Dear fellow Pakistani-Americans,

We are sure that you have recently had the opportunity to hear the sad and serious news about the incidents in Mumbai India, it is also important to recognize that in the US media and in the minds of the think tanks, Pakistan is being considered as the cause of such attacks.

It is important to note that the details and the facts are not yet available.  Unfortunately in the minds of a few here, Pakistan is being blamed as the cause of such atrocity.  Initially Al Qaeda was held responsible for these attacks, now evidence is pointing towards Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Both India and Pakistan has been victims of attacks by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in the past. It is worth mentioning that Lashkar-e-Tayyiba is banned in Pakistan, and the Pakistani government over the years has aggressively clamped down on its members and its operations inside Pakistan. In the past three years alone over 3000 Pakistani’s have been killed by terrorist acts, while the Pakistani Army has lost over 1400 of its soldiers in their operations against terrorist groups.  

PAKPAC has initiated an outreach towards our fellow Americans, fellow Indian Americans, The Indian Ambassador to United States, and policy makers in the United States.

PAKPAC requests the following from the Indian, Pakistan & US governments:

1. Indian government should carry out a detailed investigation in finding the perpetrators behind these attacks, and not to offer premature judgment or blame. Indian & Pakistani Authorities should restrain in initiating or blaming others as that would only play into the motives of the terrorists.
2. Indian government to work for the safety of all its citizens and ensure that such terrorists’ attacks do not lead to any ethnic backlash.
3. Pakistan government to work closely and extend fullest cooperation at all levels to Indian Authorities with their investigations. We ask Indian & Pakistan governments to setup a joint mechanism in this fight against terrorism.
4. Pakistani government to initiate a global clamp down on terrorist organizations and their activities that may originate from Pakistan.
5. Pakistani and Indian governments to ensure that the peace talks and peace process continues to move forward even more swiftly. Terrorism is a serious threat to the sub-continent and regional instability negatively impacts both India & Pakistan.
6. US government to facilitate negotiations between Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan to eradicate terrorism from the region. Over the years people of all three nations have faced the wrath of terrorism with loss of life, insecurity, and lawlessness.
7. PAKPAC asks of all media outlets not to pass premature judgment and analysis and to work towards minimizing terrorism and instability.

PAKPAC asks of you to join hands in making sure that Pakistan is not singled out in these attacks, we ask of you to:

1. Write or respond to any news that prematurely blames Pakistan to be involved in these attacks. You can do this by writing letters to the editors in the newspapers, or post your comment on the website where such news is carried.
2. Those with contacts with Congressional members, Think Tank Staffers; and journalists should meet with them and explain Pakistan’s situation, asking for US to play the role of a facilitator in this crisis.
3. In dealing with your neighbors, workplace colleagues, and others, educate them so that they are aware of the full situation, and how much Pakistan has suffered from the acts of terrorists and extremists.
4. For those of you are involved in volunteer and civic originations, join hands in making sure that Pakistan is not unjustly blamed for such acts.
5. Engage with American Indian citizens and organizations to share their pain and frustrations.

For learning about the how the people of Pakistan have and continue to suffer at the hands of these terrorists, please see our letters to our fellow Americans and Indian Americans below, these letters can be used for your communications with your American & Indian friends.  

At the present time, this is a critical assessment as it is very clear that the President Elect Obama administration is making plans for Pakistan and other policies and these are being evaluated at this critical juncture.  It is important that we reach out to these people and help them prepare a sound plan. Please see PAKPAC recommendations to President-Elect Obama.

Now is not a time to sit back but be vocal in not only denouncing the acts of terrorism, but also ensuring that our future actions are not fulfilling the motives of these terrorists.

Please visit our website for further details and updates

Sincerely,

The PAKPAC Board.

Letter for our Indian-American Community Friends:  A Pakistani American Perspective

Dear fellow friends of Indian-American Community,

The Pakistani-American Community members join in to strongly condemn the terrorist actions and the coordinated murderous attacks toward the innocent people of the city of Mumbai, India.

 
These outrageous and cowardly actions reaffirm our belief that all peace loving people need to join hands to work together to make violent extremism irrelevant to any and all societies.

Both the Pakistani-American and the Indian-American community share a common heritage and similar background with very similar values based on strengthening of individuals and families.  We also share similar challenges in the United States, with respect to the post 9/11 era when the people of South-Asian heritage have unfortunately been bearing the brunt of the anti-immigrant sentiment and anger towards anyone and everyone who looks to the ignorant eyes as Arabs, are treated wrongfully and opportunities are taken away from them. We also have had opportunity to work together in some of the challenging environments and have served in the same industries within the United States working side by side in harmony and mutual respect for each other.

At times, some of us have brought “baggage” back from our home countries and resulted in us working with that baggage in our hearts and minds.

The situation in the world and the ground realities in our lives require that we work together to undo this baggage and move towards identifying common grounds.

 
These recent events in Mumbai, India should be another wakeup call for us as a community of immigrants of South-Asian heritage to identify common ground and work together to identify ways of strengthening our presence in United States, but more importantly learning from our capacities to work together with mutual respect and transfer some of these interactions back to our respective counties of origin.

