HOSTESS IN ADIALA – AYYAN ALI

SHAH JILANI

The news that Miss Ayyan Ali would host “Iftars” in Adiala Jail created quite a stir. A couple of high speed media moles raced to Adiala to get a whiff, only one could make it to the spicy table, to be pleasantly surprised. A trusted female emissary from Bahria Town had come calling on Missie in her confines. The meeting intrigued many, the connection tantalized another few. Miss Ayyan Ali’s contacts, connections, collusions and transactions are the talk of the town. The emissary who had not expected such attention called her boss, the top man in Bahria, for an alibi. Simple, he told her, you are here to coordinate with jail authorities for “Bahria Daster Khwan”’ a noble cause. Apt excuse? I would not think so. The mole is also housed in Adiala now trying to decode explosive details on the Missie, Bahria Boss and Mr (ex) President.

Pakistan: RAW Terrorized Zimbabwe Cricket Team

By Sajjad Shaukat

Coupled with hostile propaganda campaign, India has continuously been arranging various acts of terrorism like suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence in Baluchistan, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Sindh and Karachi including other regions of Pakistan through its secret agency, RAW which has also terrorized the Zimbabwe cricket team to cancel its trip to Pakistan.

In this regard, on June 23, this year, Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada disclosed to the members of the Punjab Assembly that Indian intelligence agency RAW sent a text message to the manger of Zimbabwean cricket team in Dubai threatening them with “possibility of terrorism in Pakistan and cancellation of tour”.

He revealed that the message received by the team manager was finally tracked down and it was found that it had come from New Delhi and that RAW was behind this conspiracy to malign Pakistan. He elaborated that India wanted that cricket series should be cancelled, so that Pakistan’s image could be tarnished abroad, but all-out security was assured to the Zimbabwean cricket team to foil nefarious designs of India.

The minister further pointed out that the biggest challenge for Pakistani law-enforcement agencies including the police was to ensure security of cricket series which was restored by the ICC after a lapse of six years, thanking LEAs for protecting the foreign team and helping conduct the five-match series successfully.

He maintained that international agencies including RAW were responsible for 90 percent of the terrorism in Pakistan.

However, Zimbabwe cricket authorities confirmed that Pakistan’s tour would go ahead as per schedule, while foolproof security was given to the team, during its trip to Pakistan, started from May 22, 2015. Interior ministry directed the authorities to make strict security arrangements even for the visitors.

Both sides played cricket matches—two twenty internationals on May 22 and 24, followed by three one day internationals on May 26, 29 and 31, in Qaddafi Stadium Lahore. By setting aside the RAW supported phenomenon of terrorism in wake of severe heat, thousands of persons went to see the cricket matches at Qaddafi Stadium.

It is notable that revival of international cricket after six years was a cheerful occasion for everyone. In this context, a letter of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, “Sports for peace is our message, we feel pride in hosting Zimbabwe cricket team in the city”.

Nevertheless, while indicating Pakistan’s soft image in the comity of nations, it is a collective responsibility of all of us to not only highlight Pakistan’s positive aspect in connection with sports, but also give a message to the world through print, electronic and social media that Pakistan is a safe country for sports. And, particularly, it will be a way forward for other international cricket teams to play in Pakistan.

It is of particular attention that Indian RAW was also behind the Lahore terror-attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team, on March 3, 2009. In this respect, the bus of the Sri Lankan team was targeted, killing eight and injuring nine individuals including six visiting cricketers.

It is mentionable that under the pretext of Mumbai carnage of November 26, 2008, India had cancelled the scheduled visit of its cricket team to Pakistan, while Sri Lanka accepted the invitation of Islamabad. Indian rulers and its media anchors had expressed their displeasure at Colombo’s decision. Hence, New Delhi clandestinely pressurized Sri Lanka’s government to withdraw the decision. It could be judged from the fact that even Sri Lankan sports minister Gamini Lokuge disclosed that Pakistan “tour had become a diplomatic issue”. Its Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama stated that he decided the trip, taking it as a sporting issue, as his country promoted “people-to-people visits” among South Asian member states.

In fact, despite Indian duress coupled with a sense of jealousy, Sri Lanka remained determined and sent its cricketers to Pakistan. So, New Delhi punished Colombo through pre-arranged terror-attacks, conducted by well-trained and well-equipped terrorists of RAW. In this regard, it is noteworthy that in 2009, by striking a blow to the Indian backed militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and by capturing their strongholds; Sri Lankan security forces successfully dismantled the Tigers’ mini-state in northern Sri Lanka where the rebels lost 98 percent of the territory, and were retreating even from their last bastion. On March 7, 2009, Sri Lankan Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama, while showing solidarity with Islamabad, categorically expressed Sri Lanka’s firm opposition to isolate Pakistan in the sporting arena or in any manner internationally over the incident of March 3, 2009.

Indian awkward strategy of mixing politics and sports is totally strange. Whether Indian team plays with Pakistan or that of Sri Lanka or the latter with our team has positive impact in restoring peace in South Asia, but regrettably, it is only anti-Pakistan and anti-Sri Lanka agenda of New Delhi whom politics and sports make no difference. And India seems determined to sabotage South Asian peace by terrorizing the cricket teams which intend to visit Pakistan.

If non-state actors are problem for New Delhi, these take origin from its own state terrorism, being perpetrated on minorities and the freedom fighters of its six states, fighting for independence. Indian brutal tactics of state terrorism, employed on the innocent persons in the Indian-occupied Kashmir might be noted as special example in this context. In such a situation, New Delhi should not have seek revenge against Pakistan and Sri Lanka by conducting terrorist acts through RAW-trained agents in order to divert its attention from Indian home-grown terrorists. Facing reality, New Delhi must better unearth the forces behind the Mumbai attack and Lahore mayhem.

Notably, on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma revealed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws. But, Indian top officials and media had blamed Islamabad and a Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for those attacks.

Nonetheless, RAW terrorized Zimbabwe cricket team by threatening the latter to sabotage Pakistan’s tour, though this attempt badly failed.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

MQM – RAW Nexus: Way Forward

By Sarah Khan

In the last few months, especially after successes and gains against terrorists in Operation Zarb e Azb there have been many stories revealed on Indian meddling with Pakistan’s internal affairs. Adding insult to Indian injuries, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) announced after visit of Chinese President to Pakistan has further unnerved India. Indian officials including PM Modi have issued many controversial and inflammatory remarks against Pakistan. In Bangladesh Indian PM confessed of Indian involvement in dismembering Pakistan in 1971.

