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Terrorists are not Martyrs
Sajjad Shaukat
People from different walks of life including politicians, religious scholars (Ulemas) and media persons have expressed their feelings of grief on the recent comments of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and especially of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Syed Munawar Hassan who evolved new theory on Shahadat (Martyrdom).
Maulana Fazlur Rehman in an interview with senior journalist Saleem Safi on November 5, this year on a renowned TV channel program Jirga said, “Even a dog killed by the US is a martyr.”
In a separate interview conducted by Safi on November 7, JI Ameer, Munawar Hassan stated, “If American soldiers being killed by the Taliban were not martyrs, how could Pakistani soldiers killed by Taliban be declared martyrs.” In an earlier statement made on November 3, Hassan had already triggered controversy when he declared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Hakimullah Mehsud a martyr following his death in a US drone strike.
In this regard, a spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on November 10, strongly condemned the irresponsible and misleading remarks of the JI Ameer Syed Munawar Hassan, saying that he declared dead terrorists as Shuhada (Martyred), while insulting the Shahadat of thousands of innocent Pakistanis and soldiers of Pakistan’s armed forces. The spokesman explained, “Sacrifices of our Shuhada and their families need no endorsement from Syed Munawar Hassan and such misguided and self-serving statements deserve no comments,” demanding an unconditional apology from him.
Instead of apologizing for his derogatory and illogical remarks, Syed Munawar Hassan said on November 10 that he was stuck to his opinion of considering Hakimullah Mehsud as martyr and not viewing soldiers as such. General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, Liaquat Baloch announced on November 11 that its Ameer’s statement was correct and according to Sharia (Islamic Jurisprudence).
While denouncing the ill-conceived thoughts of Syed Munawar Hassan, various leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement including law-makers and prominent figures pointed out, “We should salute to those mothers, widows and orphans whose dear ones sacrificed their lives for the cause of the motherland. Besides, all those personnel of the security forces who lost their lives for the integrity of the nation and all those innocent people who were killed in bomb blasts, suicide attacks and other terror-incidents are martyrs.” They reminded, “Every child in Pakistan knows that 7,000 security officials and more than 40,000 innocent citizens including religious scholars have been killed by the TTP led by Hakimullah Mehsud…the JI Ameer’s statement means to scorn the sacrifices of our great martyrs who lost their priceless lives to save the lives of millions of Pakistani citizens in the ruthless terrorist attacks carried out by these Taliban.”
Some leaders suggested that If JI Ameer did not beg forgiveness over his controversial statement; the government should institute a case of treason.
In this respect, the members of Sindh Assembly in one voice also demanded from Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Munawar Hassan to apologize over his irresponsible statement which questioned the martyrdom of Pak Army and law-enforcing agencies.
Meanwhile, in order to clarify the controversy over martyrdom, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of the ruling party (PML-N) visited the General Headquarters (GHQ) of Pakistan Army on November 12 and pad homage to the martyrs of the country. Afterwards, a statement released from the Prime Minister House quoted the PM as saying, “Those who have fought for Pakistan, Ghazis (living) and Shuhada (Martyred), have sacrificed their today for ensuring a better tomorrow for our future generations and all of them are our benefactors.”
However, on the issue of martyrs and terrorists, the opinion of Ulemas has great importance. In this context, on November 10, Chairman Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Hamid Raza Rizvi from a fatwa issued by 30 scholars and religious clerics, and terming statements by Munawar Hasan and Maulana Fazlur Rahman as “rubbing salt on the wounds of heirs of over 50,000 people killed in terrorist attacks in Pakistan,” announced, “Hakimullah was involved in killing of thousands of innocent people and army men. The fact that he was killed by a US drone could not purge him of his sins and he was not a martyr.” On November 12, accepting the challenge of TTP spokesman Shahhidullah Shahid on Shahadat-controversy, Hamid Raza replied that he was ready for debate with the Taliban on any channel.
It is mentionable that in the past few years, the militants of the TTP and its affiliated outfits killed thousands of persons across Pakistan through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings, beheadings, assaults on military troops, police stations, sectarian violence etc. Besides blowing children schools and attacking the female teachers in order to deny education to girls, they also targeted mosques, Imambargahs, mausoleums, and disgraced dead bodies. Their nefarious acts resulted into deaths of several people in Pakistan. They continued their anti-social and un-Islamic practices to impose their self-created ideology of Islam.
