Pakistani society has been Islamic fundamentalist in character since its inception even though Western news media has tried to paint it otherwise. Koran preaches second class status for women and Pakistan follows it just like most other Islamic countries.

The core of Pakistan’s extremism problem is rooted in its Islamic fundamentalist main stream educational system that was instituted way back in 1976. It has molded Pakistani minds ever since.

It is NOT just madrassas, but even the main-stream educational system in Pakistan is radicalized by Islamic teaching that projects Islam as the only savior in the world. Pakistan is suffering from ‘Saudization’ of its society by the education system that was revised in 1976 by the act of its parliament that, like Saudi Arabia’s system, provides an ideological foundation for violence and future jihadists. It demands that Islam be understood as a complete code of life, and creates in the mind of a school-going child a sense of siege and embattlement by stressing that Islam is under threat everywhere.

For all his hypocritical talk of “enlightened moderation,” General Musharraf’s educational curriculum was far from enlightening. It was a slightly toned down version of the curriculum that existed under Nawaz Sharif which, in turn, was identical to that under Benazir Bhutto who had inherited it from General Zia-ul-Haq. Fearful of taking on the powerful religious forces, every incumbent government has refused to take a position on the curriculum and thus quietly allowed young minds to be molded by fanatics.

The promotion of militarism in Pakistan’s so-called “secular” public schools, colleges and universities had a profound effect upon young minds. Militant jihad became part of the culture on college and university campuses. Armed groups flourished, they invited students for jihad in Kashmir and Afghanistan, set up offices throughout the country, collected funds at Friday prayers and declared a war which knew no borders.

Not long ago, Pervez Hoodhbhoy, a professor in Islamabad University wrote the following:

For three decades, deep tectonic forces have been silently tearing Pakistan away from the Indian subcontinent and driving it towards the Arabian peninsula. This continental drift is not physical but cultural, driven by a belief that Pakistan must exchange its South Asian identity for an Arab-Muslim one. This change is by design. Twenty-five years ago, the Pakistani state used Islam as an instrument of state policy. Prayers in government departments were deemed compulsory, floggings were carried out publicly, punishments were meted out to those who did not fast in Ramadan, selection for academic posts in universities required that the candidate demonstrate a knowledge of Islamic teachings and jihad was declared essential for every Muslim. Today, government intervention is no longer needed because of a spontaneous groundswell of Islamic zeal. The notion of an Islamic state – still in an amorphous and diffused form – is more popular now than ever before as people look desperately for miracles to rescue a failing state.

Marty pleaseeeeeeeee get life....................if u could AFFORD it,,,,,,,,,,,,

I can understand this regular Pakistan flood related sob stories on FP as a series to "help and support" Pakistan in its hour need.

However, we need to differentiate between cause and trigger. Cause of the conditions of the women mentioned here is ISLAMIC way of life in that part of the world, with second, nay, animal class citizen status. Floods were mere trigger. God forbid, but it could have been any other calamity and results would have been the same.

If one really feels like helping them (which I guess everyone does, despite reservations about militant Islam) then lets help them get rid of that deeply conservative/fundamentalist mindset and life style.

Yes, it is not easy but then no good solution is easy.

It is really terrible for Pakistani people to have lost so much. I pray for them.

After having read this and other excellent articles on the subject of floods, I come to conclusion. There is nothing anybody can do to help these people. Not their God, Allah. Not their country's rich and powerful community. Not the government, democratic in name only. Not the army soldiers and several volunteers of questionable religious/terroristic background. They are all helpless because the country was not prepared for the calamity of this size.

The army is called for all kinds of non military work. Army has no training, nor do they have slightest inclination to help in such natural disaster. Government at the top is so demoralized that anything they do is considered suspicious. It is true that outside help in terms of money, medicines and other necessities flow straight into the hands of the middlemen/merchants.

The donations are not meant to be sold in the open market or black market. It is a pity that such help becomes a gold mine for the local warlords. They quickly convert articles into money and use it to further their own parochial causes.

The solutions suggested in the discussion are as wild as can be. Some going for the usual rhetoric of muslim hatred. You can hate Islam for all you want but leave that for the right mpment. This is not that moment.

Having discussion forum on FP without any overseeng mechanism is a stupid idea. Everytime I get to read FP discussion I see lot of trash. If FP continues with this lackadaisical attitude further, I might stop reading in future.

http://cogitoergosum.co.cc/

...and I am Sid Harth