| Talat Farooq |
| Nothing in the prevailing state of despair and devastation could have lifted the soul more than nine-year old Merve Tekinay's letter to President Zardari along with her donation of one year's pocket-money and her doll for the flood victims in Pakistan. In her hand-written letter she says "I saw Pakistan in the news and felt so sad. Please don't hesitate to ask; we are your best friends." (The News, September 11). There is no doubt that Turkey has stood by us in times of need. Those of us who have visited Turkey can vouch for the warmth that the Turks show towards their Pakistani friends, not just at the governmental level but more prominently in the streets of Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir. Merve's letter is a reminder of this friendship; it is also a reminder of our mutual heritage. Written from Qonya, the city of Jalaluddin Rumi, the words of the child are reminiscent of the saint's philosophy of combining the temporal with the spiritual. A little girl with a big heart, untarnished by hypocrisy has had not only the compassion to 'feel sad', but also the courage to translate this sadness into positive action. In reaching out to the wretched and the broken- hearted far beyond her borders she sacrificed not only hard cash, but also something of sentimental value -- her doll. She is probably too young to understand the complex jargon in the academic work on Rumi, but she possesses the most appropriate medium for receiving higher truths -- a pure heart. It is therefore not surprising that what she has felt, said and done is the clearest manifestation of Rumi's message that interprets religion in its purest form by integrating material appearances with spiritual dimensions. Rumi acquired the knowledge of exoteric religious sciences through formal studies and became a respected religious teacher, whose opinion was sought on matters of canon; but he did not stop there. Instead he searched for deeper meanings of religious thought to understand the esoteric aspects. In his quest for higher truth, humanity and humaneness became more important than ritualistic religious practices. For Rumi the meaning always dominated the form and led to tolerance and inclusiveness. Life's quest for growth and newer heights and man's potential to attain higher morality through unconditional love are recurrent strands of Rumi's thought. Creative passion, says Rumi, is a seed planted in every spirit and if watered and pruned properly grows from a sapling to a towering tree. His Masnavi draws upon the lives of the prophets and saints not to narrate events but to highlight the spiritual meaning of their journeys through life. Syed Hossein Nasr has compared Firdausi's 'Shahnameh', the epic Persian poem that depicts the worldly exploits of the Persian kings, to Rumi's Masnavi that shifts the focus to the inner battlefield of the soul of man. Nasr concludes that the former symbolises 'jihad-e-asghar' while the latter interprets 'jihad-e-akbar'. Since his death seven hundred years ago, the influence of his monumental works, Masnavi and Diwan Shams Tabreezi continue to impact Turkish, Persian and Indo-Pakistan religious thought and practices, and make him the most popular mystic poet in the west. It is precisely because of Rumi's faith in the universality of human goodness and his acceptance of diversity as a manifestation of the Ultimate Truth that makes Rumi's influence so widespread and relevant to the 21st century. On the other hand, the onslaught of Wahabism in Pakistan and Afghanistan has managed to relegate the complex and diverse inner meanings of religious thought to mere ritualistic phenomenon, and to create confusions through its vociferous proponents. This focus on the outward forms of practices of worship, without understanding the deeper nuances, invariably creates a judgmental mindset based not on knowledge, but bigotry. Lack of critical thinking skills in our educational system are matched by the absence of critical analysis in our religious studies. It is this divisive thinking pattern that divides people into sects and groups. The human insecurities and fear of survival in a hostile world are often exploited by vested interests for political ends. In times of social decay and political turmoil, it is difficult to indulge in introspection and take practical steps to improve and prosper; it is more convenient to seek ideologically insulated bubbles within which one can be amongst the known and the familiar and where one has neither to think nor decide nor choose or discard; all is taken care of. In this bubble, uniformity becomes linked to security and safety while diversity or dissent become synonymous with danger to survival. Hence the division of the human species into 'we' and 'the other'. This tendency is then translated into bombings of Sufi shrines, Ahmedi mosques and Christian churches. Rumi endeavored to rejuvenate the society in the aftermath of the devastating Mongol brutality, by highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the spiritual and the material and between the limitless human potential and the boundless human will to realise it. Today the Muslim world in general and Pakistan in particular, stand at the crossroads of history, caught in the quagmire of inaction and self-righteousness. In the decay and destruction around him in the 13th century, Rumi yearned for a spiritual hero who had risen above the animal level at which most humans lived and died, saying: "I am sick of beasts and animals: my wish is for a human being." Sounds familiar doesn't it? The writer is a PhD student at Leicester, UK. Email: talatfarooq11@gmail.com Published in The News on 21st September 2010 |
The letter from Qonya
A MOVING EXAMPLE OF AFFECTION OF A YOUNG TURK FOR PAKISTAN
In an instance of sublime affection demonstrated by the ordinary Turkish citizen for their Pakistani brethren, Ms Merve, hailing from Konya, also addressed a personal letter to the President of Pakistan.
