Dear Zafar Sb,

Here is an interview, which I conducted with a former senior bureaucrat, Mr Khuda Baksh in the home town of Lahore. Mian Khuda Bakhsh is the Retired Secretary/ Additional Chief Secretary to Govt of the Punjab and also retired Member of the Punjab Public Service Commission. He has contributed to many Pakistani newspapers on matters regarding judicial and administrative processes in Pakistan. Please include this interview in Sada-e-Watan Sydney.

Cheers & Regards,
Farah

INTERVIEW WITH A FORMER SENIOR BUREAUCRAT IN PAKISTAN
Dr Farah Adeeb and Sulayman Inglis, Perth

1- Why is there so much antagonism towards the West, and America in particular when so many Pakistani's try to embrace its values (e.g. films, clothes, fast food, music)? This question often puzzles Westerners themselves!

The Antagonism towards the west, especially America, is not all-over, throughout and wide-ranged in the Muslim countries. The common masses remain aloof and un-attracted towards such considerations. Those who have some understanding about international and internecine and inter-racial competitiveness, however, do feel that America, in particular, is trying to seek unipolar hegemonic supremacy over the globe especially the oil-rich Muslim and resources-laden Asiatic countries and impose upon them neo-colonialism mostly through economic measures. Why should America assume a policeman’s role all over and impose that system of state-craft which suites to it over others and why should it create special conditions of ease and security for a few of its favorites at the cost of quite a few others. What is good and reasonable in America and the west is similarly appreciated in Pakistan without putting the label of hate on everything

2- Do you think the antagonism is more about a perception of an American empire - that it meddles in affairs it should not?

As stated above in reply to question one, apart from reservations in regard to certain social and moral values in America, the antagonism towards her is rooted into lack of trust in the, otherwise outwardly, acclaimed friendship and US’s commitments to Pakistan. America beguiled Pakistan in 1971 war with India, and used Pakistan as a bulwark against expansionism of USSR in Afghanistan in 80’s, promoted militarism in Pakistani youth of religious seminaries and employed them as jehadists against Russia in Afghanistan and also used Pakistan as an instrument for dismemberment of USSR. After the withdrawal of Russia from Afghanistan and its breakage, the jehadists bounced back as militants into Pakistan. For America, Pakistan had to take a U-turn against Taliban in Afghanistan and allowed America to use its soil for assaults into Afghanistan. Pakistan has been turned into a front-line state to fight terrorism seated all-around it. Pakistan has done everything possible even at the cost of internal-strifes and cleavages. Yet America is not satisfied and is pressing for more and more. No other country in the world has fought terrorism and sacrificed its people’s lives as enormously as Pakistan has done. Yet the clamors are for more and more. Such a state of ingratiation on the part of America has blown resentment among people of Pakistan.

Email this page to a friend!