Flames and smoke belches out from a PNS Mehran Base after an attack by militants in Karachi on May 22, 2011. Militants stormed one of Pakistan's biggest military bases in the country's largest city late May 22, triggering explosions and gun battles three weeks after the US killing of Osama bin Laden. - AFP Photo
Pakistan’s only viable and efficient institution has been attacked. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has accepted the responsibility for intruding into well guarded naval and air force bases; and managed to destroy state of the art equipment – two PC3 Orion aircraft costing millions of dollars – in a long drawn out operation.
The nightmare is over now. At least 10 security officials have been martyred in line of their duty and according to the Interior Minister Rehman Malik, four terrorists have been killed. The facts are unclear and true to the non-transparent culture we are used to. However, Pakistan has been shaken once again at this huge security lapse. Thus far the naval leadership is not willing to accept that this is a security failure.
However, the public at large after the May 2 strike is not willing to accept the usual tale of intelligence failures and lapses. Given that no answers are being given on the nature, motive and details of these events the Pakistani mind – an indoctrinated house of conspiracy theories – has gone overboard in creating a new version of Arabian Nights.
As the shocking news flashed on TV screens and the Internet, the conspiracies started to flow as it comes naturally to us. Let’s face it we are a resilient and dynamic society and there is no reason why to belittle the indomitable will of Pakistanis. We survive and carry on with our lives. At another level, we happen to be a bit psychotic as well.
Minutes after the attack took place, Twitter-friendly Pakistanis at home and abroad started to express their bewilderment. There were many – the usual ‘liberal’ lot – who bemoaned the rise of extremism and the way al Qaeda wants to damage the Pakistani state. However, one wizard was convinced that the Karachi attacks are the handiwork of a ‘pro-US militant’ group. Thank God he did not tell us that the terrorists at work were definitely not circumcised, as was the case with the Taliban fighting in the northwest.
As hours passed by, the venerated nukes entered into the discussion. Here is the conspiracy: the Americans are perpetrating these attacks to prove that we are incapable of guarding our nukes. The attacks on PNS Mehran were therefore a far-fetched scheme through which we will lose our nuclear assets.
It appears that many Pakistanis are yet again convinced that it is anti-Pakistan foreign enemies who can do it. Muslims cannot be the enemies of Pakistanis so it has to be non-Muslims. These simplistic and dangerous narratives are now being reinforced by a handful of TV anchors and their security savvy guests who are also casting wild aspersions on everybody and their Uncle except the militants.
Even the Pakistanis who are not given to conspiracy theories suggest that this is a civilian failure as if Zardari and Rehman Malik hold the keys to military installations. Worse, many of them also fail to recognize that Pakistan is faced with a formidable enemy – the Al-Qaeda now bolstered by and operating through its local partners such as TTP and several other sectarian outfits. “Army is short of budget and resources” is another refrain. A self-styled ‘defence expert’, also infamous for hosting a rude show, (which extolled rapists earlier) fired the best shot: ‘The alliance between Israel, India & USA is trying to malign Pakistan’. A celebrated anchor at DAWN News alluded to the civilian failure.
How can we ever move towards a democratic society if the media continues to reinforce the conspiratorial mindset and deepen the collective psychosis?
May has been a cruel month for Pakistan. Since the assassination of bin Laden, terror attacks have intensified and their target is the security installations and debilitating the state. I want to support our Armed Forces as only they have the capability to fight the menace of terrorism. Pakistanis will stand behind their Army if it resolves to take a single-minded approach to terrorism and review the security doctrine that has brought us to this pass. However, media persons spinning orphaned theories and misleading the country will serve no one’s purpose.
About time the country’s political parties stand united on this issue and enter into a dialogue with the security establishment. If this resolve and consensus is not going to emerge then there may come a time, not too distant, when it would be simply too late.
Pakistanis outside the domains of power and pelf echo what had Faiz said in one his rare Punjabi poems:
Mainu shahi nai chahidi
o rab sohniya
Min ta izzat da tukkar mandga haan
(I do not want glory, dear God, I want a decent meal)
Raza Rumi is a policy adviser, writer and editor based in Lahore. His writings are archived at www.razarumi.com
Print This Post 
Email This Post
Are you so naive that with all these bombings, assassinations , NROs you still believe there is no one against us. Though we have to blame ourself first but don’t shut your eyes like pigeon but wake up.
While Raza Rumi dismisses conspiracy theories, he provides no basis for the dimissal!
For sure the militants had insider info, unfortunately armed forces are infected with such fanatics
It seems like the author is an exquisite writer yet terribly naive. Penetrating the naval base is not a joke, let alone holding captured ground for sometime. Does’nt it make you wonder the capability of the militants to attack the mighty establishment that swear to protect Pakistani citizens? Ofcourse, external as well as internal threats devour Pakistan everyday yet my dear author seems to live in a happy place where only Pakistan is at fault which is why Pakistan is in a mess.
Simple Solution to Pakistani leadeship, Clean up the terror network once and for all. Bring back the peace and prosperity to our sub continent.
Pakistan should be saved why im saying this what did poor people do.. They dont have enough meal.. Military dictator should be brought to book..
Leaders and unprofessional media will feed whatever the audience would relish and digest. If public likes and can digest grass, grass is what they will be fed.
Sir, you are completely right, about our internal troubles which are responsible to some extent in creating the mushroom of terrorism which has enveloped the whole country, but let us be mindful of the external threats this country faces!! these external threats cannot be termed as conspiracy theories, as they are well-established facts, the fact which you have ridiculed so crudely, ( about circumcision ), was hard evidence, of foreign involvement, and exploiting the region to perpetrate acts of terrorism. Pakistan is in danger, and please do not close your eyes in the face of external dangers, as often you do not when it comes to pointing towards the internal inadequacies of the country.