Activities of Indian RAW are at peak in Sindh and Balochistan which are relatively unstable provinces due to weak provincial provinces. Incidents of Safoora (Karachi) and Mastong are case in point. India governments and India is easily supporting many insurgencies in the two is also unnerved by initiation of security cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The recent attack on Afghan parliament, and then baseless reporting by Indian newspapers that “ISI officer from Peshawar and Haqqani Network carried out the attack” suggests that India is trying its best to spoil the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Series of terrorist incidents in Afghanistan and Pakistan one after another is a clear indication of RAW’s involvement in such attacks to spoil the peace and security pact signed between the two countries recently.

A few days earlier Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada disclosed to the members of the Punjab Assembly that Indian intelligence agency RAW sent a text message to the manager of Zimbabwe cricket team in Dubai threatening them with “possibility of terrorism in Pakistan and cancellation of tour”. He said the message received by the team manager was finally tracked down and it was found that it had come from New Delhi and that RAW was behind this conspiracy to malign Pakistan. He said India wanted that cricket series should be cancelled so that Pakistan’s image could be tarnished but all-out security was assured to the Zimbabwean cricket team to foil nefarious designs of India.

On 24 June BBC reported that MQM is receiving funding from India and many activities have received training from India is the last ten years. According to the report which quotes an unnamed "authoritative Pakistani source", officials in MQM have told UK authorities that they received Indian government funds. UK authorities investigating MQM for alleged money laundering also found a list of weapons in an MQM property. The report also said that British authorities held formal recorded interviews with senior MQM officials who told them the party was receiving Indian funding. The report says, "Before 2005-2006 the training was given to a small number of mid-ranking members of the MQM, more recently greater numbers of more junior party members have been trained."

In March 2015, Paramilitary Rangers raided MQM Headquarter Nine-Zero and it’s surrounding area. It was reported that arms and ammunition stolen from NATO containers were recovered during the search operation. During the course of the search operation, weapons whose import had been banned in the country were recovered from the Nine-Zero premises. Many terrorists were also arrested from MQM headquarters who were at large for many years.  

After BBC report MQM and India have denied all charges terming it as baseless allegations. Pakistan’s Interior Minister has reportedly written letter to British authorities seeking further information and proofs on the report. But after Ranger’s raid of MQM Headquarters and recovery of arms and ammunition and terrorists, no further evidence is required to ascertain that few factions of MQM  are involved in terrorist activities particularly in Karachi with a subtle foreign support which is nobody else but RAW. 

The successes and gains of Operation Zarb e Azb have unnerved Indian officials and its notorious intelligence agency. Now, India RAW is playing openly in Pakistan by backing various terrorist organization including MQM, BLA and TTP. India has always labeled Pakistan as state sponsoring

terrorism especially after Mumbai attacks in 2008. Although, perpetrators of the attack have already been executed but India has again tried to raise to issue in UN by urging international community to take action against Pakistan over release of Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi. But the nefarious move was blocked by China. Now there are enough evidences of Indian involvement in backing terrorist activities in Pakistan, the international community and government of Pakistan should ask India to cease its support to various terrorist organizations in Pakistan in order to initiate meaningful peace dialogue. Moreover, there is a need to weed out elements which are being supported by Indian RAW in order to successfully eradicate the menace of terrorism backed by Pakistan’s sworn enemy India.

The writer can be reached at ardent.jingo @gmail.com

Pakistan’s Constitution Is In Accordance with Islamic Shariah

By Sajjad Shaukat

Two Nation Theory which is the basis of the Ideology of Pakistan was kept alive from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to Quaid-e-Azam. It stated that Muslims of the Sub-continent have their own Islamic culture, traditions and religion which are quite different from those of Hindus.

In accordance with the Two Nation Theory, Allama Iqbal had demanded a separate land for the Muslims, where they could live freely according to their own religion, culture and social norms. Both Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam endorsed the Ideology of Pakistan which is based upon the Islamic principles.

Undoubtedly, it was in the name of Islam that Pakistan emerged on the map of the world and the ground norm of the new state and its society, which came to be known as the ideology of Pakistan, was nothing but Muslim faith. Before embarking upon the task of framing of our first constitution, this ideology was translated into words in precise from by the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in a resolution passed by it in 1949.

However, the Constitution of 1973 which was adopted during the PPP founder, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (The late), was signed by the members of all political and religious parties. It declares the country, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and clearly mentions that Pakistan is basically a democracy, guided by the Islamic principles and values—no law would be made contrary to Quran and Sunnah—the government will made efforts to implement Islamic system (Shariah) in future.

Therefore, the Constitution of 1973 contains various Islamic provisions, based on the principles of Holy Quran and Sunnah. 1. Pakistan shall be known as “Islamic Republic of Pakistan”. 2.
Islam shall be the state religion of Pakistan. 3. Sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah and the authority bestowed by him on men is a sacred trust which the people of Pakistan will exercise with the limits, prescribed by Quran and Sunnah. 4. The constitution also gives the definition of a Muslim. A person who believes in Tauheed or Oneness of Allah, and in the prophet hood of Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H) as the last prophet of Allah has described as a Muslim. 5. The constitution laid down that only Muslims shall be elected president and prime minister of Pakistan. It was made compulsory for the president and prime minister to also profess faith in the finality of prophet hood. No Non-Muslim could hold these offices. 6. Steps shall be given to enable the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam. 7. The State shall take necessary steps for prosecution of social justice and eradication of social evils and shall prevent prostitution, gambling and taking of injurious drugs, printing, publication, circulation and display of obscene literature and advertisements. 8. The state shall try to make the teachings of Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language. 9. The state shall endeavour to strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries in order to promote Islamic unity. 10. There is a council of Islamic Ideology which shall guide the government, and shall make recommendation to parliament and the provincial assemblies for bringing the existing laws into conformity with the injunctions of Islam and Islamic teachings, their implementation and propagation. Its chairman and members are appointed by the president. Although its advice is not binding on the government, yet it is not easy for any government to ignore or over rule its suggestion or opinion regarding any law. 11. The government shall endeavour to secure correct and exact printing and publishing of the Holy Quran. 12. The federal and Provincial Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National and Provincial Assemblies, the chairman of the Senate and the Governors and Chief Ministers of the Provinces also take oath to preserve and protect the Islamic Ideology.

It is also mentioned in the Constitution that the state shall secure the proper organization of Zakat, Auqaf and Masjid, and would protect the real rights and interest of minorities, living in Pakistan.

It is also emphasized in the Constitution that all steps will be taken to introduce interest free banking system in the country in the light of Islam.

Nevertheless, all religious scholars endorsed that the Constitution of Pakistan is absolutely in accordance with the Islamic Shariah and there is no law repugnant to the principles of Islam. Federal Government also obtained a Fatwa (Religious verdict) from country’s most prominent clerics to declare that the Constitution of 1973 is based on Shariah. Pakistan’s Constitution is mindful of the fact that it seeks to rule a diverse populace divided along religious, cultural, ethnic and sectarian lines. It lays down a general rule that no law shall be made against the dictates of the Ouran and Sunnah. The entire legal system of Pakistan is, therefore, within the confines of Shariah. Our Constitution forbids any law which contradicts the teachings of Islam and sovereignty of Allah. Hence, there should be no controversy or division of opinions regarding the Constitution of 1973.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH OR INDIA?

SHAH JILANI

With the Indian PM, Narendra Modi publically confessing Indian involvement in the breakup of East Pakistan, doubts, if any, have been finally laid to rest. Those blessed with an understanding have always known about the evil Indian schemes of undoing Pakistan since its independence. Others, for a number of reasons, have blamed Pakistan for creating conditions leading to the eventual breakup. Unfortunately, this group of blinds includes a number of Pakistanis also who have been advocating a formal apology from Pakistan. Some of them have gone to Dhaka to receive Foreign Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Awards from Ms Sheikh Hasina Wajid whose malice for Pakistan needs no elaboration. Interestingly, most of these Foreign Friends of Bangladesh are Indians including Mrs Indra Gandhi and Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora. No wonder Mr Modi boasted that it was every Indian’s dream to see East Pakistan turn into Bangladesh.

Pakistani Friends of Bangladesh are all intellectuals, too busy to have had an opportunity to go through a host of books, authored by writers of international repute shedding light on the web of conspiracies and intrigues surrounding Pakistan, its Eastern Wing in particular. These publications include Sheikh Mujibur Rehman : The unfinished Memoirs, Dead Reckoning : Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War by Ms Sarmila Bose, Inside RAW : the story of Indian Secret Service by Asoka Raina, Mission RAW by RK Yadav, Subversion in East Pakistan by AMK Maswani, Second Thoughts on Bangladesh and Bangladesh Today – Indictment and a Lament by Matiur Rehman, RAW and Bangladesh by Zainal Abedin etc.

After Mr Modi’s confessional statement in Dhaka, there was a storm in the tea cup as usual, which lasted its life and died. Pakistani Friends of Bangladesh must be real proud today for helping India turn East Pakistan into Bangladesh; standing in line with Indra Gandhi, Narindra Modi and Jagjit Singh Aurora is no mean feat, even at the cost of Pakistan. Some simple folks floated an idea to them – return your awards after Modi’s confession but their suggestion fell on deaf ears; which lead me to two conclusions that they are not only blind but deaf also and that they are not friends of Pakistan or Bangladesh but friends of India.

A time for introspection

By Muhammad Jamil

One cannot deny the existence of contradictions between the Muslims on the basis of sect but the enemies of Islam tend to exacerbate those contradictions

The Muslim world today faces crises unparalleled in history since the advent of Islam. In view of the current world’s political scenario emanating from 9/11, Muslim countries are looked upon as places that engender terrorism. It is therefore imperative for the leaderships of Muslim countries to use their collective wisdom to improve their image and also counter the machinations of their enemies. They should do a bit of introspection as to where they went wrong and should identify the causes that have brought the Muslim world to the present pass. It goes without saying that if rulers in Muslim countries had ensured socio-economic justice, strengthened the institutions, established democracy and fostered the spirit of tolerance and accommodation in their societies, they would have been spared the ordeal and ignominy they face today. 

In other words, the Muslim fraternity is its own enemy, as its leaders have not tried to discover the verities of freedom, equality and solidarity, which is why some Muslim countries have become breeding grounds for extremists and criminals. Islam stands for love and affection, peace and amity, moderation and enlightenment. However, the shenanigans of the fraternity’s extremist strands have given handle to the compulsive detractors of our religion to depict it as a creed of violence and bloodletting. Those involved in the 9/11 tragedy definitely brought no victory but only outright hostility and the animas of the world community to the predominantly moderate Muslim fraternity. The sorriest part is that the fraternity itself is the most bleeding quarry of the rabid extremism of fanatical clans, which has been the result of unimaginative leaderships that neglected research and development despite being endowed with enormous natural resources.

It is true that the people have been unhappy with dictatorships and that there were uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Libya but the US and the west deemed it appropriate only to give weapons and funds to the rebels in Libya. See what has become of Libya. It has turned into a lawless land where no government worth the name is in the ruling clique. The country stands divided on eastern and western fault lines. As to the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, after Libya, Syria was the target. If the adventurists had their way in Syria, it would have met Libya’s fate. However, Russia, chastened by the Libyan saga, was not prepared to sign on a UN Security Council decree authorising outside military assault on its ally, Syria, with the result that Bashar al-Assad has survived and is still the president of Syria.

Muslim countries are paying the price of their follies and, at the same time, they have been playing into the hands of imperialist powers. In its third, summit held in 2012 at the holy city of Mecca, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) suspended the Syrian Arab Republic’s membership without hearing the Syrian point of view. The two-day summit moot, chaired by then custodian of the two holy mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, ended with clear polarisation within the 57-member body of Islamic states. There was a major anomaly in the Mecca Declaration, as the OIC had faltered in calling for non-intervention by foreign forces in Syria. They supported the rebels in Syria but now demand the world community to support the rebels in Yemen. Saudi Arabia and Iran should wean off internecine conflicts. 

They should realise that efforts are being made to divide the Muslim world into Shia and Sunni areas of influence. One cannot deny the existence of contradictions between the Muslims on the basis of sect or fiqah but the enemies of Islam tend to exacerbate those contradictions. One could infer from the testimony of the then secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, before the Senate’s foreign relations committee when she referred to Sunni states as centres of moderation and Iran, Syria and Hezbollah of Lebanon on the other side of the divide. The US, in fact, has twin objectives: one, to secure Israel and, secondly, to control the world’s resources. The US destroyed Iran’s enemies i.e. Saddam Hussein in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan, and Iran has emerged as the strongest country in the region. 

In the backdrop of the forced oustre of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in Yemen and the seizure of power by armed Houthi (Zaidi) rebels, a joint aerial operation, codenamed Decisive Storm, is being conducted by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan. The joint action has the endorsement of the Arab League and support of many Muslim and western countries. Some opinion makers suggest Pakistan should join the coalition, which could have serious implications and consequences. The US has had the bitter experience of invading Iraq and Afghanistan, and has remained in this quagmire for over a decade. The terrain of Yemen is mountainous and a strategically important coastline. The area is generally acknowledged as the Afghanistan of the Middle East.
Pakistan has always played a key role in unifying the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia is a brotherly country and the people of Pakistan hold it in very high esteem. Pakistanis are ready to sacrifice their lives and resources for the safety, security and sovereignty of the Kingdom. At the same time, they do not wish for Saudi Arabia to get weakened in a protracted war that has serious consequences. Pakistan has suffered the cost of similar wars in the last three decades. The Muslim world has also seen the destruction and weakening of Iran and Iraq through the stratagem of world powers. Pakistan’s approach in solving this issue is based on attaining political objectives rather than military means. One does not expect much from the OIC and, therefore, Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia should work in unison to bring peace to Muslim countries. 

