Our Announcements
Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn't here.
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on April 3rd, 2014
Opposing Views on Talks with TTP
Asif Haroon Raja
Anti-peace lobby is making hue and cry as to why the government is insisting on holding talks with the TTP when the hands of its new leader Maulana Fazlullah are dripping in blood of people of Swat and surroundings and is a captive of Afghan government. They argue that it is pointless to hold talks with Fazlullah who has a history of breaking deals and had terrorized Swat. Those suggesting dialogue with slaughterers are termed as insane.
Anti-peace lobbies say that closure of NATO supply routes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) by PTI has antagonized the US but failed to appease the TTP. They say that TTP instead of reciprocating government’s goodwill gesture of unconditional talks martyred Maj Gen Sanaullah, attacked a church in Peshawar, killed police commandoes in Karachi, slaughtered 23 FC soldiers, attacked military and civilian targets including district courts Islamabad to disrupt talks. They argue that military power must be demonstrated to the adversary so that it begs for talks. They are pressing the government to deliver the hammer with full force to make them surrender and then hold talks from a position of strength.
Anti-Taliban group complain that peddlers of hate and destruction have striven to impose Shariah upon others using coercive, cruel and violent methods. Instead of reforming the society by endearing to influence the wayward and weak Muslims and guiding them to become practicing Muslims through preaching and demonstrating strength of character, honesty, tolerance, amiability, generosity and humility, the militants have been resorting to cruelty and terrorism to terrorize the people and force them to accept their brand of Islam, which they project is the real Islam.
Pro-fight elements consider drone a useful weapon to kill terrorists hiding in far off places and go to the extent of claiming that residents of FATA love drones and view drones as a good deterrent against terrorists.
Those favoring talks counter their arguments by saying that the security forces have been fighting the militants for over a decade without achieving any results and in the process, civilians, Army, police have suffered well over 40,000 fatalities and Pakistan has lost over $80 billion. They say, other than Sri Lankan and Colombian insurgencies, no insurgency could be resolved anywhere in the world through force and ultimately had to rely on dialogue to end the conflict. They quote the example of US led ISAF having used excessive force for over 12 years has finally decided to quit and is seeking dialogue with the Taliban to arrive at a political settlement.
Pro-peace groups see drone as the biggest obstruction in the way of peace and say that people of FATA, particularly women, children and elderly people have contracted mental diseases because of hovering drones. They feel that the US purposely uses this weapon to trigger terrorism and scuttle peace process. They quote examples of Nek Muhammad killed by a drone soon after he signed a peace deal, Bajaur seminary struck by a missile in October 2006 when peace deal was about to be inked, pro-talks TTP leader Waliur Rahman droned on May 30, 2013, Hakeemullah Mehsud killed by a drone on November 1, 2013 when he had consented to take part in peace talks. They say, third hand helped by anti-talks lobby is hell-bent to fail the talks.
Politico-Religious Leaders/Scholars sympathize with the cause of militants since they too yearn for Shariah. Enlightened Islamists argue that despite the fact that it is clearly enshrined in the constitution that Islamic Republic of Pakistan will be run in accordance with Quran and Sunnah, the seculars who have ruled the country for the last 66 years, have governed the country on the basis of Westminster model of democracy and Anglo-Saxon form of judicial system. Recommendations of Islamic Council of Ideology made each year have never been debated in the Parliament, what to talk of implementing them. They say, if the seculars have the right to flout the constitution, why the Islamists should be censured for demanding Islamic system of governance and judiciary?
They suspect that God forbid if Pakistan is invaded and conquered by USA, our liberal class will become collaborators and welcome the invaders with open arms and garland them as liberators having saved them from the clutches of savages bent upon imposing their will by imposing horrific Shariah. They say that it is these hateful militants who would eventually stand up and fight the aggressors to liberate their homeland as they have done in Afghanistan and Iraq and forced them to quit.
Militants condone their aggressive acts under the cover of religion, saying they have a noble agenda of establishing Shariah in the country for the betterment of the poor. Misusing the name of Islam, they exploit the poverty of the youth hailing from the deprived class and mislead them to become militants and suicide bombers and kill Muslims.