In the Khyber agency, they also indulged in murdering and torturing Shias in their majority areas, forcing them to flee. Particularly, in some tribal areas and Swat these insurgents have been involved in a number of crimes such as drug-smuggling, forced marriages, hostage-takings for ransom and even car-snatching. They justify that they collect money through these unfair means to wage their holy war and in eliminating the moderate dissidents.
When Pakistan’s armed forces successfully ejected the TTP militants out of these areas by sacrificing their own lives, the new leader of the TTP Maulvi Fazlullah who had close connections with Pakistan-based TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud, had run to Afghanistan. Based in the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan—with the support of Indian secret agency RAW, Afghan spy service, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) which also have tactical backing of the US, his insurgents intensified subversive activities in Pakistan by sending suicide bombers and heavily-equipped militants.
Notably, the capture of a senior TTP leader Latifullah Mehsud by US Special Forces (USF) from Afghan custody, confessed that Afghanistan and India were involved in promoting terrorist activities inside Pakistan. He also revealed that while waging proxy wars in Pakistan, terrorist attacks on Gen. Sanaullah Khan Niazi in Upper Dir, at Peshawar Church, in Qissa Khawani Bazar and elsewhere had been planned by Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies. Especially, regarding terror-attack at Peshawar church, TTP did not claim responsibility, but it proved when the outfit misinterpreted Islam by indicating that it was in accordance with Sharia.
However, the militant groups also recruit very young boys, and after their brainwashing through indoctrination, they train them for suicide bombings. The planners misguide these Muslims by convincing that they will have a noble place in the Heavens in exchange of suicide attacks.
Nevertheless, Islam considers killing one innocent person equal to murdering the entire humanity, while jihad is a sacred obligation, but its real spirit needs to be understood clearly, as targeting innocent women and children is not jihad. These Taliban and their banned affiliated outfits are defaming Islam which is the religion of peace, democracy, moderation and human rights.
In this connection, in the recent past, more than 50 Islamic scholars declared “killing of innocent people, target killings and suicide bombings in Karachi, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa along with sectarianism…is not Jehad” and “is against the spirit of Islam.” They explained, “The terrorists’ self-adopted interpretation of Islam is nothing, but ignorance and digression from the actual teachings of the religion…the suicide attacks and related violence smeared the name of Islam and weakened Pakistan.”
Everyone knows that besides responding to Indian military’s unprovoked firings at the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, which killed a number of soldiers of Pak Army and innocent civilians, thousands of personnel of the armed forces and law-enforcing agencies lost their lives in Khyber Paktoonkhwa, Karachi, Balochistan and tribal areas in coping with terrorists so as to maintain the integrity and security of the country. So, they are the true martyrs.
Another notable contradiction is that when the JI workers were fighting the forces of the former Soviet Union in the first Afghan war, sponsored by the US-led west, they were calling their killed Mujadeen as Shaheed. But, now this party has forgotten the term of martyrdom.
Nonetheless, the JI Ameer’s self-created definition of Shaheed means that there is a state within a state where Taliban could be allowed to slash the throats of security forces and to shed the blood of innocent persons.
No doubt, Munawar Hassan’s statement has exposed the extremist thinking of JI and its vilification propaganda campaign to harm, defame and denigrate the prodigious sacrifices of Pakistan’s soldiers, with criminal object to glorify the enemies of the state, while terrorists are not martyrs.