Indian Movie Baby-Propaganda against Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

As part of psychological warfare, besides supporting subversive acts in Pakistan, India has already started cultural penetration in Pakistan through movies, dramas, shows and advertisements which are being displayed on our TV channels.

In this regard, Baby is a propaganda movie recently released by Bollywood to directly target Pakistan. It is focusing on operation Baby which was supposedly conceived by the Indian secret agency, RAW as a test case, launched by a group of five trained and dedicated RAW operatives to apprehend head of Pakistan’s banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) through a sting individuals.

In fact, the movie was sponsored and produced by Indian Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence. The project was undertaken by Santosh Astana (Media Incharge/Director Indian Affairs, Public Relations), while three Pakistani actors are also included in the cast. The theme of the film tries to propagate that Pakistan-based LeT/JuD is responsible for orchestrating Mumbai attacks in September 2008, financed and facilitated by Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

But, the movie, Baby revolves around the activities of LeT in the backdrop of Mumbai attacks, 2008. This is a sequel to the perennial propaganda campaign conceived by Indian authorities to malign the image of Pakistan and its primary intelligence agency ISI.

In this respect, after Mumbai attacks, Indians had resorted to electronic media campaign, followed by TV channels and written articles, focusing on the activities of Jihad organizations, allegedly sponsored by LeT/JuD.

In order to spread disinformation, New Delhi arranged a series of articles (about 140) which were also published in the US and other international media in which LeT/JuD has been portrayed as a terrorist origination much larger than Al Qaeda with global reach, having affiliates and sleeper cells all over the world.

In this connection, Indian point of view was further augmented by Arif Jamal (Pakistani born UK national) in his book “Call for Transnational Jihad: Lashkar-e-Taiba 1985-2014”.

Using the pretext of Mumbai terror-attacks, reportedly, on December 14, 2008, as a retaliatory action, India violated Pakistan’s air space in Kashmir and Lahore in a failed attempt to attack LeT/JuD offices in Azad Jammu Kashmir including Muridke.

And, in May 2009, RAW made an attempt to kill Hafiz Muhammad Saeed when he came to attend the Lahore High Court (LHC) hearing, but the attempt could not materialize.

As a matter of fact, the purpose of deliberate propaganda campaign through Indian print and electronic media—launched by Indian agencies was to induce public perception against Pakistan in order to favour Indian false stance at global level.

It is of particular attention that on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma revealed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws. But, Indian top officials and media are still blaming Islamabad and LeT for those attacks.

Similarly, on January 20, 2013, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confessed the nexus between BJP and the RSS, disclosing that organized training camps run by these Indian fundamentalist parties were promoting Hindu terrorism. They also revealed that these parties were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts including Gujarat and Babri Masjid incidents. Earlier, New Delhi was accusing Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI for blasts in Malegaon and other cities.

However, it is perceived that the movie Baby has been conceived and launched also to weigh and see the public reaction regarding Indian agenda, before conducting some major sting/hot pursuit operations against Pakistan.

As regards the film, three Pakistani film stars were also included in the cast i.e Rasheed Naz as head of Lashkar, Meekal Zulifqar as a RAW conduit and Hasan Noman as a Police Chief of KSA.

While, Pakistani film actor Hamza Ali Abbasi said that he was offered a role in the Indian film Baby last year which he did not accept due to the movie’s anti-Pakistan slant. He elaborated that he was in favour of Pakistani artists, working in Indian films in general, but not in a film that even has anti-Pakistan themes. He added, “Please think like a Pakistani first and then an artist”.

Nevertheless, Akshay Kumar starrer Baby movie has been banned by the censor boards of Pakistan, because it portrays a negative image of Muslims and the negative characters in the film—also has Muslim names. CDs and DVDs of the film have also been banned.

Fakhr-e-Alam who is the Chairman of the Censor Board took to Twitter to share his views about the board’s decision, stating, “The movie has been banned in Pakistan, as it shows Muslim community in a bad light. The characters used in the movie also represent Muslim community. He added, “A poor propaganda film basically saying all Muslims are terrorists & Pakistan harbors them…disappointed, Ban it”.

Besides, Indian contradictory approach in this regard is also mentionable. In an article, director of the movie Neeraj Panday claimed that the movie does not hurt Muslim sentiments, nor it has been made on any specific nation. But the producer Bhushan Kumar was still wondering why, actor Anupam Kher emphasised the need to move beyond borders and look at the universal problem of terrorism. He said, “The film is about anti-terrorism. Sometimes it is important to go beyond territories and understand who is the enemy—is it a country or a bunch of people?”

Nonetheless, the movie Baby which largely focuses on terrorism issues is part of Indian continued propaganda against Pakistan so as to distort the image of the latter and ISI in the comity of nations.

Therefore Pakistan’s media must counter Indian propaganda, unleashed against Pakistan in the Indian movie Baby.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Altaf Hussain in real soup

By Muhammad Jamil

A resolution, condemning MQM Chief Altaf Hussain’s remarks against the army, was passed in Balochistan Assembly on Saturday. The resolution was tabled by Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti and supported by both government and opposition parties. The resolution demanded of the federal government to place ban on the fascist party that has taken Karachi as hostage. Early Friday morning Altaf Hussain, in his address to MQM workers who had gathered at Nine-Zero, had criticised the army. DG ISPR Major-General Asim Bajwa in a series of tweets condemned the remarks made by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain about army and termed them as “uncalled for and disgusting”. He said legal action would be taken for such remarks and the use of media to incite the people of Pakistan to rise against the state.

In an apparent reference to fall of Dhaka, Altaf Hussain had said: “Those who surrendered are called patriots while the founders of Pakistan are dubbed as traitors. The youth should get arms and commando training….If RAW can help provide us arms, we will then tell those who have arms.” However, Altaf Hussain on Friday tendered unconditional apology for his statement about army, adding that to seek assistance from Indian intelligence agency RAW was just satire. “If my statements have hurt the sentiments of the national security forces, I apologize”, he said. Immediately after Altaf Hussain’s address to MQM workers, the MQM’s Rabita Committee as usual tried to clarify that the party chief Altaf Hussain had not criticised the military leadership. But such shenanigans would not work, as the entire nation had listened to his outbursts and vitriolic. 

