As the floods in Pakistan began rendering millions of people homeless in the early days of August 2010, Azam Tariq, spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (Movement of Pakistani Taliban), asked the government of Pakistan not to accept U.S. aid for the flood victims, stating that if the government agreed to this demand, the Taliban would give $20 million in aid and distribute flood relief under the leadership of TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud.[1]
The Taliban statement came on August 10, when Pakistani President Asif Zardari was just returning from his state visits to France and the U.K. while millions were marooned across Pakistan. Amid such a calamity, the U.S. was the first country to rush planes full of frozen halal food and military helicopters to rescue the flood-affected people, announcing also an immediate $35 million in aid. The aid amount was later raised to $150 million. This was at a time the Islamic nations, including Saudi Arabia, were yet to offer any aid, beyond symbolic gestures.
Generally, there has been no appreciation of the U.S. relief effort in Pakistan. However, the Taliban spokesman's statement elicited a strong pro-America statement from Tanveer Qaisar Shahid, a senior editor with the mass-circulation Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Express. In his article, titled "The Taliban's Joke With Flood Victims,"[2] Shahid lashed out at the Taliban for opposing the U.S. aid for the flood victims and questioned the militants' motive behind their $20 million aid offer. Also, recently, Rahimullah Yusufzai, a Taliban affairs expert and the Peshawar-based resident editor of The News daily, lauded the U.S. aid effort as well as that of Iran. In an article titled "Flood Aid: the U.S Could Do More,"[3] Yusufzai called for more U.S. aid.
The following are excerpts from the two articles that shed light on Pakistani opinion:
Tanveer Qaisar Shahid in "The Taliban's Joke With Flood Victims"
"What is the Relation to Pakistan of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Who Drenched the Streets and Markets of Pakistan in Blood, Who Ravaged Its Soul?"
"A murderous group whose hands are colored with the blood of nearly 10,000 innocent Pakistani citizens, which killed hundreds of officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army, which tried to turn this land of the pure [Pakistan] into hell through its suicide bombings, which attacked the General Headquarters [of the Pakistan Army] at the behest of the enemies of Pakistan's existence, which unleashed rivers of blood in Swat with the help of Pakistan's enemy country and dug up bodies from graves to hang in trees, which butchered the devouts who had knelt in prayers – not even bothering about the sanctity of mosques – is now announcing that it wants to help the flood victims of Pakistan.
"A statement from the spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has been issued: 'The government of Pakistan should not accept aid for flood victims from America and the Western countries. If Pakistan listens to us, we will provide $20 million in aid and under the leadership of Hakimullah Mehsud will deliver the aid to the flood victims.'
"Anyone who has listened and heard this news is astonished. We could not think that our enemies will challenge us in this manner.
"What is the relation to Pakistan of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan who drenched the streets and markets of Pakistan in blood, who ravaged its soul? With what face do they talk about helping the flood victims of the country for the destruction of which they did not leave any stone unturned?
"There is a limit to their shamelessness. The brutality of the Taliban is to such an extent that while the flood were causing mayhem across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they were killing dozens of people and were shamelessly accepting responsibility for attacks in the provincial capital of Peshawar and its suburbs. These are the people who tried to take the life of the respected sister of [Pashtun leader] Asfandyar Wali just yesterday – though attacking a lady is neither manly nor an act of grace for those who champion Islam.
"But the murderers have ravaged every value. How can they now announce to help the flood victims? Who will trust them? Who will let this group come closer, hands of every single member of which is soaked in blood…?
"A day has come upon us when these people – who never shied away from taking support, in form of cash or arms, of the enemies of this god-given country of ours, for destroying it – are openly telling the citizens and rulers of Pakistan: Don't accept aid for flood victims from America and the Western countries, we will give you $20 million and will ourselves distribute it among flood victims. Is there anything more cruel left for which we should let them come here?
"And these $20 million? When converted to Pakistani currency, that's 1.5 billion rupees. The question is, where did these murderers get such a large sum? From the profits of which business of theirs they have generously agreed to spare $20 million to spend on flood victims? Can the group that shed the blood of thousands of innocent Pakistani citizens tell us about its source of livelihood? Is it Halal [permitted in Islam]? Apparently they just kill, loot and plunder, from where they have brought such a huge amount? Will they bring this from India or will they get it from those enemy forces who cannot tolerate this country [Pakistan] created on the 27th day of the holy month of Ramadan."
