeT anymore. We should let ISI and MI know that we will not pay their salary if they do not immediately cease all relations with all terrorist outfits.
Update: To all those who have suggested that my article assigns direct responsibility for Mumbai to the Government of Pakistan, let me be clear that is not what I am saying. One can apologize for acts done in the name of one’s nation, or in this case one’s religion, by their governments, or by their citizens, without assuming direct and absolute responsibility; just as many anti-war Americans have gone to Iraq and Afghanistan and apologized to the people for the war waged upon them by the U.S. government. I think here of the group September 11th Families for a Peaceful Tommorrow who have actively protested the war in Afghanistan and have even travelled there to apologize directly to the people of Afghanistan. It takes a big heart and courage to take such a position. Pakistanis should muster up the courage and do the same.
Ibrahim Sajid Malick is a Pakistani-American writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He has been writing on Pakistani society and politics since 1986. He has held several media, communications, and technology positions for organizations large and small. Mr. Malick graduated from New School for Social Research with a master’s degree in anthropology. He holds several technology and management certifications. He works for a leading technology firm and blogs at www.ibrahimsajidmalick.com
@ ahmed
i really have to say wat a coment u have given if you have quoted the london times or any other rewoned paper then there can be a point, even i can give u links of tons of indian newspaper who can give out or claim this sort of rubish thing against your country……….
please if anyone can send me the link to watch this documentary online……………
I believe that terrorism is a result of terrorism. If you see, terrorist act that was carried out in mumbai was also a result of another terrorist act. there are certain elements who feel that india is committing terrorism in Kashmir. so as a result of it they also carry out terrorist acts against india. What i want to say is that we should sit together and analyze the root causes of terrorism. Without a sincere and combined effort terrorism cannot be stopped.
@@Vishal: Nice compliments Vishal, but having a few more Pakistanis like Mr. Malick may not be sufficient for having peace between India and Pakistan. We would need such persons in both countries, no?
ha and what about indian involvement in our tribal areas, in balochistan, in karachi, in swat, in Marriot blast, in attack at Srilankan cricket team and in every act of terror or sectarian voilence or destability attempt that takes place in pakistan. what about of blocking out water whose every drop accounts for almost a life….
and whoever dickhead that wrote this column first should prove that these were pakistanis and in doing so dont refer to the shit that GEO TV aired about Ajmal Kasab. GEO TV did exactly what are you doing, help Indian assholes defame Pakistan…. even if he was pakistani he had the courage to do which every mother should taught his new born child before feeding himm….
Sajid Mallick’s Indian feet licking would not end now!
Google this article to find the truth “Mumbai attacks truth uncovered”
I would give this one article to slap the Indian apologists here who are there to insult their own motherland
I think Ibrahim is a terrorist from India is not a Pakistani. This blog is funded by America, Israel, India and Russia to infuriate Pakistani’s. This is a fake documentary you are talking about. Lets suppose If it is true which in reality it is not then Just Imagine IS There any country in the world whose Intelligence is so indolent that they even did not know about the entire plan. Hats off to you Indian Dog Ibrahim Sajid Mallick and Liars of HBO Documentary. Not even a single Pakistani was involved in Mumbai Attacks. It was only done to defame Pakistan world wide. With the consent of America all people were killed in India and I think Indians are killing Innocent Pakistani’s through Bomb Blasts throughout Pakistan and you Dog is not writing about that. We have evidences of RAW involvement in Pakistani Attacks and you bloody donkey is not mentioning that. U Indian Crap. Shut Up You seem to be a jew. This is anti Pakistan Website and should be banned. I hate India.
Mr. Malik it will be better if you write your stories regarding indian involvement in baluchistan and in pakistani Taliban. We pakistanis have lost our brothers and sisters in thousand and yet you apologize for mumbai attack where hardly a handful of people died. What a bummer…
@Siddharth Singh: i regard your comments but if india stops supporting the so called TALIBAN. The relationship between the two countries will imptove
@Malik Sheryar Nawaz Khan:
@faisal:
Yo terrorist, have you forgotten that Indian Army cut Pakistan into 2 pieces in 1971? Indian Army inflicted massive losses on Pakistani Army in 1999 in Kargil. Also, about 175 people who died on the train platform in Mumbai were Indian Muslims – so this whole operation backfired on Pakistani terrorists ! Now Indian Muslims do not even want to bury the dead Pakistani terrorists in their Kabristan and their body is rotting in some morgue.
Hello, Pakistan is also now facing even more terrorism from inside Pakistan itself. You guys are the laughing stock of the world. Just open you eyes and look.
Malick saab is as balanced as a Pakistani can get. While he also attacks India, at least he can see what is happening to his country.
India is progressing every day, becoming a developed country in 10 years from ow. Pakistan will forever be a toilet.
@M Ahmed:
Bad news for you, these same “corrupt” Indian Army Generals will smash any aggression from Pakistani Army. Dat’s wjy Pakistan Army is behaving itself like a good boy.
Also Kashmir law and order problem is Indias internal matter. We will solve it. Disgruntled elemnets can move to Pakistan, and POK should also be Indian territory soon, no ?
@Technology Fever:
Typical Pakistani. So much hatred in your eyes. Cant help it, your parents teach you to hate from the time of your birth. In fact the foundation of Pakistan is HATERED. So sad to see how miserable you and your fellow hateful countrymen are.
We feel PITY for your all that this rage and hate is burning you up everyday from inside your putrid stomachs eating goat biryani curry.
the peacefull solution of this problem is only the abortion of india@meetesh:
I think Mr.Malik is a brave man to let these hot comments go uncensored.Everyone is allowed to pour out all the pent up anger they have got inside them.May Allah Bless you with success in the world and the hereafter.
@jawad:SIR WITH DUE APOLOGIES!look at ur style!!u are so much proud and arrogant regarding the economic powers of India!but i wanna just tell u one thing that it is very natural and proven from history that JIS nation pay tabahi aani ho wahan pehlay pesa oor taraqqi aati hay e.g, Muslims history in the world and breakdown of soviet union is in front of us!so it doesn’t annoy us !its ur turn now.enjoy the fruits of development which in turn would develop the properties in ur nation that will lead u towards ur final destination that is “destruction” oor reh gayi baat choosen one ki to yes we are the chosen one and we will be “ALLAH A.W.J Says in quran “we keep on rotating the time among nations of the world,so it is a chance to learn who have wisdom and thinking.so its our learning stage going on !! aap dua karo k abi hum soyay hee rahain !oor jahan taq reh gayi baat enemies ki to jab hamara kaam china kar raha hay to hum ko kya zaroorat hay zabardasti main apnay pesay zaya karanay ki!aap kehtay ho k Pakistan k 3 parts ho janay hain,i assure u k Pakistan k 100 parts b ho jayain to phir b Indian pagans k liyay mohabbat naheen peda ho g kaheen b! enjoy ur economic prosperity.inshallah u will witness my words in ur life!u are my elder and respectable for me ! may god forgive my haughtiness!
@Vinil: excellent sir !
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