Meanwhile, almost leaders of all political parties condemned Altaf Hussain’s remarks. Having faced strong criticism over his comments regarding the army, Altaf Hussain, in a statement released on Friday evening said that he never intended to disparage the government or any respected institution, and regretted that his speech had not been fully understood and was considered completely out of the context. This is an insult to the intelligence of the people, who understand his gimmicks and shenanigans. Yet, he had the audacity to say that after tendering a sincere apology, he was being condemned and criticized. The question is how long he will continue to denigrate Pakistan’s institutions and armed forces, and get away with it? Apart from allegations about killing of opponents and involvement in extortion, there is a long list of his reprehensible acts of MQM and its head honcho.
In April 2013, a month before general elections, Muttahida Qaumi Movement had approached the United Nations with the request to play its role to ensure free and fair elections in Pakistan, which were scheduled to be held on May 11. The MQM’s US Chapter central organizer had submitted to the UN a memorandum against the Election Commission’s decision for delimitation of some constituencies in Karachi. Urging international community like UN to use its influence for holding fair and free elections and putting pressure on ECP to stop pursuing the process of delimitation of constituencies in Karachi was despicable act. The self-exiled MQM chief who has lorded over his party from London for over twenty years now, has a habit of making incendiary speeches; inviting patriotic generals to take over, ridiculing the Supreme Court, ordering the shutting down of Pakistan’s commercial hub from distant shores. 

He utters such extreme remarks whenever his party’s stake in the power pie is threatened. It has to be mentioned that the MQM has been in power and enjoyed perks, privileges and powers of the governance for decades. It was in coalition with the PPP in federal cabinet and Sindh cabinet. It was once in coalition with the PML-N government; yet its leaders talk about sense of deprivation of Urdu-speaking community. MQM had thrived during Zia’s Martial Law as well as during Musharraf era, because Altaf Hussain is a master strategist and he knows to turn the tide and sail with the winds. Of course, after a military rule, it has always been a change of dress from the khaki to civilian robes, but the power dispensation stays elitist, privileged and autocratic, with a few hangers-on getting into this exclusive club by hanging on to coat-tails of the dynasts and their henchmen. The people remain denied and deprived; however the MQM continued to get its share of the cake.
But there is a lot more to that. Investigation is being carried out against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain by London Metropolitan Police on charges of money laundering and provocation to torture and life threats to his opponents. Police had seized 400,000 sterling pounds from Altaf Hussain’s residence and office. The investigation into former MQM leader Imran Farooq’s murder is also underway. It appears that this time round, MQM is in serious trouble. Following the ISPR’s sharp reaction to MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s fiery speech on Thursday night, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued on Friday show-cause notices to 14 private TV channels and barred all channels from airing inflammatory content. On Friday evening, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting wrote to Pemra, asking the regulator not to allow the live broadcast of “hate speech” by political leaders. Let us see how these orders are implemented. 

The question is whether Altaf Hussain will be put in the dock? Meanwhile, Pemra has already issued notices to 14 TV channels, and also instructed them to stop airing hate speeches. But it appears that pragmatism will take precedence over principles. The problem is the PPP is scared of the MQM’s potential of stirring violence in Sindh, which is why it has not strongly condemned Altaf Hussain for his remarks. Leader of the Opposition said that after Altaf Hussain’s apology, the controversy should end. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s apology over his unsavoury remarks against the army was a ‘good gesture’, adding that one should think twice before speaking on sensitive matters, especially those of national importance. However, resolutions should be passed in the National Assembly, three provincial assemblies and also senate. As suggested by DG ISPR, case must be registered against Altaf Hussain. 

Kashmiris’ pro-Pakistan sentiment

By Muhamma Jamil

According to Kashmir Media Service, Pakistan’s national flag was hoisted in various places of Indian-held Kashmir at Hariparbat Fort, Buchpora, Babademb, Gojwara, Rawalpora, Narbal, Sopore and several other places of the Kashmir Valley. The displaying of Pakistani flags has become common in recent weeks in Indian Held Kashmir. Last month, on April 15, Pakistani flags were displayed at a rally in Srinagar that was organised to welcome the veteran Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani, on his return from New Delhi. Meanwhile, Asiya Andrabi has said that India is perpetrating brutalities on the people of Kashmir through seven hundred thousand army deployed in Indian Held Kashmir. Kashmiris express their pro-Pakistan sentiment by hoisting Pakisani flags on Pakistan Day and on other occasions. She reiterated that she had been hoisting Pakistani flags on Pakistan Day, adding check how many flags are unfurled in the Valley when Pakistan wins a cricket match.

She said: “Kashmir is a disputed territory; and hoisting Pakistani flag would have been a crime if I hoisted the flag in New Delhi or Mumbai.” Two weeks before Pakistan day, scores of Pakistani flags were also waved at a Hurriyat rally in Indian Kashmir by the supporters of Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, which he addressed in Tral area of Pulwama district of Indian-held Kashmir. Last month, Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam was arrested after his supporters waved Pakistani flags and raised pro-Pakistan slogans at a rally in Srinagar. Subsequently, the Hurriyat leader Musarat Alam was put under house arrest to stop him from leading a march to Tral, which had been tense since a young man was killed by Indian forces. Indian government had ordered the ruling regime of Jammu and Kashmir to take immediate and stringent action.
Masarat Alam was booked under the Public Safety Act, which allowed the state to keep him behind bars for two years without any sort of trial. He was released about a month later, and was arrested again. He had already served a jail sentence of five years, for organising stone-throwing protests in the valley in 2010 and subsequent police firing that resulted in the deaths of 100 people. However, no amount of oppression and repression can stop Kashmiris from their struggle for implementation of UNSC resolution that gave them the right to decide about their future through plebiscite under the aegis of the UN. Showing utter disregard to UN resolutions, and Indian army’s atrocities on the people of Kashmir - their murder, rape and fake encounters – are a sad reflection on, what is claimed, the largest democracy in the world.
Kashmiris throughout the world express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. And million March was organized on 26 October 2014 in London. The objective was to highlight the Kashmir issue and expose Indian for having shown utter disregard to the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The coaches reached London from over a dozen cities of England, and many participants had come from Norway and other countries of Europe. They demanded implementation of UNSC resolutions and end to the atrocities perpetrated on the people of Kashmir. Several international agencies and UN have reported human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir. The unending nightmare had started when the British Raj sold Kashmir to Gulab singh. According to Article 1 of the Treaty of Amritsar, Gulab Singh acquired all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi. 

The British also undertook the responsibility of protecting the princely state from external aggression. Gulab Singh Dogra was a one-time cavalryman of the Dogra army, and had become Raja of Jammu principality through a grant from Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Indeed, the British were responsible for the unending cycle of slavery, violence and death and destruction by the Dogra Raj that followed the Treaty of Amritsar. Once again in August 1947 at the time of partition of the sub-continent in 1947, the British played ignominious role by facilitating India to occupy Jammu and Kashmir. United Nations Security Council had passed a resolution on 5th January 1949 that gave Kashmiris right of self-determination. As a result of the apathy shown by international community, the above resolution could not be implemented. No other nation perhaps has gone through such a long ordeal and sufferings in the history, and Kashmiris’ unending nightmare continues. 

