February 2020 03. Editorial Tyranny of the Mullahs in Iran

04. Why PM Imran Khan did not attend Malaysia summit?

06. What Pakistan can learn from BANGLADESH

08. Ahmadis and Kashmir

14. Is being a lawyer in Pakistan contingent upon one’s faith? EDITOR IN CHIEF 16. UK : Muslim leader charts journey from persecution in Mohiuddin Abbasi Pakistan to leafy Tilford

19. Pakistan’s Relations with Iran have remained tense and Enigmatic

22. US: Military training program for Pakistan resumed to strengthen defense cooperation

24 .Some Qualities Of Leadership

EDITOR 26. Anti-headscarf law activist sues Iran in U.S. over harassment Zakaria Virk 27. Battle of the Ages to stop Eurasian integration

ASSISTANT EDITOR 29. No going back on women’s rights,’ says -30year-old Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Munazza Khan ASSOCIATE EDITOR 30. SA: Wanted: 20,000 Saudi taxi drivers (women especially Amina Nuzhat welcome)

SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER 31. NEPAL : Khagendra Thapa Magar: World’s shortest mobile Syed Mubarak A. Shah man dies aged 27 Ph. No. 0047-91698367 32. The Changing Colors of Istanbul ADVERTISING MANAGER M. Sultan Qureshi 34.

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Send your writeups at Issue : February, 2019 Disclaimer [email protected] Price : UK Pound 2, per copy The views and opinions expressed Write to: in this magazine are those of the Annual Subscription : 24 UK Pound Monthly Lahore International authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of E-mail : [email protected] Phone : +44 794 007 7825 magazine. Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com Tyranny of the Mullahs in Iran

Zakaria Virk, Editor Last month saw some of the most strident Iranian teachers and nurses to live below the anti-government protest in Iran, prompted by poverty line, arresting and torturing them for their obfuscation of their military shooting down a righteous protests. Ukrainian airliner packed with Iranians, including Thousands have been arrested since the uprising and 57 from Canada. That happened on Jan. 8, hours protests in December and January. A number were after a retaliatory missile strike aimed at U.S. forces killed under torture or shot dead by Revolutionary in Iraq, which did not prompt an American military Guards. Quite a few young protesters have also response. For three days Iranian officials knew they disappeared. They have plundered or squandered had shot down the airplane, while the government the wealth of the Iranian people. Every year, they continued to deny the responsibility. spend billions of dollars on war and slaughter of the We give below Maryam Rajavi’s, president of people of Syria. It was recently revealed that they National Council for Resistance, remarks to have sent cartons filled with $100 notes to Iraq to encapsulate the situation in Iran. “So, shame on the fund their terrorist proxies. corrupt and charlatan mullahs who have distressed Indeed, the history of Islam has never seen any ruler the people of Iran. Those who falsely pray and fast, more corrupt or criminal than the demagogues but exploit the underprivileged to the maximum ruling today in Iran, where protesters have risen extent possible. Iran’s needy have reached the point up against their injustice, for freedom and national where they have to sell their kidneys and corneas. sovereignty. Mothers have become so devastated that they sell their unborn fetuses. Iran’s uprising erupted in late December 2017, but its waves have continued ever since, through the Indeed, the mullahs are the worst enemies of God strikes and protests of workers, farmers, teachers, and His people. They inflict the worst oppression plundered people and other social strata. Iranian and injustice on people under the name God and society is in a volatile state and protests have Islam. The people of Kurdistan mostly work as continued in various parts of the country. porters due to extreme poverty. They carry heavy loads (across borders) to earn their living and yet The essential significance of the revolt is that it has they are shot for carrying a few bags of rice. Farmers opted for the regime’s overthrow. The uprising in have been deprived of water and workers’ salaries December and January heralded the defeat of Islamic are not paid. fundamentalism. The protesters attacked many of the manifestations of the mullahs’ religious rule. Shame on the mullahs, who fake their faith in They thus showed that they do not want the mullahs’ Islam, and deprive the people of Iran even of bread compulsory religion or religious compulsions. “We and water. In a land rich with oil and minerals, our leave it to our readers to decide as to how they can 3 people have to scavenge among garbage for food help people of Iran in their struggle for freedom. scraps. While the mullahs have stashed legendary ژژژ wealth for themselves and their relatives, they plunder the people’s savings. They have doomed

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Why PM Imran Khan did not attend Malaysia summit? By Karamatullah K. Ghori, Toronto

In the game of cricket there are many ways and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of in which a batsman can get out. However, Malaysia, the host of the gathering. everyone feels sorry when a batsman But the leader most conspicuous by his absence gets out inadvertently hitting his own was Imran. The Pakistani prime minister wicket while attempting to play a shot. begged himself off from attending the meeting, Imran Khan of Pakistan made his debut as without providing a logical reason for his last- his country’s leader with a sterling reputation minute no-show. What’s galling to most— garnered in his career as a cricketer. All his especially to the host of the meeting—is the fans expected the Kaptan (Captain)—the fact that the conference was the brainchild of sobriquet his admirers affectionately use for Imran, and he becomes guilty of not owning

him—to make waves, earn laurels and carve his own invention. It was on the sidelines of new records in his new vocation, just as he had the UN General Assembly’s annual session last excelled in cricket. However, Imran recently September in New York that he met Erdogan hit his own wicket and Pakistanis—friends and Mahathir and the three of them came up and foes of his—are agog: Why did he do it? with the idea of pooling the collectives efforts of like-minded Islamic states for promoting a An important conclave of leaders of several better image of Islam—their common faith Islamic countries was held recently in Kuala and identity. 4 Lumpur, Malaysia. Billed as the KL Summit, Among the three proponents of the idea, it brought together under one roof, among Imran was seen as ‘more equal than others’ other notables, President Recep Erdogan of because he had just delivered a strong Turkey, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran message to the world audience—in his

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com straight-from-the-heart address from the under its umbrella for routine, inane meetings UNGA podium—to drop their pre-conceived and issuing communiques that hardly merit notions of Islam being a religion or faith that any notice. promotes terrorism. Imran had made a OIC has been rendered dysfunctional and passionate appeal to non-Muslims to shirk moribund by the Saudis who largely bankroll their ‘Islamophobia’ and rethink Islam. it and want it to play a second fiddle to their Imran found receptive listeners among Muslim foreign policy. Instead of working for unity leaders like Erdogan and Mahathir, who shared of the ummah, Saudi Arabia has become its his vision that it was their responsibility to divider and spoiler—its incursion and ill-fated promote and sell a healthier image of Islam. adventure in Yemen being ample evidence of The idea of the KL Summit, bringing together its nihilistic role. thinkers, authors, social scientists, social But then, the Saudis leaned on their ‘brother’ activists, et al., from across the spectrum of the Imran to sabotage his attendance at KL Summit. Islamic world, was germinated right there in The Saudis and the Emiratis in the UAE took New York among these three leaders. Mahathir fright that the KL conclave was going to become offered to play host to what the leaders thought a parallel body to their subservient OIC. They would be a watershed, a new groundbreaking couldn’t exert pressure on the leaders of Iran, assembly of Muslim intellectuals and policy Turkey and Malaysia. But Pakistan is indebted thinkers. to them. Their largesse bailed out Pakistan Punditry that followed the birth of what was from its economic misery. Imran is personally hailed as a noble initiative noted that all three beholden to them. promoters of it happened to be non-Arabs So Imran was summoned to Riyadh for an and shared a wealth of ideas on how to revive ‘audience’ with Saudi Arabia’s de facto monarch, the Muslim world as a collective and dynamic the incorrigible MBS. Upon his return from force in the 21st century. There was consensus there it was announced that Pakistan would among pundits that this non-Arab initiative was not be attending the KL Summit. The risible an idea whose time had come, largely because explanation for Imran shooting himself in the the Arab world had failed to provide a path to foot was that Pakistan wanted to be “neutral” and the Islamic ummah on how to resuscitate itself. work as “a bridge” to unite Islam-ic countries. There was lamentation all around that the The message between the lines was that the existing collective body, the Organisation of ‘brave’ Kaptan had wilted, succumbed to Islamic Countries (OIC), had failed, miserably, Saudi arm-twisting and didn’t mind hitting his to be a beacon to the Islamic world. own wicket. Never mind the egg on his face, it’s OIC, conceived and born in the wake of the all between ‘brothers’. arson attempt back in 1969 at the Al-Aqsa Email: [email protected] Mosque in Jerusalem—the third holiest shrine https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2020/ for Muslims—has done nothing spectacular in jan/07/imran-khan-hits-his-own-wicket-2086133. 5 its half a century of being there. It’s as good as a html dodo, a paralysed body that does precious little ژژژ beyond assembling pompous Muslim leaders

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com What Pakistan can learn from BANGLADESH

By Syed Akhtar Henry Kissinger, the secretary of state during the resource endowments, not only to achieve Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations, economic growth, but also inculcate human ominously dubbed Bangladesh a basket case, development. That is why Bangladesh is higher and the moniker stuck, causing disappointment on the human development index (HDI) than and dismay among Bangladeshis. Pakistan. In the 1970s, the derogatory appellation painted It is somewhat ironic that it was Mahbubul a dire picture of a country struggling with Haq, a Pakistani economist, that developed negative growth rates, dismal export potentials, the HDI along with Amartya Sen to assess the empty coffers, and, to top it all off, the burden of quality of life and standard of living of people meeting the needs of a traumatized population. within a country. Sen, a Nobel Laureate, called The future of Bangladesh, at the time, looked Haq an “outstanding economist and a visionary very bleak indeed. social thinker.” Haq Five decades later, believed that the Bangladesh has policy outcomes come out roaring. that mattered the It has become one most were what a of the leading Asian government did economies and has, for its people so for over a decade, that they could grown at a good lead a healthy and clip. In fact, since prosperous life. 2011, Bangladesh’s Taking a people- Gross Domestic centric approach to Product (GDP) judge the success growth rate has been consistently over 6 %. In of governmental policies, the HDI draws its latest report, the Asian Development Bank attention to three dimensions of people’s lives: paints a promising picture of Bangladesh and education, health, and income. puts it on a sure footing for achieving a growth During the last two decades, Bangladesh has rate of 8% in 2020, the highest in the region. made great strides with regards to improving Due to the constant economic upheaval, the the lives of its people. To get a sense of where it Bangladeshi economy will cast off the status stands today, we will compare Bangladesh with 6 of a least developed economy in less than Pakistan on some of the key indicators of HDI, five years and will join the list of developing knowing full well that such a comparison can economies. Bangladesh’s story of economic generate controversy due to the long standing success is strewn with lessons on how to exploit friction between the two countries.