The hand written letter promises continued help for Pakistan. “I will go on sending my help. Don’t hesitate, we are your best friends,” writes little Merve.
Merve’s letter says, “I don’t know how much you need, I am sending you my one year’s pocket money and my doll. In the name of our friendship, I also send a photo of me.”
She goes on and says, “I am little, I saw Pakistan in the news and felt so sad. My Baba told me that you helped us in our War of Independence a lot. So now it is our turn to help you in these floods.”
“I wrote this letter because I want you to know that we are all informed about this”, the letter said. She concludes her letter with “May God help you, Kisses.”
The cash contribution of Merve has been deposited in the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Relief Fund account maintained by the Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara.
ENDS
Help the flood affectees of Pakistan
Pakistan Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund Account Numbers:
US Dollar Account: 3457808/5010
Turkish Lira Account: 3457808/5011
T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.Ş., 920 – Gaziosmanpaşa, Filistin Sok. No. 12, ANKARA
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Jang Multimedia
9 YEAR OLD TURKISH GIRL DONATES HER POCKET MONEY FOR FLOOD AFFECTEES OF PAKISTAN
Jang Multimedia
Jang Multimedia
Saadat Party shows solidarity with Pakistan
.JPG)
ENDS
Help the flood victims in Pakistan
US Dollar Account: 3457808/5010
Turkish Lira Account: 3457808/5011
T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.Ş., 920 – Gaziosmanpaşa, Filistin Sok. No. 12, Appeal – Help Pakistan Flood Victims
ANKARA, August 6: The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara conveys the appeal of the Government of Pakistan to the brotherly people of Turkey and Pakistani expatriates to donate in cash or kind to help affectees of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history. Over 1500 people have lost their lives, while another 4 million persons are directly affected by recent monsoon floods in Pakistan. They need food, water, shelter, medicines and your prayers.Although the Pakistani government has already launched a full fledged rescue and relief operation in the affected areas, the scale and magnitude of the catastrophe requires help from international community.
Details of Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund that has been established in Turkey are:
US Dollar Account: 3457808/5010
Turkish Lira Account: 3457808/5011
T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.Ş.
920 – Gaziosmanpaşa
Filistin Sok. No. 12, Ankara
Donations can also be directly sent to Pakistan to the Prime Minister’s National Disaster Management Fund through US$ account number: 9901526, Branch code 0341 (swift code: NBPAKKA021) National Bank of Pakistan, Main Branch, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Assistance is needed for food items, shelter, water purification tablets/plants, and healthcare. Specific details could be obtained from the website of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at www.ndma.gov.pk . Items of assistance may be sent directly to Chairnam, NDMA, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pakistan International Airlines flies twice weekly from Istanbul to Islamabad on Tuesdays and Fridays. It will carry relief goods, properly packed, for air freight, free of cost.
It will be highly appreciated if the Embassy’s Focal Person is updated through e-mail/fax/phone on your initiatives of assistance. Focal person: Abdul Akbar, E-mail abdul.akber@gmail.com, Fax 0312-4270337, Tel 0312-04270243, 0530-5692828
Pakistan appeals for donations to help the monsoon floods affectees
ANKARA, August 4: The Embassy of Pakistan in Ankara conveys the appeal of the Government of Pakistan to the brotherly people of Turkey and Pakistani expatriates to donate in cash or kind to help affectees of the worst floods in Pakistan’s history. Over 1500 people have lost their lives, while another 3 million persons are directly affected in northwest Pakistan.
