THE killing of 14 handicapped Americans by a couple, originally from Pakistan, has shocked people worldwide, including Pakistanis. I hold many pleasant memories of the beautiful San Bernardino and its mountains and feel personally hurt.

Once, while studying in the US some decades back, a frail old white American lady I encountered in a post office in LA asked me if I could write addresses for her on what turned out to be lots of Christmas cards. After I was nearly done, she asl(ed me where I was from. When I said Pakistan, she expressed ignorance, inquired where it was and what my religion was? When I said it was close to the Middle East and that I was a Muslim, she said, `Oh, you must be a descendant of Ishmael, a son of (Prophet) Abraham, from his wife Hagar (Hajra in Arabic),` and proceeded to say something based on her knowledge that I thought was insensitive, but I didn`t react angrily and completed the work.

President Obama, who`s had a Pakistani roommate during his student life, sensibly responded to Mr Donald Trump`s proposal of banning the entry of Pakistanis and other Muslims into the US and profiling local Muslims by saying this would feed ISIS propaganda and be contrary to American ideals. He rightly suggested working with the Islamic community domestically and globally to meet the challenge.

The gentleman would learn what most Pakistanis are really like if he reads Brandon Stanton`s famous blog, `Humans of Pakistan.` Trials should bring out the best in us and values ought to be upheld. `The most beautiful people I`ve known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known love, and have found their way out of the depths` (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross).

A Pakistani Karachi