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com When we look at the ranking of the two given women discretionary purchasing power countries on the human development and access to financial instruments. scale, Bangladesh is ahead on the Bangladesh has become a textile powerhouse, th nd 135 position as opposed to Pakistan’s 152 . exporting apparel products and producing The average life expectancy in Bangladesh is for retailers such as Zara, Gap, Uniqlo, Hugo also higher at 72.3 years in comparison to Boss, H&M and other multinationals. A once Pakistan’s 67.1 years whereas the mortality fledgling industry has now been transformed rate is also significantly lower in Bangladesh at into a $30 billion business which has 26.9 versus 61.2 in Pakistan. A child born in established Bangladesh as the second largest Bangladesh can expect to be in school longer exporter of garments and apparel products in than a child born in Pakistan at an average the world after China. The experience and the of 11.2 years versus 8.5 years while the mean network of relationships that its executives years of schooling for females in Bangladesh have developed along with the business is 5.3 years compared to 3.8 years in Pakistan. prowess they have gained will be instrumental What is perhaps most surprising is that, in moving Bangladesh towards the next phase according to the World Bank, Bangladesh now of development which is the production and has a higher per capita Gross National Income marketing of high value-added products. than Pakistan, $1,750 versus $1,590 to be precise. Overall, Bangladeshis now enjoy a Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, the data higher standard of living than their Pakistani on human development looks bleak. Its story counterparts. is one of lost opportunities. Once a beacon of development and modernity in South Among the different developmental policies Asia, Pakistan’s economy has stagnated due that Bangladesh implemented to improve the to rampant corruption and mismanagement. standard of living for its people, the two that stand out are the economic empowerment Successive governments have failed to of women and the focus on infrastructural construct a growth-conducive economic development. Comparatively, while both model whereas a feudal mentality has curtailed Pakistan and Bangladesh essentially exported the entrepreneurial spirit that propelled their unemployment problems by sending growth during the early years of Pakistan’s people to work in the restrictive environment existence in the financial, educational, of the Middle East, Bangladesh also looked healthcare, aviation, and transportation for ways to create employment opportunities sectors. Therefore, sooner rather than later, internally for its labour force. It slowly and Pakistan will need to create conducive steadily expanded the textile sector to create conditions in order achieve what Mahbub employment opportunities, especially for ul Haq valued – a good life for the general women, who now form the backbone of the populace. industry. https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/92997/ bangladesh-not-a-basket-case-anymore/ As a result, female labor now accounts for ژژژ more than 90% of the workforce in the 7 textile sector which currently employs over four million people. These jobs have not only improved the lives of families, but have also

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Ahmadis and Kashmir Hamid Hussain, USA

The following is a research thesis of Dr.Hamid interest of Kashmiris that they should get advice Hussein of Long Island, NewYork , who has as well as financial help from outsiders but never tried to trace the true facts about the formation ask them to come and fight their war in Kashmir. of All India Kashmir committee in 1931 and its In this case they will lose control. Long term sac- significant role for infusing a new spirit in the rifice and not temporary emotional outburst will Muslims of serve their cause and Kashmir ,who long term sacrifice were suffer- can only be done by ing inhuman Kashmiris”. Head of treatment Jama’at Ahmadiyya, under the Mirza Bashir Uddin Dogra rule. Mahmud, 27 Sep- He has right- tember 1931 ly termed this Jama’at Ahmadiyya era “Forgot- is a sect founded by ten Chapter Mirza Ghulam Ah- Of History” mad (1835-1908). because the In early twentieth Muslim his- century, it was a small torians has purposely tried to hide the real facts, community with disciples mainly from Punjab; particularly about the role played by the second the birthplace of the founder. There was much Head of The Ahmadiyya community and his Ja- hostility against the group in view of doctrinal maat, for the restoration of basic human rights differences especially when Mirza claimed to be of the Muslims of Kashmir , who were being Messiah and prophet. Agitation of orthodox treated like beasts by the ruling elite. We wish to clerics over decades finally culminated in an un- pay high tribute to Dr. Hamid Hussain for his precedented act where Pakistan’s parliament de- courage and hard work on this important topic clared the sect non-Muslim in 1974. This start- and to present the missing links of the history. ed a wave of persecution forcing many Ahmadis “Independence of Kashmir can only be achieved by to leave the country and find refuge all over the Kashmiris. Outsiders can only help in two ways; world. General hostility including outright with financial support and by advocating their abuse against the group is at such an abnormal cause. Kashmiris should forget that outsiders will state that it is impossible to have any kind of fight their war. Such outside help will not be use- meaningful discourse about the role of Ahmadis 8 ful; in fact, it will have opposite effect on the strug- in Kashmir as well as independence movement gle for independence. If control of the struggle is in of Pakistan. This part of the history disappeared the hands of outsiders, it is possible that they will from almost all historical works in Pakistan. sell Kashmiris for their own interests. It is in the

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com Kashmir was a Muslim majority princely state of AIKC including politicians affiliated with ruled by a Hindu Dogra ruler. Kashmiri Mus- different parties, lawyers, educationalists, land- lims were economically poor and politically ed aristocracy, clerics from different schools of powerless. Muslims of neighboring Punjab, thoughts, journalists and businessmen. At no many with Kashmiri heritage were concerned other time, such a consensus developed among about the plight of Kashmiri Muslims. In diverse Muslim population of India. 1911, they established All India Kashmiri Mirza Mahmud embarked on a wide ranging Muslim Conference strategic journey to ad- (AIKMC) in Lahore. dress Kashmir issue. He This organization re- was far ahead of his times mained only on paper and not only grasped es- with no connection sential problem but also with Kashmiri Mus- devised and implement- lims and no program. ed a well thought out In the summer of long term strategic plan 1931, simmering dis- to achieve the goals of content in Kashmir AIKC. The first step was resulted in riots. On to put Kashmiris on the 25 July 1931, lead- forefront of this struggle. ing Muslims mainly An organization named from Punjab gath- Reading Room Party was ered at Simla and es- established in Kashmir tablished All India with branches in major Kashmir Commit- cities. Young Kashmiris tee (AIKC). The list gathered at the meetings, of attendees of this discussed ideas and were meeting included lit- Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad involved for the first time erary and intellectu- in organized political activity. Mahmud inter- al powerhouse Sir Muhammad Iqbal, head of viewed over a dozen Kashmiris for leadership Ahmadiyya community Mirza Bashir Uddin role and finally decided on a young Kashmi- Mahmud Ahmad, leading Punjabi politician ri Shaikh Abdullah. He was given 238 Rupees Sir Mian Fazal Hussain, Nawab of Maler Kot- monthly stipend so that he could work full- la Sir Muhammad Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Nawab time for Kashmir cause. of Kanj Pura Ibrahim Ali Khan, leading cleric of Delhi’s Barelvi community Khawaja Has- Inside Kashmir, handbills were printed and san Nizami and a former teacher of the lead- secretly distributed to the population. Prop- ing orthodox Sunni seminary Darul-Uloom agation of Kashmir cause in India as well as Deoband Maulvi Mirak Shah. Fazal Hussain advocacy in England was done by publication wanted Iqbal to head the organization but on of reports on situation in Kashmir. Regular re- 9 recommendation of Iqbal, Mirza Mahmud was ports started to appear in major Muslim ver- unanimously chosen as president of AIKC. nacular and English newspapers. Inside Kash- Muslims of different walks of life were members