The great majority which comprises of the deprived class, groaning under the weight of poverty, illiteracy and insecurity and fed up of arrogance of proud pursed elites, is conservative and Islam loving. They hate the elite class and consider our rulers as American collaborators slavishly playing US game. Talibanisation in their view is a backlash to the American centric policies pursued by our rulers to protect their interests rather than safeguard Pakistan interests. They fear that Islamic Republic of Pakistan is being turned into an American satellite.
Those driven by ignorance, or half-baked knowledge of Islam, or fear, believe that the extremist groups have taken up militancy in order to get rid of anti-poor western systems of governance and justice, and to usher in real Islam in Pakistan for the betterment of the downtrodden. While doing so, they ignore the fact that the whole social fabric has been severely traumatized. Over a period of time, they have begun to realize that Islam preach peace, tolerance, brotherhood, fraternity and shun violence, bigotry and bloodshed as espoused by Taliban.
The Ulema belonging to Wafaqul Madaras are now unanimous in declaring suicide attacks as un-Islamic. All religious leaders do not subscribe to violence and say that Quran clearly spells out that murder of one innocent human being is equivalent to murder of entire humanity. Saudi Arabia’s grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh has recently stated that killing oneself is a grave crime and a grave sin and those who kill themselves with explosives are criminals and are moving fast to hell. 300 Ulema belonging to Deoband have also declared suicide attacks as haram.
Their verdicts should impel TTP leaders to introspect whether it was right to train teenage boys as suicide bombers and deceivingly making them believe that no sooner they will blow themselves up, they will be welcomed by Hoors and taken to paradise. The verdict must have embarrassed TTP whose spokesman Azam Tariq is on record having stated that ‘Our Ulema have termed suicide attacks as an elite form of Jihad, which has made the Mujahideen invincible’. Misusing the name of Islam, the trainers have been exploiting the poverty of the boys hailing from downtrodden class and misleading them to kill Muslims.
The debate whether to hold talks or fight the militants with full force has not subsided despite the fact that a beginning has been made and some progress made in talks. Although one month ceasefire announced by the TTP expired on 31 March and TTP leaders are divided over the issue whether to extend it or renew militancy, chances are that ceasefire will be extended. A safe venue for future talks in settled areas of KP will also be designated. Although the pro-war lobbies are still skeptical, the government and TTP committee are quite optimistic and say very soon the nation will hear good news.
The writer is a retired Brig, defence analyst and columnist. [email protected]
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on March 3rd, 2014
Beware of TTP’S Double Face
Sajjad Shaukat
After the continued aerial strikes by the Pakistani jets and helicopters which have bombed militants’ hideouts including bomb-making factories in some tribal and surrounding areas of North Waziristan, killing several terrorists, on March 1, this year, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced a month-long ceasefire with the government for resumption of peace talks. In response, while welcoming the TTP offer of truce, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan assured Maulana Samiul Haq, Taliban committee member that stalled dialogue would re-start within a few days and the government also decided to stop the ongoing surgical operations. But, on February 20, 2014, Chaudhry Nisar had clarified that Pakistan’s armed forces are undertaking strikes in FATA in ‘self-defense.’ On February 27, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz said that dialogue with the Taliban had derailed, adding that the state’s writ would be established in the troubled regions.
In fact, while the committee of the Pakistan Government was conducting peace talks with that of the TTP, a deadlock occurred when Taliban claimed responsibility for the brutal massacre of the 23 personnel of the Frontier Constabulary in Afghanistan, who were abducted from Mohmand Agency, four years ago. This heinous act which was strongly condemned by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, leaders of various political and religious parties including Jamat-e-Islami Chief Munawar Hassan and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan who are sympathizers of these Taliban, came as a blow from the sky, giving a greater setback to the peace process.
Earlier, Taliban militants targeted the Rangers, Police bus and anti-polio workers in Karachi in wake of the peace talks for which TTP accepted responsibility. Particularly, the tragic incident of terrorist attack on the Police bus in Karachi, killing 13 and injuring 57 commandos have been condemned by all segment of society.
