Some worrying conversation from people here have seen words such as, the Taliban ‘may not be that bad’ and are looking towards ‘change’. As a woman living here, my only reply is, why would I agree? Or perhaps they were trying to test me to see my answer. Here is my answer in print. No, I don’t think they have made any drastic changes to their mentality. No educated woman or person who understands what the free world has to offer, will ever bow down to an extremist rule or culture or even trust it from afar.
Women, who are schooled on their basic rights are not going to be buying into the nonsensical jargon that perhaps extremists can ‘change’. Let us not whitewash the past few decades of the terror meted upon women and girls by fundamentalists in this world who have no interest in basic human rights.
Educated women recognize that extremism, which harbors progress, is not the true way of living. The same education which is never allowed for women or girls by fanatics who would not be able to oppress them anymore.
Fundamentalists may now however try to provide an ‘upgraded’ version of themselves to be accepted to an outside world. But the outside world will soon get to decide how much things have actually progressed. This will be apparent in a few months, when policies will speak for themselves.
Pakistan on the other hand is a beautiful mix of culture, traditions and history. It is now set on the path to progression by those who are fully committed to the nation. But the underlying worry has always been of the cultural influence that could filter into Pakistan especially now through the border. Any unruly elements or even the inkling of such must be identified and shut down immediately, just as was done before.
Extremist elements within the border have been fought by the Pakistani forces time and again. However, a social impact and the cultural influence of fundamentalism is harder to eradicate. And that is another long, drawn-out battle which must be addressed repetitively.
Politically speaking, the government is now going to have many decisions in the months to come as Afghanistan is very much in focus as a neighboring country. Geo-strategically, the connection cannot be lost as this is simply where Pakistan is located. One cannot change its neighbors. However, no radicalization must ever be allowed to enter within the nation’s mindset.
Here, the world must also realize that the two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan contain two very separate cultures and very different people. Pakistan has no dearth of talent within its borders where men, women and even children have time and again displayed extraordinary abilities. This is the time to take that opportune moment to invest in its most important assets, which are the people of the country.
I agree that the complexities and the nature of Pakistan’s relationship with its neighbor is what better governance has identified as ‘deep-rooted issues’ that will need the utmost diplomacy and strategy for the betterment on either side of the border. However, let one not forcibly try to develop the narrative, a romanticized vision of who and what Pakistan is going to be dealing with.
Pakistan must always be on the lookout lest it be associated mistakenly and permanently in history as in support of a group of infected radicals who have no mission for social outlook progression or for world peace. The people of Pakistan have confidence that the current administration will be able to carry the mantle of a decades old problem and manage the trickle-down effect of the issues which have been left behind. But let us make no mistake here there is no room for extremism in this world and will never be.
