Hardly few weeks have lapsed
since the departure of the most corrupt government in the history of Pakistan
that some writers like Imran Khan (‘A season for negotiations’ in The News dated
July 17, 2013) have obliquely started defending the doings of the parasitic
regime. He argues that the previous government failed to provide security to the
people because of the failure of military and security agencies. He hints that
our war efforts were below par and disparages the military for sub-standard
performance in war on terror. He quotes the presence of Osama bin Laden in
Abbottabad as a test case to prove his contention. Imran laments that Pakistanis
have agreed that war on terror is ‘not our war’. He says if it is someone else’s
war, then why we should be bothered to fight more efficiently. Secular writers
like Harris Khalique and some TV anchors lend strength to US vile propaganda
that Pak security forces and agencies are either complicit or ineffective in
curbing militancy and violence. They view insurgency in Balochistan differently
and magnify issue of missing persons under a calculated plan to discredit law
enforcement agencies. No article published in The News, Dawn and Daily Times is
without throwing mud on military establishment. I must apprise anti-Army-ISI
writers and TV anchors with some hard realities which they deliberately ignore.
First; 9/11 is riddled in controversy whether it was an in-house affair or real.
Many including Americans strongly believe that it was the brainchild of neo-cons
and Jews wanting to neo-colonize the Muslim world and steal its resources.
Subsequent events have proven that war on terror was an excuse to pulverize the
so-called radical Muslims refusing to fall in line and secularize Islam.
Two; Pakistan was immorally coerced to ditch Taliban regime in Kabul with which
it enjoyed excellent relations and to support US aggression. Gen Musharraf threw
in his towel with indecent haste.
Three; When Afghanistan was destroyed through carpet bombing and occupied in
November 2001, Pakistan including FATA and Balochistan was peaceful. Suicide
attacks were unheard of. The tribesmen in FATA reacted when regular soldiers
entered South Waziristan (SW) in violation of 1948 agreement and launched
operations. They had already taken exception to Pakistan betraying Afghan
Taliban and then deciding to provide airbases and supply routes to NATO. Their
violent reaction was therefore not altogether unjustified, particularly when
force was applied against friendly people of FATA and that too at the dictation
of USA who had its own game plan.
Four; Osama after his flight from Tora Bora in December 2001 was out of action
and cut off from al-Qaeda and the world. A sick man suffering from severe kidney
infection, he had played no role in war on terror and had preferred to lead a
quiet life with his three wives and children. Al-Qaeda was run by al-Zawahiri
and his deputies and it was he who had declared war on Pakistan after Lal Masjid
episode. Killing a sick and unarmed man was cowardly. His death accelerated
rather than curbed terrorism the brunt of which fell upon Pakistan only. It must
not be forgotten that the world has not been furnished hard evidence about
Osama’s presence in Abbottabad. Many consider it a false flag operation
undertaken to undermine Pak Army and ISI. Abbottabad Commission has thrown a
feeler that operation ‘Get Geronimo’ could have been executed with the blessing
of our top civil leadership with sinister designs. It led to Memo scam.
Five; Guerrilla war was fought by Afghan Mujahideen under Mullah Omar, Haqqanis
and Gulbadin Hikmatyar in Afghanistan against occupation forces and their
collaborators. In Pakistan, TTP affiliated with Afghan Taliban was run by
Baitullah Mehsud till August 2009 and then by Hakimullah Mehsud and is pitched
against Pak security forces. Terrorist groups from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan,
Sinkiang as well as al-Qaeda got affiliated with TTP and took part in the fray.
Subsequently large number of banned Jihadi and terrorist groups, Punjabi Taliban
as well as criminal gangs got associated with TTP, which is funded and equipped
by CIA, RAW, RAAM and MI-6. Blackwater and CIA network are also operational in
Pakistan. Besides, about 1500 NGOs operating in Pakistan are foreign funded and
infested with spies working against interests of Pakistan. Army, ISI, MI are up
against this formidable internal security threat and had to bear with American
installed government dancing to the tunes of Washington.
Six; Backbone of TTP was decisively broken in the three military operations in
Swat, Bajaur and SW in 2009. The civil government and judiciary failed to do
their part. But for fulsome foreign support and safe havens in Afghanistan, this
outfit could not have possibly regained strength and got connected with nearly
40 banned terrorist groups mostly based in urban centres. No arrested terrorist
has been convicted. Even those on death row have not been hanged. The TTP is
fulfilling the Indo-US agenda to destabilize, denuclearize and balkanize
Pakistan. In the bargain, it has been assured funds, weaponry and guidance and
has also been duped that it will be assisted in the realization of its wish to
establish an Islamic Caliphate in Pakhtunistan.
Seven; Adoption of policy of force has resulted in loss of over 49000 lives of
Pakistanis including about 5000 security forces but religious extremism and
terrorism couldn’t be bottled up. Militancy could neither be controlled by
US-NATO-Afghan forces in Afghanistan, nor by security forces in Pakistan. Five;
Pak security forces have a definite upper hand over militants in the northwest
and in southwest and no spaces are under their complete control. The story is
quite different across the Durand Line where the Taliban have full sway over
eastern and southern Afghanistan and can hit targets in any part of the country
including Kabul. For all practical purposes, the ISAF has mentally and
physically lost the war and has speeded up its withdrawal.
Eight; the US leadership has candidly admitted that force is not the solution
and has initiated process of peace talks with its adversary and is seeking
Pakistan’s help to convince the Taliban to agree to a political settlement. The
occupation forces would exit Afghanistan by end December 2014 and may or may not
leave behind a token residual force to support ANSF. The latter being not in a
position to withstand the Taliban onslaught once foreign troops depart, it is
likely that the Taliban would recapture power sooner than later.
Nine; if the sole super power supported by troops from 48 countries couldn’t
defeat an ill-clad and ill-equipped rag-tag force of few thousands devoid of
external support, why Imran and his like-minded friends expect that Pak security
forces fighting under heavy odds should have defeated the faceless enemy
secretly supported by our enemies masquerading as friends. Eight; Decade old war
has exhausted the counter-terror forces both sides of the border but no signs of
fatigue or drop in recruitment is noticed within the rank and file of the
militants. In response to airpower, gunship helicopters, missiles, artillery,
tanks and drones, the Taliban use locally manufactured IEDs and suicide bombers
as war instruments to cause casualties.
Ten; the US is striving hard to hold meaningful peace talks with Afghan Taliban
and is getting desperate to arrive at a political settlement so that
presidential and parliamentary elections could be held in 2014 and transition
becomes orderly. However, it doesn’t want Pakistan to hold talks with TTP. While
it wants Pak security forces to continue fighting the militants in FATA for
times to come, it doesn’t want Pak military to confront foreign supported BLA
and BRA in Balochistan. Use of force against the separatists is dubbed as human
rights violation.
Eleven; It is now a known fact that Door Darshan in India and Obama
administration funds the selected Pakistani TV channels and newspapers. The
print and electronic media in Pakistan, richly paid by USA and India, slavishly
sell the themes of their foreign paymasters to build misperceptions. The anchors
of most popular TV channels and journalists writing in leading English
newspapers are promoting foreign agenda at the cost of national interests.
Interestingly, leading controversial person Hamid Mir has taken up a case
against media persons allegedly receiving secret funds from Ministry of
Information and agencies to defend vile propaganda and to promote the cause of
Pakistan.
Twelve; segment of media has joined hands with liberal forces to oppose PML-N,
PTI and JUI- F’s efforts to hold parleys with TTP and find a way out. They are
projecting the leaders of the three parties as defeatist and consider offer of
dialogue equivalent to surrender. They feel that sufficient force was never
applied against the militants. They forget how to this day Pak Army is censured
for its alleged atrocities in former East Pakistan. Counter insurgency operation
against Indian supported rebels was dubbed as genocide. They fail to remember
how Army’s action in Swat in 2009 was lambasted on account of alleged excesses
committed by troops against the militants.
Thirteen; astonishingly, the enlightened liberals disfavor use of force against
armed BLA and BRA in Balochistan involved in terrorism and heinous crimes and
working on foreign agenda to make the province independent. Their atrocities are
downplayed and petty issues like missing persons and mutilated bodies
exaggerated and sensationalized to create sympathies for the separatists and to
discredit FC and agencies. Geo News is leading the assault and is ironically
backed by our apex court. This is exactly what Indo-US-western media is
propagating.
Lastly; if we are giving peace a chance in Balochistan, and are prepared to
overlook the excesses of India to build better Indo-Pak relations, why shouldn’t
we try this option in FATA? Consensus on negotiations must be respected. If we
want Pakistan to prosper, the cycle of violence must be broken. In case
Hakimullah shows disinterest in talks and prefers to keep fighting, or is not in
a position to rein in or get detached from affiliated terrorist groups, the
first option is always available.
Asif Haroon Raja. The writer is a retired Brig, a defence analyst and a
columnist. [email protected]
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