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: [email protected]
Posted by admin in Commentary on November 2nd, 2013
Posted by admin in BREAKING INTERNATIONAL LAW - DRONE ATTACKS, Commentary on October 29th, 2013
میں تقریبا تیس منٹ تک سڑک کنارے سٹاپ پر دیگر لوگوں کیساتھ کھڑا گاڑی آنے کا انتظار کررہا تھا دن کے اوقات میں گاڑی تو آسانی سے مل جاتی ہیں لیکن رات کے وقت دس بجے کے بعد گاڑیاں بہت کم ہی چلتی ہیں اسی وجہ سے پشاور جیسے شہر میں لوگ سٹاپوں پر انتظار کرتے رہتے ہیں اور جن کےجیب میں پیسے ہوں تو وہ رکشہ یا ٹیکسی میں بیٹھ کر اپنی منزل کو روانہ ہو جاتے ہیں تقریبا پینتالیس منٹ بعد ایک گاڑی آکر رکی اس سے کنڈیکٹر اترا اور پشاور صدر تک آواز لگائی ساتھ میں گاڑی میں بیٹھنے والوں کو کہہ دیا کہ کرایہ پندرہ روپے ہوگا حالانکہ کرایہ دس روپے تھا میں بھی سنی ان سنیکرتے ہوئے گاڑی میں بیٹھ گیا گاڑی روانہ ہوگئی اور کنڈیکٹر نے کرایہ مانگا میں نے جیب سے سو روپے نکال کردئیے اس نے بقایا 80 روپے مجھے دئیے میں نے اس سے پوچھا بھائی میرے دس روپے اور بھی دو کیونکہ ہشتنگری سے صدر تک کرایہ دس روپے ہے کنڈیکٹر نے جواب دیا کہ صاحب میںپانچروپے واپس کردیتا ہوں میں نے اسے کہا کہ دس روپے واپس دو اس نے جواب دیا کہ میں نے گاڑی میں بیٹھنے والے تمام مسافروں کو کہا تھا کہ کرایہ پندرہ روپے ہے میں نے اس سے پوچھا کیوں یہ تمھارا فیصلہ ہے اگر کرایہ نامہ ہے اور اس پر پندرہ لکھا ہے تو مجھ سے بیس روپے لو لیکن اگر کرایہنامہ نہیں تو پھر مجھے دس روپے واپس کردو کنڈیکٹر نے جواب دیا کہ بھائی میرے یہ گاڑی میری ہے اور آپ اپنے پیسے واپس لیکر اتر جائیں میں نے اسے جوابا کہا کہ گاڑی اگر تمھاری ذاتی ہے تو پھر مسافر وں کو کیوں اٹھا رہے ہوں اور سڑک جس پر تمھاری گاڑی چل رہی ہیں یہ میرے جیسے لوگوںکی ٹیکسوں کی کمائی لگی ہے اگر خان ہونگے تو اپنے لئے مجھے تم اتار بھی نہیں سکتے کرایہ مجھے پورا لو اور مجھے اپنے سٹاپ پر پہنچائو گے اس پر کنڈیکٹرکو غصہ آیا لیکن مجھے کہنے لگا کہ خاموش ہو جائو تم سے دس روپے لیتا ہوں لیکن دوسرے مسافروں کے سامنے بحث مت کرو کیونکہپھر یہ بھی نہیں دینگے میں نے اسے کہا کہ غلط بات مت کرو مجھے اپنے پیسے واپس کرو اس نے بادل نخواستہ مجھے دس روپے واپس کردئیے اسی دوران گاڑی میں مسافر بیٹھے ہوئے تھے لیکن سب نے میرے بعد اسے پندرہ روپے دئیے اور وہ کنڈیکٹر مسافروں پر یہ احسان کرتا رہا کہ اس وقت گاڑی نہیںتھی اگر میں نے آتا تو آپ لوگ کھڑے رہتے اس لئے میرا احسان مانو کہ میں پندرہ روپے میں تمھیں پہنچا رہا ہوں یہ ایک چھوٹی سی مثال ہے جس سے اندازہ کیا جاسکتا ہے کہ ہمارے آگے پیچھے چھوٹے بڑے کس طرح دوسروں کی مجبوریوں سے فائدہ اٹھاتے ہیں اور ہم بے حس لوگوں کی طرح خاموشبیٹھے انہیں دیکھ رہے ہوتے ہیں کہ اگر میں نے کچھ کہہ دیا تو شائد مجھے کوئی نقصان ہو جائے ہم لوگ آواز نہیں اٹھاتے نہ ہی اپنا احتجاج ریکارڈ کرتے ہیں حالانکہ ہمیں پتہ ہوتا ہے کہ ہمارے ساتھ زیادتی ہورہی ہیں لیکن صرف اپنی بے عزتی چھوٹے سے نقصان ڈر اور خوف کی وجہ سے خاموش رہتےہیں اور یہی وہ چیز ہے جس کا فائدہ ان کنڈیکٹر جیسے بے حس بے غیرت لوگ اٹھاتے ہیں اور شریف لوگ کڑھتے ہی رہتے ہیں کہ شائد ہماری آواز سے کچھ نہ ہو اور یہی ہماری سب سے بڑی غلطی ہوتی ہے-
اب اسی چیز کو آپ بڑے کینوس پر دیکھ لیں کیا یہ ملک کل کے چور وں اور آج کے ڈاکوئوں کیلئے بنا ہے جو جمہوریت کی راگ الاپ رہے ہیں ملک میں جمہوریت کی مضبوطی جیسے نعرے بلند کرکے اس قوم کو بے وقوف بنا رہے ہیں ایک دوسرے کو باری آنے پر حکومت دینے والے میڈیا اور اپنے چندخوشامدی صحافیوں کو استعمال کرکے پوری قوم کا استحصال کررہے ہیں لیکن اس ملک سے کوئی آواز ہی نہیں اٹھ رہی ہر شخص یہی سوچ کر خاموش بیٹھ جاتا ہے کہ میرے آواز بلند کرنے سے کچھ نہیں ہوگا کیا یہ ملک مخصوص خاندانوں اور ان کے بچوں کیلئے کھیلنے کا میدان ہے کہ جب ان کا دل چاہاسیاست کے میدان میں آئے ایک دوسرے کے خلاف آواز بلند کی اور ہم جیسے بے وقوف صحافی ان کی آواز بن گئے اور پوری قوم کو چور اور ڈاکوئوں کے پیچھے لگا دیا اور آوے اور جاوے کے نعرے لگنے شروع ہوگئے-آوے جاوے کی سیاست کرنے والے اور بھاری مینڈیٹ لیکر آنیوالوں کا یہ حال ہےکہ دو ماہ میں بجلی کی قیمتیں کہاں سے کہاں تک پہنچا دی ہیں کل تک عزت غیرت کے دکانداری کرنے والے آج قرضے مانگ کر اس قوم کو بیڑہ غرق کرنے پر تلے ہوئے ہیں سابق حکمرانوں کو اس صورتحال کا ذمہ دار ٹھہرا کر اب حالات بہتر کرنے کے دعوے کئے جارہے ہیں اب کوئی یہ نہیں پوچھتا کہپانچ سال تک تو آپ ہی ان کے اپوزیشن لیڈر بنے ہوئے تھے اور انکو سپورٹ کررہے تھے خوشامدی چمچوں اور مخصوص صحافیوں کی مدد سے اپنا کام نکالنے والے یہ لیڈر قوم کو بتانا پسند کرینگے کہ آخر کیا وجہ ہے کہ جب بھی بیرون ملک دورہ ہوتا ہے اپنے خاندان کے بچوں کو سرکاری خرچ پر دورےکیوں کرواتے ہیں کیا عوام کا ٹیکس ان کی اور ان کے خاندان کی عیاشیوں کیلئے ہے کہ جب چاہا بیرون ملک دورے پر نکل گئے اور بعد میں ایجنڈا طے کردیاکہ ہم نے یہ کرنا اور یہ کردیا –
رون حملے کررہے ہیں اس سے قبل بھی یہی ڈرامہ جاری تھا اور یہ ڈرامہ اب بھی جاری ہے ہاں کل اگر آپ چوروں کیساتھ ملے ہوئے تھے تووہ چور آجڈاکوئوں کاساتھ د ے رہے ہیں خارجہ اور دفاع کے وزارت رکھنے والے حکمرانوں کا یہ حال ہے کہ انہیں امریکی سفیر رچرڈ اولسن نے ائیرپورٹ پر ریسیو کیا کوئی اعلی عہدیدار انہیں ریسیو کرنے ہی نہیں یا نہ ہی سٹیٹ گیسٹ کے طور پر انہیں بلایا گیا تھا اسی وجہ سے ہوٹل میں رہائش اختیار کی جس کیادائیگی بھی پاکستان کے بھوکے ننگے عوام ہی کرینگے انہی کیساتھ مشیر کے طور پر کام کرنے والے ایک صاحب نے کچھ دن قبل بیان دیا تھا کہ امریکہ بہادرپاکستانی حکمرانوں سے افغانستان سے نکلنے کے بعد تعاون سمیت غداری کے الزام میں گرفتار ہونیوالے ڈاکٹر شکیل کی رہائی چاہتے ہیں جس کامطالبہ بھی کیا گیا لیکن یہ بات چھپا لی گئی اور صحافیوں کے سوال کرنے پر اس پر گول مول جواب دیدیا گیاپہلے سب کچھ غلط تھا اور اب ٹھیک کرنے جارہے کے نام پر کونسل آف یورپ کنونشن کے معاہدے کرنے والے حکمران کیا یہ بتانا پسند کرینگے کہ کیا یہ غداروں کو نکالنے کیلئے راستہ فراہم کرنانہیں ہے-باتیں تو بہت ساری ہیں لیکن کیا یہ آواز بلند کرنا صرف صحافیوں کا کام ہے کیا اس ملک کے عوام شعور نہیں رکھتے جو آئی ایم ایف کے غلام حکمرانوں سے یہ سوال کرے کہ آخر انہیں کس چیز کی سزا دی جارہی ہیں اور یہ حکمران کب تک عوام کیساتھ جھوٹ بولتے رہیں گے – سو موجودہ حالاتمیںیہ اس ملک کے ہر شہری کا فرض ہے کہ اپنی آواز بلند کریں سوال کریں کب تک خاموش رہینگے صرف اس طرح کے پیغامات موبائل فون پر ایک دوسرے کو بھیجنے سے سے کچھ نہیں چلے گا کہ شیر کتے سے زیادہ کھاتا ہے –
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سرکار کے کھاتے میں امریکہ یاترا کرنے والے حکمرانوں سے کوئی یہ پوچھے کہ ڈو مور کا مطالبہ کرنے والے امریکی کیسے آپ کی مرضی کے بغیر ڈ
Posted by admin in Commentary on October 26th, 2013
The US scripted endgame has gone awry
Asif Haroon Raja
After occupation of Afghanistan in November 2001 by US led western forces and Afghan Northern Alliance force, the US inspired constitution and democracy was pushed down the gullets of Afghans. Ground was prepared for elections and the US spent huge amounts in winning over the loyalties of warlords and to make the elections successful. The first presidential election was held in 2004 which elected Hamid Karzai. Soon after, general elections were held leading to formation of Northern Alliance heavy government. Both elections were boycotted by the Taliban and great majority of Pashtuns. By the time next elections were due in 2009 Karzai had become unpopular and his government got roiled in corruption and inefficiency. ANA and Police trained by US and UK trainers were rated as poor. The third round of elections will take place in April 2014 in which Karzai having availed two terms will not constitutionally eligible to contest. New faces will be contesting the next elections. One of the prospective candidates for President’s seat is Karzai’s brother Qayum for which Karzai is lobbying hard.
Since last elections, the security situation in Afghanistan has undergone a sea change. Events have unfolded in favor of Taliban and in disfavor of occupation forces and ruling Afghan regime. Mullah Omar has urged the Afghans to boycott the elections and to disown the puppet government installed by Washington. He is in a position to say so since Taliban have achieved superiority of strategic orientation over US-NATO-ANA forces. Besides gaining full control over eastern and southern Afghanistan, which constitute over 60% of Afghan territory, the Taliban are in a imposing position to strike targets in any part of the country including most fortified Kabul. The capital city has been successfully struck several times by Haqqani network since September 2011. So is the case with targets in northern Afghanistan, supposedly the stronghold of non-Pashtun Afghans. The Taliban are likely to disrupt coming elections using violent means. Majority of Pashtuns having suffered the most at the hands of NATO and ANSF support the Taliban.
There appears to be some confusion with regard to the ethnic demography of Afghans. According to available reports, Pashtuns are in majority with 42% population and the rest divided between various non-Pashtun ethnic tribes in the centre, west and north of Afghanistan. These figures are misleading since no census has taken place since long. The non-Pashtuns Afghans being relatively more educated and liberal in outlook, they get themselves registered. On the contrary, Afghan Pashtuns are mostly illiterate and conservative and don’t get registered. Hence, the official demography may not be accurate particularly because no census has taken place since very long. Pashtuns may not be less than 51% if not more. Even if 35% Pashtuns raise their hands in favor of Taliban, this figure is good enough to make 2014 elections controversial and invalid.
