Scream

IDRF is rasing money for the earthquake victims and have a press-release adressing some ``concerns`` of donors.

http://www.idrf.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Hncontent&pa=showpage&pid=345

Re: # 65

Mishra Sahib, there should be no shame in asking for help from those who can. Poor victims (over 3 million homeless, and close to 60,000 dead – # expected to go higher with winter approaching) couldn’t care less who is helping them. Those Pakistanis who can are doing the best they can. Yes, our Armed forces are corrupt and yes they spend billions on useless weapons – I personally (not that it matters) can live with their wasteful spending on WMDs; but it shames me that they will turn down offer of help from our neighbor. I think that’s the most despicable act ever by any Pakistani government. People are dying, and these behnchood Generals are worried about their false sense of self-esteem.

WEll Mr. Khan:

It is no use believing that that the rest of the world has a special obligation to quake-hit people in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). It appears the fatigue has taken over donor nations and few are prepared open their cheque ooks.

Pakistan has occupied 1/3 of Kashmir since its birth and now should take the responsibility to help, feed and take care of the wounded and the dead. Let us see how fellow brethren tret their own Muslim brothers and sisters.

So its is NATO`s job to airlift pakistanis while your generals build estates in Pakistan and all over the world?

Your goverment is willing to spend 10`s of $ billions on nuclear weapons and F-16 fighters and it is someone else`s problem to help with disasters in your country?

What a bunch of losers....

Besharmi ki bhi had honi chaiyya...

Hi Umair

Good to see you on Chowk!

Out in Canada, the CBC and the local channels are quite active in covering the quake--in fact the first I realised the enormity was through Canadian media, radio and TV. Canada has sent its DARE: a highly trained search and rescue team that provides fresh water, food and medical care with special equipment. Indo-Canadians--have sent a lot of money to Pakistan-. The point is that this isn`t local news, it is international news--it does`nt involve the local people of our adopted homelands--, plus quakes and such never remain front page news because no-one can be blamed for them. UNLESS the press finds an enemy or some sort of people angle out of it--news about quakes slips to the middle pages. The Katrina was a perfect front page news. Pakistan`s quake is just pure tragedy--if Pakistanis had been obnoxious, if India had been threatening to invade, THEN it would be front page news in all papers.

Romair #60

{{I think the int`l community will come in with more money. $5 billion is not much for them. Pakistan should, hopefully, be able to get some loan write-offs, or loan payment delays.}}

Pakistan was going to plonk down $3 billion for 80 late-model F-16s. They’ve also been talking of aquiring Swedish Erieye AWACS aircraft – the better part of another billion. They don’t need those expensive toys since their defense has become impregnable thanks to indigenous nuclear-tipped missiles. You said $5 billion, didn’t you? We’re already up to almost $4 billion. You can generate the remainder of the resources internally.

So there’s no need to go around importuning the international community for $5 billion in quake aid, and no need for more Mirpuris to blow themselves up in London tube stations if the baksheesh isn’t forthcoming.

Kashmiris are fodder to the cannons in the ruling circles whereever they go.

Wheather it is Mughals converting people like Romairs(most likely Brahmin origin) to Islam or Mr Sapru AKA Mohammad Iqbal. Then Dogra Raja fighting over it. Then India, that does not know how to resolve the problem by not becoming like What Pakistan did to Sikhs/Hindus in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Kashmir has been Pakistanised, in term sof Language and culture, it will be another extension of Punjab.

How is that different from; when Hari Singh Nalwa ruled over Kashmir, it was still a province of Punjab. In fact, Pakistan should thank Sikhs for making NWFP and Kashmir as part of what is now Pakistan.

Re: # 56 godot

Fine, whatever.... go bomb western capitals because they didn`t give you help .....

Bullsh!t is bullsh!t no matter who spews it.....

Ijaz_gul #51: Good poinits. I agree with Soysauce that 5 billion ruppees = $83 million...

In the end, it is the economy of Pakistan, which will need to support this effort. So it is important that the economy keeps growing. I think the int`l community will come in with more money. $5 billion is not much for them. Pakistan should, hopefully, be able to get some loan write-offs, or loan payment delays........

