New York: The Wall Street Journal is the largest-circulated newspaper in the US. It is read by policy makers in Washington and certainly by almost everybody on the Wall Street. On September 11, the readers of the journal woke up to the expected coverage of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and something a little more unusual - on page 10, a half page advertisement by the government of Pakistan.
The advertisement lists several statistics aimed at highlighting the impact of the 9/11 attacks - and the subsequent war in Afghanistan - on Pakistan.
"Since 2001, a nation of 180 million has been fighting for the future of world's 7 billion," says its text.
It goes on to ask, "Which country can do more for your peace?" The advertisement notes that despite sacrifices, the country is still engaged in "the war for world peace". "Can any other country do so? Only Pakistan," it adds.
The advertisement has invited flak from all quarters. "It is totally inappropriate. The timing is inappropriate. The text is inappropriate," said Professor Christine of Georgetown University.
On the online post Long War Journal, a reader writes: "Does any other nation have such an inflated sense of self worth?". "It would be nice if you would purge the ISI of Taliban/al Qaeda sympathizers, then launch assault into the FATA supported by heavy weapons and armor," says another
On May 2 this year, Americans woke up to the news that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, had been living in Pakistan for the past few years while the US and the Pakistani government had reportedly been looking for him in Afghanistan. He was killed that day by US navy SEALs, but the average American's perception of Pakistan plummeted and it will surely take more than ads like these to reverse that.
The advertisement lists several statistics aimed at highlighting the impact of the 9/11 attacks - and the subsequent war in Afghanistan - on Pakistan.
"Since 2001, a nation of 180 million has been fighting for the future of world's 7 billion," says its text.
It goes on to ask, "Which country can do more for your peace?" The advertisement notes that despite sacrifices, the country is still engaged in "the war for world peace". "Can any other country do so? Only Pakistan," it adds.
The advertisement has invited flak from all quarters. "It is totally inappropriate. The timing is inappropriate. The text is inappropriate," said Professor Christine of Georgetown University.
On the online post Long War Journal, a reader writes: "Does any other nation have such an inflated sense of self worth?". "It would be nice if you would purge the ISI of Taliban/al Qaeda sympathizers, then launch assault into the FATA supported by heavy weapons and armor," says another
On May 2 this year, Americans woke up to the news that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, had been living in Pakistan for the past few years while the US and the Pakistani government had reportedly been looking for him in Afghanistan. He was killed that day by US navy SEALs, but the average American's perception of Pakistan plummeted and it will surely take more than ads like these to reverse that.
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