In the recent past, on the one hand, TTP spokesman has condemned the terror-events which took place in Karachi and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa including assaults on the personnel of the security forces and law-enforcing agencies, on the other; he has claimed responsibility, while stating that the outfit will continue terror-assaults. Similarly, TTP had condemned the terror-attack on the church in Peshawar. But, afterwards, its spokesman had remarked that it was in accordance with Sharia (Islamic Jurisprudence) which indicated that the militant group was behind that ruthless assault. So, contradictory statements of the TTP-led Taliban have endorsed that the militant group sabotaged the peace dialogue by playing double game.
Meanwhile, the militant attack on a polio team in Jamrud on March 1, which left 11 dead—as part of their dual approach, TTP did not claim responsibility. In response, gunship helicopters struck the headquarters of Mullah Tamanche involved in the attack on polio workers, killing five culprits.
However, double face of the TTP could also be judged from some recent statements of its spokesman. Sometimes, he agreed with government, saying that the TTP wanted to advance peace process in accordance with constitution of Pakistan, and sometimes, he rejected the constitution as un-Islamic. Notably, the constitution which was signed by the leaders of all the political and religious parties, declares the country, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan—also mentions that the government will made efforts to implement Islamic system in the country.
Similarly, earlier the TTP rejected government’s condition for unilateral ceasefire; a day after the Federal Cabinet urged its militants to renounce terror activities without pre-conditions. As regards surgical operations, its spokesman had warned, “the government will have to bear more loss than us.” But, it is due to the pressure, built by the successful air strikes that the outfit has announced ceasefire for a month with the government, inviting the latter to revive the peace talks. Despite it, fact remains that the TTP-led insurgents also want to deceive the government through its shrewd techniques, as they seek stoppage of selective military actions in order to strengthen their position for future terror-attacks. They also intend to create a rift between the civil-military relations. In this respect, on February 26, Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif along with DG ISI Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other top officials. The military leadership informed the meeting about hideouts of terrorists in North Waziristan, assuring that these could be eliminated in two weeks, as the recent strikes have inflicted heavy damage to the militants. They also ensured that armed forces would eliminate terrorism from the soil of the country.
Besides, the TTP also wants to create fissures between the political and religious parties to fulfill the nefarious designs of their external masters. In this context, Chief of Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam (F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Munawar Hassan have welcomed the Taliban’s declaration of ceasefire. And Imran Khan who has recently favoured military operation against the Taliban also supported TTP’s truce offer, while emphasizing the government to avail this opportunity.
It is of particular attention that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has asserted that peace talks and violent acts of terrorism cannot go side by side. While unveiling the prime minister’s national security policy in the National Assembly on February 26, he said that the attacks from militants would be met with an appropriate military response. But, at the same time, he pointed out that doors of dialogue with the TTP were still opened. On March 1, Nisar stated that no military operation was going on in the tribal regions, and only targeted action was being carried out, as the government had not decided such an operation.
The Leader of the Opposition, Syed Khurshid Shah and those of other political parties have remarked that they support the government over the issue of tackling terrorism, but asked the rulers to announce a clear-cut policy over the matter.
Now, some political and religious entities have been pointing to some external elements which are thwarting the peace process between the TTP and the government. In this connection, without naming US, some are hinting towards the “third power”, and some are saying that Indian secret agency RAW is castigating these peace talks.
While, the TTP new Chief Maulana Fazlullah had dismissed the proposed peace negotiations with the government as a “waste of time”, and vowed to target the prime minister, chief minister, chief of army staff and corpse commanders. During Swat and Malakand military operations, Fazlullah fled Swat and took shelter in Afghanistan.
Well-established in Afghanistan, with the tactical support of the US, in connivance with Indian RAW and Afghan spy service, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Pakistani Taliban, Maulana Fazlullah—and these foreign agencies have been conducting target killings, bomb blasts, suicide attacks, beheadings, assaults on civil and military personnel, installations and forced abductions including ethnic and sectarian violence. By sending heavily-equipped militants in Pakistan, these entities are also assisting Baloch separatists.