In 1989, Kashmiri youth started armed struggle against atrocities and killings and ruthless exploitation by India’s military, and since then about 90000 Kashmiris have been martyred. After BJP won the 2014 elections and Narendra Modi became prime minister, he crafted a plan to get sizeable number of seats in state elections of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He managed to secure about two dozen seats from Hindu majority areas of Jammu, and also due to boycott by the Hurriyat Conference. Coalition government of BJP and PDP in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was aimed at robbing the mandate of the Kashmiri people who had reposed confidence in PDP. However, the PDP betrayed its voters by forming coalition government with BJP, compromising on main issues such as article 370, AFSPA, trifurcation of the region, rehabilitation of Pandits and refugees’ issue.

Unfortunately, due to international community’s apathy to the sufferings of the people of Kashmir, UNSC resolution has not been implemented for the last 65 years. In case of East Timor and Southern Sudan, UN resolutions were passed and implemented within months and new countries were carved out of Indonesia and Sudan. It has to be mentioned that in none of the above cases there was a UN mandate, whereas Kashmiris have been given their inalienable right of self-determination through the UNSC resolution. Yet, Indian soldiers continue to arrest innocent Kashmiris, keep them in extra-judicial custody and kill them in fake encounters so as to earn rewards or out-of-turn promotions. International community and the UN should pressurize India into implementing the UNSC resolution allowing the people of Kashmir to join Pakistan or India through plebiscite to be held under the aegis of the UN. 

Pakistan’s priorities

By S M Hali

If a mega project like the CPEC is threatened by people who would like to see the project fail, then Pakistan's priorities should be to assure the security of the project Every country has the right to pursue policies that are in consonance with its national interests and priorities. This aspect is defined in diplomatic relations as ethnocentrism, which enables nations to perceive and examine various options that favour their own welfare above all. Pakistani policymakers have, in the recent past, been in a quandary over the Saudi request to send military personnel and weapons platforms to support its war in Yemen. The request was debated in parliament in the light of two constraints: firstly, the preoccupation of Pakistan’s own military in anti-terror operations and, secondly, avoiding taking sides in what is perceived as Saudi military action against another sovereign Muslim state, Yemen, and by extension a proxy war with another Muslim state, Iran. Parliament’s decision to abstain from dispatching its troops except in the event of a threat to Saudi sovereignty must be respected. 

Meanwhile, another aspect — the delegation of an exclusive, armed force to ensure the security of the workforce executing the completion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - was highlighted. It is a question of according priorities to Pakistan’s national interests. Some critics of Chinese munificence towards Pakistan are denigrating the project. A section of the Pakistani press labelled President Xi Jinping’s visit as a call by the “Chinese Santa” while others questioned Pakistan “placing all its eggs in the Chinese basket”, forgetting that Pakistan’s economy is already in the doldrums. It has few friends and limited financial credibility and direct foreign investment. Under these circumstances, if China extends a helping hand, enabling Pakistan to stand on its own two feet, it must be welcomed rather than biting it.

On the other hand, if a mega project like the CPEC is threatened by people who would like to see the project fail, then Pakistan’s priorities should be to assure the security of the project. If, in the pursuit of this priority, scarce defence resources are allocated to the CPEC project, then it should not be perceived as an affront to the Saudis or as favouring Iran.
Bruce Riedel, in his op-ed column "The Pakistani pivot from Saudi Arabia to China" draws unrealistic parallels between the Saudi request for Pakistani military support vis-à-vis what he labels as the Sharif’s promise to President Xi that Pakistan will create a new 10,000-strong “special security division” of the Pakistani army commanded by a two star general to protect Chinese workers in Pakistan. Riedel explicates that 50 percent of the personnel will comprise the Special Services Group of commandos and the force will have its own organic air support. 

Cynically, Riedel comments: “So no troops for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 10,000 troops for the People’s Republic of China. There are major differences in the specifics of course: troops for a foreign war versus troops at home; compensation for past payment versus securing future investment; Islamic unity versus Pakistan’s all-weather ally since 1962.”
Coincidentally, Bruce Riedel has been conjuring scenarios where militants “snatch and grab” Pakistan’s nukes, endangering the Occident. Mr Riedel, who served for 30 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was a senior advisor on South Asia and the Middle East to the last four presidents of the US in the staff of the National Security Council at the White House, and has long been urging strong action to defang Pakistan by confiscating its nuclear weapons through use of force.

Riedel’s latest op-ed on the issue should be taken with a pinch of salt since it is laden with his personal biases and perhaps US ethnocentrism. His opening comments imply that the Saudi decision to launch a military intervention into Yemen represents a break with its past practice. He surmises that Saudi Arabia has brushed aside the need for US leadership or even participation, pushing forward with forming its own coalition from among its Arab and Muslim allies. He construes that “in dealing with Pakistan, traditionally one of its closest allies, Saudi Arabia is discovering that even close allies often have other priorities.”
Firstly, it is Pakistan’s internal decision as to which alliances it wishes to pursue and, secondly, perhaps Mr Bruce Riedel is oblivious to the fact that the House of Saud is close only to the ruling class in Pakistan. Average Pakistanis receive little respect there while our labour class, toiling under the hot sun in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is treated as serfs and minions. Contrarily, the people of China and its leadership, through six and a half decades, have treated Pakistani citizens with brotherly love and respect. Thus, local media pundits should avoid jumping on the bandwagon, parroting warped theories like Mr Bruce Riedel’s. If, finally, Pakistan has found the spine to stand up to honour the diktats of its own priorities, it must be appreciated rather than questioned. 

Pakistan’s Determination to Win War against Terrorism

By Sajjad Shaukat

Terrorism has caused massive damage to the prosperity of Pakistan. In this context, the Parliamentary Secretary for Interior, Maryam Aurangzeb, while informing the National Assembly on December 19, 2014 said, “Pakistan which has been major victim of terrorism has suffered a loss of almost 80 billion dollars including loss of 50,000 precious lives of civilians and security agencies…huge collateral damage during the decade long war against terrorism.” Afterwards, these losses increased.

Undoubtedly, in our country, the victims of terror attacks and suicide bombings have been innocent men, women and children. Regrettably, those militant entities like TTP, which try to justify terrorism and suicide bombings in the name of Islam, are misguiding the people, while these brutal acts are clearly against the teachings of Islam.

Although currently, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria and other Muslim countries are in shambles due to AI-Qaeda and  ISIL terrorism, yet all types of  violent  tactics,  employed   by  the  militant organizations could not break Pakistan’s  resolve to defeat them.

Valiant security personnel are facing the brunt of terrorist attacks, as they have stood up as the saviors of the Pakistani nation. Pakistan Army consists of six million  professional  troops who are  highly  motivated  to  root  out  terrorism   from  the  country.  

