IN his rejoinder (Sept 24) to my previous letter (Sept 1 3), a letter writer has missed the entire point of several correspondents’ letters, all of whom felt offended by Asfandyar Wali Khan’s extra territorial loyalty to Afghanistan while implicitly showing contempt for Pakistan, his birthplace.

He has seized upon my casual observation about the Arain brotherhood’s supposed link to Jordan, which was secondary to the issue and only meant to underscore my complete attachment and loyalty is to this nation after migrating to Pakistan rather than the place of birth, East Punjab or elsewhere.

Pakistanis came from everywhere, beginning with the Aryans, Greeks, Mongols, Arabs and Central Asians. A Turkish citizen, a great well-wisher of Pakistan, whom I knew had Muslim parents from somewhere in Russia but was himself born in Turkey and fully identified with it. He would be appalled to hear of Asfandyar’s stance.

Was Asfandyar’s grandfather Ghaffar Khan’s decision to be buried in Afghanistan rather than in his adopted country wrapped in the Indian National Congress’ flag, facilitated by his descendants, including Asfandyar (Sept. 18), an honourable thing to do?

Were his father Wali Khan’s and his own efforts to carve out an independent Pakhtunistan out of our dear home a commendable deed?

Most Pakistani Muslims take great pride in the achievements of their ancestors of early Islamic times, which is a good thing. But, instead of resting on their laurels, we need to overcome our ethnic and sectarian prejudices, intolerance, illiteracy, unenlightenment and other faults to be really honourable.

Nur Muhammad Arain

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016