After 9/11, the US came up with the doctrine of “either you are with us or with them” (ie, the terrorists). Pakistan also chose to rid the world of those people who want to enforce their views at gunpoint. It has been more than a decade since 9/11; where does Pakistan stand today? The answer to this is evident in the reaction of several government ministers, politicians and religious leaders who are mourning the elimination of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. He is being dubbed a peace loving, true Muslim, and a slightly misguided national asset. Politicians are generally quick to seize any opportunity to score points, but after the Nov. 1 drone attack on the TTP leader, there has been a race among Pakistan's religious and political leaders to outdo each other in appeasing the Taliban. I see no shame or guilt in this behavior. After all are we not the same people who garlanded the murderer of Punjab governor Salman Taseer? And are we not the same people who are now planning to prosecute ex-president Musharraf and others in his administration for carrying out operations against the terrorists in Lal Masjid in 2007? And isn't the supremo of Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) roaming the country delivering hate speeches without any fear? Then we declare at least three days of mourning all across the country on the untimely martyrdom of Mehsud, who is blamed for killing 50,000 Pakistanis, but then no one seems to care about these helpless people. Masood Khan, Jubail