In this regard, the capability of Pakistan’s Armed Forces could be judged from the one year progress of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb which started on Jun 15, 2014 against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

On June 10, this year, while showing the progress of the Zarb-e-Azb, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif said, “Terrorists have been cleared from their strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and fight now is moving into last few pockets close to Afghan border.” He laid emphasis on “continuation of the operations till elimination of the last expected and probable terrorists groups and sanctuaries.”

However, since June 15, 2014, the jets of Pakistan Air Force have bombed militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, and killed thousands of insurgents including foreign militants, while Pak Army has also killed several terrorists through ground offensive and many of them surrendered before the Army. Thus, these forces destroyed their strongholds, demolishing tunnels and factories producing IED (Explosives), while drying the sources of their funds and sinking their public support.

In fact, the different war between Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the insurgents is simply a ‘clash of wills’ between two entities. Military thinkers agree that although the physical force will determine the type and scale of war, yet it is the ‘will to fight’ or ‘moral force’ that determines the outcome of war. Clausewitz puts it this way, “One might say that the physical force seems little more than the wooden hilt, while moral factors are the precious metal, the real weapon.”

In his book, “Fighting Power: German and U.S. Army Performance, 1939-1945”, Creveld identifies the elements of ‘moral force’, whom he calls “fighting power, the willingness to fight and the readiness, if necessary, to die.” The greater these elements, the less vulnerable an armed force will be to demoralization. ‘Moral force’, then, is the crucial factor in determining the combat power of any belligerent.

During the successful military operation, Zarb-e-Azb” retreat of the Taliban from North Waziristan has proved that such elements like ‘will to fight’ and ‘moral force’ have been more found in Pakistan’s Armed Forces then the Taliban militants. It is owing to this factor coupled with the spirit of sacrificing their own lives that the Armed Forces demoralized the militants of the TTP and their affiliated militant outfits.

However, Pakistan’s security forces are also waging this different war against terrorists in other parts of the country. In this respect, every settled district has operational policing system.  Punjab and Sindh Rangers are available to backup Army and Police. Frontier  Corps,  Frontier  Constabulary  and Levies  personnel are providing  additional enforcement  against  the  militant  organizations. Intelligence  agencies  of  the  country  are working  round  the  clock  to foil nefarious  designs  of terrorists  and  their  masters  in hostile agencies.

It is notable that as terrorists had accelerated anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices, while challenging the writ of the state, and had frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. Hence, leaders of various political and religious parties including all segments of society and media anchors—particularly commentators of TV channels, who wanted that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis are admiring the successes of the security forces against these insurgents. Now, the whole nation is united against terrorism and is backing the military operations against these brutal militants.

Nevertheless, the success of the military operations and defeat of the terrorists will become assured, if the ruling and the opposition parties including all the segments of society display practical unity not only with one another, but also with the Armed Forces including other security agencies, which is also necessary to maintain order at this sensitive moment and to win this war against the militants.

So, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s media, politicians, leaders of religious parties and the general masses must not only show solidarity with the security forces and other law-enforcing and intelligence agencies, but must also cooperate with them against these zealots, and to take this war to its logical end.

Therefore, collective wisdom demands that the victory of people  of Pakistan  is inevitable  in this different war, as few  thousand  militants occupying  a part of FATA  can neither capture  whole Pakistan  nor subjugate  its 200 million people. While the state of Pakistan has the capacity to sustain counterterrorism operations, the militant organizations are already in disaster. Our salvation lay in final victory, each and every  citizen  must   own  this  war  against   terrorism   and  we  must  put  our  full  trust in Government and Army. Everyone should play his part and remain united against terrorists by showing Pakistan’s strong determination to win this war against terrorism.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Why Pakistan Is Not Myanmar

By Sitara Noor

Last Tuesday, Indian forces carried out surgical strikes inside Myanmar’s territory, reportedly inflicting “significant casualties” which, as per varying estimates, stand at 50-100 militants. As reported, the blitzkrieg maneuvers were done by India’s Special Forces (21 Para), that is a unit under Kolkata-based Eastern Command headquarters, along with troops of Assam Riffeles (27 Sector and 10 Sector). The operation was supported by Indian Air force’s Mi-17 helicopters which targeted NSCN-K camps at two locations Including Tuensang in Nagaland and Ukhrul in Manipur.

The Indian reaction came in response to militants’ attack on Indian military convoy on June 4, which killed 18 Indian soldiers in the Chandel District of Manipur. Following Indian military excursion inside Myanmar, there was a flurry of tweets/statements from Indian political establishment. Terming it revenge, Indian minister in charge of broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore declared the raid “a message for all countries, including Pakistan”. Projecting India’s military and political prowess, he went on to say, “We will strike at a place and at a time of our choosing”. It obviously resulted in firm statements from Pakistan’s political and military leadership alike, reiterating their resolve to protect their land against any Indian adventurism.

It is however important to highlight that Indian political establishment’s statements are inherently contradictory and giving a false impression of India’s military might. The statements drawing parallel between Pakistan and Myanmar may soothe the ears of BJP’s extremist cult essentially the RSS, but they fail to stand the test of political correctness and military capability.

First of all, it is erroneous to assume that it was a solo flight by India without prior permission from the government of Myanmar as some initial reports suggested. To put the record straight, there exists a treaty between the two countries since 1990s on operations across the border and also an agreement that permits locals on both sides for a cross border movement within a range of 15 km on both sides. In the past, there have been instances when Burmese army personnel also crossed the Indian border in pursuit of the Kachin insurgents. Later in 2010, India signed a mutual legal assistance agreement through which Indian insurgents held in Myanmar could be deported for trial under Indian laws. Therefore this operation was carried out under existing treaty and after seeking prior approval from the government of Myanmar. There is no such romanticism vis-à-vis Pakistan. On the contrary, Pakistan and India have a history of border conflicts and Pakistan has made it clear at a number of times that any such adventurism inside Pakistani territory would be considered an act of war.

Secondly, it would be India’s sheer naivety to view Pakistan as a soft swallow. Politically it would be difficult for India to carry out such an action, that too without establishing credible proofs as there are instances in past when some terrorist activity in India blamed on Pakistan, was later on proved to be perpetrated by Hindu extremists. Furthermore, Pakistan maintains a strong professional military force with advanced high tech capabilities to respond to any such action. According to a latest report by eminent American analysts, citing India’s former military officials, India lacks technical and professional capability to carry out such a strike against Pakistan with complete precision. Various reports corroborate that India is far behind in gathering real-time intelligence that is an essential pre-requisite for such an action to begin with. Most importantly both states face altogether different dynamics due to the possession of nuclear weapons. Such a provocative action would certainly let loose escalation spiral, with no possibility of escalation dominance at either side.

The inflammatory jingoistic statements from Indian political establishment, in view of Myanmar operation are nothing but an act of irresponsible statesmanship. It expresses complete absence of political wisdom on their part and ignorance of ground realities. On the other hand, it further strengthens the rationale for having strong conventional as well as nuclear capability to deter any such (mis) adventurism against Pakistan.

