Islamist Values Realignment
"There were blasts and there was hell for all of us. When I got my senses back, I found nothing but smoke, dust, blood and screaming people. I saw severed body parts and blood all around."
Nazir John, parishioner All Saints Church, Peshawar, Pakistan
"The terrorists have no religion and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions. Such cruel acts of terrorism reflect the brutality and inhumane mindset of the terrorists."
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
People gather at the site of suicide attack on a church in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. A suicide bomb attack on a historic church in northwestern Pakistan killed scores of people Sunday, officials said, in one of the worst assaults on the country’s Christian minority in years. (AP Photo/Mohammad Sajjad) AP
Where once throughout the Muslim world, the more ancient Christian faithful understood that their presence was tolerated by their more numerous Muslim neighbours, it has become increasingly obvious to them now that their meek presence represents a reprehensible affront to the more militantly violent of their fundamentalist-minded neighbours, and their lives and the presence of the Christian church are increasingly fraught with danger.
Their presence in their ancient homeland, worshiping their ancient religion to which they remain wholeheartedly devoted has long passed its best-before date; their time in the geography is limited. How very efficient, a simultaneously-timed twin bombing by two men prepared to reach their hearts' desire, to become blessed shaheeds, to enter Paradise as heroic martyrs upon whose bidding pliable virgins await their presence.
It hasn't been all that long ago that Pakistan trained, armed and gave refuge to the Afghan Taliban. The very Taliban originating in Afghanistan that is now preparing its permanent re-entry into Afghanistan to retake the administration of that war-tired-and-torn country back from the interregnum imposed when Western troops allied with NATO joined the United States with the UN's acquiescence to rid the country of their destructive, malign presence.
Comfortable with the presence of the Afghan Taliban as long as none of their predations took place in Pakistan, the problem was solved when Pakistan tribal Pashtuns from North Waziristan tribal areas formed their very own Taliban. Pakistan's government understood a tad too late that the monster it had helped create had cloned itself to reflect the need to confront its own administration in the name of fanatical Islamism.
And just as the government of Pakistan coddled and protected the Afghan Taliban, they have discovered that once a monster is born it is difficult to disown it, coerce it, dominate it, plead with it to just please go away. They have been planning to set aside their military's conflict with the Pakistani Taliban for the costs have been too great to bear in slaughter. Besides which their own military has been infiltrated, alongside their intelligence services.
So 78 Christians of Pakistan citizenship are now dead, and 141 wounded. Worshippers trusting that they were free to act as they always have, demonstrating their trust in their government to protect them and their benevolent countrymen to view them with kindness. But they represent the hated 'other', all the more so that they share a religion with the West and since American drone attacks target their members, they will target the symbols of the West.
Among the 78 dead 34 women and seven children. Another 37 children among those wounded. Hospitals hadn't enough caskets for the dead nor beds for those wounded, in Peshawar. Yet the country's Prime Minister insists a peace deal with his country's Taliban represents the best possible way to end the country's violence. His view endorsed by all the major political parties, and so negotiations will proceed.
The northwest tribal regions will eventually rule Pakistan. And just incidentally take unto itself the administration of the country's nuclear facilities. And just as Afghanistan's Taliban were pleased to lend their auspices to the leadership of al-Qaeda, Pakistan's Taliban will recognize how very much in common they have in similar interests to that of al-Qaeda and its numerous offshoots.
The world remains a very interesting place.
Labels: Atrocities, Christianity, Islamism, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, September 24, 2013
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