Dear Rizwan, Thanks for your kind letter. It is good to see your desire to understand the Pak Christian mindset, that how they think and view various issues being Pakistani and Christian at the same time. I would try my best to categorically but briefly respond to most of your questions, because in fact each of your questions need to be answered in a book of 500 pages each. The answer to your first question is that Pakistani Christians absolutely love Pakistan from the very depths of their hearts; and one example of it is that during the 1965 war with India, Pakistani Christians in armed forces found ferociously against India to defend their homeland against aggression. In the Pakistan Air Force, 95% of the Christians won medals (sitara-e-imtiaz & sitara-e-juraat etc) for their brave performance, as compared to the 30% of the rest of the officers receiving these medals. Obviously who would risk their life for their homeland, unless they love it more than their lives? Regarding the Kashmir problem, I personally hold both countries responsible for that conflict, though Christians may have wide range of opinions on this issue. I believe that the Kashmir conflict should be solved according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people, and not necessarily what Pakistan or India wants. Though Kashmiri people themselves have diverse opinions on how to solve this issue, but I am sure you would be aware about a substantial number of them wanting an independent Kashmir. And under the current circumstances, when both countries are not showing any flexibility in their viewpoint about Kashmir, UNO should hold a referendum amongst Kashmir's on both sides of the border. Kashmiri people should be given all the three options of Pakistan, India and an Independent Kashmir; and then whatever they decide for themselves should be implemented under the supervision of the United Nations. Regarding your third question, I would like to mention that all the four Christian members of Punjab Assembly before partition voted for Pakistan in 1947. I would say that Christians would probably again vote for the Pakistan, if they had a hope for the kind of Pakistan Jinnah had promised them. But if Christian leaders had known in 1947, that their next generations will be discriminated, persecuted and denied of due representation in the Legislative and provincial assemblies; I wonder if they had even then chosen to vote for Pakistan??? Yes! Christians believe that Jinnah was a great guy, who was able to win the trust of Christians in pre-partitioned Pakistan. Jinnah was a sincere guy, and that is why the First Speaker of Pakistan's Legislative Assembly was a Christian (Dewan Bahadar S.P. Singha), the first chief justice of Pakistan's supreme court was also a Christian named A.R. Cornelius, who later prepared the first constitution of our beloved country. Though in the modern day history books hardly mention then or their contribution in the progress of the country, and today no Christian can even dream about reaching those portfolios in the country. Dr. Alama Mohammad Iqbal is a great poet, and loved by probably most of the Christians. He was very much influenced by the German poet Goethe, and one of Iqbal's poems called "Abre-Kohsaar" seems to be word-by-word paraphrase of Goethe's poem "The Cloud". A lot of his poetry reflects Christian ethos, and the nationalistic aspect of poetry appeals both Christians and Muslims in Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto is probably liked the most by the Pak Christians due to her progressive ideas about thinking as Pakistanis first, and then as Christians or Muslims. So far as the corruption charges are concerned, then no politician in Pakistan is free from them as long as they were able to come into power. Both Christians and Muslims alike like Imran Khan as a cricketer in Pakistan, but as a politician he seems to be rejected by the both; and that is why his party was able to win on one seat in recent elections, out of 270 seats. Regarding your last question, I would say that Christians are optimistic about the future of Pakistan. Some might be concerned about the challenges faced by Pakistan in the international community, or about the treatment of Christians in their own homeland. But they are definitely optimistic, because despair of pessimism is against the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we love more than our lives. Thanks for your comment in the end, about Christians having a strong voice. Because if all Muslims in Pakistan think the same way as you, then that day is not very far, when both Muslims and Christians will work together as Pakistanis, to make Pakistan a great and leading nation on the International level. May God Almighty hear our prayers? Amen. Asif Mall. UK