The article was published in Eurasia Review on 17^th June 2015.

*The writer is a former visiting fellow at Middleburry Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California. She can be reached at sitaranoor@hotmail.com

Evolving regional dynamics

By Khalid Iqbal

A stronger Pakistan is emerging, and now it can take stock of regional dynamics from a position of enhanced confidence. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement and America’s clearance of Foreign Military Sale of Viper Attack Helicopters and Hellfire II Missiles to Pakistan have been major contributory factors to this profile. Moreover, upward trajectory in Pakistan-Russia relations has culminated in a Defence Agreement and procurement of MI35 helicopters is on the cards. Prudent avoidance of direct military involvement in Yemen crisis is likely to pay off in the long term, while downturn in relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE may be temporary. Afghanistan’s rationalized foreign policy towards Pakistan has brought respite in Karzai era cross border attacks. If the P5+1 and Iran seal the nuclear deal, then Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project would become a reality. China has already offered to construct this pipeline. And has also committed to sell eight submarines to Pakistan. London based newspaper The Economist in its article “Pakistan’s economy Fuel injection: Lower oil prices prove to be a boon”,

On Apr 30, has released very promising data about Pakistan’s economy, indicating a growth rate of 4.7 percent. Moreover, negative media projection of Pakistan at international level is on decline, though two Pakistanis, Hussain Haqqani and Pervez Hoodbhoy are doing their best to fill the void. 

The US-Pakistan arms deal delivered a strong message to India that if it continues to shop elsewhere then America will sell arms to other countries of its choice. Pressure was too much for India to sustain and it succumbed; as a consequence, it has walked away from purchase of 126 Rafael fighter aircraft from France, much in the similar way it had walked away from Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline a few years back. Now in all likelihood, India could go for an American warplane—may be F-16. An over confident (read arrogant) India of Modi’s early days may slowly mellow down and reconcile with changing realities of regional flux. But periodic erratic impulses radiated by Indian policy making circles often smack of belligerence and aggressive mindset, which though is more of a nuance than substance; has disrupted bilateral dialogue many a times and has scuttled many meaningful peace initiatives. An arrogant India, though does not pose existential threat to Pakistan, it is certainly a source of regional instability; because to channelize its aggressive mindset it ferments trouble in the neighbouring countries by accentuating their otherwise benign fault-lines. 

India realizes its critical dependencies on Pakistan in the context of trade transit facilities. However, instead of pursuing these objective through prudent statesmanship, it endeavors to extract these concessions through arms twisting, literally and figuratively. Though there is renewed talk of an India-Iran deal to develop the Chahbahar port; India has lost the comparative advantage after the conclusion of CPEC agreement. 

Now Pakistan’s sensitivities about Afghanistan are better factored-in in the US strategic calculus. America has reconciled with the distinct possibility that it will be replaced in Afghanistan by China with the help of Pakistan. China already has a considerable economic presence in Afghanistan. It will now concentrate on energy-rich Iran that shall emerge much stronger after its nuclear deal and the recent unravelling in the Middle East. Region. Russia, with its growing understanding with China is emerging as an important regional player looking up to revive its stalled S 3000 missile deal with Iran. 

President Ashraf Ghani has completed the first roundtrip of the capitals which matter in the future political and economic settlement of Afghanistan. During his visit to India he expressed the desire to “make Afghanistan a graveyard of terror” and for this looked up for help from India, Pakistan and other neighbors. Indian analysts feel that New Delhi may be losing influence in Afghanistan because of Ghani’s efforts to forge closer ties with Pakistan and China; however, it is because India has disappointed Afghanistan on many counts, especially its promises of providing hi-tech military equipment. Modi said that India should join an existing Afghan-Pakistan Trade and Transit agreement to allow goods to flow by land from Afghanistan to eastern India and back. “We believe that Afghanistan’s direct surface link to India and the rest of South Asia, and increased connectivity to sea, could turn Afghanistan into a hub that connects Asia’s diverse regions and beyond,” Modi said. The spirit behind the effort is to replace Pakistan’s influence in Pakistan rather than facilitating Afghanistan. During Afghan President’s the visit to India no agreement was signed. Ghani said “we must have a unified approach, we must be united both in the region and globally to contain this terror.” These words indicate a shift in Afghanistan’s position on countering terror, from charging Pakistan with complicity in attacks by the Taliban, to a more cooperative approach with Pakistan. He referred to the IS rather than the Taliban and LeT as the next big challenge for his country. 

As of now Afghanistan is poised to benefit enormously by joining CPEC. While in India, Ghani said: “Our vision today is to be guided by that potential where the energy of Central Asia will flow to South Asia where pipelines, fiber optics, railways, and connectivity, air, ground and virtual will connect us.” And this is what CPEC offers.
India was the first country with which Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement, but the contour of the relationship has changed. Ashraf Ghani has visited China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan (twice) and the US before coming to India. In China he frankly spoke of Afghanistan’s new external priorities indicating relegation of India to the outermost circle. He has also decided not to pursue the request for defence equipment from India that has given a jolt to the relationship politically. 

Afghan president feels that he must engage Pakistan vigorously and obtain its cooperation. Ghani has also started sending officer cadets for training at the Pakistani military academy to offset the earlier pattern of Afghan officers being trained exclusively in India. He is also counting on China- Pakistan synergy to actively promote the reconciliation process, and providing economic and other requisite support to help transition Afghan economy from war to corporate economy. He has concluded that India’s capacity to help is limited and Pakistani and China could be more productive partners. China has expressed its willingness to help in the reconciliation process. The CPEC project indicates far-reaching Chinese plans to bring this region into its economic integration, from which Afghanistan would benefit substantially. 

However, Afghan polity is not unanimous on Ghani’s outreach to Pakistan and the Taliban. There is a suspicion that Ghani is seeking to strengthen the Pashtun elements in the polity at the expense of other ethnic groups. Accommodating the Taliban in political structure of Afghanistan is likely to meet resistance from other ethnic groups, especially the idea of giving them governorships and ministerial appointments outside any electoral process.
Despite setback, India is not likely to reconcile with its relatively lower profile in Afghanistan, even if it has to take-on a spoiler’s role. Hence, India may take the trajectories like: coax Iran and paly repeat role of 1980s and 90s for destabilizing central government by provoking ethnic minorities especially Uzbeks and Tajiks; support Iran in playing its sectarian card; go solo and reactivate Dostum card; crate fissures between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. India is likely to follow a composite strategy drawing from all these options. 

Pakistan needs to follow a prudent policy to capitalize on the advantages that are visible now. Some of these are transient and or slippery; while some others are fragile. A time bound effort is required to benefit from transient ones and comprehensive strategy should be evolved to secure the fragile ones.