Pak Tea House » Pakistan » Tariq Ali is wrong on the Taliban and Hezbollah
Tariq Ali is wrong on the Taliban and Hezbollah
I read this insightful comment by Imtiaz Baloch on an internet platform. The piece argues in a more nuanced manner the issue of national question and the struggles. In particular, it challenges the linear and [ironically] misinformed views of Tariq Ali who praised the Taliban and Hezbollah while mocking the Baloch and Sindhi national movements. I am grateful to Imtiaz Baloch for having agreed to this cross-posting at the Pak Tea House. Readers may or may not agree with the position but it surely brings a fresh perspective to this tricky and complex questions. (Raza Rumi, ed)
Last week the British-Pakistani orator came to Toronto for a talk. It was with great hope and enthusiasm; I arrived at the University of Toronto auditorium on Nov 14, 2008 with my Baloch, Sindhi, and Kashmiri friends to listen to the man famous for his revolutionary views and eloquent speeches.
Tariq Ali’s writings had always been a great source of inspiration for us under General Zia’s military rule, fighting for democracy, justice, and equality in the Pakistan society.
I am from the generation of progressive student activists who had witnessed the rise of ‘jihadi culture’ in Pakistan ; funded, armed, and trained by the Pakistan Army, ISI, Saudis, and the CIA. My generation was also a witness to two revolutions in the region on the borders of Pakistan – Afghanistan ’s (Soar) April revolution of 1978 and Iran ’s anti-Shah/ uprising of 1979, later stolen by the Mullahs.
But alas, my expectations were terribly let down.
Thinking of the street fighting days of the 80’s, my thoughts were interrupted by the voice coming from the podium of a man I thought was the living embodiment of an era when Marxism, revolution, and Che Guevara were the idols worshipped by the left-wing students world over.
Tariq Ali spoke eloquently and took us on a journey into Palestine , Lebanon , Iraq , Afghanistan , touching briefly upon Pakistan and then rocketing back to the recent US elections and the crisis in the capitalist world. In his speech, he praised Sheikh Nasarullah’s Hezollah in Lebanon as “heroic”, conveniently forgetting to mention this group’s ideological, financial, and military support from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Syria . The two states, one theocratic and the other a dictatorship – both infamous for brutally repressing their own people including torture and murder of communists.
In addition, to my amazement, Tariq Ali chose Hamas as the Palestinian voice of resistance and not PFLP or DFLP for that matter, yet another Iran-backed Islamic group striving for an Islamic state.
Finally came the bombshell. Instead of denouncing the atrocities carried out by the Taliban, the beheadings and the throwing of acid on the faces of schoolgirls, Tariq Ali eulogized the neo-Taliban as an indigenous movement representing Pashtun nationalism.
Suddenly it all made sense, for Tariq Ali. For him, the world had shrunk to the two opposite poles – America on one sides and the global Islamic militancy. Anything anti-American would do, regardless of its nature being oppressive, anti-progressive, anti-democratic and anti-human.
What Tariq Ali said that evening would make Jamaat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed and former Director General ISI Hameed Gul (godfather of the Taliban) applaud and dance with joy.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of the story. He also managed to present one dramatized case of forcible disappearance of a Pakistani citizen Aafia Siddiqui now in US custody for alleged links with Al-Qaida.
He spent considerable time talking about Aafia Siddiqui, painting a picture of a victim of American atrocities, but he did not utter a single word about the thousands of Sindhi and Baloch political activists who were disappeared by the ISI under Musharraf’s military rule and ended up in the torture cells.
Speaking of torture, Tariq Ali slammed Hasni Mobarak’s Egypt , but a kept a complete silence on the brutal practices of torture by the Islamic Republic of Iran where thousands of progressive activists have been tortured and hanged publicly. He did not utter one work against Saudi Arabia , an apartheid state where racism and repression are state policy.
Most amazingly, Balochistan was completely absent from his speech, where for the last four years people are facing a brutal military operation unleashed by the Musharraf regime. The atrocities include aerial bombing of villages by PAF; killing of innocent civilians including women and children; forced displacement of 200,000 Marri and Bugti tribal families; arrest, torture and targeted killing of activists and leaders; forced occupation of people’s land by the state to build military cantonments; development of testing sites for nuclear weapons causing health and environmental hazards.
HRCP chief Asma Jahangir, who does not claim to be a revolutionary and who hails from Lahore , has done a magnificent job in risking her life to collect all the data from the remote and restricted areas of Balochistan and in bringing the facts to world’s attention.