Although the Pakistani government has already launched a full fledged rescue and relief operation in the affected areas, the scale and magnitude of the catastrophe requires help from international community.
Donations can be directly sent to Pakistan to the Prime Minister’s National Disaster Management Fund through US$ account number: 9901526, Branch code 0341 (swift code: NBPAKKA021) National Bank of Pakistan, Main Branch, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Assistance is needed for food items, shelter, water purification tablets/plants, and healthcare. Specific details could be obtained from the website of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at www.ndma.gov.pk. Items of assistance may be sent directly to Pakistan in the name of Director General, Emergency Relief Cell, Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.It will be highly appreciated if the Embassy’s Focal Person is updated through e-mail/fax/phone on your initiatives of assistance. Focal person: Abdul Akbar, E-mail abdul.akber@gmail.com, Fax 0312-4270337, Tel 0312-04270243, 0530-5692828
ENDS
Pakistani Foreign Minister conveys Pakistan’s sentiments over UK PM remarks
Ankara, 2 August, 2010: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with the British High Commissioner, H.E. Mr. Adam Thomson, in the Foreign Office at Islamabad today, conveyed the sentiments of the Government and the people of Pakistan at the remarks made by the British Prime Minister during his recent visit to India regarding Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that terrorism was a global issue and had to be dealt with by all countries in a spirit of cooperation, rather than putting the entire onus on any one country. He said Pakistan was itself a victim of terrorism and its efforts against violent extremism could not be negated.
The British High Commissioner explained the context in which the remarks were made by the British Prime Minister adding that the UK was looking forward to further strengthening its strategic relations with Pakistan in the months and years ahead. It was underlined that the upcoming meeting between the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Britain at Chequers would provide a useful opportunity to understand each other’s viewpoint on issues of mutual concern, as well as take the bilateral relationship forward.
ENDS
Chairman, Great Union Party of Turkey (BBP) condoles with Pakistan
ANKARA, 29 July 2010: H.E. Mr. Yalcin Topcu, Chairman, Great Union Party of the Republic of Turkey today visited Pakistan’s Embassy in Ankara and condoled over the tragic incident of air crash incident in Islamabad where 152 people lost their lives.
Recording his remarks in the visitor’s book, Mr. Yalcin Topcu said the people of Turkey are saddened about the incident and conveyed his feelings of sympathy to the families of victims and the people of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin thanked the dignitary for his visit. He said Pakistan and Turkey are one nation living in two states whose hearts beat together. Visits like this further strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and friendship, he said.
ENDS
Recording his remarks in the visitor’s book, Mr. Yalcin Topcu said the people of Turkey are saddened about the incident and conveyed his feelings of sympathy to the families of victims and the people of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey H.E. Mr. Tariq Azizuddin thanked the dignitary for his visit. He said Pakistan and Turkey are one nation living in two states whose hearts beat together. Visits like this further strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and friendship, he said.
ENDS
An Ally of Necessity: Over the past nine years, more Pakistani than NATO troops have lost their lives fighting the Taliban by Husain Haqqani
The much publicized leaking of several thousand classified documents relating to the war in Afghanistan may have provided the war's American critics an opportunity to press their objections. It does not, however, make the case against military and political cooperation between the governments of the United States and Pakistan, made necessary by the challenge of global terrorism.
Under elected leaders, Pakistan is working with the U.S. to build trust between our militaries and intelligence agencies. In recent months, Pakistan has undertaken a massive military operation in the region bordering Afghanistan, denying space to Taliban extremists who had hoped to create a ministate with the backing of al Qaeda. Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have been enhanced to an unprecedented degree. And exchanges of intelligence between Pakistan and the U.S. have foiled several terrorist plots around the globe. The WikiLeaks controversy and the ensuing speculation about Pakistan's role in the global effort against the terrorists should not disrupt the ongoing efforts of the U.S. and Pakistan to contain and destroy the forces of extremism and fanaticism that threaten the entire world.