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com mir, Shaikh Abdullah founded a newsletter an issue at AIKC. Some orthodox Muslim named Islah. In 1932, Mahmud played a ma- clerics had a negative view about Jama’at Ah- jor role in establishment of All Kashmir Mus- madiyya. Core issue of contention was claim lim Conference (AKMC) for organized politi- of prophethood by the founder. Finality of cal activity inside Kashmir. prophethood of Muhammad was considered basic tenant of faith and based on this many Religious leadership of Muslims of different orthodox clerics had declared Ahmadis outside theological schools of thought invariably of pale of Islam. Majlis Ahrar ul Islam (MAI) addressed political issues faced by Indian was at the forefront of this anti-Ahmadiyya Muslims. Mirza Mahmud was the religious movement in Punjab. and administrative head of his community and major focus was well being of the communi- Mirza Mahmud wrote letters to MAI leaders ty and missionary activities. Like many other Mazhar Ali Azhar and Chaudhry Afzal Haq Muslim groups, Ahmadi leadership defended to join this struggle, but they declined. Then general Muslim causes but avoided direct in- he wrote letters to Iqbal, Maulana Ghulam volvement in party politics. It was also a gen- Rasul Mahar and Maulvi Ismail Ghaznavi to eral practice that community’s leader will not work with MAI leaders and convince them to head any other organization. join AIKC and if their reluctance was due to Mahmud’s presence as President, he was will- In 1930s, there was a very small Ahmadi ing to resign. In fact, he said in that case, they community in Kashmir. Most were can consider his letter as resignation. Inside concentrated in Kulgam, Baramulla, Mirpur Kashmir, Mahmud worked with Muslim reli- and Poonch. In 1920s, Hindu revivalist party gious leadership of Srinagar. Two main clerics Arya Samaj started campaign of reverting Mus- were Mir Waiz Ahmadullah Hamdani head of lims to Hinduism in Kashmir. Ahmadi mis- Barelvi Khanqa-e-Muallah and Mir Waiz Yusuf sionaries came to Kashmir to fight this cam- Shah head of Deobandi Jamia mosque of Sri- paign and general population had a positive nagar. Later, Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah aligned with impression of the community. Ahrar. He accused Abdullah of being Ahmadi Mirza Mahmud used his position as head resulting in clashes in the mosque. of his community to channel all resources of Opponents of Ahmadis alleged that Mirza Ahmadi community towards Kashmir cause. Mahmud was trying to use AIKC platform He asked every follower to contribute towards as a vehicle for Ahmadi missionary activity in Kashmir Relief Fund. Ahmadi lawyers came Kashmir. This was first propagated by a Hin- to Kashmir to work on behalf of hundreds of du newspaper ‘Milaap’ of Lahore supportive of incarcerated Kashmiris. Medical facilities were Dogra government of Kashmir. Mahmud de- provided to injured in clashes with police. nied it and issued public statements to Ahmadi Out of sixty four members of AIKC, only six workers in Kashmir to refrain from any mis- were Ahmadis. However, the most committed sionary activity. However, many prominent 10 members were Ahmadis and more importantly, Ahmadi missionaries were also active in AIKC. as President of AIKC, Mirza Mahmud was at Secretary of AIKC Abdul Rahim Dard was for- the forefront. Anti-Ahmadi question became mer missionary in England and in-charge of

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com administration Maulana Jalaluddin Shams was Sikandar Hayat Khan invited Mirza Mahmud former missionary to Syria & Palestine. Anoth- and Ahrar leader Chaudhry Afzal Haq to his er missionary Syed Zainul Abideen Waliullah house to reconcile them. Afzal Haq provided Shah worked at foreign relations department. the reasons for his opposition stating that ‘Ah- However, there is no evidence from Ahmadi madis had opposed me in every election, and or non-Ahmadi sources that suggest that any we have decided that we will eliminate Jama’at large scale organized missionary activity was Ahmadiyya.’ done on part of Ahmadi volunteers. In less than two years, AIKC under Mirza The tangible proof is that Mahmud had achieved there was no significant unprecedented success. increase in Ahmadi popu- Many non-Ahmadis lation of Kashmir during feared that anti-Ahmadi- this time period. Church yya campaign at this stage Mission Society (CMS), would have negative im- by helping Indian commu- pact on Kashmir struggle. nities through education Twenty two leading Mus- and healthcare, hoped that lims of Punjab appealed natives will see Christiani- to avoid such divisive ac- ty in positive light and may Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah tions at this stage. convert. In this context, In May 1933, Ahmadi is- it is not unreasonable to assume that Mirza sue came to the forefront and thirteen mem- Mahmud as head of a missionary communi- bers of AIKC sent a letter to Mirza Mahmud ty, hoped that by helping struggling Kashmi- asking for an urgent meeting for electing new ri Muslims, a positive attitude may win some office bearers. Three days later, Mahmud sum- converts for Jama’at Ahmadiyya. It is also pos- moned an emergency meeting in Lahore where sible that Mirza Mahmud saw his involvement he announced his resignation at the start of the in Kashmir in political context. If he could meeting. Iqbal was nominated interim pres- lead diverse segments of Muslim community ident and Malik Barkat Ali as secretary. Six in resolving the crisis of oppressed Kashmiris, weeks later, Iqbal resigned from his post, but his then he could very well be given a bigger role statement was full of contradictions. He stated in Muslim political struggle in India. Many that “there is no difference among committee’s Muslim organizations and personalities may members about general policy. Differences are have viewed the rise of Mirza Mahmud as a on issues that are irrelevant. However, I think challenge to their own leadership. that committee will not be able to work with Main opposition to Jama’at Ahmadiyya was full concentration therefore I suggest that com- from MAI and limited mostly to Punjab. The mittee should be disbanded”. reason was that most Ahmadis were Punjabis. He also stated that Ahmadi members of the Ahrar’s opposition was not only on theological 11 committee will follow Jama’at’s leader and no grounds but also related to political competi- one else. In the end, he suggested that “Kash- tion and leadership of Muslims of Punjab. Sir miri Muslims need help therefore if Muslims

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com of India want to help Kashmiris, they should ably influenced by some Ahrar leaders. Ahrar establish a new Kashmir committee in a public leader Ataullah Shah Bukhari’s recitation of meeting”. These comments from a towering Quran was mesmerizing. He was also a great personality like Iqbal surprised many. Many orator and he could have a hypnotic hold on prominent Muslim leaders disagreed with Iqbal a crowd of thousands for hours. Iqbal and on this point. This is evident by the fact that Bukhari had mutual affinity for each other. after the split, some including prominent reli- Iqbal’s views probably changed with this inter- gious personalities like Khawaja Hassan Niza- action and he now came out against Ahmadi- mi, Maulvi Mirak Shah, Maulana Hasrat Mo- yya. By 1935, he asked British government to hani, Maulana Abu Zafar and Maulana Aqil ur declare the community out of the fold of Islam. Rahman Nadvi joined the new organization Jama’at Ahmadiyya had split in Qadiani and that had blessing of Mirza Mahmud rather than Lahori factions after the death of first successor join hands with Iqbal. Mirza Mahmud along in 1914. The Lahori faction did not consider with many other prominent Ahmadis were also Mirza Ghulam Ahmad a prophet but simply a members of this new organization. These reli- reformer and Iqbal had continued his relations gious personalities had no special affinity for with members of Lahori faction. Jama’at Ahmadiyya and many opposed its doc- By 1930s, allegation of being an Ahmadi had trine on theological grounds, however, they felt become a slur in Punjab. Non-Ahmadi Punja- that a common platform was needed to help bi Muslims with family members who had be- Kashmiri Muslims. come Ahmadis or had personal social relations Iqbal’s own views about Ahmadiyya evolved with Ahmadis had to openly declare that they over time. He had family connection with were not Ahmadis. Even Shaikh Abdullah had Ahmadiyya and had sympathetic view about to declare several times that he had not become the movement. He had personal relations Ahmadi although he publicly thanked Ahmad- with many leading Ahmadis and prayed with is for their support. The issue had reached a them. Even if he had theological concerns, at point where it now had direct impact on the least until 1931, he was comfortable to nom- effectiveness of political struggle for the free- inate head of Jama’at Ahmadiyya as President dom of Kashmiris. of AIKC. In a letter written by Iqbal to pri- Anti-Ahmadi factor fractured Kashmiri lead- vate secretary of Mirza Mahmud in Septem- ership inside Kashmir and splintered Punjabi ber 1930 about ten months before formation support outside Kashmir. In Kashmir, the re- of AIKC provides the reasons why Iqbal lat- ligious leadership got divided. Mirwaiz Yusuf er recommended Mirza Mahmud to head the Shah joined Majlis Ahrar faction and opposed committee. He wrote that ‘your organization Ahmadis. On the other hand, Hamdan faction is most disciplined and with many committed continued to cooperate with Ahmadis working and active members, therefore you can be very for Kashmir struggle. Shaikh Abdullah’s meet- useful in serving Muslim causes”. ing with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru changed the 12 By 1933, his views had changed and now he dynamics. In view of collapse of powerful sup- was not able to continue that relationship even port structure of Kashmir struggle, Shaikh Ab- for a larger political cause. In this he was prob- dullah looked for alternatives. Increased sup-