Well Well. I’d imagine Pakistan kind of had all figured out after all these years that it never harbored any kind of extremism at home. What has transpired in the last 20 days has proved that the establishment has been fooling its own people. So much for the White lie.
This is the first time I’ve read any of your articles and I find it great and to the point.
Keep uo your good work
It’s time for the civil society to stand up against all the evils.The biggest evils in “South Asia” (which includes India, Pakistan,Bangladesh) are mainly Poverty , Illiteracy ,Poor Health.Corrupt ,inept governance & lack of leadership are the cause, terrorism is only the effect.
the secret and non transparent nature of the informations and the past record of the tactics of our defence forces have always resulted in the conspiracy theories.if the trend continues it will surely endanger not only the security of our nukes but the existence of the country.
This too shall pass…hopefully.
Pakistan is going through tough times and needs leadership at the top which can redirect the nation on what is important – security and prosperity for its people. This can only be achieved by increasing confidence in Pakistan so it can attract investments and talent. Confidence will improve when the country is united and there is no strife. The need of the day is a “AtaTurk” or a “Lee Quan”!
What is going is very very sad..But we should not forget that these are the same people who destroyed USSR..They are trained to do any thing. If they can destroy a super power, Pakistan is nothing for them.
They (the Jihadis) did not defeat or destroy the USSR. They were the horses the Americans were riding when the Anericans beat the USSR to pulp, in Afganistan. The Jihadis were the pawns on the chessboard.
Strategy is more important than bravado.
ohh really did they destroyed the ussr or it was u.s.a with material and pakistan with men made them do this. i bet my bottom dollar that such elements can never harm states like usa, britian and others because they are not sympathized there at all like we have here.
I agree with you on all but the last point. The key to terrorism is not with the army or the security establishment. Even the worlds most sophisticated weapons and military cannot succeed against fadayins. The solution has to be come through politicians. And if these politicians cannot bring it, we need to remove them and bring those who can, like Imran Khan.
To people like Akbar,
please stop with the Imran Khan chant. Have you forgotten how he thinks that USA is actually responsible for these terrorists and how stopping drone attacks will automatically stop these lunatics from killing.
Why do you think that foreign involvement precludes local cooperation?
It is naive to say that the only reason someone thinks there might be foreign involvement is because “Muslims cannot be the enemies of Pakistanis so it has to be non-Muslims”.
Are you suggesting there can never be any conspiracy in the world? Muslim history, and for that matter any peoples history, has many examples of Mir Jaffer. But could the British have taken over pre-partition India merely through the likes of Mir Jaffer without having the will and plan to do so?
Very well written as usual RAZA RUMI style, Civilian leadership no doubt failed to develop and implement any policy in any sector, that have done big damage also They could not convince public, Thats our fight.
I was going to say: let’s just hope they do a better job of guarding the frontiers than this base but then I thought of the Abbotabad raid by the Americans.
I wish Pakistan security establishment will have the senses to understand this post. Time for them to change. Terrorism is not an asset.There is no good and bad terrorist. Let common sense and humanism prevail.
great clarity
This is a huge security breach and an even major embarrasment and we have the Naval Chief saying that there was no “security lapse”. Mr.Admiral, if this wasn’t one, then what in your book constitutes a security lapse ? Noman Bashir should have been out of uniform by the next morning. There is no room for complacency here. Pakistan lost two out of four P3C Orion aircraft. That is losing 50% of our naval surveillance capability in a stroke.
What is next the F16s at Sargodha or the Augostas in Naval Shipyard ? What does it take for the powers that be to admit that this was a colossal failure on our part ? There were not steath helicopters, no “nap of earth flying”.
Wake up Pakistan!
The dreams of Jinnah must be restored.
Mario Henrique
Whats happening in pakistan today was the DERAMS OF JINNAH.
Let us start with cleaning up school curriculam by NOT teaching hate & twisted history lessons.
Raza,
Although you have banned me at PTH but let me still thank you for writing this. You are doing good work. Keep it up.
why dont you tell who are behind this ? our nation is divided on every issue thats what i am seeing on twitter adn fb posts everyone has their own theory and no two theories and thinkings match . Isnt it alarming how DIVIDE WE ARE AS A NATION .
Pakistanis,
See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil. Collective heads buried in sand, conspiracy in everything, and blaming everyone else for all their problems.
well typed Maroof Usmani, See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil. Collective heads buried in sand, conspiracy in everything, and blaming everyone else for all their problems.I agree with you on this node that the time is now to drive the black sheeps out among us. these talibans are nothing but an ugly scar upon the face of Muslim world and Pakistan nation and we have to go through a thorough surgery and merciless operation must be carried out against every one who sympathize these elements.
Jaisi Karni Vaisi Bharni !!!
How come the Pakistani public does not report to local police once they spot unknown persons living among them? Your assessments about saving country by Military is incorrect. It’s the general public that holds the key. Someone parking a motorbike, a car and leaving it unattended must be questioned by locals and should be reported. Are we doing that?
So sad to lisen that news. We are proud of Lt. Yasir Abbas
Finally, one person is thinking logically. Let it become a movement among media people, this will lead to social movement for change towards the betterment among people of pakistan.
Even after spending so much of our budget on defence every year v r facing these acts of brutality. This act is shame for all of us. Please show sum courage and bravery atleast. Rehman malik’s statement was embarrassing.