As you sow, so shall you reap 04 Feb 16
The title of this article is taken from the Bible, Galations VI (King James Version). It basically implies that good things happen to those who do good and bad things happen to those who indulge in doing bad. This is the fate of Pakistan. It has sponsored terrorism, which has adversely affected the region. It has brought untold misery to Afghanistan, affected peaceful development of India, supported militant groups in an otherwise peaceful Kashmir, as also severely impacted the lives of minorities in their own nation. The series of blasts and attacks in Pakistan in recent times, including the latest one in Bacha Khan University, clearly proves the bad coming to those who believe in harming others. However, Pakistan has still to admit its flawed policy.
Last week, after completing investigations into the attack of the Bacha Khan University, Gen Asim Bajwa, the Pakistan military spokesperson stated, “We have come to the conclusion that terrorism cannot be fought, when there are accomplices and facilitators.” He made these comments, while addressing the media, directing accusations to Afghanistan and India. He went on to add, that the militants were trained in Afghanistan and their handlers were from the Pakistan Taliban. Surprisingly, that statement should have come from one of those countries most affected by Pakistan sponsored terrorism and not from the sponsors themselves. It was a hollow statement and aptly proved the title of the article.
Pakistan continues to blame Afghanistan for not doing enough to reign in the TTP or the Pakistan Taliban. Pakistan launched strikes to destroy the TTP, which then shifted base to Afghanistan. Pakistan also feels that it is India which is behind the funding and sponsoring of the activities of the group. Hence, as per Pakistan’s perceptions, all troubles within their country are caused by the collusion of India and Afghanistan and not by their own actions.
On the other hand, the world is aware, that Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism and openly supports the Taliban and anti- India groups, the JuD and LET. The Afghan Taliban, based in Pakistan, are funded and supported by them. It was Pakistan which harboured Osama Bin Laden, as also were the only one’s aware of the demise of Mullah Omar. It is the same country, which still offers sanctuary to Dawood Ibrahim and his closest henchmen.
The Afghan government on the other hand has accused Pakistan of not doing enough to degrade the Taliban. The Pakistan leadership has openly stated that there is confusion in the Afghan desires. On one hand it wants Pakistan to destroy the Taliban, while on the other hand it wants them on the negotiating table. Thus they claim that Pakistan can do only one of the two desires, clearly hinting, that it can still act or control the group.
For India, which has faced a number of terrorist strikes, all launched from across the border, with Pakistan backing, the words of their military spokesperson are certainly hollow. Further for decades Pakistan has sponsored and built anti-national sentiments in the valley. It has only been the maturity of the Indian government, which has prevented the situation from crossing the limits of an all- out war, in spite of extreme provocation. The time has come, when there would be a retaliation, albeit limited, but enough to convey the message, that India is ready for the consequences.
The groups that Pakistan has created have with passage of time become their own enemy. There is a fear within their own military hierarchy, that any excessive pressure or force on these groups could be counter- productive. Hence they fear the combination of the two Taliban’s and the threat they could pose to the state. Similarly is that by shutting down the LET and the JuD, as desired by India, the trained militants would easily join the ISIS, which has begun raising its head in the country. Their leaders, who presently openly preach an anti-India tirade, would switch to an anti- Pakistan tirade, which would add to their headaches. It is a catch 22 situation for them.
The words spoken by Gen Asim Bajwa reflect the current internal situation. The state on the western borders of Pakistan is deplorable and the government has hardly any control. The strong arm tactics by the Pakistan army have resulted in complete alienation of the local population. Hence militancy and anti- Pakistan groups grow and flourish. Weapons have been readily available since the Afghan war and the tribes follow their own system of governance, with limited interaction with the state. These borders have been described as amongst the most dangerous places on the globe. The threat to the very existence of the state is real and terrorist strikes are a daily occurrence. Internally sectarian violence and religious extremism is on the rise.
If Pakistan is to develop, create an environment of peace within and provide succour to its population then it needs to develop a strategy to commence dismantling every terrorist group, irrespective of why and for which purpose it was created. As stated by our Prime Minister, ‘the world should stop differentiating between good and bad terrorism’. Terror groups always possess the tendency to shift their targets to their creator. The al-Qaeda was created to engage the soviets in Afghanistan and subsequently switched operations against their creators, the US, leading to 9/11. Therefore, before they are threatened for survival, Pakistan needs to calculate the risks on continuing with their present policy or shift towards elimination of terror groups. This does possess risks, however has lesser chances of back firing than the tumultuous path of self- destruction, on which they are presently heading.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army