Pakistanis pose as Indians after NY bomb
(Reuters) - Pakistani merchants and job seekers in the United States, still reeling from economic hardship since the September 11 attacks of 2001, are posing as Indians to avoid discrimination in the wake of the Times Square bomb attempt.
U.S.
Once again, a man of Pakistani descent is at the center of a security story, leading to backlash against the Pakistani-American community.
Faisal Shahzad, 30, a naturalized American born in Pakistan, was arrested on Monday, two days after authorities say he parked a crude car bomb in New York's busy Times Square.
Suspected September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and convicted 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef are also of Pakistani decent, and anti-American militants fighting U.S. forces in Afghanistan take refuge in Pakistan.
In Brooklyn, home to one of the largest Pakistani populations in the United States, business is scant at the various grocery, halal meat and sweet cake shops since a Pakistani-American was suspected in the Times Square plot. More than 100 businesses along Coney Island Avenue have closed due to a 30 percent drop in business since 2001, a merchants' association said.
In Washington, an American man of Pakistani descent told of coming under suspicion this week when he tried to buy garden fertilizer. The Times Square car bomb contained a non-explosive type of fertilizer.
While there have been no reported incidents since the failed car bomb attack last Saturday, some Pakistanis are bracing for reprisals. Police have increased foot patrols.
"A lot of Pakistanis can't get jobs after 9/11 and now it's even worse," said Asghar Choudhri, an accountant and chairman of Brooklyn's Pakistani American Merchant Association. "They are now pretending they are Indian so they can get a job."
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, creating hostilities that ordinarily would lead a Pakistani to resent being mistaken for an Indian.
According to the latest U.S. census data, some 210,410 people of Pakistani origin reside in the United States. Nearly 15,000 Pakistanis received U.S. immigrant visas last year.
"I want to make clear that we will not tolerate any bias or backlash against Pakistani or Muslim New Yorkers," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this week, noting there are always "a few bad apples."
New York is "the city where you can practice your religion and say what you want to say and be in charge of your own destiny and we're going to keep it that way," Bloomberg said.
SUSPICION OF GARDENING
In Washington, an American of Pakistani heritage who would only be identified as Farhan, said a manager of a suburban home-improvement store prevented him from buying two bags of fertilizer for his family's lawn on Tuesday.
Farhan, who was born in northern Virginia, said police arrived soon after, investigated and allowed him to buy the fertilizer.
"What kind of a country are we living in when a 22-year-old male can't buy fertilizer?" Farhan asked. "I'm American. I'm not Pakistani."
Farhan said the store had subsequently apologized and the case appeared to be one of an overzealous manager rather than store policy.
Merchants in New York, many of whom declined to be named, still remember reprisals after September 11. Soon after the attacks, there was a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn at a Pakistani restaurant, which is now closed.
The local merchants association has shrunk to 150 members, from about 250 merchants almost a decade ago.
The FBI also arrested many undocumented workers in the neighborhood, leading to a wave of deportations, and residents would call law enforcement to make claims against their neighbors, including many false claims, Choudhri said.
"After 9/11, we took much pain," he said. "After that, a small beating is nothing. Now the Pakistanis are not so much scared but we are ashamed. We are embarrassed that the name of Pakistan came up."
(Additional reporting by William Maclean in London and Frances Kerry in Washington; Editing by Daniel Trotta and Bill Trotthttp:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64655Y20100507
http://spooftimes.com/spooftimes/%28X%281%29A%28fiSvLP0lywEkAAAANzE2OGMw...
I feel sad that it has come to this that even normal peace loving Pakistani people who have families with kids are facing this sort of discrimination because of some lunatic fringe sections of society.
But then Shahzad was considered an educated normal person.
I feel that this is not the time to gloat or take pleasure on the discomforts of Pakistanis but to support and join them to fight these aberrations of humanity.
The Pakistanis first have to accept they have a very serious problem before others support & help them. But officially,NONE of these terrorists are Pakistanis right? They NEVER admit that these guys are sons of their soil,brainwashed on that very soil. They claim Kasab is not Pakistani despite the fact that they know which village he's from in Pakistan & the people of that village want him to be pardoned by the Indian Govt....how foolish does denying the complete obvious make the Pak. Govt. look?...so really,officially,they are "victims" as well & none of these arrested terrorists from all over the planet are Pakistani,so what's there to support? NOBODY need support someone that doesn't have a problem right?...
@ the specialist,i like how you claim this all a big conspiracy against Pakistan & though you didn't mention it,you're obviously referring to India being behind or part of that conspiracy YET your QL avatar is a bollywood star,last time i checked Akshay Kumar was very much an Indian *wink*!!!
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specialist come on.. have commonsense. there re attacks like 26/11 which are proven , which has evidences. stop the denying drama now.
specialist come on.. have commonsense. there re attacks like 26/11 which are proven , which has evidences. stop the denying drama now.
I don't know it is true or not, but I believe its a conspiracy against Pakistan to portray it as a terrorist country to thw world.... A big political game against Pakistan.
I'm proud to be a Pakistani, born as Pakistani and will Inshallah die as a proud Pakistani.
hahah DOTCUM are you trying to threaten me?
do i need to send u the links by PM???
will be highly appreicated, if u show ur pretty face in any indian QL gathering.
was posted by me.
The fact is.. because of the policies of the crook administration and the rest of the maniac locals. the good ones living abroad is listening to the music.
if things go like this,soon they will be denied entry to many places.
WE NEITHER SAW YOU CONDEMN THE INNOCENT KILLINGS ON 26/11 DURING ANY OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS MR DOT CUM.