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com port of Indian National Congress (INC) and of the border in Kashmir”. In less than two linkage of Kashmir with Indian freedom strug- years, AIKC under Mirza Mahmud achieved gle diluted religious factor. Abdullah changed remarkable success in awakening Kashmiris, the name of the party to National Conference establishing a grass root infrastructure, robust (NC). He fully aligned with INC and in turn public awareness campaign outside Kashmir Nehru gave him full support by linking struggle and utilization of political and government of Kashmiris with Indian freedom movement. connections of influential Ahmadis to advance Shaikh Abdullah’s confidant Kashmir cause. This was pos- Ghulam Abbas parted ways sible due to full attention of and revived old Muslim Con- Mirza Mahmud and channel- ference (MC). The groups ing of all resources of Ahma- opposing Ahmadis as well as di community on Kashmir Shaikh Abdullah joined MC. front. On national scene things were After establishment of Paki- moving fast towards partition stan, anti-Ahmadiyya move- and with INC support of ment gained momentum NC, Muslim league aligned with final excommunication itself with MC. declared not by a religious au- Mirza Mahmud continued in thority but parliament. In this his own efforts to help Kash- environment, an important miris, but they were not as ef- chapter of Kashmir struggle fective as before where whole was completely erased from Muslim leadership was united on this cause. nation’s history. This long forgotten chapter In the aftermath of partition, when first In- also raises an important question that when a dia-Pakistan war started in Kashmir in 1947- group is faced with a critical social and political 48, Pakistani Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan question, should theological difference be put asked for Mirza Mahmud’s help in view of his aside for a while until immediate crisis facing previous involvement in Kashmir. A small vol- the collective community is resolved? On the unteer Ahmadi force named Furqan Force was other hand, if theological question is seen as organized and placed under the control of na- existential in nature, then it will trump every- scent Pakistan army. thing else. Adil Hussain Khan in his Ph. D dissertation “From the deepest desires; often come the deadliest is correct in his assessment that prior to the hate”. Socrates leadership of Mirza Mahmud, “the committee Acknowledgement: Author thanks Ahmadi was an unorganized group of influential and scholar & author Mr. Muhammad Ajmal Shahid wealthy Muslims, predominantly from Pun- for his input to clarify Ahmadi perspective about jab, who were understandably upset about the subject. He was also a volunteer who served in 13 the conditions of their co-religionists in Kash- Kashmir in 1948 with Furqan Force. mir: However, “their shared sentiment did not translate into political power on the other side

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Is being a lawyer in Pakistan contingent upon one’s faith?

By Ahsan Pirzada As Muslims, it is incumbent upon us to ensure Pakistani Christian fighter pilot is a veteran that we treat non-Muslims residing in Pakistan of the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. He fairly and with dignity and respect. It is therefore received the Sitara-e-Jurat. imperative that we safeguard the rights granted Retired chief justice Alvin Robert Cornelius and guaranteed to them by both Islam and served as the fourth chief justice of Pakistan and the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of is widely recognised by our legal fraternity as Pakistan. Unfortunately, we have collectively Lord Denning continued to do of Pakistan. the very opposite of this, thereby actively Jamsheed violating not only Kaikobad the injunctions Ardeshir of Islam, but also Marker, a the vision of our Hilal-e-Imtiaz founding father, recipient who Muhammad Ali served as Jinnah. Pakistan’s top envoy to the However, before US and more divulging on the than a dozen disservice we are other countries doing to Jinnah’s for a period of legacy, we must reflect upon the important more than three decades which earned him the role our religious minorities have played in distinction of being the worlds longest serving building Pakistan. It would be hard to name ambassador. all of them since the list is too long, however, here are some names and their contributions Late wing commander Mervyn Leslie for the country: Middlecoat fought in the wars of 1965 and 1971 and was awarded Sitara-e-Jurrat and Iqbal Massih, who became a symbol of Sitara-e-Bisalat for combating Indian fighter resistance against abusive child labour, he laid jets. He was died while fighting Israeli pilots in down his life for this cause when he was only the 1967 war on behalf of Jordan. 13 years old. Late squadron leader Peter Christy was dubbed Retired justice Rana Bhagwandas, a Pakistani the master fighter and undeniably was one of Hindu legal scholar who also served as the 14 our nation’s heroes. He died while serving the acting chief justice of Pakistan. He was a man country and was awarded the Tamgha-e-Jurrat of integrity and a patriot. and Sitara-e-Jurrat for his tireless contributions Retired group captain Cecil Chaudhary, a to the Pakistan Air Force.

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com However, in spite of their endless contributions, turn that the relevant individuals end up fearing non-Muslim Pakistanis have gotten little for their lives. All it takes is for someone to respite from incessant discrimination and accuse a person of committing blasphemy and persecution. Our founding father was immediately, a blood thirsty mob surrounds adamant that Pakistan should become a the individual’s house in an attempt to take his home for all religions, not just Muslims. or her life. Consequently, most are unwilling Mr Jinnah in his policy speech on the 11th of to help such a person because alleged “abettors August, 1947, stated that: of blasphemers” are met with the same deadly “…in any case Pakistan is not going to be a fate. theocratic state, to be ruled by priests with a The only way to stay safe in this country is to divine mission. We have many non-Muslims, somehow ensure that you are recognised as a Hindus, Christians and Parsis, but they are true Muslim. Regrettably, it appears that one of all Pakistanis. They will enjoy the same rights the ways to obtain such a certificate is through and privileges as any other citizen and will play the persecution of minorities or by stripping their rightful part in the affairs of Pakistan.” them of their legal rights. A classic example of This speech is testament to the fact that Jinnah this is the resolution passed by the Multan Bar envisioned a Pakistan where every citizen Association, which states that non-Muslims would be free to participate in the affairs of the should not be allowed to contest elections for State, regardless of their religious affiliations. District Bar positions. However, this vision has been abandoned Although, this is merely a resolution and there by the State, not necessarily due to wilful have been far more deplorable attacks against negligence, but because of the copious pressure minorities, the significance of this resolution exerted by the “priests with a divine mission” cannot be ignored. The custodians of the law, that Jinnah alluded to. This was exemplified who should be the advocates of the rights of by the removal of Atif Rehman Mian from the minorities, have reached a new low by passing Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council such a discriminatory resolution, knowing full on the basis of his religious beliefs. well that it is in contradiction with Article These “priests with a divine mission” only 20 and Article 25 of the Constitution of the succeed because of the support provided Islamic Republic of Pakistan. to them by the common man. The general Just as I thought that the situation could not get populace has become increasingly intolerant, worst, the General Body of the Islamabad Bar perhaps because of their narrow knowledge of Association, on 6th December, 2019 also put Islam and an over-arching tunnel vision as to forth a requirement for all members to declare what Pakistan was created for. Even Muslims, their faith. The existing Muslim members are more often than not, find themselves having now required to submit an affidavit by the to prove their adherence to their declared 31st of January, declaring that they believe in faith. The loyalties of federal ministers, army the finality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), generals and other important public figures failure of which will lead to the suspension of have been regularly questioned, simply due to their membership. 15 their religious leaning or stance, even if they https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/93117/is-being- are, for all intents and purposes, Muslims. a-lawyer-in-pakistan-contingent-upon-ones-faith/?__ At times, this questioning takes such an extreme cf_chl_jschl_tk__

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com UK : Muslim leader charts journey from persecution in Pakistan to leafy Tilford By Daniel Gee

LOVE for all, hatred for none. It’s a wonderful motto, not least in these times of great tension and uncertainty, and one that the Ahmadiyya Muslim community puts into practice every day. Forced out of Pakistan by religious persecution, and denounced as heretics by other Muslim states, one could forgive the leader of the movement (and now a Tilford resident) His Holiness, the Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad for feeling some bitterness at his plight. Instead, the Ahmadi teachings, and that of His His Holiness, the Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad Holiness, are of “peace, love and harmony” and the Herald’s Daniel Gee – and it is this unifying message that binds of the person is Messiah and Mahdi. “He is the together the community’s ten million followers founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, spread across 200 countries worldwide. and came to revive Islam and spread the true Before Christmas, I had the honour of meeting message of Islam, which according to our His Holiness at the movement’s new global understanding, and what we have read in the headquarters in Sheephatch Lane, Tilford (on Holy Quran, is peace, love and harmony. the site of the former Sheephatch School). “This is what we are spreading. And we are Over the course of 40 minutes, we chatted trying to gather Muslims on one hand so that about persecution in his native Pakistan, the they follow the teachings of Islam and spread battle against extremism, how he arrived in the message of Islam, but also to other faiths Tilford, the role of young people, women’s and other people of the world – even those who rights and more. do not believe in God. And this is how our First though, I asked how it is that his community is increasing. This is our mission.” community is increasing when other religions His Holiness’ election as the fifth caliph of the are on the wane, after it was reported in July worldwide Ahmadiyya movement in London that Christian belief has halved in Britain in in 2003 marked the first time in its history the 35 years while those identifying as Muslim has community had appointed a new leader outside increased one per cent? of the Indian subcontinent – and from the very 16 “Our work is a missionary work,” he said. “It outset of his reign, he found himself forced into was foretold by the prophet of Islam, that in the exile from his native Pakistan. latter days a person will come to revive Islam. Ahmadis have been subject to various forms We believe that person has come, and the title of religious persecution and discrimination

