what is your vision of pakistan for the muslim world? what do u mean we must be friends with eu and usa? in terms of wars with which they have invaded our lands, looted us and tried to destroy our spirituality and wisdom and our image as muslims, how do u plan to counter these issues.

Najeeb

Dubai

Thank you for your message. You have posed some thoughtful questions. Let us take them one by one.

Vision of Pakistan for Muslim world.

There is no doubt in our mind that Pakistan should have been the leading country - in all respects - in the Muslim world. That it is instead of being looked down at and thought to be amongst the ranks of failed states reflects the abject failure of our politicians. And why should we surprised? Just look at our politicians. These people who are not qualified to run a 'paan' shop. And here they are running (or rather failing to run) a country of 170 million people.

The answer must be, as we at Mustaqbal Pakistan have conceived it: The best of Pakistan's people, not the worst must come into politics. Can this really happen? We think it can. The time is right and we have what we know is a winning strategy. Will we succeed? All that we can say is that failure is not an option.

Relations with the EU and America.

There are two issues here. The first has to do with past colonial transgressions. And the second with still continuing wars on 'terror' in Muslim lands.

The colonial period has gone, the damage done, and amends, such as they are, made. It is impossible to undo the past. And as thoughtful practical people we cannot continue to dwell in a bygone age. So we move on.

The modern transgressions represent a bigger problem. For one they are unjustified and ongoing. And for another, they have resulted in the heartless killing of tens of thousands (some would say hundreds of thousands) of innocent Muslims. Three thousand innocent people died in the September 11 attacks in New York. Perhaps a thousand times this number have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan either directly or indirectly by Western military action. Mr. Bush Jr and his cronies have given new meaning to the phrase 'an eye for an eye'. And the killing continues.

So what are we as Muslim countries to do? First, we need to differentiate western people from their governments. When Mr. Bush attacked Iraq, many of his own countrymen were against it. And today, the vast majority of people there think it was wrong and should never have happened. So, is it wise to hold the entire American people responsible for the actions of their government?

Our view at Mustaqbal Pakistan is that we must learn the lessons of the past. Lets understand that we get attacked because we are weak. Had we the the economic and industrial strength possessed by the West no one would dare attack attack us. So what we need to do is to focus our efforts on developing our economies and building our industries. In this, and in this alone, lies the ultimate defense against criminal and unwarranted invasions of our lands.

As far as relations with the EU and America are concerned, our view is that we should not hesitate to extend a hand of friendship to people of good will wherever they may be. And if this means going over the heads of misguided or criminal leaders, so be it.

Regards

MP