Karachi Operation: Who is Weakening the Federation?

By Sajjad Shaukat

The present government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had launched the targeted operation in Karachi after obtaining consensus of all stakeholders like political parties, business community and members of civil society who wanted peace in Karachi. In this regard, Karachi had been handed over to the Rangers with power to take action against the culprits without any discrimination.

The ongoing operation against terrorists, target killers, kidnappers, land mafia and “Batha khaur” (Illegal money obtainers) continues unabated, while the Rangers with the help of Police have arrested several criminals besides capturing huge catches of arms and weapons including those who were found involved in corruption.

It is regrettable that due to their political exigency and in order to increase their vote bank, some political parties have been manipulating the Karachi operation at the cost of the federation.

In this context, in 2014, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ibad Khan had submitted his resignation, as MQM dubbed the operation with the pretext that it is against its office bearers. While, this party had itself supported the operation, and even demanded to hand over Karachi to Army. It was illogical reaction of the MQM which has dominating position in Karachi, and wanted to blackmail the federal government by creating hurdles in the operation. 

Similarly, Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali shah who is, now, opposing the operation had said on September 15, 2013 that the targeted operation initiated without any discrimination and the Rangers and Sindh Police had been directed that even not to spare any person belonging to the ruling party, if involved in crime.

In fact, MPA of MQM, Nadeem Hashmi was arrested on September 10, 2013 owing to firing at a police mobile in the Haideri area of the city in which the two policemen were killed. In the same month, some MQM workers were arrested, who were found involved in criminal activities, while the founder and leader of MQM Altaf Hussain had condemned the raid on MQM’s offices. 

The paramilitary force also proved that the MQM was behind the Baldia Town factory fire in which 250 persons were killed. On February 8, 2015, the Rangers also arrested a senior MQM worker namely Rafiq Rajput who not only ran a team of ‘hit men’ but was also involved in the May 12, 2007 carnage in the Karachi.

It is mentionable that Zulfiqar Mirza, Sindh Home Minister and Senior Vice President of the then ruling party—Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed on April 9, 2011 that he had been relieved from his ministry owing to pressure from the government’s coalition partner, the MQM. He revealed that the issue of target killing and extortion was just a ruse to remove him from his post. He added that the police had arrested the murderers of Geo News reporter Wali Khan Babar—the real “culprits belong to the MQM.”

In the recent past, Zulfiqar Mirza disclosed that the PPP leader and the co-chairman of the party Asif Ali Zardari and his close friends, including some persons of the PPP were involved in corruption.

Undoubtedly, the PPP and MQM have been ruling Karachi and Sindh for many years through their corrupt politicians, venal supporters and dishonest government officers. The Rangers’ operation has given a setback to their malpractices.  When these parties felt that they were losing their power and grip over Karachi and Sindh, their leaders started their utmost for halting this operation.

While, the Rangers’ operation has increased in pace and influence. On August 26, 2015, the Rangers have arrested Dr. Asim Hussain, a former adviser to the Prime Minister on petroleum and natural resources—the incumbent chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Sindh and a close associate of Asif Ali Zardari. This alarming arrest has made the PPP leaders insecure and fearful. Hence, they are crying foul play. The most disturbing thing for the PPP leadership is that Dr. Asim Hussain has been charged with corruption and his arrest could result into arrest of Asif Ali Zardari. Therefore, all the major PPP leaders like Asif Ali Zardari, Syed Khursheed Shah, the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Sheri Rehman and Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira have spoken against this arrest very vociferously. 

Asif Ali Zardari remarked, “The chief secretary of Sindh is on bail. All this unmistakably presents a clear pattern of political harassment and revenge. By doing so, Sindh has been immobilized under the direct orders from the Prime Minister’s House. If they want to conduct a fair accountability, they should first take action against a federal minister who had given a confessional statement before a magistrate that he had been involved in money laundering for the Sharif brothers. Only then we will know how clean the followers of the N-League are. The report of Justice Najafi on the Model Town killings should be made public and all involved in this gruesome murder of innocent people be arrested. All characters involved in the Asghar Khan case should also be apprehended.”

This statement clearly shows that Zardari is trying to put forward a charge-sheet against the PML-N. He is not interested to clarify the charges against the PPP’s inept government and corrupt politicians. 

Syed Khursheed Shah has also not felt any hesitation in threatening even the state. He said, “If former president Asif Ali Zardari is apprehended, there will be a war. Pakistan Peoples Party would fight repression in a democratic way from within the Parliament. The PPP is being victimized in Sindh and the ruling party must understand that political parties are its aides.”

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also expressed his anger over this arrest. While taking to the media, Syed Qaim Ali Shah said, “This is not fair and unwarranted. It is not appropriate to arrest any individual at will, we do not practice the law of the jungle in Sindh.”

These statements illustrate the real nature of the PPP and its leaders. The PPP has been ruling Sindh for many years but it has hopelessly failed to create peace and prosperity in the province, especially Karachi, due to its corrupt and inept leadership.