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com since the movement’s inception in 1889. But countries.” this escalated in 1974, when constitutional The Ahmadi community has also played an changes in Pakistan criminalised the religious active role in denouncing extremism globally, practises of Ahmadis by preventing them from and His Holiness is forthright in his view claiming they are Muslim or from “behaving” that Islam is a peaceful religion and those as Muslims. committing acts of terrorism are not following “As long as that law prevails, the leader of the the true teachings of his faith. Ahmadiyya community cannot go back to “These people, extremists, those who are Pakistan,” his Holiness continued, adding it committing brutalities in the name of Islam, remains his dream, and that of his followers, are actually misconstruing the teaching Islam that one day they can return home. and defaming the name of Islam. Islam is a “The majority of Muslims are against us,” peaceful religion, so much so that the Quran he added. “They say we are misconstruing says that even a person who says to you ‘salaam’ the sayings of the Prophet of Islam because, (peace) then you have to reply in the same way. according to them, no prophet can come “Those who are committing all these brutalities, after the Holy Prophet of Islam. But we say they have their own vested interests. It has that subordinate prophets can come, and that nothing to do with the true teaching of Islam. this was prophesied by the Holy Prophet of “It’s clear in the Holy Quran that there’s no 17 Islam. “Those are the charges leveled against compulsion in religion or even punishment our community, and this is why we are facing for blasphemy. It has never said in the Quran difficulty in Pakistan and some other Muslim that any person who leaves Islam should be

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com beheaded, as extremists believe. I don’t know searching for some piece of land. Fortunately, where did they get this commandment from? this area was available at that time and he liked “They are just defending the name of Islam it, and the council here also agreed to give that for their own religious interests. “Jihad, for area to a religious community. And I like this example, means struggle. And the Holy Prophet area too. of Islam said the best jihad is to to reform your “Do you know the history of Sheephatch Lane? inner self – that is the true jihad. “And that is You see, in olden days, Jews came here to settle why we say that this was the right time for the and during the raining season used to keep person to come to revive the true teaching of their sheeps here on the higher ground. So Islam.” that is why the name was given to this area – His Holiness also believes young people have a Sheephatch Lane. key role to play in combating extremist views, “I have asked somebody to search more on it, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association and we shall write the history of this area. Right (AMYA) is key to spreading his movement’s from the very beginning.” counter-message of Love for All. The Ahmadiyya community relocated its In December, it was reported that AMYA raised annual Jalsa Salana convention from Tilford to more than £1 million for charity in 2019 – and Oaklands Farm in East Worldham, near Alton, in recent editions the Herald has reported on a in 2004 to accommodate a growing number of busy festive season for young AMYA members attendees – and the event now attracts around locally, including litter-picks, care home 40,000 people from all over the world. visits, donations to foodbanks and feeding the “In Pakistan, they have enacted the law against homeless. Ahmadis and they are declaring us not Muslim “We try to teach our children from a very young for the purpose of law and constitution, and age the right way to live their lives according to say you cannot take part in the election of the the teaching, and involve them in our activities country as a citizen of Pakistan. to serve the people, to serve mankind and teach “You see, state has interfered in this way, but good morals to them. “That is the lesson to what has law and constitution to do with take, to live for their whole lives, and part of the religion?” training is to keep them away from extremism.” But what about the rights of women? In A new era in the history of the Ahmadiyya October, His Holiness delivered a keynote community began in May when His Holiness address to UNESCO stressing the importance delivered his first weekly Friday sermon from of ensuring that girls are educated and given the new Mubarak Mosque in Tilford, broadcast equal opportunities as boys. And yet men and live around the world on the Ahmadi’s own women remain segregated at Jalsa Salana. satellite TV network MTA International. To Read More But why relocate the community’s global headquarters from London to Tilford? https://www.haslemereherald.com/article. 18 cfm?id=139142&headline=Long%20read:%20 “It’s pollution free!”, said His Holiness, adding: Muslim%20leader%20charts%20journey%20 “When my predecessor migrated from Pakistan, from%20persecution%20in%20Pakistan%20to%20 immediately after his arrival here, they started leafy%20Tilford

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com Pakistan’s Relations with Iran have remained tense and Enigmatic By Nadeem Piracha The assassination of the controversial major of religious militancy and extremism, that general of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard, eventually mutated and turned anti-state. Qassem Soleimani, by the equally controversial Indeed, this must be on the minds of the government of US President Donald Trump, state and government of Pakistan for them to has put Pakistan into a spin. A minister in PM declare their neutrality. But there is a lot more Imran Khan’s government announced that to Pakistan’s ambiguity in this context. And Pakistan would side with Saudi Arabia, the oil- I use the word ambiguity because relations rich kingdom that is a firm American ally and between Iran and Pakistan have largely strongly opposed to Iran. remained abstruse, especially in the last 40 However, the spokesperson of the Pakistan years or so. Rand Corporation’s 2014 reader

military’s Inter-Services Public Relations wing Iran’s Influence in Afghanistan describes the and then Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood relationship between Pakistan and Iran as ‘a Qureshi were quick to announce that Pakistan complex mix of cooperation and peer rivalry’. would remain neutral in case hostilities Iran is a Shia Muslim-majority country headed intensify between Iran and the US. by a powerful Shia clergy, which came to power Pakistan was a frontline proxy state in the US through a revolution in 1979. According and Saudi-funded ‘Islamist’ insurgency against to Andreas Rieck’s 2016 book The Shias Soviet troops in Afghanistan in the 1980s. of Pakistan: An Assertive and Beleaguered By the time Soviet troops left Afghanistan in Minority, Pakistan has a significant Shia19 the late 1980s, the fallout of that war greatly minority. Estimates from 2018 suggest 20 impacted Pakistan, deepening sectarian fissures to 25 percent of Pakistan’s population is in the country and aiding the mushrooming Shia. And according to Jacquelyn K. Davis,

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com in Anticipating a Nuclear Iran, many of the 19th centuries. But since the Shah’s Iran was Pakistani Shia support Iran’s post-1979 political known as ‘America’s policeman in Asia’, it also and ideological set-up. tried to insulate Pakistan from the left-leaning Until the mid-1970s, Pakistan enjoyed a ‘Third-Worldism’ — an idea first formulated by seamless relationship with Iran. In fact, Pakistan the charismatic Arab nationalist leader Gamal was closer to Iran than it was to Saudi Arabia. Abdel Nasser of Egypt and the ‘socialist’ Indian Iran, a modern pro-US monarchy, was one of PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Iran made sure that the first countries to recognise Pakistan when it Pakistan remained firmly in the American orbit was formed in August 1947. Also, the Shah of during the Cold War. Iran became the first major foreign head of state The state of Pakistan admired Iran’s economic to visit Pakistan in 1950. and social modernity and tried to emulate it. During the 1965 Pakistan-India war, when the In his essay, “Pakistan As A Factor in Indo- US had suspended all military aid to both India Iranian Relations”, for the December 1974 and Pakistan, Iran sent nurses, medical supplies issue of The Indian Journal of Political Science, and 5,000 tons of petroleum to Pakistan. As an L.K. Choudhary wrote that, during the 1971 oil-rich country, Iran also threatened to impose Pakistan-India war, Iran again sidestepped an an embargo on oil supplies to India. arms embargo on Pakistan and supplied it with military equipment. The Times of India quoted In the 2015 edition of the journal International the Shah as saying, “Pakistan and Iran are like Affairs and Global Strategy, M. Saqib Khan one soul in two bodies.” writes that, to sidestep the US and European arms embargo imposed on India and Pakistan In 1973, when a Baloch insurgency broke out during the war, Iran bought 90 Sabre fighter jets in Balochistan, which shares a border with from West Germany and sent them to Pakistan. Iran, the Shah provided lethal American-made combat helicopters to Pakistan so that Baloch 20Iran saw Pakistan as a modern extension of insurgents operating in the remote areas near Persian culture in South Asia because of the role the border could be eliminated. This way Iran this culture and language had played during also eliminated the threat of the insurgency Muslim rule in India between the 13th and spilling into Iran’s Baloch-majority areas.

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com Relations between the two countries began form radical Sunni indoctrination outlets to somewhat recede when the populist and militant outfits to supplement Afghan government of Z.A. Bhutto in Pakistan militant groups. But many such outfits attempted to formulate an international eventually turned anti-Shia and thus anti- ‘Muslim bloc’ in 1974. The planned bloc Iran. This saw Iran bankroll militant Shia also included ‘enemies’ of the Shah, especially groups within Pakistan. The result was deadly ‘radical’ Soviet-backed Arab regimes, such as violence, clashes and riots between Saudi and Libya, Iraq, Syria, Algeria and the erstwhile Iranian proxies in Pakistan. South Yemen. Therefore, the Shah was the Even though Pakistan declared neutrality only major Muslim head of state to decline during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, the attending the 1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore, Zia regime increasingly galvanised Pakistan organised by the Bhutto government. towards the Saudi and American orbit. Pakistan In 1977, the Bhutto regime was toppled in a sent 40,000 soldiers to Saudi Arabia in case reactionary military coup by Gen Ziaul Haq. the conflict spread to the kingdom. A cultural So when the Shah’s regime fell in 1979, and consequence of this was the ‘Saudization’ of was replaced by a radical theocracy, Pakistan Pakistan and the steady erosion of Persian became the first country to recognise the culture; after the 1979 revolution in Iran, it new government. But the refreshed relations began being seen as ‘Shia culture’. between the two countries, on the basis of Ever since 1981, Pakistan’s relations with Iran Islam, soon began to nosedive from 1981 have remained tense and enigmatic. Iran has onwards. often accused Pakistan of backing radical anti- From the mid-1970s, Saudi Arabia, buoyed Iran Sunni groups operating near the Pak-Iran by increasing oil prices, had begun to border, and Pakistan has expressed concern aggressively expand its circle of influence with that anti-Pakistan groups backed by India the power of the so-called ‘petrodollar’. It also have been allowed by Iran to operate near the started to outpace Iran in matters of providing same border. economic aid to Pakistan, which came with Yet, not once have the two countries come the condition of adopting the Arab culture close to fighting a war against each other. and faith as prescribed by Saudi Arabia. Soleimani was understood by Islamabad as Iran’s Shia theocracy began to be seen as a being an ‘anti-Pakistan hawk.’ Pakistan, having threat by the puritanical Saudi political and frenzied borders with India and Afghanistan, religious establishment — especially when and only recently managing to vanquish the Iran initiated the rather unabashed export of extreme consequences of its participation in its version of anti-Saudi and anti-US ‘political the anti-Soviet Afghan insurgency, has wisely Islam’ to other Muslim countries. decided to declare neutrality in the US-Iran In the 1980s, Pakistan accepted hefty financial conflict. More so, it has downplayed the fact and military aid from the US and Saudi that Soleimani was no hero to Pakistan. 21 Arabia during the anti-Soviet insurgency in https://www.dawn.com/news/1527469/smokers- Afghanistan. This money was also used to corner-pakistan-and-irans-thin-red-line