"We Want to Tell… [the Taliban] That the U.S. is the Only Country in the World Which Has Supported the Flood Victims the Most"
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"One should keep in mind that thousands of ill-wishers of our beloved country appeared and vanished, but Allah saved this country. Allah willing, it will always be there.
"The murderers used every tactic they had to damage the foundations of this country and to swing the citizens of this country to their side but the majority did not approve them nor will. Now, they are masking their faces anew for a breakthrough; mask of sympathy and aid, for winning hearts. But we know how to snatch their masks and expose them. The murderers say, 'We ourselves will distribute $20 million' – it is astonishing that those who have so-called hatred for the U.S. talk in terms of U.S. currency. So, they want to enter the homes of flood victims in the guise of sympathy. Underneath their masks, do they have plans to make new safe havens?
"The government should closely watch such groups and elements. These cruel people have lost the trust of all of Pakistan. They have attacked Pakistan… Now, when it has been proved where they are getting support and [where they are getting] the latest weapons that are slung on their shoulders, they want to help flood victims of Pakistan!
"The murderers say: 'Pakistan should not accept aid from the U.S.' Why should we not accept it? We want to tell them that the U.S. is the only country in the world which has supported the flood victims the most. It did not limit itself to making promises, nor did it merely raise hands in prayer for us; rather it has practically supported Pakistan's grief-stricken.
"[The U.S.] has given $35 million in cash [later raised to $150 million], and its several planes full of frozen food have landed on this land of the pure. Richard Holbrooke, advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has also been saying that the aid will be increased because it is insufficient. There are also reports that under leadership of the Pakistan Army, 700 U.S. soldiers are using Chinook helicopters to rescue people caught in floods."
"In Comparison, All Islamic Countries, Including Saudi Arabia, Are Far Behind America.... These Western 'Infidels and Idolators' Step Forward to Help Us For Humanity's Sake"
"In comparison, all Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, are far behind America. An English newspaper expressed this comparison in a cartoon, showing the U.S. and the Western countries rushing in a queue holding bags of dollars to donate, while the Islamic countries are just sitting with their hands raised in prayers.
"Some of us talk loud and copiously about the Ummah, and preach about it, but it has been observed always that the Ummah is found sleeping in the hour of the need. The OIC [Organization of Islamic Conference] and the Arab League too remain asleep.
"In these stormy and stormy times, these Western 'infidels and idolators' step forward to help us for humanity's sake, without greed and profit; even then some individuals and groups among us have hiccups in their chests because of this. The latest expression of this chestpain is the announcement by the Taliban who themselves have become a source of pain for 180 million Pakistani people."
Rahimullah Yusufzai in "Flood Aid: The U.S Could Do More"
"It Was Also Holbrooke Who Remarked That the U.S. Was the 'First With the Most' by Leading the Way to Help Pakistan in Coping With the Floods"
"It could be quite embarrassing tracking all the foreign aid coming to Pakistan in the wake of the unprecedented floods that have submerged one-fifth of the country, and then commenting on the generosity or miserliness of the donors. Forever in need of outside help due to manmade and natural disasters afflicting us at regular intervals, Islamabad now counts its friends in terms of the assistance they can provide in cash and kind to enable it to cope with one emergency after another…
"There is no way Pakistan could cope with the losses inflicted by the floods of such unimaginable magnitude on its own. It is, therefore, again in need of help from wherever available to cope with the tragedy. In fact, the devastation caused by the floods will keep Pakistan in perpetual need of foreign assistance for years to come just to stay afloat.
"The world, it seems, will get fatigued bailing out Pakistan from its unending calamities. Years ago, Bangladesh, with its yearly cyclones and destructive floods, was referred to as a 'basket case' needing constant foreign aid to survive. Henry Kissinger was quoted as having made the statement in 1972 shortly after Bangladesh's separation from Pakistan, though the country has surprised skeptics by doing well in many fields and it is now said there is no need for feeling pity for Bangladesh.
