It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
(visit the link for the full news article)
ISLAMABAD – Facing a surge in violence after the killing of Osama bin Laden, Pakistanis are taking comfort in conspiracy theories that allege Indian or American agents — not fellow Muslim countrymen — are behind the attacks, especially last week's brazen assault on a naval base.
Lawmakers, media pundits, retired generals and even government officials often hint at suspicions of a "foreign hand" in the violence, despite there being no evidence and often explicit claims of responsibility by militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban.
Aired on television talk shows and in newspaper
While tales of malign intervention by foreign powers exist in other developing countries, in Pakistan they come with a heavy price. They confuse the country as to who it is fighting and complicate efforts to defeat militants and counter their extremist ideology.
Shifting the blame away from Islamist militants and onto foreigners helps protect the powerful Pakistani army from an uncomfortable truth: its long association with militants that are now turning against the state.
Right-wing Islamists who support the Afghan Taliban and share the Pakistan Taliban's hatred of America and calls for strict Islamic law are also put in a difficult position by the terror being unleashed on the country. For them, it is easier to blame foreigners out to destabilize the country than acknowledge the slaughter carried out in the name of Islam.
No evidence is ever reported to back up the claims, but unsubstantiated rumors make it into media coverage: the bodies of suicide attackers were uncircumcised, for example, implying they were not Muslims, or Indian-made ammunition was found at the scene.
Ironically, the Pakistani Taliban share Clinton's dislike of the conspiracy theories — but for different reasons.
"Those who are accusing us of working for anyone else's agenda should ask themselves what they are doing," Waliur Rehman, the Taliban's No. 2 commander, told The Associated Press.
"We are neither working for CIA, Mossad, RAW nor any other organization," he said, referring to the Indian spy agency. "We work to get the blessing of God."
The attack on the naval base in Karachi was one of the most brazen in more than four years of militant violence. A team of gunmen infiltrated the base, destroying two U.S-made surveillance planes and killing at least 10 people during a 16-hour standoff.
The fact that the attackers destroyed planes that are believed to be used mostly to guard against India and do not appear directly related to the war against militants has given grist to the conspiracy theorists, as has the supposed sophistication of the assailants and their weapons.
Originally posted by wcitizen
I absolutely agree with you, and the language used 'turns to conspiracies' has subtle ridicule as its purpose.
Originally posted by Myendica
Originally posted by wcitizen
I absolutely agree with you, and the language used 'turns to conspiracies' has subtle ridicule as its purpose.
and this is why I say calling someone a conspiracy theorists is descrimination.. sort of like calling and Italian a dego, or an african american a.. well you get my point..
the point is, the term conspiracy theorists has been given subtle tones of "insanity" "crazy" "loner" "loose" that to label someone such a word is trying to undermind them. therefor, descrimination. I think we should drawl the line.. we aren't conspiracy theorists, but investigators of the minor details. technically everyone is a theorists.. because we know very little, yet pretend we know all...
to try and tie this into the topic.. I'm sure the rest of the world is thinking those Pakistanis are crazy for thinking the US or the Indians would fake bombings in the name of a seperate organisation. though false flags occur all the time.
Originally posted by deltaboy
[ex
I agree with them. Its too suspicious. Who benefits more on the destroyed aircraft? The Taliban or India? My finger is on India. The aircraft is not used against the Taliban so they would not waste time, men, resources on such operation where India would.
news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)
Originally posted by ExPostFacto
reply to post by deltaboy
It amazes me that Pakistani's are turning to conspiracy theories. Conspiracy theories are what comes about as the result of unanswered questions, lack of information about a given subject, or the result of people no longer trusting the source of information they receive. If Pakistan believes in these conspiracy theories, to me, it means that they have lost faith in their leaders telling them the truth. They probably also realize that this war is not their war. This war is someone else war, and somehow they are supposed to become involved or react to it. I think conspiracy theories are helpful to populations. When conspiracies start happening in a culture, you can almost bet the government has become unable to convince the people and corruption probably runs deep.
Originally posted by g146541
Yep, if Pakistan wanted to they could bomb a store and scream it was the US!
Who would disagree with them, I'll tell you who, NOBODY.
That is what happens I guess.