Unfortunately, terrorists led by the TTP use Islam as their most effective mask. Their main demands include enforcement of Islamic system of governance by imposing Shariah laws in the country, ending diplomatic relations with US and western world and undertaking Jihad against the non-Muslims. They have become self-proclaimed campaigners of Islam, rejecting all dissenting views. While, the victims of terror-attacks in Pakistan have been innocent men, women, and children including security personnel and prominent religious figures—blowing children schools, the militants also targeted cinemas and the places of worships.
No doubt, Jihad is a sacred obligation, but its real spirit needs to be understood clearly, as murdering innocent women and children is not Jihad. In fact, by implementing the agenda of some foreign powers, these Taliban and their banned affiliated groups are defaming Islam, concept of Jihad, and are weakening Pakistan.
As terrorists have accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices, therefore, people from all the segment of life and majority of politicians want that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis, while supporting military action against these culprits.
Political leaders must not advance their political agenda on valuable assessments given by top military leadership on the possibility of success of military operation against TTP in Karachi as well. Out of context references not only ridicule the Armed Forces, but also help glorifying the Taliban. 40% success of Army operation stated by ex-chief of army staff, Iman Khan and the prime minister who wrongly referred the statement of DG ISI pointed at creating an impact of the operation in achieving overall objective of resolving the problem for restoring peace. Hence, leaders must exercise prudence in issuing ill-conceived statements to gain political prominence. They must not evade responsibility on terrorism by putting the entire blame on the third force. They have to accept responsibility to take the country out of terrorism. Postings in Sindh Police during Karachi operation must also not be done before the prior consent of DG Rangers Sindh.
Nonetheless, instead of wavering between fact and scepticism by following the policy of appeasement towards all the militant groups, especially the TTP, our rulers need to be aware of their real intentions which display their double face. The government must devise a comprehensive strategy to deal with the terrorists with iron hands, while declaring a full-fledged military operation against them, as any delay will further embolden these militants who will further intensify their subversive activities.
Email: [email protected]
Posted by Jasmine in STATE SPONSORED TERRORISM BY INDIA on July 19th, 2013
A former Indian investigator Satish Verma of Home Minister has disclosed that a member of the secret service team had accused that Indian governments staged terror attack on Lok Sabha and the 26/11 carnage in Mumbai. Notably, over 300 people were killed and injured during the attacks. As usually India stayed ISI responsible for these attacks. However, the alleged responsible for attacks Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru were apprehended and hanged till death.
Attacks on Mumbai and Parliament pushed two South Asian nuclear countries into the brink of war and put the regional peace at stake. It further strained already deteriorated relationship between two nations. The talks on Confidential Building Measures (CBM) which were started in the previous regime of Nawaz Sharif in 2004 were suspended as result of stated two attacks. Exchange of cultural groups was terminated while cancelling the visa of Pakistani actors who were on visit to India. At that time, Bal Thackeray (late), India’s Hindu terrorist too has advised his government to attack Pakistan without warning. He also stated that he is proud of extremist Hindus if at all they have launched Mumbai attacks. His statements are the true reflection of the exact mentality of extremist thoughts. Earlier reports are that US had asked Islamabad to allow New Delhi to attack some selected targets in Pakistan and later should not retaliate.
Moreover at that time, the major media group of Pakistan aired the documentary about Ajmal Kasab and tried to prove the involvement of Pakistani non state actors in Mumbai attacks but now after the statement of Satish Verma the same electronic channel yet to air half of that time which it spent in establishing Pakistan’s connection in Mumbai attack.
Anyhow, the Indian involvement in the case of Mumbai and Parliament was established when in the fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan, a key government official, R V S Mani submitted an affidavit in the court revealing that a member of CBI and SIC investigation team Satish Verma told him that the terrorists attacks on Parliament in Delhi and Mumbai terror attacks were pre-planned. He further explained that the objectives of attacks were strengthening of counter-terror legislation (sic). Actually, the fake encounter was also planned by the RAW to support anti-Muslim Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat state.