Most of all, this is an opportunity for the Pakistan govt. to re-allocate its budget. Pakistan has frozen its defence budget, at around $3 billion, for a few years. But now it needs to reduce it, regardless of what is going on in the region, and regardless of any increases in other countries` military budget. Pakistan main deterence in, now, nuclear. It needs to downsize conventional purchases, for ten years or more. Also, it should move its defence budgets towards export-oreinted manufacturing of military hardware.

Most of all, it needs to downsize its military, from 600k to around 250k - combined air force, army and navy. And utilize the rest of the budget for infrastructure development, and social services. In one day, Pakistan, two days ago, raised its education budget from 2.7% to 4% of the national budget. That is a 35% increase, in one day!! However, more needs to be done........

This will be the real test for Musharraf. I think he has done well during the tragedy. I think he will do well during the rebuilding also. But will he have the vision, to use this tragedy to carry out massive social reorientation. Lets see. My guess is maybe not. The military-industrial-civil services complex in Pakistan is too well-entrenched to be broken up. Moreso than in most countries. If Musharraf does do that, he will have done more for Pakistan, than anyone in the past 50 years........

At the same time, I think this tragedy has laid to rest any claims about Pakistanis not caring for each other, or not being united. Or about Pakistan being a failed state. Even the extremely cynical Pakistani English press has come around. I think the outside world is in a state of shock in seeing how the Pakistanis reacted. I haven`t seen anything like that anywhere in the world. No one from Houston rushed to New Orleans after Katrina. Yet thousands of Pakistanis, of all ethnicities and religions, rushed into the aftershocks of this earthquake, which occured in an area, most of which, officially, isn`t even a part of Pakistan and has zero political influence!!

This reaction, alone has started changing Pakistan`s and Pakistani public`s perception in the world. In addition, the Pakistani fauji jawan is now as popular as he has ever been since 65. People are seeing, first hand, what I have seen for ten years, as far as dedication of the average Pakistani soldier goes.

That which does not kill me, only makes me stronger, is a good saying. Cities have been torn down and built up again, and torn down again. These cities will be re-built. This, I am sure of. Now, is there leadeship available, which can make big decisions, with impact, in the whole society, outside this earthquake. Musharraf is a well-meaning patriotic person. But does he have the vision?

Re: # 52
Mr Romair,
How many people in your village actually speak Kashmiri, or for that matter in Pakistani Kashmir?

I have`nt found any Kashmiri from Pakistan who can speak Kashmiri, Punjabi-Yes. Their parents could speak Kashmiri.

Godot #36

``.....in western capitals that will become even more attractive targets for terrorists who believe Kashmiri Muslims were failed in their hour of need by a wealthy and heartless west....``

What a logic! why will governments that spend more money in F-16s rather than basic infrastructure not be a more attractive target?
Governments will not accept readily available help and than beg for `white man`s` help - why are they not more attractive targets?

Re: # 52

Romair, what is this “Azad” Kashmir or IOK business? Why can’t it just be Kashmir? Do you know how stupid it sounds to outsiders referring to Kashmir as Azad or Makbooza? Take it from someone from Makbooza Punjab. And if you think that Pakistanis have more love for their Kashmiri brothers than they did for Bengalis, you my friend are sadly mistaken. Until you have your elementary school textbooks printed in Kashmiri language, have your own national anthem, your own democratic government, your own borders, calling it Azad is a bit of wishful thinking. From Pakistanis’ perspective, you are under Pakistan’s “control”. Don’t forget it. Thanks.

Re: # 54

Mohar

````I don`t who this guy who wrote the article``

I figured you and your cohorts wouldn`t know. This analysis is not meant for the consumption of your type and level.

veeresh: after reading your comments, i lost all respect for you. shame on you!

Re: # 37
//.....in western capitals that will become even more attractive targets for terrorists who believe Kashmiri Muslims were failed in their hour of need by a wealthy and heartless west....//

Let`a get this straight - ``West didn`t help kashmiris[not true]... so let`s go bomb their capital``....

I don`t who this guy who wrote the article, but this kind of articles should be considered an insult to the victims and people who are helping them..... according to reports there have been UK/French search and rescue teams that have pulled people from rubble, with their high-tec equipment which were not available in pakistan...

#51
I like your attitude - it`s the attitude of a practical person who wishes to accomplish something. Just a correction assuming you`re using the american notation: Rs. 5b = $83 m.