In this respect, the most shocking development is that in order to hide the corruption, PPP leaders have started using Sindh card by provoking the Sindhis against the federation. In their recent statements, both Zardari and Qaim Ali Shah have equated the Karachi operation with an attack on Sindh.

We have a volatile and potentially dangerous situation at hand which could draw in many elements to create political chaos. The question of Sindh and the allegations of victimization of the province have been accelerated by the irresponsible political leaders of the province. Everyone knows that in one way or the other, corruption, crime and terrorism have their possible links with political elements.

However, vitality and importance of the Karachi operation vis-à-vis role of the Sindh Rangers is noteworthy. Unlike the past, the peace have been restored in the city.

It is of particular attention that previous two operations in 1992 and 1994 had failed because of political expediencies. As a consequence, it could not achieve desired results and the city remained infested with terrorists and criminals. The Sindh government had failed in maintenance of law and order, providing good governance to the people due to corruption, as it also exposed its non-seriousness and callous attitude. Reportedly, since last 8 years of PPP tenure, 15 thousand people lost their lives in Karachi only. With such figures, PPP’s exploitation of Sindh card and politicization of rangers’ powers are unjustified.  

Besides, PPP’s adopted defiant role may be debated to expose immature, interest oriented and opportunistic politics of the party leadership with reference to Zardari’s self-centered politics.

It is mentionable that petty and parochial politics, ensuing into growing confrontation between Sindh and federal governments over “Rangers powers” issue is unwarranted and damaging for the nation as well as the democracy.

The loyalist Sindhis and the residents of Karachi must know that Karachi is Pakistan’s largest port and financial hub with the largest commercial markets, collecting 70 per cent of the country’s tax revenue. So, besides causing unrest in the city, creating instability in Pakistan, another aim of the PPP and MQM is to cripple the economy of the city which was intermittently brought to a halt with shut-down strikes—many shops including other business centers were forced to be closed, as noted in the past.

Nevertheless, it is the last opportunity to bring peace in Karachi and nation is ready to render any sacrifice.

Prolonging of the tensions in Sindh is creating uncertainty, thus leading to favourable conditions for outlaws to play their mean games. Moreover, it will undo the serious efforts of the Rangers in bringing down the crime rate in Karachi.

Efforts may be initiated at all forums to ‘depoliticise’ Sindh Police and build their policing capacity. Nonetheless, the patriot people of Sindh must be aware of the fact that for the sake of their political interests, some leaders of the PPP are misguiding them by using the Sindh card to weaken the federation.

From Tashkent to Lahore: A Tale of Broken Promises

Sarah Khan

Pakistan and India share a long history of broken promises, false hopes and suspended peace dialogues. Since 1947, occasionally leaders of India signed peace agreements on Pakistan’s proposals but none of these agreements could bring peace among the two neighbours due to extremist ideology followed by Hindus. Whenever Pakistani leaders took a step forward towards peace, it was responded with cold shoulder from Indian side. On few odd occasions when Indian political government agreed to resolve outstanding issues, the process was sabotaged by hardliners of RSS by stage managing terrorist incidents on Indian or Pakistani soil.

Tashkent Decalaration was signed between India and Pakistan on 10 January 1966. The peace agreement was moderated by the former Soviet Union after India and Pakistan engaged in war in 1965. The meeting began on January 4, 1966, and was chaired by then USSR premier Alexei Kosygin with then president Ayub Khan from Pakistan and Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahdur Shastri. It was all shattered into pieces years later when the India instigated Mukti Bahini’s in East Pakistan and waged war against Pakistan in 1971, leading to the accession of East Pakistan and along the way ignoring the pledges made in Tashkent declaration.

After war of 1971, Pakistan again sought to lay down the principles that should govern their future relations with India. Simla Agreement envisaged steps to be taken for further normalization of bilateral relations. Most importantly, it bound the two countries "to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations". In 1972, Bhutto several times, invited Indira Gandhi to visit Pakistan. Indira Gandhi insisted that, as the agreement required, all disputes should be settled bilaterally; but only to add that the Kashmir question was already settled. Pakistani foreign minister Sahibzada Yaqub Khan said on June 3, 1986, that neither country had proposed a discussion on Kashmir in pursuance of the pact. Pakistan’s first formal proposal for a meeting “to initiate negotiations on the settlement of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of Article 6 of the Simla Agreement” was made in a letter which prime minister Nawaz Sharif wrote on July 14, 1992 to prime minister Narsimha Rao after militancy had erupted in Kashmir. Simla was violated by India as it militarily occupied the Siachen Glacier in the early 1980's. The "agreement" did not last.

In 1993, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Robin Raphel said: “It is a simple fact that the Simla Agreement has not been very effective up to this point … it’s fine to discuss the Kashmir dispute under the Simla accord, but it needs to happen and it hasn’t thus far. Therefore ... it has not been very effective” — 20 years after it was concluded, an eloquent comment on its irrelevance to a solution.

The agreed text of the Agra Declaration of July 16, 2001, on which the Vajpayee government backed out, did not make even a ritual obeisance to the Simla pact either in the preamble or in the text proper. The pact was now history. The provisions on restoration of the status quo before the war were worked out. The rest fell by the wayside.