Tariq Ali’s evasiveness from the Baloch national question is not just a matter of ignorance of the facts, but rather based on his worldview related to the narrow vision and what fits in it. This became obvious from his response to a question on Balochistan asked from the audience. While claiming his support to Baloch rights and saying that military operation was not a good thing, he then balanced it off by dismissing Baloch nation’s right to exercise the right of self determination, because of the involvement of the “big powers” and their interests in the region.
Tariq Ali stands for the right of self determination for the people of Palestine , but not for the people of Balochistan or Kurdistan .
Later that evening at a private dinner he further explained that formation of new independent states was not on the world agenda therefore the best option for Baloch and other nationalities is to be part of a South Asian Union in which Pakistan will exist as a loose federation. How is that possible and why would Pakistan’s military sacrifice all its multibillion dollar assets, businesses and political power to become part of South Asian Union? During the debate, Tariq Ali also made a passing remark that Baloch should join Islamic Republic of Iran, knowing very well the atrocities unleashed on Iranian Baloch by the state.
It felt like asking the sheep to leave the flock and join a pack of wolves. What could be more insulting coming from a world-renowned scholar of Tariq Ali’s stature?
Moreover, when he was reminded of the fact that Iranian Balochistan also needs to be liberated from the repressive theocratic state, he simply looked the other way and smiled sarcastically. His response to a question regarding Sindh’s national rights was simply a joke to the people of Sindh. He said, “President Zaradari is now in power”. This was an utter disregard for Sindh’s national problems.
In his speech Tariq Ali spent a full 30 minutes making fun of Asif Zaradari, mocking his English accent and sinking to a level of attack that reflected a bitter personal animosity. There was not a word of criticism of Nawaz Shariff or General Musharraf.
Tariq Ali made no mention of the heroic struggle of people like Pervez Hoodbhoy and Ahmad Rashid, who has criticized in previous writings. In listening to Tariq Ali, it seems one was listening to some Pakistan Army Colonel lecturing us Baloch to fight the so-called “Sardari nizaam”, as if Sheroo Marri and the late Mir Bizenjo were sardars.
In general, Tariq Ali’s attitude and behaviour towards Pakistan ’s nationalities question sounded like an echo coming from Islamabad ’s corridors of power representing the voice of a dominant nationality that has colonized Baluchistan for 60 years, yet whose intelligentsia, including the Left is woefully oblivious of their own role as accomplices.
There seemed a pattern emerging from the speech and the discussion that completed the picture. The old Left and the neo-Taliban have bonded into a new friendship with a common cause – Bush-bashing, for which, Islamic populist sentimentalism, state and strong army have become important tools of the trade. Today, it is not surprising to see former Marxists collude with Jihadis, but to see Tariq Ali in that role was a huge let down.
Therefore, Pakistan and Iran as states and their military as an intimidating force are non-negotiable in exchange for the national emancipation of oppressed nationalities. What lessons have we learnt from the Iranian left movement and their self-destructive path of alignment with Khomeni on anti-American basis? And how that had resulted in the complete abolishment of the Left experience in Iran .
That night when I was finally leaving for home, all sorts of questions were rising in my mind. For some reason, the night seemed slightly darker than usual. The only beacon of hope was the faraway mountains of Balochistan where the sound of thunder was the call for freedom.
Imtiaz Baloch is affiliated with the Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada, Toronto, Ontario
Filed under: Pakistan · Tags: Ali, Baloch, Hezbollah, Imperialism, nationalism, Pakistan, Taliban, Tariq, USA
76 Responses to "Tariq Ali is wrong on the Taliban and Hezbollah"
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“Send him one copy telling him about Jinnah’s Pakistan”
Will do- once he is done reading Lenin’s last testament that you sent him.
“I am not even going to respond to your sexist male chauvinism about the “ladies”. Clearly you spent most of your time in Bannu and enjoy the treatment you are getting right now.”
Shame on You……ill minded Man….I have pointed out your habbit of making noise…But thats Ok
Anything can be expected from Muslim league mind…As they had put Salman Taseer’s Daughters picnic photographs to the press….Brother of Rana Sanaullah…..
Who says PML(N) is not the heir of ML????????
You proved that
So how can by just claiming Fazlurrehman can be declared as JUH follower….
JUH had never ever supported armed wings…JUI had their Armed wings in Afghanistan and Kashmir…JUH had never ever issued a Fatwa fo Armed resistence…and JUI did…
JUI has the same claims as PML(A to Z) have for Real Muslim League…as per you wish
Yawn- Salman Taseer is the son of MD Taseer- he was Jinnah’s point man in Kashmir during those early days.
Sanaullah is a piece of crap and his party is a piece of crap.
Salman Taseer is exactly the kind of leftist that I think is important for the country- modern, liberal, staunchly capitalist, westernized. The man has done wonders in Lahore. He is a credit to capitalism and Pakistan is lucky to have him at the helm of affairs in the largest province of Pakistan.
By the way given that the current PPP govt has a prime minister whose father was in the Pakistan movement, a foreign minister whose family played a pivotal role in getting Jinnah south Punjab and who till 1990 was a Muslim Leaguer, an information minister who operates a Jinnah Thinktank, a president whose great grand father founded Sindh Medressah tul Islam high school and whose founder ZAB was himself a student activist for Jinnah and whose father was Jinnah’s ally and friend and won him Junagadh, the PPP qualifies more of a successor of the Real Muslim League than PML-N.
I should know… I am a card carrying member.
I have already answered that question about JUH above Bannu boy. You may read it.
Ali mian,
Majumdar…U are always following the same pathway set by my patriotic Pakistani capitalism loving Hamdani
Well, if I am YLH in disguise, naturally I would do that, wouldnt I (LOL). Btw, if you come down to Delhi some time I can dispel all your doubts. Or you could come down to chowk where I can introduce you to a gentleman who has not only met me face to face but is also a bitter opponent of YLH.
Anyway to get back to issues.
1. Todays PML has as much to do with MAJ (pbuh) as the Taliban has to do with the Holy Prophet.
2. There may have been a few fundoos in AIML in MAJ’s time but remember then AIML was a representative of all Muslims- progressives, feudals, salariat, fundoo so naturally was bound to reflect the spectrum of all Muslims. INC Muslims OTOH were almost entirely the jihadi types. So to that extent YLH is correct on the money.
Regards
“Sanaullah is a piece of crap and his party is a piece of crap”
U are true follower of such Craps…by your way of sexist abuse…..
Ali,
Ok . Whatever… or as many of us desis say VHATEWER dude! .
Ali mian, Yasser,
I think we can discuss this without resorting to abuse and invectives.
Regards
“misguided liberalism”
The difference between takfiri Mullahs and takfiri “leftists” is of the book… otherwise they are one and the same.
Both hate “misguided liberalism”… both predate the age of reason and rational thought… both are reactionary and medievalist…. and control freaks.
I think the comments on this post are going haywire.
As for the article of Imtiaz Baloch, I agree to some extent that Tariq has lost it quite clearly on some major issues in Pakistani politics. His arguments may satisfy his audience in the West but they are no longer agreeable for Pakistani of prominent progressive shades.
Tariq Ali is wrong about Taliban and Hezbollah becuase he is insensitive towards Sindhis and Balochis? Great logic !!!!!!!!
Sa’ad Abbasi
Read the article carefully. That is not implied here.
Same article appeared on
Indus Asia Online Journal…
Read comments there on the article…
http://iaoj.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/tariq-ali-praises-taliban-and-hezbollah/#comments
Here at PTH Craps like “Rana YLH” spoils everything…..
5 | Javed Malik
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:30 am
A view from Islamabad
Frankly as a young man growing out of right wing politics in Punjab heartland, it took me a while to understand what people of other nationalities think of the Federation of Pakistan. And some of us are attempting to change the dominant views of mainstream politics towards nationalists concerns…for instance read this article which i wrote after spending ten days in Baluchistan in June.
http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2008-weekly/nos-22-06-2008/pol1.htm#6
On other hand I guess Baluch intelligentia and especially leftest friends who have been in the rights struggle have chosen to hold extreme positions. The likes of Najam Sehti Saheb and Ahmed Rashid Saheb are openly siding with even neo-cons and are unwilling to even condemn US air strikes on civilians.. Others like Imtiaz saheb are living their normal lives in Canada and are putting up options which are impossible to achieve and would not take the cause of Baluches any where. His ideas of seeking Baluch areas independence from Iran displays how much people living in away lands can loose sight of seeing the issues in reality and suggest a pragmatic course which could work.
In times when even right of self determination as a concept is struggling to survive in human rights academics and even the most independent minded Kashmiries like Yasin Malik Saheb are converging their positions for a loose autonomous zone in joint control of India and Pakistan, the best course of nationalistic politics in Pakistan to have a maximum autonomy with complete control over their natural resources. Once that is taken care of, the Baluch identity politics then can take care of human development issues with in their own regions. The Sindh rights issues even does not exist. People Party has taken over 80 percent of the votes in rural Sindh and now has installed a President who is commander in chief also. He can do any thing which he wants to do and the onus is no more on Punjabies for not doing enough for Sindh or Baluchistan. If Mr. Zardari wants to re-organize National Finance Commission to re-distribute resources he can. He can also re-organize IRSA, OGRA and many other agencies in favor of smaller provinces favor as an affirmative action. Tariq Ali therefore was obviously right in down playing Sindh rights issues as politically the issue does not really exist any more.
In persuing idealistic persuits one of the role of public intellectuals like Imtiaz sb is to distinguish between what should be done and what is possible and focus on the later. Who knows that course would eventually lead to a destiny where he would find possibilities for a better world of all who share this region togather.
6 | Javed Chaudry
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Please allow me to reply to you for your question that you have put regarding Palestine and Balochistan.
To begin with, let me say this, there is absolutely no parallel between the Palestine issue and Balochistan. Some would put them together only to further their hidden agenda in order to support CIA and Neocon plans.
Palestine is part of the Arab land which was an integral part of Ottoman Empire for several centuries. After WWI, the British controlled the region of Palestine; a part of which they handed over to the Zionists according to Balfour Declaration (you can search on this for further detains on the internet). After Israeli invasion of the Arab countries in 1967, Israel captured (Palestine) which was under Jordan’s jurisdiction. Since then, Israel has been steadily expanding into the captured area against the international law ignoring several UN resolutions with the help of American support as American foreign policies are controlled by the Zionists.
Balochistan on the other hand has nothing in common with Palestine/Zionist type issues. Balochistan has been part of British Empire since 1876, just as the rest of the Indian subcontinent. At the time of partition in 1947, as the political dividing line was drawn to create Pakistan, every thing to the west of the this line (going through Punjab and sind) and east of the Durand Line (you can search the internet for more details on Durand Line) was considered to be under Pakistani jurisdiction.
For their own administrative convenience, the British authorities had allowed the feudal lords to exist as long as they supported the British Raj. Mir Ahmed Khan was one such feudal lord in Balochistan who, at the time of Indian partition requested the British government to let him stay independent but the request was not entertained. Consequently, Balochistan was made a province of Pakistan as were the other three provinces. There simply nothing unusual or different about the process. All four provinces are unique in terms of their languages and cultures.
Time to time, the feudal lords create trouble for personal gains to try to be the ‘kings’ of the poor tribes. Pakistan’s central government had to send army to control such trouble makers in Balochistan. About 30-35% balochi population is Pakhtoons, about 5-7% are Punjabis, the rest are some 500 Balochi tribes.
During the last 20-30 years, the US has been showing interest in the region because Balochistan has natural resources that the US would like to exploit and at the same time, it would like to run its proposed pipeline due to which the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the pretext of 9/11 and A-Quida type pretenses and lies. Basically it is all a geo-political struggle with the US at the centre of this shameful activity. CIA and RAW have been funding various groups in Balochistan to break it away from Pakistan. There are several individuals and groups that work to carry out CIA disinformation throughout the world. Many of them are of Pakistani origin, who have sold their souls for a few dollars to carry out the CIA dirty work.
I hope you have a better incite into the issue.
I have not touched upon your question on Kurds. A short answer would be that it is again the Neocon supporters who want to break Iraq into three smaller parts as the first step towards greater Israel. In fact the Israelis/Zionists are working with many Curds in the hope to further destroy Iraq. A lot can be said in the subject but I will stop here for now.
At a minimum, I would like the people of the world to be aware of the CIA propaganda, as it is done through your own friends and neighbors who have sold their souls.
Javed Chaudry
7 | Jahan Zeb
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Dear Friends
I think they all .. give Pashtuns, Baloch, Sindhis and Kashimiris enough pain and stimulus to think, collaborate and come up with analysis and solutions brought forward made by these nationalities.
Two of my friends – Zia of Pashtun Peace Forum – UK and Khadim Hussain of Arynana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy (AIRRA) Pukhtunkhwa commented that most of Pakistani socialist and so-called democrats believe that Taliban are Pashtun nationalists despite the fact that we have now evidence that:
1. The Taliban movement in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been involved in ruthless violation of the Pashtun code by attacking jirgas, girls, funeral processions and prayer congregations.
2. Taliban are anti-imperialists despite the fact that they are the main reason for the presence of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
3. The above mentioned both impressions about Taliban operating in Pasthoon belt is nowadays under heated discussion.
4. The argument that Taliban are Pashtoon Nationalist is being presented by former military chiefs like Hamid Gul, Asad Durrani and Mirza Aslambaig etc.
5. Another is impression that Taliban are anti-imperialist forces and are being presented by some left circles. International Socialist Pakistan, one amongst these socialist groups, are presenting the Taliban in Swat and FATA as anti-imperialist and insisting the need to support these fanatics.
6. This issue of Talibanization in Pashtun belt is being distorted and misinterpreted which is leading to a big confusion.
As articulated by Imtiaz Baloch of Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada in his article, it is the need of the hour to discuss it further and to bring counter arguments by Pashtuns, Baloch, Sindhis and Kashimiris. We are working glad that Farhat Taj of AIRRA is going to bring a research project to deconstruct this discourse of Pashtuns and Talibanization.
We need to develop collaborative strategies to facilitate the process of learning and provide platform to Pashtuns, Baloch, Sindhis and Kashimiris nationalists and genuine Punjabi nationalists to collaborate otherwise as Pashtuns Nation is bleeding, it will be soon the fat of Punjab.
Pashtun Peace Forum – Canada
9 | Ahmar Mustikhan
November 24th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Hands of Baluchistan, the name itself says it is the land of the Baluch.
Balochs are the son’s of soil of Balochistan or for that matter Persians in the West, have absoutely no right to rule over the Baluch.
The Muslims article of faith “La Ilaha…” should not be used to enslave nations in the name of religion. The world is not going to tolerate it.
I really respect Tariq Ali, Najam Sethi and liberals and progressives from Punjab. But they should tell Islamabad it is very wrong to commit genocide and go to Baluchistan without ..!
As I write these lines 900 Baluch are still missing in Baluchistan and 600 political activists are in jails, Ghulam Mohammed Baloch told me on the phone from Mand in Baluchistan just this morning.
Baluchistan never wanted to become part of country and was an independent nation until March 27, 1948 when it was forcibly annexed at the point of gun.
This country is an artificial and dangerous country …. If you do not believe me ask some like Ardehsir Cowasjee, Pakistan’s best known columnist.
Never in the world has a majority seceded from the country, but this did happen when East Pakistan seceded to become Bangladesh in 1971.
Never in the history of the world a … of a country got free property in his name because he left his in the enemy country — … was one of the first freeloaders from India, called ….
Never in the history of the world the daughter of a founder opted to stay in the “enemy” country. Dina (Deenbai) Wadia opted to stay in India and is to this day a proud … because she knew her dad was an ….
Never in the world of history, a known …. called the shots in a country’s commercial capital but this is happening in third-rate …..
But one must give the devil its due. The Iranian intelligence seems to have penetrated deep into the progressive writers and journalists community both in the U.K. and the U.S.
So at South Asian Peoples Forum (SAPF’s) key speaker’s views do not surprise me at all.
Imtiaz Baloch has done a wonderful job. Scratch any … progressive and you will find the blood of either a ……
Its the level of discussion….
Ali mian,
Never in the history of the world the daughter of a founder opted to stay in the “enemy” country.
India and Pakistan were never meant to be enemy countries, at least not by the Qaid. As far as Dina is concerned, MAJ (pbuh) was far ahead of his times, he never even dreamt of imposing his choice on his daughter -even choice of nationality.
Dina (Deenbai) Wadia opted to stay in India and is to this day a proud
Yes and had MAJ (pbuh) been alive he wud have been proud that his daughter had remained a proud Indian, notwithstanding its many blemishes. In fact had MAJ (pbuh) been able to retire, he may even have spent his last days in his Mumbai.
Regards
Like everything Aligram writes his latest argument is irrelevant … Dina Wadia is a British National and lives between 60th and 70th street in Manhattan… not that it matters. I share the view aired by Majumdar. None of Aligram’s posts make any sense.
On 15th August 1947, Dina Jinnah Wadia raised two flags from her Window in Bombay… one of India … the other of Pakistan.
@Majumdar
Yes and had MAJ (pbuh) been alive he wud have been proud that his daughter had remained a proud Indian, notwithstanding its many blemishes. In fact had MAJ (pbuh) been able to retire, he may even have spent his last days in his Mumbai….
I absolutely agree to you….
Rana sb….
Apna Chashma Numer drust karalo….
That’s not my argument…that’s Ahmad Mustikhan Argument….I have just referred to it…
KP
I would recommend that you read the article carefully!
Imtiaz Baloch sounds like a whingebag, upset that Tariq Ali didn’t make Balochistan the topic of his speech. Understandable, I guess, if one is part of the Baloch Human Rights Council.
But that obviously doesn’t imply that TA is wrong or ideologically affiliated with the Taliban!
Director Genral National Security Intelligence Major General Taj-ul-Islam