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Pakistan's Fragile State
Saira Yamin , ICAR Ph.D. Candidate
Posted: 12/04/08

[Published, International Herald Tribune, December 4, 2008] Thomas Friedman ("Calling All Pakistanis," Views, Dec. 3) suggests that reactions from Pakistanis to the Mumbai attacks have been insufficient.

Pakistan's leadership, media and civil society have been very vocal in expressing solidarity with India. The Pakistani government has offered full cooperation. Pakistanis from all parts of society have come forward to condemn the common enemy. After all, Pakistan has become a playing field for terrorists as well.

Fair enough? Not according to Friedman who advises Pakistanis to take to the streets as they did when a Dutch cartoonist mocked Prophet Muhammad through his caricatures.

A better comparison would be to examine Pakistani reactions in the aftermath of the country's own 9/11, when the Marriott in Islamabad was razed by suicide bombers. Precious lives were lost. Did Pakistanis take to the streets? No. Why expect otherwise for Mumbai?

Saira Yamin, Arlington, Virginia

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ICAR News Network Pakistan's Fragile State Saira Yamin , ICAR Ph.D. Candidate Posted: 12/04/08 [Published, International Herald Tribune, December 4, 2008] Thomas Friedman ("Calling All Pakistanis," Views, Dec. 3) suggests that reactions from Pakistanis to the Mumbai attacks have been insufficient. Pakistan's leadership, media and civil society have been very vocal in expressing solidarity with India. The Pakistani government has offered full cooperation. Pakistanis from all parts of society have come forward to condemn the common enemy. After all, Pakistan has become a playing field for terrorists as well. Fair enough? Not according to Friedman who advises Pakistanis to take to the streets as they did when a Dutch cartoonist mocked Prophet Muhammad through his caricatures. A better comparison would be to examine Pakistani reactions in the aftermath of the country's own 9/11, when the Marriott in Islamabad was razed by suicide bombers. Precious lives were lost. Did Pakistanis take to the streets? No. Why expect otherwise for Mumbai? Saira Yamin, Arlington, Virginia News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution