World must stop nations employing proxies CENJOWS 06 Feb 2020
https://cenjows.gov.in/article-detail?id=240
World must stop nations employing proxies CENJOWS 06 Feb 2020
The recent assassination of General Soleimani was the result of growing attacks on the US and its allies by proxies of Iran, coordinated and armed by Soleimani. Iran had launched proxy war’s in multiple regions of the Middle East. Its proxies include Lebanese Hezbollah, various Shiite militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen and a growing network of foreign fighters in Syria recruited by Iran from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The US has on multiple occasions struck Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq, Saudi’s have struck them in Yemen and Israel in Lebanon. Yet they remain powerful and well-armed. They have in retaliation struck back at their attackers.
A definition of a proxy war is, ‘an armed conflict between two states or non-state actors which act on the instigation or on behalf of other parties that are not directly involved in the hostilities. For a conflict to be considered a proxy war, there must be a direct, long-term relationship between external actors and the belligerents involved. The aforementioned relationship usually takes the form of funding, military training, arms, or other forms of material assistance which assist a belligerent party in sustaining its war effort.’
Proxy war includes support for terrorists, liberation movements, insurgent groups or a revolt against foreign occupation. Nations resort to proxy war to avoid negative reactions from allies or organizations like the United Nations. In some cases, nations engage in it due to financial considerations. Supporting terrorists is significantly cheaper than deploying armed forces. At the same time proxies bear the brunt of casualties.
US sanctions on Iran were aimed at stopping funding of these proxies as also denying it space to develop nuclear weapons. It sought to weaken the military power of these proxies, which were becoming a major threat. The power of Iranian proxies can be judged by their ability to launch missiles as also target Saudi oil installations by drone strikes. Despite US sanctions Iranian proxies continued to possess adequate military power.
Iran is not the only nation which supports proxies in the region. It backs Shia groups while Saudi Arabia backs Sunni led groups, whether they be in Yemen or even battling Iran using Pakistan as a base. Jundallah is a Pak based terrorist group targeting Iran. It has on occasions struck at Iranian border guards and been the bone of contention between Pak and Iran. Imran Khan during his visit to Tehran admitted their presence in his country.
The US created and backed the Syrian Democratic forces in Syria, which it employed as frontline troops against the ISIS. This group was considered as terrorists by Turkey, which possesses its own Kurdish proxy groups and is now acting against them, while the US has withdrawn. The latest region to face proxy groups backed by multiple countries battling for dominance is Libya.
Thus, in recent times, the trend of warfare is witnessing a change. Nations prefer employing proxies to conduct operations in other countries where their own involvement could be considered an act of war. They also seek to distance themselves from being directly involved in case of mass casualties caused by acts of their proxies. Proxy groups are generally religiously affiliated to their benefactors, except in an odd case like the Syrian Democratic Forces. In most cases they are akin to mercenaries, cheap to maintain and equip.
Pakistan has been a master at creating, promoting and arming proxy groups for some time. It backed and supported the al Qaeda and Taliban during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan, with funds and arms from the US. Post 9/11, it housed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, protecting the individual who masterminded the attack, denying his existence and compelling the US to take him down in Pak.
Subsequently, it backed the Taliban and Haqqani network against the US, protecting its leadership while arming and supporting them. It compelled the US to negotiate with the Taliban, despite knowing that unless protection from Pak is lifted, there would be no peace in Afghanistan. Clearly, Pak backed proxies have ensured that there is no peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan has also backed and supported multiple terrorist groups operating against India from its soil. Proxy group leaders have obtained a cult like image in the country.
The ultimate sufferers of proxy war are innocent civilians who are caught in the crossfire. There are innumerable such incidents spread across Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Kashmir, where innocents become casualties either in proxy actions or counter strikes against them. The nations which back them remain immune from damage and punishment as they wash their hands off such actions.
India, US and Israel have adopted similar models against creators of proxy groups. They have targeted the originator or source behind proxies, rather than the proxies themselves. While the US assassinated Soleimani, India struck at Balakote, a terrorist training camp, to send forth a message that it would strike again in case Pak proxies are not controlled. Israel also targets the source from where proxy fighters are launched. This is the norm and should be continued globally, if the world is to be made a safer place.
However, this alone is not the answer for resolving the growing power of proxies which threaten global peace. Global powers need to consider that proxies and terrorism must have a common definition. Nations maintaining proxies should be made accountable for their actions, despite some considering them as freedom fighters. Once there is proof of employment of proxies, the nations backing them should be economically punished as Iran has been done. Singling out Iran, while sparing nations like Pakistan would convey a wrong message. There must be similarity.
If the US could target a serving Iranian general to control the power of the proxies of Iran, then a similar action should be adopted against Rawalpindi and the head of the ISI, who have blocked efforts for peace in Afghanistan. While Iraqi proxies have caused the loss of few US lives, Pak proxies have resulted in thousands of coalition soldiers killed and wounded. They have led to the US fighting in the country for the last eighteen years.
While both Iran and Pakistan are under FATF scrutiny and Iran is on the Blacklist, Pakistan has managed to stay out of it, due to support from three nations. It cannot be permitted to remain free. If the intention in the case of Iranian sanctions is to curb support to its terrorist groups, similar actions need to be taken against Pakistan.
The era of proxies should end. Nations which support proxies should be answerable for their actions and deeds. They should be taken to task globally. It is time the UN considers maintaining and supporting proxies as unacceptable globally and seeks to punish nations which back them.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army