The Good Taliban & the Bad Taliban

Much to the chagrin of some, there is now talk about the Good Taliban and the Bad Taliban.

While the rightists have always maintained that there are the good Taliban and the bad Taliban, just like there are the good Americans and the bad Americans and just like there are the good Pakistanis and the bad Pakistanis and just like there are the good Muslims and the bad Muslims and just like there are the good human beings and the bad human beings.

Well then who are the Good Taliban and who are the Bad Taliban?

For some, the Good Taliban terminology might be a fishing line for those Taliban who might bait to dialogue and deal, while the Bad Taliban would be those who remain patriot to their ideology.

While for others, the Good Taliban are those who captured Yvonne Ridley reporting on their land, kept her in an imprisonment of ten days and then let her go honorably without torture, molestation or rape. It is indeed a sharp contrast to the treatment meted out to Dr. Aafia Siddiqui.

While, the Bad Taliban are those who have disguised themselves as Taliban and are creating havoc in the land. They are those who grew a beard, put on a turban and joined the ranks of Taliban while they were not Taliban. They can be possibly anyone; escaped criminals from all over Pakistan, opportunists of some other political cause or non-Muslim foreign agents seeking destabilization in the country.

In between the two, there may be the reality of the ‘weak’ Taliban. They are those who do not bear the true and strong character of their forerunners and are making emotional mistakes on the battleground. They are naturally bringing a bad name to their identity.

Consider the following Hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammed SAW,

Narrated AbuHurayrah, “The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: ‘Among the Muslims the most perfect, as regards his faith, is the one whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their wives well.’” [Tirmidhi : N.217]

The gist of the Hadith is not limited to wives only but to women in general, i.e. people who are living under your care and protection.

Well then consider the fate of Yvonne Ridley at the hands of the Taliban. And consider the case of Amina Masood at the hands of her own countrymen. And consider the case of Aafia Siddiqui at the hands of her captors.

Being a woman, who would you trust yourself with? Who surfaces better?