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パキスタン首相苦笑い 印との関係改善求められ
2025/10/14 6:54 （2025/10/14 6:56 更新）
[有料会員限定記事]
【シャルムエルシェイク共同】
トランプ米大統領は13日に開かれたパレスチナ自治区ガザの和平を巡る首脳級会合で、パキスタンのシャリフ首相に対し、「今後はインドと非常に仲良くやっていくだろう」と語りかけました。
これに対し、シャリフ首相は苦笑いを浮かべ、印との関係改善を求められる複雑な心境を示しました。
この記事は有料会員限定です。
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https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/1410913/
The Monsoon of 2022: Beyond Physical Damage – Addressing the Mental Health Impact of Floods in Pakistan
The monsoon of 2022 brought torrential rains across Pakistan. Although the Meteorological Department had warned about possible flooding, the reality struck sooner than expected. Many areas of the country were submerged, and Sindh was no exception.
At that time, I had just assumed charge as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at my university. The Vice Chancellor called an emergency meeting to discuss how we could contribute to relief efforts for the communities affected by the floods. Teams comprising doctors and paramedics were dispatched to provide first aid, food, medicines, and treatment for medical conditions anticipated in such disasters, including skin and eye infections.
As a mental health professional, I realized that addressing physical health alone would not suffice. Acute panic and deep psychological scars are often part of such calamities. After a brief training on psychological first aid, I sent medical officers, psychiatry trainees, and psychology interns to join our medical teams. This multidisciplinary team worked effectively on-site, but many patients needed ongoing treatment and were referred to hospitals in Hyderabad.
During this time, I met many individuals whose stories left a lasting impact on me. Among them was an elderly, lean man whose quiet tears spoke volumes. He seemed unable to express the many emotions and thoughts crossing his mind. A companion informed me that he had lost the dowry he had painstakingly saved for his daughter’s marriage in the flood. Without uttering a word, his grieving face revealed dreams washed away and a spirit broken by loss.
I also recall a mother who screamed every time she remembered her child drowning, and a farmer who lost his cattle – his entire livelihood swept away. Behind each individual case was a story of human pain and sheer helplessness. The floods not only dismantled homes and damaged crops but also swept away the hopes and peace of countless people.
The challenges did not end there. Within weeks, many who had helped flood victims began suffering from anxiety, sleep disturbances, and trauma themselves. This experience gave my team and me unforgettable insights into managing the multifaceted nature of grief.
Many survivors initially experienced shock; they felt numb and were unable to comprehend the devastation. Those who had helped others lived in intense fear—fear of losing loved ones, possessions, or facing hunger, disease, or another disaster. Overwhelming grief was common among those who lost family members, relatives, homes, and lifelong savings.
As people tried to rebuild their lives amidst instability and insecurity, some struggled with panic, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appeared in some, who relived traumatic events through flashbacks and nightmares. Others battled suicidal thoughts fueled by survivor guilt.
Imagine a white-collar worker, once living with dignity, now standing in a queue for food—his pride shattered and spirit broken.
Children accompanying families of psychiatric patients often showed withdrawn and fearful behavior, reflecting anxiety and confusion about their surroundings. Adults expressed irritability, helplessness, and emotional numbness. The elderly, already fragile, lost their sense of safety and belonging.
These deep psychological scars often linger long after physical damage is repaired.
Recognizing and treating emotional wounds is as vital as addressing physical injuries in disaster response. True recovery goes beyond rebuilding homes and providing food; it means restoring resilience, dignity, self-esteem, and hope.
If psychological wounds are neglected, healing remains incomplete. Fear, grief, despair, and shattered ego can prevent a person from fully recovering despite adequate physical healthcare. Emotional scars erode motivation, disturb sleep, and weaken the body’s resilience.
This reality concerns me deeply, especially since public attention and media coverage tend to focus more on physical health and infrastructure than mental well-being.
The flood of 2022 left us pondering: Can we not learn from such experiences and train ourselves to practically help those in distress? Rather than watching as bystanders—making videos or panicking—we can act with empathy by listening, connecting, and comforting those who have suffered, offering them a ray of hope.
Can our governments also support these distressed people in ways that protect their dignity and self-esteem, enabling them to become more resilient and capable of rebuilding their lives—and perhaps, helping others in turn?
The mental health dimension of disaster relief is not just an add-on; it is central to holistic recovery and the restoration of communities torn apart by tragedy.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1350034-floods-washed-away-all-but-tears
In the aftermath of Pakistan’s defeat to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final, legendary former pacer Wasim Akram didn’t mince words as he assessed Pakistan’s bowling performance, particularly that of Haris Rauf, who endured a nightmare spell in Dubai.
Speaking on live broadcast, Akram described Rauf as a “run machine, especially against India,” a sharp remark that captured the disappointment surrounding the pacer’s performance. India defeated Pakistan by 5 wickets, chasing down the target of 147 with two balls to spare, thanks to composed batting performances by Tilak Varma (69) and Shivam Dube (33).
Much of the blame for Pakistan’s loss fell on their bowling attack, and Rauf’s figures stood out for all the wrong reasons. The right-arm pacer conceded 50 runs in just 3.4 overs, leaking boundaries at crucial stages of the match and failing to provide the breakthroughs his team desperately needed. His wayward lengths and inability to adapt under pressure allowed Indian batters to score freely, turning the tide firmly in India’s favour.
Wasim Akram, Pakistan’s most respected fast bowling voice, offered a scathing analysis during the post-match show. “He is a run machine, especially against India,” Akram said. The comment, laced with frustration, highlighted the growing concern around Rauf’s performances in big matches, particularly against India, where he has repeatedly failed to deliver.
Whether this remark serves as a wake-up call for Rauf or adds further pressure on him ahead of future India-Pakistan clashes remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Wasim Akram’s verdict has reignited the debate on how Pakistan’s pace battery handles the heat when facing their fiercest rivals.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/ind-vs-pak-asia-cup-2025-final-he-is-a-run-machine-says-wasim-akram-as-he-slams-haris-raufs-bowling-performance-after-pakistans-humiliating-loss
The creation of Pakistan, as proposed by the Two-Nation Theory, asserts that Hindus and Muslims are separate nations incapable of coexisting. This claim prompts several important inquiries that shed light on the complex factors involved in Pakistan’s formation and subsequent history:
1. **What was the significant role of the Muslim-majority provinces in the establishment of Pakistan?**
2. **What motivated Jogendranath Mandal, a Dalit leader from Bengal, to advocate for the establishment of Pakistan?**
3. **Why did Abul Ala Maududi and other prominent Islamic religio-political parties oppose the Pakistan Movement?**
4. **What factors contributed to the separation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan within 24 years?**
5. **Why did it take nine years to establish Pakistan’s first constitution, despite the possibility of implementing Islamic laws sooner?**
6. **What were the reasons behind Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s appointment of Jogendranath Mandal as the inaugural chairman of the Constituent Assembly and later as the first minister for law and labour?**
Let us explore these critical questions in detail.
—
### The Role of Muslim-Majority Provinces in Pakistan’s Creation
The contribution of Muslim-majority provinces, especially Punjab, to the establishment of Pakistan has been extensively studied. Historians highlight Punjab’s strategic significance during the Pakistan Movement as a crucial factor in the All-India Muslim League’s success in the 1945-46 general elections.
In the 1946 elections, the Muslim League won 73 out of 175 seats in Punjab, all of which were Muslim constituencies. These seats were won mainly by local notables, including landlords, who are believed to have aligned with the Muslim League due to fears of potential land reforms proposed by the Indian National Congress. This suggests that their support may have been motivated more by the protection of their economic interests than by religious nationalism alone.
In contrast, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly North-West Frontier Province), another Muslim-majority region, did not have a Muslim League-led cabinet. Its government strongly resisted the idea of Pakistan’s creation, highlighting the diverse political dynamics even within Muslim-majority provinces.
—
### Jogendranath Mandal and the Support of Bengali Dalits
Jogendranath Mandal, a prominent Dalit leader from Bengal, supported the Pakistan Movement with hopes that the new political framework would address entrenched social inequalities. The rigid caste system severely curtailed individual freedoms for Dalits, and the Islamic principle of equality presented an attractive alternative.
This participation indicates that the demand for a new state stemmed from social and class struggles rather than purely religious identification. Religion played a role in rallying support in certain areas, but the core of the movement, especially in Bengal, was about structural and social change for the oppressed.
Mandal’s advocacy embodies Marx’s theory of class struggle, where marginalized groups seek liberation through systemic transformation, demonstrating that Pakistan’s foundation was also intertwined with social emancipation aspirations.
—
### Opposition from Jamaat-i-Islami and Abul Ala Maududi
Not all Muslim leaders supported the partition of India. Jamaat-i-Islami, led by Abul Ala Maududi, opposed the creation of Pakistan. They viewed partition as a violation of the concept of the **Ummah**, the global Muslim community united beyond geographical borders.
Maududi argued that dividing the subcontinent with artificial borders risked weakening Muslim solidarity and identity. For Jamaat-i-Islami, partition was not just a political change but also a fracture in the religious and cultural unity of Muslims, challenging the idea of the Ummah’s cohesion.
—
### Factors Behind the Separation of East Pakistan
The separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from West Pakistan in 1971 resulted from a complex interplay of long-term and immediate causes.
– **Long-term factors** included linguistic discrimination against Bengali speakers and disputes over provincial autonomy.
– **Short-term triggers** involved the 1970 general elections, in which the Awami League, representing East Pakistan, won a majority but was denied power.
– **Immediate causes** comprised military actions such as Operation Searchlight and the intervention of foreign powers like India and the USSR.
This multi-causal explanation for Bangladesh’s independence contrasts with the often-simplified mono-causal narrative of the 1947 partition. A consistent analytical framework comparing both partitions can offer a deeper understanding of the region’s complex historical developments.
—
### The Nine-Year Delay in Pakistan’s First Constitution
Pakistan’s constitution was not finalized until nine years after independence, despite the foundational assertion of the Two-Nation Theory and calls for implementing Islamic laws early on.
This delay arose from debates over several critical issues:
– Should Pakistan be a secular state or an Islamic theocracy?
– Which democratic system was preferable: parliamentary or presidential?
– Should the government structure be federal or unitary?
– How should power be balanced between a strong central government and autonomous provinces?
– Would the legislature be bicameral or unicameral?
These fundamental questions reflected the complexities of establishing a new nation-state and negotiating diverse interests and identities within Pakistan.
—
### Quaid-i-Azam’s Appointment of Jogendranath Mandal
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s decision to appoint Jogendranath Mandal, a Hindu Dalit leader, as the inaugural chairman of the Constituent Assembly and later as the first minister for law and labour is particularly noteworthy.
This appointment challenges a narrow interpretation of the Two-Nation Theory by demonstrating attempts at inclusive governance in early Pakistan. It also raises important questions about minority representation and the vision Jinnah had for Pakistan as a state that could accommodate religious diversity and social reform.
—
### Conclusion
An analysis of these questions reveals that the creation of Pakistan in 1947 — like the formation of Bangladesh in 1971 — was influenced by a complex set of intertwined factors rather than a single cause. To gain a comprehensive understanding of these historical events, it is essential to examine the partitions within a unified analytical framework.
Moreover, Pakistan’s foundation cannot be seen solely as a product of religious nationalism. Particularly in Bengal, class struggle and social emancipation were powerful driving forces, with marginalized communities seeking improved living conditions within an Islamic socialist vision. These multifaceted motives contributed to the mobilization and collective aspirations that shaped Pakistan’s early history.
—
By exploring the intricate dynamics behind Pakistan’s creation and evolution, we better understand not only the nation itself but also the broader socio-political context of South Asia’s turbulent mid-20th century.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/1346769-historys-unanswered-questions