The instability in Pakistan and the challenges with extremism that are being felt in Pakistan are clearly a destabilizing factor in the region.  In 2002, there were two suicide attacks in Pakistan.  In 2006, there were seven suicide attacks against Pakistan and in 2007 alone there was a significant upsurge to 56 suicide attacks against the people of Pakistan.  As of early November of 2008, there have been 38 suicide bombings this year alone leading to over 670 civilians of Pakistan dying and over a thousand being wounded in 2008 alone.  By comparison Iraq had 42 such attacks and 463 deaths, Afghanistan 36 incidents and 436 casualties as of October 2008.

 
Pakistani military has lost over 1400 soldiers fighting the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.  It is because of the resolve of the Pakistani military and the establishment that more and more of the terrorists groups are making the people of Pakistan and the Pakistani military as a primary target.  As of November 28^th 2008, the US forces who have died in the region have been 556.

We do also recognize that these extremists have one thing in common.  They identify Pakistan and Pakistani people as a primary target and they also believe India and Indian people as a primary target.  We the Pakistani-American Community strongly feel that this threat is a common threat to all people in South Asia.  We also believe that Pakistan is going through some very significant unprecedented challenges with their economic and human development status.  The story from the Indian end is that of success and we do recognize that the Indian-American community has played a vital role in this success.

While we congratulate you, we also want to reach out to you to share the importance of identifying ways to work with us for a stable and internally strong Pakistan with improvement in the education, healthcare, infrastructure and investment to the human capital of that region.  Stability of Pakistan would lead to stability of the region and help India move towards her ongoing success.

 
At these times, when emotions are high, it is a natural reaction to try and identify a common denominator and try and use that emotion to solve that situation.  We believe that the needs of the current situation demand that we move together in a different direction.  We need to work together to help promote Pakistan’s stability.  If we can work towards this goal, we would be able to ensure a common stability in that region. 
We hope that the Indian Americans encourage the Indian authorities to work for the safety of all its citizens and ensure that such terrorists’ attacks do not lead to any ethnic backlash in an emotionally charged environment.

 
We are with you to not only mourn the deaths of these innocent people of Mumbai, but we want us to stay together to develop a plan that such a calamitous event never happens again.

Please visit our website for further details and updates

Respectfully,

Board of Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee.

PAKPAC

President@pakpac.net

202 558 6404

Letter to our fellow Americans: A Pakistani American Perspective

We as Pakistani Americans vehemently condemn the terrorist attacks over the last several days in Mumbai, India.  We stand committed with our fellow Indian Americans and with the U.S. government in seeking solutions to root out terrorism in all forms and from all sources.  We also strongly feel that this tragedy necessitates the utmost cooperation between both India and Pakistan to counter these terrorist forces as they threaten the stability of both nations.

Violence in Pakistan has increased dramatically in the last few years. The people in Pakistan have suffered the most in the region at the hands of the terrorists. The terrorists have no boundaries, no religion, no nationality, and no ethnicity. They are willing to kill indiscriminately to instill fear in the hearts and minds of the people and generate negative feelings amongst people.

Since 9/11 Pakistan’s economy has suffered a loss of up to $35 billion for being a partner of US war on terrorism. In 2002, there were 2 suicide attacks in Pakistan. In 2006, there were 7 suicide attacks against Pakistan, and in 2007 alone there was a significant upsurge to 56 suicide attacks against the people of Pakistan. As of early November of 2008, there have been 38 suicide bombings this year alone leading to over 670 civilians of Pakistan dying and over thousands being wounded in 2008 only. By comparison Iraq saw 42 such attacks and 463 deaths; Afghanistan, 36 incidents and 436 casualties as of Oct 2008.

Pakistani military has lost over 1400 soldiers fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It is because of the resolve of the Pakistani Military and establishment that more and more of the terrorist groups are making the people of Pakistan and the Pakistani Military as their primary targets. As of November 28^th, 2008, the number of US forces that have died in the region is 556.

Pakistan is going through unprecedented challenges with respect to its economic and human development status. More than 73% of people of Pakistan live on less than $2 per day. On the Human development index, it rates as 136 out of 177. According to Pakistan’s own definition of poverty, more than 22% of the people live below the poverty line. Pakistan suffers from the highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the region.  31 % of the children less than 5 years of age are malnourished.

Some of the above numbers should give a better insight in the ground realities of the region. Whenever there is an attack of any kind in the region, it is easy to blame it on Pakistan and try to present the people of Pakistan and the region as the cause of all the problems. Such a perception is highly counterproductive in terms of coming up with real solutions.

Pakistan as a country and all her people are not the cause, but the victims of these challenges. It is important for the people across the region and the United States to understand that a stable Pakistan is critical for the region and the world. This can happen if we focus together in the appropriate policies, governance planning and appropriate investment in the healthcare, education, human capital, and economic opportunities in the region. Job creation, such as agriculture and infrastructure projects, expanding microcredit programs, energy assistance, developing and improving water and sanitation networks are also an important need of the region.

While it is easy to look at the current situation after the heinous attacks in Mumbai, India and make conclusions and policy recommendations, there is clearly a need for a greater in-depth investigation.  Most if not all people, who are aware of the situation, agree that not all facts are known about these terrorist attacks. While speculators and the “terrorism experts” continue to hypothesize and at times carelessly mention Pakistan, it is important to realize that the facts are not yet adequately known.

We ask of US government and our fellow Americans to:

1. Continue and expand on US and global assistance for human development in Pakistan
2. Facilitate negotiations between Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan to eradicate terrorism from the region.
3. Improve regional stability through bi-lateral economic, trade, and political ties.

Please visit our website for further details and updates

Sincerely,

Board of the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee