The BBC report on MQM's
involvement in anti state and terrorist activities duly funded and trained by
RAW has opened a new pandora box. According to the report hundreds of MQM's
members have been trained in North East India during last ten years. In the
recent past a senior police officer in Karachi Rao Anwar had accused target
killers/ terrorists affiliated with MQM getting trained in India. Accusation on
MQM- RAW nexus even goes back to 1992 when during operation against MQM
apprehended members confessed getting trained in peeling off human skin from
India. Unfortunately, all the police officers who took part in this operation
have been murdered. MQM was also accused of planning to create an independent
state "Jinnah Pur" with the help of RAW and other international players. During
recently concluded Formation Commander's conference, COAS openly accused RAW of
abetting and supporting terrorism in Pakistan. Most recently, Rangers raided
Nine Zero and recovered weapons of different calibers including weapons from
missing NATO containers besides apprehending large numbers of high profile
target killers, land grabbers and individuals involved in extortion of money.
MQM has also been accused of setting a factory in Baldia Town Karachi on fire on
refusal to pay 20 crore rupees as extortion by its owners. During a raid on MQM
premises in London by the Scotland Yard in 2013, explosive and list of weapons
perceived to be used in Karachi was recovered. Indian Prime Minister during his
visit to Bangladesh last month acknowledged raising, arming, funding and
training of Mukti Bahini to dismember Pakistan and ultimately creation of
Bangladesh. Indian defence minister has openly declared to support terrorism in
Pakistan. Baloch Ferraris who recently laid down their arms also confessed BLA
getting trained and funded by India. It is now an open secret that India has
been involved in destabilising Pakistan since long by patronising anti state
elements as an instrument of policy.
These accusations on MQM have never been pursued and taken to logical end due to
political compulsions and desire to remain in power by various political parties
who willing made MQM as an ally and partner in the provincial and federal
governments. Consequently, for last about a decade or so Governor Sindh is from
MQM and this party has been holding key federal and provincial ministries.
Specially, during Musharraf's regime MQM was given free hand in Karachi and
urban Sindh to re- establish itself as a political entity and operate at its
will with the mandate to suppress other political parties like PPP and PML (N).
Efforts by PTI to challenge the clout of MQM in Urban Sindh in last general
elections could only partially succeed. According to the latest BBC report an
authoritative Pakistani political figure has confirmed MQM- RAW nexus whereas
MQM has outrightly denied BBC report as baseless and part of political
victimisation and media trial.
Now that all the fingers are pointing towards MQM accusing it of spreading
unrest and terrorism in the commercial hub of the country in collaboration with
our arch rival India, there is a dire need to rise above petty politics and call
a spade a spade ,collect all available documentary evidences, debate it
threadbare at in- camera session in the parliament and take the case to the
court of law for a logical conclusion. If the top leadership of MQM is found
involved the party must be outlawed and disbanded and if there are black sheep
in the party who are collaborating with hostile intelligence agencies without
the consent of top leadership, MQM should announce their immediate expulsion
from party and support Law Enforcement Agencies and the court of law in bringing
them to task. It is high time for MQM to prove it self white once and for all.
Federal and provincial governments should also ensure safety and security of
officials dealing with the investigation. Like past practices the case should
not be left lurking and undecided with the potential to resurface again after
short interval.
Due to credible nuclear deterrence established by Pakistan, the chances of
conventional war imposed by India have minimised and the only option left with
India is to resort to 4th/ 5th generation warfare to achieve her core objective
of coercing and destabilising Pakistan. Evidences of Indian involvement in
spreading terrorism in Pakistan as a state policy must be taken up with the
United Nations and other International players. It must be conveyed to India in
clear terms that Pakistan has had enough and it will not allow her to creat,
train and arm yet another Mukti Bahini in Pakistan and any attempt by Indian
intelligence agencies to destabilise Pakistan in future will be responded in
equal coin. There is also a need to put our house in order and all civil and
military intelligence should work in fusion to foil any attempt by India to
sponsor and spread terrorism in Pakistan.
(The author is defence analyst based in Islamabad)