Dangers of terrorism and a Talibanised Pakistan

By Joginder Singh, IPS (Retd.)

The problem is that military rulers have tried to present themselves as Pakistan’s last hope. But unfortunately, the civilian leaders have done so, as well.

In an audacious attack, on Pakistan's powerful military establishment on October 10, 2009 heavily-armed. Taliban terrorists with automatic weapons in battle fatigues stormed into the Rawalpindi’s Army general headquarters.

They have claimed responsibility. for attack on army headquarters attack on October 11, 2009, which left 19 people dead after a day long siege.

The spokesman for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan movement said "We claim responsibility for the attack on GHQ (General Headquarters). It was carried out by our Punjab branch...We have the capability to strike at any place in Pakistan... We can target many more important places." Again in Pakistan Punjab, suicide terrorists trained by Pakistan, struck again at FIA Headquarters, and five other places including headquarters, of a number of other security agencies, in Lahore, on October 15, 2009, killing 39 and injuring hundreds of them.

Over the past two years, more than 2,500 people have been killed in suicide bomb blasts across the entire Pakistan. It was hoped that after Pakistan was carved out of India, in 1947, Pakistan would become a heaven and a model Muslim State for the whole world. More so, after ethnic cleansing of the minorities, both victims and perpetrators are Muslims.

The problem is that military rulers have tried to present themselves as Pakistan’s last hope. But unfortunately, the civilian leaders have done so, as well.

Instead of thinking for themselves and the best interest of their country, every Pakistani leaders has deliberately encouraged the United States to develop a stake in the country’s political and military affairs. Pakistani policies are more attuned to US interests, than to Pakistani interest.

In turn USA supports Pakistan for every single anti Indian step it takes. India is the whipping guy for everything going wrong in Pakistan, whether it Balochistan or Afghanistan. Countries with the largest Muslim populations in 2009 include:

Indonesia - 203 million
Pakistan - 174 million
India - 161 million

Pakistan’s rationale both for creating trouble in Kashmir and rest of India is based on the premises, that it is the custodian of Muslim interests, everywhere and more so in India. Having tried four wars and after having been worsted in all of them, it is putting up a brave face, before the world, by fathering motley terrorist group, to wage a low intensity war in India, by ensuring their strike at all prominent places like

Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Varanasi, Lucknow, Jaipur and many other places. After having tightening leash at the entry points, India has been able to control infiltration to some extent.

India has more than once expressed its goodwill. But Pakistani rulers have forgotten that nemesis is one of the God’s handmaid. God’s mills grind slowly, but surely. US war on Taliban has driven both Al Qaeda and Taliban forces to Pakistan, as well as repeated attacks, on Indian embassy in Afghanistan. It is impossible to predict the precise, unintended consequences of any US or Pakistani action. But the way things are shaping therein shows, that neither US nor Pakistani Government has any control on the Taliban activities. A weakened Pakistani Government and a recalcitrant army and ISI, pose a danger to the Pakistani nuclear arsenal, a part of which might either fall or be handed over or seized by the terrorist groups therein. The strengthening of such groups either consciously or unconsciously, poses a direct threat to India, as India will be their only target.

Pakistan has never made a secret of its hostility and antagonism against India. It is a matter of record that US has been fighting battles away from its own borders, whether it was Vietnam or Cambodia, or Kuwait or Iraq or Afghanistan, despite mostly being outdone there.

These days, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq are its side shows. India has scrupulously kept itself away from international controversies in the interest of its own people. Wars, destruction, and prosperity cannot coexist with fundamentalism and prosperity. Pakistan is caught in its imprudence, indiscretion, misdemeanour and wrongdoing, where in one year, it had a series of terrorists strikes on almost every day, including the one on Sri Lankan cricket team.

Pakistan must realise, that it cannot undo geography and it has to live with the neighbours. Depending upon what suits it, Pakistan has been blowing hot and cold. Its rulers have been proclaiming that they would not support Kashmiri and Pakistani terrorist groups operating not only in J&K, but also in other parts of India, from the territory of Pakistan. However while generally agreeing to eliminating terrorism, have never taken any practical steps. Indeed, it appears to have been used as a subterfuge, to lull India, while planning and aiding terrorists attacks like the 26/11.

Now chicken have come home to roost. By obliterating the difference between its army and terrorists, it is turning some of its soldiers rogues, who have become extremists and jihadis.

Angered by the US attacks on Pakistan tribal areas, local terrorists, have promised retribution against the ''U.S and its proxies.'' The revolving door policy of encouraging its trained soldiers to join or train the terrorist like the ones, responsible for 26/11 is coming home to haunt Pakistan. Indeed in all major terrorist attacks all over the world, including in USA, UK and other countries, the signature of the Pakistani terrorists is clear.

Of course, this is not acknowledged, either by Pakistan or USA. So far as India is concerned, it is very clear, that there has been no change in Pakistan’s policy of using terrorism, as a weapon against India to achieve its objective of forcing a change in the status quo, which, it hopes, would lead to its acquisition of the Muslim majority areas of J&K, if not the entire State. This approach is just like the thin edge, to make similar claims on other parts of India and destroy the communal harmony in India.

Muddled Pakistani policies of hunting with the hunter and running with the hare, are recoiling on it. If Pakistan wants domestic harmony and peace, it cannot adopt a doubled faced policies, of spreading terrorism abroad and running training centres for them and expecting the Talibans not to bite the hand, that has trained it. Pakistani terrorists have already issued their dictate, that Pakistan should stop obeying USA and they will cease their attacks.

Despite Pakistan claiming that it was not only fighting its own war but also of the international community against terrorism, the truth is that it remains a fertile ground for terrorists operations and training against India. At least nobody in India, takes their claims seriously and they are only burning in their stew. What is being done to it, is what it has done to India. It should better look within.

(The writer is former Director, CBI, India, jogindersinghfdips @rediffmail.com)