I knew and won't like to repeat the same stories which we said so many times......"political stunts of BJP"
I do agree that today's media and communication channels have spreaded a huge misinformation all around and major impact on weaker/poor people (on both sides), these could easily mislead youth and feeding wrong attitudes in their stupid heads.....which ultimately creates the big disaster all around the world.
lets identify the root cause and kill the parasite ONE for all......that is "Hatred" and sow the seeds of LOVE among the people.
check here
http://www.qatarliving.com/node/868883?page=1
Peace
See Vic what was happening all these years in Pakistan has started to happen in India too. The political parties there survive on India bashing. they have reaped the benefits of power and so too the military which justifies dictatorship to prevent India from subjugating Pakistan.
The Indian extreme right too started doing this to get into power. Bashing Pakistan and Muslims in India but fortunately they never could come in power by themselves.
The root cause is misinformation that is spread and told day in and day out.
Remember 9/11. The U.S people had overcome that trauma..But since Iraq was the target the Bush administration used the media to raise the bogey again. Fox News was repeatedly showing 9/11 and raising fears of another attack. This is how people's minds are conditioned and appropriate public opinion is built to justify anything.
There is NO reason for claiming supremacy over other (Bashing)!
The facts and figures are all open to the World.
We do appreciate the Great People of Pakistan and their talents and skills....
We just need to identify "Who is saying an Indian that Pakistan is your enemy" and "Who is saying A Pakistani that India is your enemy".....that would solve our problem one for all.......that GUY have personal and political vested interest in continuing the politics of Hatred.
Believe me, the majority and general population of India and Pakistan love each other like brother and sisters.
That could be true now Baba due to the happenings over the past decade or so with the focus of terrorism. But honestly in my days we never were taught anything bad about Pakistan.
We have to just blame our Political leaders trying to mess up,some super power have to interfear and stop this non sense
Yes Dotcom people go beyond certain acceptable levels of decency and decorum in displaying pseudo patriotism. I agree with you that all this should stop on QL. All of us are here to make a living and make a future for our children. The past few days I have seen a few moronic posts bashing each other.
Regarding Mosques I have personally heard Imams inducing people coming for prayers to take up arms and fight Indians. Not once but many times in Karachi and Lahore. For many incidents that happened at that time.
Change attitutes?? Yes Dotcom. We need to outgrow this stupidity. Let us both join in the appeal for some decency and respect for each other.
We are primarily human beings. Borders boundaries and states are man made. It is not relevant in the Realm of God.
the general average pakistani is still working blind folded and curse India and its motives (perceive negatively).
This is NOT their fault; they have been taught that
way :(
hi mehnis.. that not true.. you been pakistan????
how u know?? i have lot of indians friends & so many new in doha, & hes say me lot of indian coming doha starting everybody don't like paki & this peoples r Educated ...becoz in india schools & colleges teaching pakistan enemy country... if you not belive,
check there..but simple thinks your country & me country is same there r good peoples & there r bad peoples also..& thats r true...becoz everybody love & proud his country..
i'm totally disagreed with you.
i've born, studied, and spend most of my life in Pakistan, and still my family is there.
Pakistan and their policies are india centric, and must be for their survival (one of the reason is 1971 civil war, in east Pakistan and involvement of indians army and politician in their internal issue), but i never find in general that they hate indians, or ever heard in Masjids against them (Once in a blue moon must be ignore).
Wat i've seen after coming to Qatar, most of the indians are trying hard to put them down on QL, if they find any loophole against them.
Will u plz tell me, how many americans or westerners were commenting or creating threads to bash them, after the phony NY bomb plot???
Most of them, i found were created by indians.
and then u call them "Indian centric" Yes, they will be till the attitude change on both side.
End of my post on the two neighboring countries.
I fully blame Pakistan's education system and news communication media for spreading the poilitics of India hatred to let the common masses divert attention from the major basic issues like poverty and unemployment.
Yes Vic it is really sad. All the issues created by the British to divide and rule 250 years ago are still relevant. And kept alive to serve the purpose of the elite by raising the bogeyman India at all possible forums and levels. The politicians justify it for power and the military will get nothing without an adversary.
Mehnis, I do have more or less similar experience and share the same feelings!
FU and Vic. I have quite a few Pakistani friends, lots of relatives there and I have worked/lived in Pakistan for more than a year. I have seen a lot from the base level upwards. Seen all the issues that they face. Most Pakistanis are good and nice people.
But what I have seen first hand and personally is the hatred for India that is being force fed day in and day out. Existence without this hatred is not possible. Every child is taught that India is the enemy. In mosques too instead of preaching the values of religion, incitement is taking place. No political party can survive without India bashing. way of life is India centric..
I do understand the comments above. This is what that is ingrained.
all mistaken identities at QL!
Peace
all asians looks alike including bangladeshi and Sri Lankans (tamilians).
Why create such a post which people find difficult to understand and get an opportunity to just BASH!
Nothing unusual.
i will throw myself in the arbian sea.otherwise i hv to learn how to smell like an indian and move my head weather its yes or no... lolz
lolllllll, I Second WC2010. :D
Yes deepb that is why I stopped commenting myself. This post was to understand the issues that common people face and for Pakistanis to realize that 99% Indians do NOT hate them.
what? I will prefer to die rather than calling my self an indian. it is so yakhhhhhhhhhhh
No probs with me, mehnis. I stopped commenting on most Pakistan or India related threads anyway, as it's just getting very silly on QL nowadays.
Sorry deepb. Did not see the earlier one.
Mehnis, I think this might be a double post, read something similar earlier today.
Most Pakistanis are not terrorist but most terrorists are Pakistanis