The Gujarat Police had claimed that Ishrat and the three others were Lashkar-e-Toiba members and had come to Gujarat to assassinate Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Ishrat’s family, however, has been maintaining that Ishrat was a college student who was struggling to run her family after her father’s death.
In fact the conspiracy behind Mumbai attack unveiled due to the controversy between RAW, Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and CBI. Notably, Anti Terrorist Squad was headed by Hemant Karkare, who was killed by RAW elements during the Mumbai attacks. It is worth mentioning here that Karkare, was the one who exposed the involvement of a notorious RAW’s official Lt Col Prohit’s involvement in blasting of Samjohta Express in 2007. In this connection Karkara’s wife has already filed a case against RAW in the Civil Court.
Apart from above narrated details there are many other facts which are enough to confirm Satesh Verm statement that “India is behind Mumbai and Parliament attacks’. For example, on February, 2009 Bangladeshi Foreign Minster Mr. Hassan admitted that Mumbai Drama was planned on their land.
According to Press Trust of India’s report of 17 February 2009, BJP leader L. K Advani demanded a judicial inquiry into the Mumbai terror attack, since it could not have taken place without local support. The ruling Congress instead accepting the opposition’s demand, had tried to hide the actual facts and failure of Indian intelligence agencies.
Former Interior Minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik also stated in a Press Conference in Islamabad that terrorist attack in Mumbai has planned in a number of countries, including India, Austria, Spain, Italy, Russia and US.
Moreover, in those days, a “Blue Water” Naval exercise was planned and conducted in Indian maritime with the theme of countering terrorist attack via sea route on Mumbai. Thus, attacking terrorists on Taj Mehal hotel without coming into the eyes of deployed and alert Naval Forces during exercise was next to impossible. It only proves the inability of Indian naval forces present in the sea. Furthermore, it is not possible for an untrained person to move from Thatta to Mumbai with the help of GPS on ordinary boats all the way in an open sea.
Earlier, Pakistan has also handed over a dossier to New Delhi to seek answers of 30 questions that have cropped up during the investigations for further probe into the attack. In this regard Islamabad has adopted a constructive, proactive, well-coordinated and coherent regional approach to deal with the Mumbai Issue. The diplomatic corps and world’s leadership expressed satisfaction over Pakistan action but on the other hand India never proceeded further except carrying out media warfare. Whereas, the responsibility displayed by Pakistan government demanded reciprocal actions from India too.
The terrorism can be controlled if all regional countries religiously and seriously interested in rectifying the real causes behind. India being a larger country should take steps to stop state terrorism against minorities and Kashmiris. But Satish disclosure once again made it clear that New Delhi is not serious in cooperating with Pakistan.
Therefore, it would be the duty of world community to pressurize India to stop fomenting terrorism in regional countries. The world should condemn India for attacking her economical capital and parliaments just to malign Pakistan. She must be pressed to hand over Col Purohit to Pakistan so that justice be granted to the victims of Samjhauta Express. The United Nations Organisation should also ask so-called secular state to ban Hindu extremists groups that are operating against over 200 million Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Several training camps are being maintained all along the western border and these are being used as launching pads for terrorist activities in Pakistan.
Probably Indian leadership has planned Mumbai drama and started proxy war to gain regional hegemony. The first proxy militia – Mukti Bahini in East Pakistan – was created and used by India in 1971 to invade Pakistani territory. And again she is operating in Balochistan funding BLA and TTP in FATA. RAW supported by Hindu Taliban is deceiving her government, national and international community from actual root cause of the problem i.e. communal violence and terrorism against minorities.
Thus, Satish Verma revelation of Indian involvement on Mumbai and parliament attacks is to malign Pakistan and ISI and nothing more than a cocktail story and blame game. Unfolding of this issue slowly and gradually is continuously causing embarrassment and giving shock to New Delhi on diplomatic and international fronts. However, international community should now raise voice for the families of Afzal Guru, Ajmal Kasab, wife of Karkare, and victims of Samjohta Express.
– Asian Tribune –
© 2024, All Rights Reserved by Pakistan Think Tank.