"One cannot contemplate Pakistan being referred to as a 'basket case' in future… and on account of its natural resources that need better harnessing and management. However, the risk of meeting such an unfortunate fate will remain unless Pakistan's ruling elite gives up its wasteful ways and agrees to undertake drastic reforms for putting in place a system of governance and justice responsive to the needs of the people.
"The international assistance to Pakistan following the floods is no doubt inadequate and the world isn't keeping up to the challenge, but it must be said that the donors by and large have been kind to the flood [victims]. The human spirit is alive and donations are being collected all over the world by people of different countries, races, religions and gender."
"Pakistan Would Have Received More Foreign Assistance, As It Did During the 2005 Earthquake... Had It Presented A Credible Record in Properly Spending the Funds It Received From Abroad In the Past
"There is no use complaining, as we don't have a right to demand that Pakistan must be helped. People will open their purses once they are convinced that the needs are genuine and that their money will be honestly spent. As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remarked, Pakistan's floods were 'a slow-moving tsunami' and thus its impact was being gradually felt. Pakistan would have received more foreign assistance, as it did during the 2005 earthquake when the aid came to $388.33 per affected person, had it presented a credible record in properly spending the funds it received from abroad in the past.
"Politics and strategic interests do play a role in convincing donors to extend help to a country in need. Most donors are motivated by humanitarian considerations and one would wish that Pakistan's floods are seen in the same light and not because it is strategically located or a partner in fighting militants posing threat to the U.S. and its Western allies. The U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, someone not known for diplomatic niceties despite having served as a diplomat all his life, spoke his mind when he pointed out recently: 'Pakistan is not just another country that has been hammered by a tragedy; it is at the epicenter of global terrorism.' It was also Holbrooke who remarked that the U.S. was the 'first with the most' by leading the way to help Pakistan in coping with the floods and castigating Islamabad's traditional friends China and Iran for not doing enough towards this end."
"China and Iran have stepped up their assistance to Pakistan's flood [victims], and it cannot be said that they were provoked by Holbrooke's undiplomatic utterances. Even at the time of the 2005 earthquake, Chinese and Iranian assistance picked up gradually and turned out to be substantial in the end. However, countries have different capacities, as some pay in cash and others in kind or through expertise.
"China initially gave $9 million to Pakistan for flood relief, and now it has taken responsibility for doing rehabilitation and reconstruction work in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is adjacent to China's Xinjiang province. It must be remembered that right now China is suffering from its own worst floods in decades. It certainly has the capacity to pay more, but Pakistan is benefiting from Chinese help in so many other sectors, including defense.
"As for Iran, it announced $10 million for Pakistan's flood [victims], and sent several planeloads of relief goods. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is planning to visit Pakistan to see for himself the flood situation and possibly offer more assistance.
"At the huge Friday prayers gatherings in Tehran and elsewhere, top religious scholars appealed for donations and gave a decree that the Iranian Muslims could give khomas, which is like ushar [obligatory tax on farm produce] given by Sunnis, to Pakistani flood [victims]. Public donation campaigns are also being run on Iranian television channels to raise funds for Pakistan. Iran, as we all know, is under the fifth round of tough economic sanctions led by the U.S. and sanctioned by the UN and its capacity to pay for humanitarian causes such as the one in Pakistan isn't at past levels."
"The Timely Help [From the U.S.]... Could Earn More Gratitude If the U.S. Officials Highlighted [Its] Humanitarian Aspects... and Refrained From Linking It To U.S. Security Objectives in the Region"
"The U.S. by far has been the biggest donor, raising its assistance to $150 million after realizing the magnitude of the tragedy and ensuring that USAID gave a further $50 million. It sent 22 helicopters to rescue stranded people and ferry much-needed supplies, and four more were on the way. It has supplied enormous quantities of food, drinking water, medicines and shelter. The timely help could change perceptions in Pakistan and earn goodwill for America. It could earn more gratitude if the U.S. officials highlighted the humanitarian aspects of U.S. help to Pakistan and refrained from linking it to U.S. security objectives in the region. In fact, the U.S. could do more to help its ally because, as Jacob Freeze pointed out in a recent article, the American flood aid to Pakistan was equal to just two hours of the Pentagon budget."