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com US: Military training program for Pakistan resumed to strengthen defense cooperation

President Donald Trump authorized the has credited Islamabad with helping to facilitate resumption of Pakistan’s participation in a US negotiations on a US troop withdrawal from military training and educational program Afghanistan. in order to strengthen military-to-military The State Department administers the IMET. It cooperation on shared priorities and “advance was a small facet of US security aid programmes US national security”, senior US diplomat Alice for Pakistan worth some $2 billion that remain Wells said on Saturday. suspended on orders that Trump abruptly “The overall security assistance suspension for issued in January 2018 to compel the country Pakistan remains in effect,” said a tweet by to crack down on militants. Trump’s decision, Wells, the in-charge announced in a of South Asia tweet, blindsided affairs at the US US officials. State Department. A State Department The decision to spokeswoman resume Islamabad’s had earlier said participation in an email that in the coveted Trump’s 2018 International decision to suspend Military Education security assistance and Training authorised “narrow Programme, or exceptions for IMET — for more programmes that than a decade a pillar of US-Pakistani military support vital US national security interests”. ties — was first announced by the State The decision to restore Pakistani participation Department last month. in IMET was “one such exception”, she said. However, the announcement has been reiterated The programme “provides an opportunity to by Acting Assistant Secretary Wells a day after increase bilateral cooperation between our US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reached countries on shared priorities”, she added. “We out to Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa in the want to continue to build on this foundation aftermath of the assassination of top Iranian through concrete actions that advance regional general Qasem Soleimani, vowing to remain security and stability.” firm against Iran. IMET affords spaces to foreign military officers The conversation, which was part of the at US military education institutions, such as secretary’s telephonic contacts with leaders the US Army War College and the US Naval around the world, was disclosed by Pompeo on War College. Twitter hours after the Foreign Office expressed Pakistan’s suspension from the programme in “concern” about peace and stability in the August 2018 prompted the cancellation of 66 Middle East. slots set aside that year for Pakistani military 22 The resumption of IMET for Pakistan, more officers in one of the first known impacts of than a year after it was suspended, underscores Trump’s decision to halt security assistance. warming relations that followed meetings last https://www.dawn.com/news/1526230/military- year between US President Donald Trump and training-programme-for-pakistan-resumed-to- Prime Minister Imran Khan. Washington also strengthen-defence-cooperation-us

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com UK MUSLIM POPULATION PASSES 3 MILLION MARK

The Muslim population of England has passed people in England who say they follow a religion the three million mark for the first time, other than a major faith more than trebled according to estimates prepared by Whitehall. between 2011 and 2016. They said that Muslims are the fastest-growing The figures were produced by the Office for faith group in the country – while allegiance to National Statistics as part of a research project. Christianity continues to decline. The results are shown on the chart above The figures were produced by the Office for The increase may again be a result of people National Statistics as part of a research project to searching for new beliefs after becoming try for the first time to make regular assessments disillusioned with Christianity. of the size of different The new figures suggest ethnic and religious that in 2016 – five years groups. after the 2011 national Until now religious census – there were and ethnic minority 3,138,000 Muslims in populations could be England and Wales, up gauged only once a by more than 400,000 decade using the results from 2.7 million over of the full-scale ten-yearly the five years. This was national census. an increase of roughly 16 The Muslim population per cent. of England has passed the In England alone, the three million mark for ONS estimates said, there the first time (file image) were 3,092,000 Muslims According to the ONS assessment, Christians in 2016. continue to decline in number, but the drop in As a share of the population of England, the allegiance to Christianity may be slowing. assessment indicated that the Muslim faith Among other faith groups, the share of Hindus group made up 5.6 per cent in 2016 against 4.7 in the population has climbed slightly, while the per cent in 2011. proportion of Sikhs has fallen by a similar small The research report said: ‘There is a decline amount. for the Christian group, though it remains the The scale of the Jewish and Buddhist shares of largest group in England. the population have remained stable, the report ‘The lower proportion of the population in said. the Christian group is counteracted by higher The share of people who say they have no religion proportions of all the other groups, with the at all or who will not discuss their faith has risen largest increases seen for the Muslim, none or to almost a third of the English population, an not stated, and other faith groups.’ 23 increase almost certainly a result of the fall-off in https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7850073/ Christian belief. Muslim-population-England-passes-three-million- The ONS also estimated that the proportion of mark-time.html

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com SOME QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP By Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry Kahlon, Lahore (1926-2019) I wrote an article caption” Some primary duty: flying, maintenance, aspects of Leadership” in which administration or other tasks I emphasized the need for an supporting these activities. So, independent thinking at all levels, even if we accept the orders must free and frank expression of views be given in a cold and impersonal in appropriate form and manner manner (and this is open to doubt), and extension of courtesy and we still find that most of our time is accommodation to one’s colleagues taken up activities in which the type particularly junior. of personal relationship we establish Leadership is a complex quality made up of with our colleagues has a profound bearing several human traits and attributes. The essence on the outcome of our effort. Politeness and of leadership lies in not only acquiring these courtesy will always ensure a better response attributes but also in striking the right balance from “the other fellow” and secure his willing between them. In other words, the leader should cooperation. This will establish a cheerful healthy develop a wholesome personality – one which atmosphere, resulting in greater efficiency. will almost instinctively react appropriately to Some people are inclined to imagine that different and varying situations. In this article, I courteous behavior towards one’s subordinates will discuss two character attributes. is a demonstration of weakness or lack of Courtesy confidence. Surely, nothing can be more wrong; in fact, courtesy is born of confidence in oneself In a military service, instructions and orders and the knowledge that one can communicate must be given in a clear and direct manner, and successfully with one’s subordinates, without of course nothing short of immediate and total employing the prop of a curt manner. Lack obedience is acceptable. This is only right, as of courtesy and overbearing conduct indicate strict discipline is vital for the efficient working either a lack of confidence or downright bad of a military organization and a lack of it will manners – both highly undesirable attributes only result in disaster. This does not mean that and, therefore, incompatible with good the atmosphere we create around us during our leadership. daily work should necessarily be cold, formal and devoid of any warmth of friendliness and We sometimes come across people who are human feelings. almost servile towards their superiors but tyrants for their subordinates. It has been well said A little thought will show that giving and that the greater the variance between a person’s receiving of orders occupies only a small portion attitude towards his superiors and subordinates, 24 of one’s working time. Most of our time, the poorer is his character. True courtesy, like regardless of rank and appointment, is spent honesty, is a part of one’s moral make-up; one in discussion, study of problems, persuasion of cannot switch it ON and OFF at will- and those colleagues and in the actual performance of our who do, only reveal the shallowness of their

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com character and demonstrate a perverted sense of exists regarding the apparent contradiction values. between the dictates of discipline and However, it is obvious that, human nature being independent thinking. A bit of reflection what it is, there will be many occasions when will show that these two qualities are not a tick off or dressing down will not only be at all incompatible; in fact, they are almost desirable but absolute necessary. But this does complementary. Discipline, an all-important not mean that one should cultivate a rude or requirement, should not be understood to rough manner, which only detracts from one’s mean regimented thinking and servile behavior gentlemanly qualities and in the long run, can towards one’s superiors. only be a hindrance in the performance of one’s The habit of independent thought and reflection duties. is a part of one’s mental make-up and, unless On the other hand, when a courteous person cultivated in the early stages, it will never employs a firm or harsh tone, his admonition develop sufficiently. Bridling the thinking of registers immediately and the desired effect is young officers today can only result in rendering obtained instantly. This is something which ineffective leadership of tomorrow. a haughty person can never achieve; his Not infrequently, one observes around a admonition is taken as part of his normal manner conference table that subordinates are reluctant and all it produces is a shrug of the shoulders to express their views till they have an inkling of by those around him. Politeness established the way the chairman is inclined and should they goodwill and ensures a prompt and sympathetic be so unfortunate to have calculated wrongly, response; rudeness only antagonizes others and they lose no time in aligning themselves with weakens the spirit of cooperation, this impairing the views of chairman. efficiency. Courtesy therefore is not only an Independent thinking and free expression intrinsic virtue but also a sound investment. of one’s views at an appropriate juncture are Independent Thinking indispensable qualities for one who wears an Good leadership is impossible unless the leader officer’s uniform, no matter how junior. Let possesses both the capacity and inclination to us be polite and correct, but not servile and think independently and has confidence in his submissive, for this will inevitably lead to judgment. Mere collection of facts and figures stifling of initiative and independent thinking – cannot, by itself, guarantee that such knowledge qualities no good leader can without. will necessarily be put to the best possible use. This article has attempted to highlight the This can be assured only if one has an analytical importance of only two aspects of leadership mind, a sense of proportion and the capacity to qualities. Leadership is many other things as think for oneself. If this were not so, research well. work, dictionaries and computers – and not (Excerpt from the An Airman Remembers by Zafar men – would have been the most successful Chaudhry, PAF Book Club 1993, pp. 92-96- Ferozsons 25 leaders of the world. Lahore) Unfortunately, a great deal of misunderstanding