Pakistan is crucial for helping Afghanistan attain stability while pursuing the defeat of al Qaeda led terrorist ideologues. For that reason the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department have denounced the leaking of unattributed and unprocessed information implicating Pakistan in supporting or tolerating the Taliban. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, a Democrat, warned Monday against judging Pakistan's role in the Afghan war by "outdated reports," adding that Pakistan had "significantly stepped up its fight against the Taliban." Most Americans and many Pakistanis agree on the need for improvements in Pakistan's efforts, but that is not the same as suspecting lack of cooperation.
The tragedy that has unfolded in South Asia is the product of a long series of policy miscalculations spanning fully 30 years. The U.S., in its zeal to defeat the Soviet Union—a noble goal indeed—selected Afghanistan as a venue. Pakistan became caught up in an ideological battle between communism and a politicized version of our Islamic faith. The most violent and most radical elements of the Mujahedeen resistance were empowered to fight the surrogate war against the Russians. Concerns—such as former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's warning in 1989 while visiting the U.S. that the world had created a Frankenstein monster in Afghanistan that would come back to haunt us—were generally ignored.
Alliances and relationships forged among supporters of the Afghan jihad 30 years ago have not been easy to dismantle within Pakistan. But they have been dismantled. After 9/11, Pakistan made a deliberate and courageous decision to confront the terrorists as the civilized world's first line of defense. Since the return of democracy in 2008, Pakistan has paid a terrible price for its commitment to fight terrorism. More Pakistanis have been killed by terrorism in the last two years than the number of civilians who died in New York's Twin Towers. Over the past nine years more Pakistani than NATO troops have lost their lives fighting the Taliban. Two thousand Pakistani police have been killed; our mosques and hotels have been savagely attacked; scores of billion dollars of foreign investment were frozen; and tens of billions of dollars of funding for education and health have been diverted to the battlefield against the extremists.
We cannot undo the past, but we can certainly alter the course of the future. The democratically elected government of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has followed a clearly laid out strategy of fighting and marginalizing terrorists, even when that decision was less than popular with a public still cynical because of what it believed was the political manipulation of the past. The course laid out by Pakistan's democratic leaders has been executed brilliantly by Pakistan's military and intelligence services.
The documents circulated by WikiLeaks do not even remotely reflect the current realities on the ground. For example, a retired Pakistani general is named as the master planner of the Afghan Taliban's strategy. But this is a man who hasn't held any position within Pakistani intelligence or the military for more than 20 years. For its part, Pakistan's current leadership will not be distracted by something like these leaks. We have paid an unprecedented price in blood and treasure over the last two years. We will not succumb to the terrorists.
As we speak, the military of Pakistan is engaged in a bloody battle, taking enormous casualties, in the mountains of South Waziristan to purge the tribal areas of terrorist sanctuaries. Our intelligence forces are gathering information across the country and targeting terrorist cells in North Waziristan to thwart their designs for destabilizing our government and terrorizing our people.
This is Pakistan's war as much as it is a battle for civilization. Pakistan's very existence and traditional way of life are at stake. We fight alongside our friends from all over the world to protect freedom. The U.S could not have a more committed ally in this defining battle of the third millennium than the people, the government and the military of Pakistan.
==========================================
Mr. Haqqani is Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.
Under elected leaders, Pakistan is working with the U.S. to build trust between our militaries and intelligence agencies. In recent months, Pakistan has undertaken a massive military operation in the region bordering Afghanistan, denying space to Taliban extremists who had hoped to create a ministate with the backing of al Qaeda. Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have been enhanced to an unprecedented degree. And exchanges of intelligence between Pakistan and the U.S. have foiled several terrorist plots around the globe. The WikiLeaks controversy and the ensuing speculation about Pakistan's role in the global effort against the terrorists should not disrupt the ongoing efforts of the U.S. and Pakistan to contain and destroy the forces of extremism and fanaticism that threaten the entire world.
