The land I recognize no more

Nationalism is a myth yet we cannot shed it. I always have trouble drawing a line between nationalism and patriotism. My national identity is tainted by my disagreement with what most mistakenly believe to be the foundation of my nation. No, Pakistan was not created on the basis of religion. Belie history as much as you want and teach as controversial a version of history as you may yet the facts will remain.

Pakistan was created to safeguard the economic, political and social interests of the Muslims of united India. Religious freedom was part of the agenda but not THE agenda. The key Muslim scholars and leaders of sub continent were opposed to the idea of Pakistan. They did not believe in the creation of a nation on the behest of religion. For them Muslims of united India were part of the international Muslim Ummah that existed without borders. In fact, these very Muslim scholars (including Maulana Maududi) considered Jinnah to be a heretic and the very idea of Pakistan flawed.

And then soon after the tables turned and Pakistan was created, these very people who had passionately opposed the founding of the country were suddenly blessed with the revelation that the sole purpose of the creation of the country was Islam. The Republic of Pakistan became the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Religion and State became entangled and the secularism preached by Jinnah in his very first address to the constituent assembly became a forgotten aberration.

Thanks to Zia's Islamization , today most Pakistani's believe the creation and purpose of Pakistan to be tied to religion. Only if one paused to wonder what was behind Zia's Islamization and the legitimacy it offered to the tyrannical rule of a dictator, one can see what a facade it all was. Add to it the Washington coined Jihad during the Soviet war and the ISI created Taliban and you shall not be surprised much at the state of affairs in the country today.

Where we stand today is a direct consequence of our inability to draw a line between state and religion. A country founded to safeguard the Muslims of sub continent is not to be equated with a country founded for Islam. Religion is a private affair. The state has no business with religion (period!).