Relations between Afghan and the US governments are far from friendly. Wall of distrust has come up because of Karzai’s filibustering and abrasiveness. After sabotaging Doha peace process in June this year, he is now in two minds whether to sign or not to sign Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with USA, which would authorize US-NATO to leave behind a residue force and to retain some military bases in Afghanistan after 2014 and till 2024. The sticking points are grant of immunity from prosecution by Afghan courts to foreign troops and full liberty of action to conduct military operation against militants. In other words, NATO forces would be at liberty to carryout extra judicial killings and torture as heretofore. Although John Kerry’s recent visit to Kabul has made Karzai accommodative, yet he wants the deal to be approved by Loya Jirga which he plans to call in third week of November. If approved, the BSA will then be ratified by Afghan Parliament. The US leadership is getting impatient and has sounded October 31 as the cut out date to ink the agreement, failing which it may opt for ‘zero option’ as in case of Iraq. The Taliban Shura has strongly opposed BSA and will reject it even if Loya Jirga approves it.
The Afghan-US Strategic Partnership signed in Kabul in May 2012 was Okayed by Loya Jirga but had not approved immunity to foreign troops. It was also ruled that ISAF would not undertake unilateral military action and that ANA would lead all operations. This time because of Taliban’s resurgence and weakened position of both ISAF and Kabul Government; possibility of Loya Jirga approving immunity to foreign troops is dim. Reportedly, Karzai is contemplating calling a selective Jirga and inviting only those who will endorse the BSA. About 3000 elders, politicians and clerics are expected to attend. Karzai is banking heavily upon Mullah Ghani Baradar who has recently been released by Pakistan on his insistence to make some Taliban leaders agree to attend the Jirga. Notwithstanding that he was number 2 of Mullah Omar, but it will not be possible for him to affect any change in hard-held policy decisions of Shura except for trying to bridge differences between the Taliban and Karzai so as to arrive at a home-grown political settlement without outside interference. He could be a suitable choice to head Afghan High Peace Council since neither Burhanuddin Rabbani was acceptable to Taliban nor is his son Salahuddin.
Karzai, whose writ doesn’t go beyond his palace in Kabul, is vainly trying to rouse Afghan nationalism by acting tough against USA and Pakistan. His ploys to shed away the label of American lackey and to present himself as a savior and an honorable Pashtun are not selling. The Pashtuns have not forgotten that he had sold his soul to the Americans to acquire power and how he mercilessly allowed the destruction of Afghanistan and presided over the oppression of the Pashtuns living on both sides of the Durand Line.
It was unwise on part of Nawaz Sharif to give a helping hand to the untrustworthy drowning man trying to clutch at the last straw. He has become a liability for the US as well as Afghans and is in no position to give anything in return for the favors extended to him. while 36 Taliban prisoners have been set free by Pakistan on his request, Pakistan has not been able to get back any of the absconding terrorists like Maulana Fazlullah in Kunar and Faqir Muhammad in Kabul, enjoying the hospitality of their hosts. Karzai insolently acknowledged their presence in Afghanistan. He has been constantly talking ill of Pak Army and ISI and alleging without furnishing any proof that the duo is destabilizing Afghanistan. There have been several incidents of burning of Pakistan flag in Afghanistan but Karzai never apologized. On the contrary, when a single incident of burning of Iranian flag occurred in his country he promptly extended his apologies. He brazenly says that the goodwill and support rendered by Pakistan Establishment in 1980s to Afghans was to gain strategic depth and to make Afghanistan Pakistan’s 5th province. He alleges that Pak military is forcing Afghans to recognize Durand line as international border.
Although the US claimed that the left behind force was meant to impart training to ANA, build up its capacity, render technical advice and logistic support, and to hunt left over al-Qaeda operators numbering 75 or so, however, the initial figure of 25-30,000 residual force negated the spelt out scope. The US hidden motive was exposed when it started haggling with Kabul over immunity issue and liberty of action. It couldn’t justify the stated strength and retention of nine military bases for chasing 75 Al-Qaeda elements. The strength has now been scaled down to 5-10,000 owing to mounting differences between two sides and danger of BSA getting jeopardized. Likely bases for the reduced force are Kabul and Bagram in the centre, Mazar-e-Sharif in north and possibly Herat or Shindad in the west.
It will however be incorrect to conclude that reduction in size of residual force would reduce its combat potential. Combat strength is measured in terms of firepower and not the bayonet strength. The latter counts when the strategy is based on boots on ground. The ISAF abandoned boots on ground strategy in 2009 and relies heavily on airpower. After 2014, the stay behind force would remain confined to military bases and assist ANA by providing training, technical guidance, intelligence and firepower support.
The bunker based residual force will be of little use to the not-so-disciplined ANA with high attrition rate, or for the harried Afghan government struggling to keep the Taliban at bay. It can at best provide air support to ANA to delay the fall of Kabul or any of the military bases. Or to arrange safe landing of the returning main force in case of a rethink in Washington in the wake of effective encirclement of Kabul and eminent fall of northern Afghanistan. The ANA will remain battle worthy as long as military aid to the tune of $4.1 billion flows in annually. The moment this aid is stopped or radically reduced, it would hasten the disintegration of ANA the way the national army trained by Red Army had fragmented in 1993.
The US not only desire pro-US regime in Kabul to cater for its regional interests but also wants to avoid repetition of horrendous fallout of its hasty exit in 1989. It would like to give some respectability to its misadventure which has robbed it of its prestige, honor and glory. With only 14 months left for the pullout of ISAF, the obtaining operational environment in Afghanistan are gloomy and do not auger well for smooth transition. The endgame scripted by the US and its strategic allies has gone awry. Prophecy of doomsayers that 2014 and beyond would prove more bloody appears to be turning into a reality. The three major stakeholders – the Taliban, Kabul government and the US – are circling in respective orbits. All three distrust each other. In-house attacks in Afghanistan are not subsiding and so are cases of suicides by US-NATO soldiers. The spoilers on the sidelines with vested interests are sprinkling oil to keep the pot of terrorism and distrust boiling. Clash of interests has thickened the clouds of uncertainty and insecurity. Pakistan is the only country which sincerely desires peace since it is the most affected country and its peace is linked with stability in Afghanistan.
The writer is a retired Brig, defence analyst, columnist and historian. [email protected]
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Musharraf the Honourable Option
Posted by admin in Commentary on November 22nd, 2013
Musharraf the Honourable Option
By
Inam Khawaja
It may be recalled that in October 2007 there was a case in the Sindh High Court regarding the legality of Musharraf fighting the election for President in uniform. There was a strong possibility of a verdict against Musharraf. It has been speculated that the Emergency was declared to basically put out of action about sixty Judges of the Superior Judiciary to ensure election in uniform. It may be noted that the ‘grave condition’ prevailing were put right with wave the baton in little over a month and the Emergency was lifted on December 15, 2007.
Musharraf’s spokesperson has stated that all the people involved in the November 3rd 2007 “Emergency” will be named by Musharraf. An Army Officer is expected to be a gentleman – a man of honour. The honourable thing to do is to stand upright and take full responsibility for one’s actions rather than putting blame on one’s colleagues. In fact an honourable person would actually absolve them from any blame. The Supreme Court in its July 31, 2009 Judgment declared that declaring emergency on November 3, 2007 and his subsequent orders (under the emergency) unconstitutional, ultra-vires of the Constitution consequently being illegal and of no legal value as a result. One wonders as to what defence can be put up. Since the act was reprehensible a gentleman and a man of honour would admit his mistake, apologise and seek forgiveness and mercy from the Tribunal, the Army and the people of Pakistan. This is the Honourable Option for Musharraf.
All members of the Armed Forces at the time of commissioning take the oath given in Article 44 of the Constitution which states; “I ———– , do solemnly swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan — “ Musharraf has broken this oath twice. As a Muslim he should repent, seek Allah’s forgiveness and pay the penalty prescribed for breaking one’s oath (refer Al-Maida 5-89).
If Musharraf exercises this option it is very difficult for the Tribunal and the Prime Minister not to forgive and be merciful.
November 20, 2013
Gen (R) Musharraf, Pervez Musharraf Criminal Charges
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