More reactions – from the front line (2001)

From the November 2001 issue of the Socialist Standard

We reproduce below recent emails sent by a member of the World Socialist Movement living in Peshawar, near the Afghan border

Well, Pakistan as you might be aware is breathing heavily as the pressure is mounting on it by the US. The religious parties are furious over the government support for the Americans. They are bringing people out on the streets and protesting against the government and USA. Things could get worse if the attack on Afghanistan actually takes place. The place where I live is indeed very sensitive. There is a religious movement going on for the past six years in the frontier region here. They are armed, rebellious and can defy the government any time. They are pro-Taliban and are sending fresh recruits across the border into Afghanistan to fight the holy war. The imminent attack is sure to trigger off a far worse situation than can ever be imagined. People would rally around the religious parties as they have the street power and are bold enough to defy any ban by the government. Already life is too tough for the poor and destitute here and inside Afghanistan. Watching BBC and CNN it seems war is already here. They are whipping the drums of war just for nothing. The impact of this on the lives of the common people is worse. Thousands of refugees are crossing the border for safety and entering Pakistan for food and shelter. What is going to be their fate is anybody’s guess. We are living at only three hours drive distance from the border. There is a hectic activity on border between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the frontier region to which I belong. Emotions are very high and even illiterate people are keen to know what is happening on that side. As we all know, Afghanistan is in a virtual grip of drought and fighting for the many years. People are already suffering in refugee camps set up in Peshawar. More are coming. There is going to be a huge catastrophe in terms loss to humans lives of the innocent and hapless who have nothing to defend themselves.

Well, this is how things are moving, not in the right direction which it never was.

(3 October)

Blair arrived and said what he had been saying all along since the attacks. The generals on this side obviously looked tense and confused. Yesterday’s dictators are today’s democrats. Blair praised Musharaf’s so-called roadmap to democracy and in turn promised large and hefty economic largesse. Obviously the government is happy as it has been bailed out of the economic stranglehold that has dogged it for three years. The government economic managers (mismanagers) hired from the IMF and World Bank (the finance and foreign ministers were former employees of the WB) are now lining up in Washington to thank their boss and to beg for more. Back at home people the majority whom the general terms minority are infuriated over the government “unstinted support” in the fight for terrorism. The armed religious are waiting for the strikes to happen and then there would be nobody to stop them from carrying out their agenda. Presently they are a bit silent and cautious.

(6 October)

So the strikes have begun, and so have the demonstrations in every nook and corner of Pakistan. The area where I live is considered to be very sensitive as there are many religious groups operating here. The schools were closed today for an indefinite period. There were more than ten demonstrations today here by students and parties protesting and chanting slogans against US. Across the country protestors have damaged vehicles and put a cinema on fire in Quetta alone. They were tear-gassed. Later in the day shops too were closed down as mark of solidarity with the Afghan brethren. The situation is very volatile and open to violence any time. Now we are living in the midst of war albeit fought at a distance from us. The government will soon come under severe attack by the religious and non-religious alike, as the strikes have paralyzed business here. The president in his press conference here said today the strikes would be short and targeted while the Americans say it would be sustained and relentless. One thing seems clear the Americans will take it too far no matter what happens to Pakistan and Afghanistan in the process.

(8 October)