I take six or seven years to write really small books. There is a kind of aesthetic of leanness, of brevity.
Mohsin HamidRead
It is not surprising that most Pakistanis do not support America's bombardment of Afghanistan. The Afghans are neighbours on the brink of starvation and devastated by war. America has shown itself to be untrustworthy, a superpower that uses its values as a scabbard for its sword.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the moral implications of America's actions in Afghanistan and the resultant perspective of neighboring Pakistanis.
In this quote, Mohsin Hamid reflects on the perceptions of Pakistanis towards the U.S. military actions in Afghanistan. He points out that with the Afghan population suffering from war and starvation, it is understandable that Pakistanis would not support such bombardments, viewing America as a superpower that disguises its aggressive tactics with rhetoric about values and ethics. This suggests a critique of the disparity between proclaimed ideals and actual behavior in international relations.
Themes
AfghanistanWarMoralityTrustNeighbors
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about international relations and moral responsibilities.
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