Pakistan is crucial for helping Afghanistan attain stability while pursuing the defeat of al Qaeda led terrorist ideologues. For that reason the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department have denounced the leaking of unattributed and unprocessed information implicating Pakistan in supporting or tolerating the Taliban. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, a Democrat, warned Monday against judging Pakistan's role in the Afghan war by "outdated reports," adding that Pakistan had "significantly stepped up its fight against the Taliban." Most Americans and many Pakistanis agree on the need for improvements in Pakistan's efforts, but that is not the same as suspecting lack of cooperation.
The tragedy that has unfolded in South Asia is the product of a long series of policy miscalculations spanning fully 30 years. The U.S., in its zeal to defeat the Soviet Union—a noble goal indeed—selected Afghanistan as a venue. Pakistan became caught up in an ideological battle between communism and a politicized version of our Islamic faith. The most violent and most radical elements of the Mujahedeen resistance were empowered to fight the surrogate war against the Russians. Concerns—such as former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's warning in 1989 while visiting the U.S. that the world had created a Frankenstein monster in Afghanistan that would come back to haunt us—were generally ignored.
Alliances and relationships forged among supporters of the Afghan jihad 30 years ago have not been easy to dismantle within Pakistan. But they have been dismantled. After 9/11, Pakistan made a deliberate and courageous decision to confront the terrorists as the civilized world's first line of defense. Since the return of democracy in 2008, Pakistan has paid a terrible price for its commitment to fight terrorism. More Pakistanis have been killed by terrorism in the last two years than the number of civilians who died in New York's Twin Towers. Over the past nine years more Pakistani than NATO troops have lost their lives fighting the Taliban. Two thousand Pakistani police have been killed; our mosques and hotels have been savagely attacked; scores of billion dollars of foreign investment were frozen; and tens of billions of dollars of funding for education and health have been diverted to the battlefield against the extremists.
We cannot undo the past, but we can certainly alter the course of the future. The democratically elected government of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has followed a clearly laid out strategy of fighting and marginalizing terrorists, even when that decision was less than popular with a public still cynical because of what it believed was the political manipulation of the past. The course laid out by Pakistan's democratic leaders has been executed brilliantly by Pakistan's military and intelligence services.
The documents circulated by WikiLeaks do not even remotely reflect the current realities on the ground. For example, a retired Pakistani general is named as the master planner of the Afghan Taliban's strategy. But this is a man who hasn't held any position within Pakistani intelligence or the military for more than 20 years. For its part, Pakistan's current leadership will not be distracted by something like these leaks. We have paid an unprecedented price in blood and treasure over the last two years. We will not succumb to the terrorists.
As we speak, the military of Pakistan is engaged in a bloody battle, taking enormous casualties, in the mountains of South Waziristan to purge the tribal areas of terrorist sanctuaries. Our intelligence forces are gathering information across the country and targeting terrorist cells in North Waziristan to thwart their designs for destabilizing our government and terrorizing our people.
This is Pakistan's war as much as it is a battle for civilization. Pakistan's very existence and traditional way of life are at stake. We fight alongside our friends from all over the world to protect freedom. The U.S could not have a more committed ally in this defining battle of the third millennium than the people, the government and the military of Pakistan.
==========================================
Mr. Haqqani is Pakistan's ambassador to the United States.
Prof. Dr. Mushtaq joins Ankara University as Scholar, Urdu Chair
ANKARA, 21 July 2010: Prof. Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad today joined as Scholar, Urdu Chair, Ankara University, Turkey. Dr. Mushtaq is a Ph.D. in Urdu fiction and has to his credit more than 50 research articles that have been published in internationally recognized journals. His arrival in Ankara will provide a boost for the promotion of Urdu language and literary activities in Turkey.
Dr. Mushtaq brings a wealth of teaching experience to his new host University. He started his career as lecturer in 1985 at Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan. He later on became Chairman of the Department of Urdu in the same University. Dr. Mushtaq also remained Associate Professor of Urdu in Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad.
Dr. Mushtaq brings a wealth of teaching experience to his new host University. He started his career as lecturer in 1985 at Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan. He later on became Chairman of the Department of Urdu in the same University. Dr. Mushtaq also remained Associate Professor of Urdu in Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad.
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