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Anti-headscarf law activist sues Iran in U.S. over harassment DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian- Alinejad, who lives in Brooklyn, became a U.S. American activist famous for her campaign against citizen in October. the Islamic Republic’s mandatory headscarf, or Her “White Wednesday” and “My Stealthy hijab, for women has sued Iran in U.S. federal Freedom” campaigns have seen women film court, alleging a government-led harassment themselves without hijabs in public in Iran, which campaign targets can bring arrests and fines. her and her family. But there have been signs Masih Alinejad’s of women increasingly lawsuit seeking pushing back against the monetary requirement. damages comes During a trip to Iran in in the aftermath July, an Associated Press of nationwide journalist spotted about protests in two dozen women in Iran over spiking the streets without a gasoline prices that hijab over the course of reportedly killed at nine days. Many other least 208 people in women opted for loosely November. draped colorful scarves Dissent continues as Iranian authorities separately that show as much hair as they cover. said Thursday they broke up a plot to cause a While there have been women fined and arrested, gas explosion at a student dormitory at a Tehran others have been left alone as Iran struggles with university. economic problems and other issues under re- But even before the latest unrest, authorities had imposed U.S. sanctions following President already announced that women face a possible 10- Donald Trump pulling out of Tehran’s nuclear deal year prison sentence for sending videos to Alinejad’s with world powers. “White Wednesday” civil disobedience campaign In recent weeks, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary against the mandatory head covering. Guard seized and began torturing her brother The harassment, including the imprisoning of her Alireza Alinejad-Ghomi, the suit alleges. brother, was to “preclude Ms. Masih Alinejad from State television officials and security forces have continuing her career as a journalist, author, and pressured her mother as well, who at one point political activist working to criticize the Iranian “threatened to pour gasoline on herself and set government and bring international attention to herself on fire” during a confrontation, according the regime’s human rights abuses, in particular to the suit. Later, however, her mother called and women’s rights,” alleges her lawsuit, filed on disowned her over the telephone, “knowing that Monday in Washington. the phone lines in Iran are not secure and that Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not she was essentially making a public statement that immediately respond to a request for comment could be used against Ms. Alinejad at any time,” Thursday. the suit said. Alinejad, who recently published an autobiography, Alinejad seeks monetary damages in the lawsuit. fled the country after the disputed 2009 presidential Her suit comes after a U.S. federal judge awarded 26 election and crackdown. She is a prominent figure Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and his on Farsi-language satellite channels abroad that family nearly $180 million over his imprisonment critically view Iran and has worked as a contractor and torture in Iran. https://www.pbs.org/ for U.S.-funded Voice of America’s Farsi-language newshour/world/anti-headscarf-law-activist- network since 2015, according to the lawsuit. sues-iran-in-u-s-over-harassment

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com Battle of the Ages to stop Eurasian integration

Coming decade could see the US take on Hybrid War techniques – carrying inbuilt 24/7 Russia, China and Iran over the New Silk Road demonization – will proliferate with the aim of connection containing China’s “threat,” Russian “aggression” By Pepe Escobar and Iran’s “sponsorship of terrorism.” The myth The Raging Twenties started with a bang with of the “free market” will continue to drown the targeted assassination of Iran’s General under the imposition of a barrage of illegal Qasem Soleimani. sanctions, euphemistically defined as new trade Yet a bigger bang awaits us throughout the “rules.”

decade: the myriad declinations of the New Yet that will be hardly enough to derail the Great Game in Eurasia, which pits the US Russia-China strategic partnership. To unlock against Russia, China and Iran, the three major the deeper meaning of this partnership, we need nodes of Eurasia integration. to understand that Beijing defines it as rolling Every game-changing act in geopolitics and towards a “new era.” That implies strategic long- geoeconomics in the coming decade will have term planning – with the key date being 2049, to be analyzed in connection to this epic clash. the centennial of New China. The Deep State and crucial sectors of the US The horizon for the multiple projects of the Belt ruling class are absolutely terrified that China and Road Initiative – as in the China-driven New is already outpacing the “indispensable nation” Silk Roads – is indeed the 2040s, when Beijing 27 economically and that Russia has outpaced it expects to have fully woven a new, multipolar militarily. The Pentagon officially designates the paradigm of sovereign nations/partners across three Eurasian Eurasia and beyond, all connected by an

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com interlocking maze of belts and roads. Shoigu, a Tuvan from Siberia, and an intel arm The Russian project – Greater Eurasia – somewhat that is capable of constructive dialogue with mirrors Belt & Road and will be integrated with everybody: India/Pakistan, North/South Korea, it. Belt & Road, the Eurasia Economic Union, Iran/Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan. the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and This apparatus does smooth (complex) the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank are all geopolitical issues over in a manner that still converging towards the same vision. eludes Beijing. Realpolitik In parallel, virtually the whole Asia-Pacific – So this “new era”, as defined by the Chinese, relies from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Indian heavily on close Russia-China coordination, in Ocean – now takes into full consideration every sector. Made in China 2025 is encompassing Russia-China as a counter-force to US naval a series of techno/scientific breakthroughs. At and financial overreach. the same time, Russia has established itself as an Stakes in Southwest Asia unparalleled technological resource for weapons The targeted assassination of Soleimani, for all and systems that the Chinese still cannot match. its long-term fallout, is just one move in the At the latest BRICS summit in Brasilia, President Southwest Asia chessboard. What’s ultimately Xi Jinping told Vladimir Putin that “the current at stake is a macro geoeconomic prize: a land international situation with rising instability bridge from the Persian Gulf to the Eastern and uncertainty urge China and Russia to Mediterranean. establish closer strategic coordination.” Putin’s Last summer, an Iran-Iraq-Syria trilateral response: “Under the current situation, the two established that “the goal of negotiations is sides should continue to maintain close strategic to activate the Iranian-Iraqi-Syria load and communication.” transport corridor as part of a wider plan for Russia is showing China how the West respects reviving the Silk Road.” realpolitik power in any form, and Beijing There could not be a more strategic connectivity is finally starting to use theirs. The result is corridor, capable of simultaneously interlinking that after five centuries of Western domination with the International North-South – which, incidentally, led to the decline of the Transportation Corridor; the Iran-Central Asia- Ancient Silk Roads – the Heartland is back, China connection all the way to the Pacific; and with a bang, asserting its preeminence. projecting Latakia towards the Mediterranean On a personal note, my travels these past two and the Atlantic. years, from West Asia to Central Asia, and What’s on the horizon is, in fact, a sub-sect of my conversations these past two months with Belt & Road in Southwest Asia. Iran is a key analysts in Nur-Sultan, Moscow and Italy, have node of Belt & Road; China will be heavily allowed me to get deeper into the intricacies of involved in the rebuilding of Syria; and Beijing- what sharp minds define as the Double Helix. Baghdad signed multiple deals and set up an We are all aware of the immense challenges Iraqi-Chinese Reconstruction Fund (income ahead – while barely managing to track the from 300,000 barrels of oil a day in exchange stunning re-emergence of the Heartland in real- for Chinese credit for Chinese companies 28 time. rebuilding Iraqi infrastructure). To read more In soft power terms, the sterling role of Russian https://www.asiatimes.com/2020/01/article/ diplomacy will become even more paramount – battle-of-the-ages-to-stop-eurasian-integration/ backed up by a Ministry of Defense led by Sergei

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com No going back on women’s rights,’ says 30-year- old Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan

Highlighting her government’s role in the young generation. Especially in the past 5 years, we advancement of women’s rights, Naheed Esar, have a young generation in the leading position. 30-year-old deputy foreign minister of Afghanistan Before that, you could not see Afghan women had said women in Afghanistan are now in and young Afghan women representing their leading roles. Speaking to WION’s diplomatic generation at the Afghan foreign ministry. I am correspondent, Sidhant Sibal, the deputy foreign very much grateful to the govt for believing in the minister of Afghanistan lauded New Delhi’s role young generation and believing in women. in the advancement How has the role of women of the cause. She increased in the last two was forced to flee decades?Naheed Esar: The her country under biggest difference I see in Taliban rule and women’s roles in the government after coming back is there is a shift in rather a played an important symbolic role to a technocrat role in reaching out or proper leading position. to women especially We have women as deputy women who suffered ministers in the ministry of during Taliban rule defense, ministry of interior. We and decades of strife. have women leading the most Esar is fluent in Pashto, Dari, English, and Hindi. revenue-generating ministries. We have 25% of How do you see India-Afghanistan relations?Naheed women parliamentarians. We have 30% of women Esar: The relationship between India andstaff in the government. With those examples, I see Afghanistan goes back to thousands of years. We a very bright role for Afghan women from leading share culture, we share values, we share the same positions to grassroots young afghans going to morals and it’s a heart to heart connection between universities, schools, more so than ever. Indians and Afghans How will you compare it with the Taliban On India-Afghan ties, the role you would like to see years?Naheed Esar: In the past 18-19 years after of New Delhi in the future?Naheed Esar: India has the fall of the Taliban, we shifted from zero percent supported Afghanistan in various areas. India has women in the education system -- in schools and also committed to about $3 billion to Afghanistan universities -- to about 30% women now. That and more importantly, they have focused on on its own is a huge achievement. We have laws, fundamental projects, fundamental areas -- Article 22 of the Afghan constitution talks about education, medical area, and hospitals. Because we the equality of men and women. We have laws are shifting from aid-dependent country to being a against harassments and parallel to that we have self-reliant country, and that was one of the reasons institutions implementing those laws. We have we started our consulate general in Hyderabad to women in leading positions, and that is the biggest invest more in trade, in the economy. In 2017 we achievement in the past. started the air corridor, 22 items we exported. For https://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-no-going- the future, we are shifting on economic foreign back-on-women-s-rights-says-30-year-old-deputy- policy so we can expand to that area. foreign-minister-of-afghanistan2808798- 29 Being a young minister in the Afghan government, how do you hope to change Afghanistan?Naheed Esar: Afghanistan is probably the youngest country in the world with 65% of people constituting the

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com SA: Wanted: 20,000 Saudi taxi drivers (women especially welcome)

MAKKAH: Saudi transport chiefs have Any driver found to be working illegally faces a launched a campaign to recruit 20,000 Saudi fine of SR1,333$( 5,000). drivers to replace expatriates working for Uber, The surge in the number of women driving Careem and the Kingdom’s other taxi-app taxis came as no surprise to Kariman Khaled services. Al-Ghamdi, who drives for Careem. “Saudi The number of Saudis driving taxis had families constantly request women drivers,” she

risen from 100,000 to more than 600,000 told Arab News. since 2016, and the sector was now ready for Al-Ghamdi worked in human resources at a Saudization, Majed Al-Zahrani of the Public telecommunications company, retired at 46, Transport Authority (PTA) told Arab News. and sought another job to boost her income. The job had become particularly popular among With driver’s licenses from the US and Kuwait women since the ban on them driving in the as well as Saudi Arabia, and having lived abroad, Kingdom was lifted in June 2018, Al-Zahrani she knew she was ideally suited to the work. said. “The number of female Saudi drivers Jamilah Al-Mahmoudi, from Makkah, joined working at these applications has reached Uber seven months ago, and has never looked 2,000, and the number is rising because of the back. good income and the safe work environment,” “I got rid of the financial burden of hiring a 30 he said. driver, and now I drive pilgrims and visitors The PTA and the Ministry of Labor and Social inside Makkah, which I enjoy,” she said. Development will work together to ensure the https://www.arabnews.com/node/1610281/saudi- implementation of the Saudization regulations. arabia

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com NEPAL : Khagendra Thapa Magar: World’s shortest mobile man dies aged 27

NEPAL : Khagendra Thapa Magar: World’s 59.93cm. shortest mobile man dies aged 27 Khagendra Thapa Magar was named the shortest The world’s shortest man who could walk, as living man who could walk verified by Guinness World Records (GWR), has Mr Magar lost his title as the world’s shortest died at a hospital in Nepal at the age of 27. mobile man to fellow Nepalese national Chandra Khagendra Thapa Magar, from Nepal’s Baglung Bahadur Dangi, who measured 54.6cm. However, district, measured 67.08cm (2ft 2.41in). His he regained it following Mr Dangi’s death in 2015. brother told AFP news agency he died on Friday Mr Magar was first spotted by a travelling salesman

following a battle with pneumonia. when he was 14 and taken to local fairs, where GWR paid tribute to Mr Magar, saying he “didn’t children paid to be photographed next to him. let his small size stop him from getting the most After gaining recognition from GWR in 2010, he out of life”. travelled around the world and made television Mr Magar was recognised as the world’s smallest appearances in Europe and the US. He also became man on his 18th birthday in 2010, at a ceremony an official face of Nepal’s tourism campaign. Craig attended by local and international dignitaries. “I Glenday, GWR’s editor-in-chief, said he was don’t consider myself to be a small man. I’m a big “terribly sad” to hear the news of Mr Magar’s death. man. I hope that having this title enables me to “His bright smile was so infectious that he melted prove it and get a proper house for me and my the hearts of anyone who met him,” he said. The family,” he said at the time. record for the shortest living mobile man is now 31 GWR has two categories for people of short held by Edward Hernandez of Colombia, who stature - mobile and non-mobile. Filipino Junrey measures 70.21cm. Balawing, who is unable to walk or stand unaided, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia51158259- is the world’s shortest non-mobile man, measuring Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com The Changing Colors of Istanbul Orhan Pamuk

ISTANBUL — When did I first notice that lamps and see the fabric’s true color in natural the color of streetlamps and interior lights in light. Istanbul had slowly changed from yellow to A street in Balat neighborhood of Istanbul, white over the past ten years? It has transformed August 2018Credit...Orhan Pamuk the nighttime landscape of the city I have lived One day, as the surreptitious spread of white in for 66 years, and yet it is always difficult light and the decline of orange light had been to recall — as with aging, or with political weighing on my mind for some time, I went or climate change — the precise moment in to the old convenience store around the corner which one first becomes aware of this kind of and asked for a -75watt bulb. I saw the writing thing. on the box the elderly shopkeeper picked out During my boyhood and youth, white for me. “But this is white!” I said. “Why?” “It

light was something cold that issued from is the only kind anyone buys these days,” said fluorescent lamps. White light filled hospitals, the shopkeeper. “They’re cheaper.” warehouses, factories, waiting rooms and I grudgingly accepted that very soon the way refrigerators. Like wickedness, it was to be Istanbul looked at night would be completely avoided. It could grieve and mislead us. When transformed. I decided to photograph the 32 my mother went to the draper’s back in the neighborhoods and streets of my city while 1960s and ’70s, she would have the shop boy they were still bathed in orange light. I was take her chosen roll of curtain fabric outside going to work to preserve the fading image of to evade the deceptive gleam of fluorescent Istanbul.

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com Monthly LAHORE International www.lahoreinternational.com In the winter of 2016 I started with the While 30 years ago I might have walked familiar streets of Cihangir, Nisantasi and around Istanbul more frequently, I suspect I Sisli — areas on the European side of Istanbul saw fewer things than I do now. where I had so often walked, and which had Between 1974 and 1980, when I was trying brought me such joy over the years. White to write my first novel, there was a sinister light proliferated in coffeehouses, department atmosphere hanging over Istanbul: Communist store windows and construction sites. militants and right-wing nationalists ruthlessly The more I observed the slow retreat of and routinely gunned each other down in the yellow light, and the way the city streets were streets. acquiring a whole new character, the more In the late 1980s, when there was a shortage photographs I took, animated by anger at all of fuel and energy, and the early 1990s, when my acquaintances and relatives who seemed the economy was slow, the city was darker at altogether indifferent to the issue. My friends, night. Shops did not leave their lights on to most of them approaching old age and living advertise their wares, and at home, people in relatively wealthy neighborhoods, were not switched the lights off when they left a room. interested in the white light. They remarked I would write in my office until three or that thanks to these photographs they had four in the morning, and on the way home noticed for the first time the degree to which I would take a roundabout route, basking in certain streets and neighborhoods of Istanbul the mysterious poetry of barred windows and had changed over the past few years. crumbling, unplastered oriels lit up by the Some streets had been remolded by the arrival orange light of streetlamps. On these long of Arab immigrants from Syria, while other walks I would always encounter at least one streets bore the signs of a new nationalist pack of street dogs growling at anyone who fury and hostility toward foreigners and happened to pass by, standing in your way newcomers. And the third aspect of this or rifling savagely through rubbish bins. I change was that across the Golden Horn, many would run into drunks and boza sellers and neighborhoods had come under the influence shopkeepers closing up for the night. of political Islam and fundamentalist sects. The provincial Istanbul of my youth, where It pained and angered me to discover that everyone knew each other, changed radically my friends had failed to notice these social in after the Justice and Development Party was transformations, and that they had become so elected in 2002. The liberal and pro-European quickly accustomed and indifferent to them. politics of early A.K.P. years, and an infusion In the evenings, I began roaming streets and of new money from the West, gave us a sense alleyways I hadn’t visited for years with a of Istanbul transforming into a cosmopolitan missionary zeal. I was better off walking the megalopolis, where we thought the days of alleyways rather than spending yet another shooting writers and journalists in the streets evening sitting at home, watching the endless or throwing them into prisons were over. stream of lies being propagated on television To Read More: by the government. The nightscape of Istanbul https://www.nytimes.com/18/01/2020/ always had an enigmatic, beguiling effect on opinion/the-changing-colors-of-istanbul.html me, reminding me I belonged here. A long, 33 winding, brisk walk always seemed a way of getting closer to the source of that curious energy.

Monthly LAHORE International February 2020 www.lahoreinternational.com