By Sajjad Shaukat
Ajit Doval, the
ex-spymaster who is now National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister
Minister Narendra Modi is the real author and controller of India’s
offensive-defensive doctrine.
Besides planning various
terror attacks in Pakistan as part of Indian offensive-defensive doctrine, Ajit
Doval also advised to arrange various subversive acts inside India and to shift
the blame game to Pakistan like orchestrated drama of Gurdaspur episode, boat
incident etc. The main aims behind were to defame Pakistan and its security
agencies.
In this regard, on
January 2, 2016, a terror attack at Indian Air
Force Base in Pathankot was preplanned under his directions. Without any
investigation and evidence, since the first day of the incident, Indian media
and top civil and military officials claimed that the attackers had arrived
from Pakistani Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, and had links with Jaish-e-Mohammad
and Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
But, despite Islamabad’s cooperation with India like formation of the Joint
Investigation Team (JIT) consisting of professionals to investigate the
Pathankot attack, crackdown against the militant group Jaish-i-Mohammad—lodging
of a First Information Report (FIR) in relation to the incident, New Delhi
failed in providing any proof of Pakistan’s involvement in the Pathankot
episode. In fact, India orchestrated that drama to postpone secretary-level talks with Pakistan, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January
15, 2016.
Undoubtedly, Pakistan as
a responsible member of the international community condemned the Patahankot
attack and offered honest and sincere help to investigate the issue, though New
Delhi itself arranged the incident. In this respect, on January 8, 2016, a high
level meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was held in which
chief of army staff and DG, ISI also participated. The meeting also discussed
the Pathankot incident and expressed Pakistan’s condemnation. Reiterating
commitment to cooperate with India to completely eradicate the menace of
terrorism in the region, it was decided to remain in touch with the Indian
government—expressed the goodwill generated by the recent high level contacts, the two countries would remain committed to
a sustained, meaningful and comprehensive dialogue process.
Pakistan’s stance has
been appreciated and international community also asked both the countries to
solve the issue through diplomacy. Therefore, the so-called offensive behaviour
of Indian leadership got toned down. Consequently, Pakistan’s JIT of experts
would visit India on March 27, this year to investigate the issue. In view of
the forthcoming visit, Indian negative propaganda continues against the
sincerity of Islamabad.
Security policy of
Pakistan supported by all stake holders including Government and Security
institutions aims at eradicating terrorists from its soil. Pakistan is
sincere in investigating the Pathankot event. Islamabad is serious in
addressing genuine concerns of New Delhi and international community. This was
the first ever effort by India to genuinely engage Pakistan.
Pakistan’s seriousness
and non-involvement is reflective from Pakistan’s willing support for a fair
investigation. Now, India is to open the doors for genuine investigation and share
all proves to Islamabad—sufficient enough for a tangible legal action.
In order to allow JIT to
thoroughly investigate the case based on admissible evidence, Indian leadership
must stop spitting venom and should not view Pakistan’s serious commitments
with suspicion. However, India’s orchestrated drama of the Pathankot attack
could be judged from the fact that Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
said that New Delhi would not allow access to the JIT into the base, while; it
can undermine the seriousness of bilateral commitments to find the truth.
Team has to be allowed
serious access to the Indian investigations as to ascertain the reality. In
this connection, varying claims are coming from India with regards to the
strength of the killed terrorists. And Pictures/photographs of only four
terrorists have been shared with the media so far. Hence it is must to find
about remaining two.
Indian Intelligence
agencies had already alerted security agencies about the possible terror
group’s planning of the assault at Pathonkot, after tracing the phone calls of
the militants. Following the alert, Western Air Command chief Air
Marshal SB Deo had reached Pathankot air base on the same day of night himself
to take stock of security preparations. One day before, the terrorists had also
hijacked the car of Indian Superintend of Police
(SP), Gurdaspur, Salwinder Singh, which was used by them to reach the
base. SP, his friend Rajesh Verma, and cook Madan Gopal were abducted and
afterwards released. Reports disclosed that Indian National Investigation
Agency (NIA) which has been entrusted with the attack probe, is questioning the
SP, his friend and cook, deliberately connecting him with Pakistan’s banned
outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad and spy agency, ISI.
Nevertheless, Pathaonkot
incident cannot be seen in isolation, as it is part of Indian activities
against Pakistan. In this context it is of particular attention that on March
24, 2016, Pakistan’s security forces disclosed that they arrested the serving
agent of Indian intelligence agency RAW in Balochistan province. During
investigation, RAW agent namely Kul Bushan Yadav confessed that during his
stay, he contacted various Baloch separatist leaders and insurgents, including
Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, to execute the task to damage the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor project. He further revealed that he also distributed
millions of rupees among the separatist elements and insurgents in the
province.
The law enforcement
agencies for the last eight months monitored Yadav’s movement and activities
and arrested him after collecting ample evidence. They also recovered Afghan
and Pakistani SIMs as well as maps from his possession. Out of more than 15
Indian consulates in Afghanistan, the majority of whom are located near the
Pakistan border and Yadav was also stationed at Kandahar.
On March 25, in a
statement, India’s External Affairs Ministry, while admitting the RAW agent,
captured by the Pakistani security forces to be Indian citizen, claimed that he
was a commander in the Indian Navy, and it has sought consular access to Yadav
In this respect,
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan
summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale and lodged a strong protest
over RAW officer’s arrest…India’s spying activities in Balochistan and
Karachi…the spy was linked to separatist elements in Balochistan, as well as
involved in acts of sectarian terrorism and terror attacks in Karachi…and
Balochistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to take up the issue of Indian captured
agent and interference in Balachistan with his counterpart Modi in the meeting
on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington to be held on March
30, while, the two sides are also optimistic about a foreign secretaries
meeting next month. He is also set to brief US President Barrack Obama on the
matter.
While,
Pakistan itself is facing terrorism challenges supported by regional and
extra-regional actors. Most of such acts are committed from across Pakistan’s
western borders supported by various elements. Creating unrest on Pakistan’s
eastern borders can only be the wish of elements against peace in Pakistan.
Such elements also want to project Pakistan negatively. Therefore, involving
Pakistan in Pathankot needs to be viewed in larger perspective of
terrorism.
But, the arrest of RAW
agent was made at a crucial hour, when Pakistani JIT is scheduled to visit
India to investigate Pathankot terror attack. Nonetheless, Pakistan has
uncovered the reality of Pathankot incident.
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
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