Pak fears India can cause its imploding (English Version) Rakshak News 06 Jun 19

Pak fears India can cause its imploding (English Version) Rakshak News 06 Jun 19

http://www.rakshaknews.com/vishesh/pakistan-why-is-now-afraid-of-india

Pak fears India can cause its imploding (English Version) Rakshak News 06 Jun 19
On 26th of May the Pak army opened fire on unarmed protestors of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) in North Waziristan. The Pak military initially issued a statement that their check post was attacked by protestors and troops had to open fire in self-defence. It announced three casualties, which have now risen to 13, with the discovery of more victims.
Two PTM members of the Pak National Assembly have been blamed for the attack and arrested. Despite calls from the opposition for them to be produced before the assembly, no action is being taken. Clearly, the army has called the shots and is unwilling to permit the truth to flow.
Human Rights Commissions and Amnesty International have taken notice of the incident and asked for independent investigations. These will be rejected by the Pak army. To support its views, the Pak army stated that five of its soldiers were injured (severity of injury has not been declared), while accusing the PTM of being funded by Indian RAW and the Afghan NDS. Afghanistan, which has a large Pashtun population has expressed solidarity with the movement and sought support of the international community.
The PTM has grown into a peaceful struggle demanding basic rights in the last year and a half. Just a few weeks ago the Pak DG ISPR openly threatened this movement and issued its leaders a warning to desist. All this while educated and mature politicians, realising the importance of seeking a political solution have been desiring to open channels of discussion with the leaders of the movement.
PTMs popularity along Pak’s western borders has added to security concerns and forced the army to instil a media blackout on their activities. Thus, the Pak public is unaware of the spread of this movement and the damage being caused to the nation by the unilateral actions of the army.
Simultaneously, the Baluch Liberation Army (BLA) has been expanding its power and outreach in Baluchistan. Its attacks on the Chinese embassy in Nov last year, on a bus near Gwadar in Apr and on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar in May is indicative of its increased outreach. The movement has grown stronger as the CPEC attempts to expand into the region and take over the natural resources of the state.
Baluchistan, the largest and least populated state of Pakistan never merged with Pak, post-independence, but was forcibly occupied. It is rich in natural resources which have been exploited and the state ignored in development. The Baluchi’s objections to the Chinese occupation of Gwadar is evident as most attacks have been concentrated on that region.
The rise of the Baluch freedom struggle has been the result of the high-handed approach of the Pak army as also the exploitation of its resources. There is again a media gag on the activities of the BLA.
Pak was never concerned about its western borders till recently. It believed that this area is well within their control, beyond the reach of India and hence were brutal in crushing any activity here. They used the region as bases and training facilities for the Afghan Taliban to launch attacks in Afghanistan. This action displaced locals and made them subjugate to the Taliban. They have now risen in anger.
The present actions of the Pak army are in many ways repetitive of the split of the country in 1971, when it acted in a similar manner against Bengalis in the then existing East Pakistan. It led to the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh. It has ignored the fact that as in 1971 the rise of the movement had been due to mishandling of issues by the army which considers itself as the most powerful organ of the state.
The combining of these two movements along with the highhandedness of the Pak army would soon lead to the imploding of the nation, with limited assistance from outside.
With tensions continuing with India and the growing power of these movements, Pak fears for the worst. In desperation, they have begun calling for talks with India. Their worst fear is India and Afghanistan could begin supporting these movements in retaliation to Pak’s actions of supporting terrorist groups.
The reality is that India does not have to do much. Anger against the Pak army is at an all-time high in these regions. All India should do is maintain pressure on the Pak border, preventing them from moving troops to their western region and provide the movements diplomatic support including raising human rights abuses and enhancing international pressure. This itself could threaten Pak’s survival as a nation and force it to change its approach, while suing for peace and talks.

About the Author

Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar

Retired Major General Indian Army