In the early hours of February 19, 2007, sixty-eight people, mostly Pakistani civilians were killed and scores more injured in a terrorist attack on Samjotha . India’s National Investigation Agency had concluded that Swami Aseemanand was the mastermind behind the blasts. Aseemanand’s confessional statement points towards involvement of government agencies and serving military officers in this incident. In a bid to cover-up the matter, investigation on this gory incident has been slowed down and all main culprits, including Swami Aseemanand, are on bail. Whenever Pakistan takes up this matter with India, instead of giving an explanation, India shows attitude and starts crying about Mumbai incident. Sole survivor out of the attackers of Mumbai incident, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged in an indecent haste that has hampered the ongoing investigations in to the Mumbai attacks.

Interestingly, one of the Indian home ministry official, had submitted an affidavit in Indian court stating that the Mumbai attack and an earlier attack on Indian parliament were false flag operations planned and conducted by the Indian intelligence agencies to garner support for enacting tougher anti-terror laws. Later, under duress, he withdrew the affidavit. According to Times of India, RVS Mani, who as home ministry under-secretary signed the affidavits submitted in court had said that Satish Verma, until recently a part of the Central Bureau of Investigation-SIT probe team, told him that both the 2001 attack on Indian parliament and the 2008 Mumbai attacks were set up “with the objective of strengthening the counter-terror legislation

In May 2014, Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif again took initiative by attending inauguration ceremony of Narenders Modi as PM of India. Both sides agreed to resume Secretary level talks. Bilateral talks at the foreign secretary level between India and Pakistan were shelved following a rendezvous between the Pakistani high commissioner in India and the leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, a Kashmiri separatist group. The Indian government delivered a message of “its either us or them” to the Pakistani side and the high commissioner’s actions have effectively erased any positive momentum in the fragile bilateral relationship. Since then Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers have met in Ufa and Paris at the sidelines of climate change summit. Most recently Indian PM paid a surprise visit to Pakistan on 25^th December on wedding ceremony of Pakistani PM grand daughter. This all was being interpreted as a positive step towards “Comprehensive Dialogue” but on 2^nd January Indian extremist RSS stage managed an attack on Indian airbase near Pakistani border and again impeded the dialogue process which was scheduled to be held on 15^th January this year.  The upcoming Indian trajectory is clear: no matter what Pakistan does to stem terrorism, Pakistan’s effort to end terrorism would have to meet Indian evaluation standards, and naturally it won’t. Hence, no dialogue. And to talk to India, Pakistan must forget about Hurryiat Conference leadership, Kashmir and water issues; also stop talking about bringing to book the perpetrators of bombing of Pakistani train Samjhauta express.

Preconditioning the dialogue with favourable environment to India is a non-starter. Dialogues are initiated to make the environment favourable. Apparently India has taken a decision to freeze dialogue with Pakistan for a decade or so—barring occasional photo-ops to divert international pressures. Pakistan should not go overboard in commencing dialogue with India, unless India rationalizes its overall approach toward Pakistan. Keeping in view the prevailing Indian mindset, Pakistan should watch out its tendency of hurling unilateral concessions to India.  It must be conveyed to India and international community that Pakistan is committed to a result-oriented, sustainable and meaningful dialogue with India to address all issues of mutual concern including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. India’s new trend of focusing on the issue of terrorism only is a dangerous strategy; it implies that India no longer wants to have a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan.

Under the Cover of Pathankot Episode?

By Sajjad Shaukat

In the aftermath of the terror attack at Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot, on January 2, this year,

which resulted into the death of six militants and eight personal of the Indian security forces in a four day’s gunbattle, India has been pressurizing Pakistan by saying that secretary-level talks scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January 15, 2016 will remain postponed.

While, Pakistan which wants to advance the peace process with India has offered its full cooperation in the probe of Pathonkot incident.

In this regard, on January 8, a high level meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was held in which chief of army staff and DG, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) also participated. The meeting also discussed the Pathankot incident and expressed Pakistan’s condemnation. Reiterating commitment to cooperate with India to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism in the region, it was decided to remain in touch with the Indian government—expressed the goodwill generated by the recent high level contacts, the two countries would remain committed to a sustained, meaningful and comprehensive dialogue process.

But, India is not serious in advancing Pak-India dialogue process, agreed upon between the two countries during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Pakistan. Under the cover of Pathankot episode, New Delhi wants to postpone the secretary-level parleys, as part of its delaying tactics in settling various issues with Islamabad.

However, first of all, various contradictions of Indian high officials show that India has itself orchestrated the episode of Pathankot assault. In this respect, Indian Intelligence agencies had already alerted security agencies about the possible terror group’s planning of the attack, after tracing the phone calls of the militants. Following the alert, Western Air Command chief Air Marshal SB Deo had reached Pathankot air base on the same day of night himself to take stock of security preparations. One day before, the terrorists had also hijacked the car of Indian Superintend of Police (SP), Gurdaspur, Salwinder Singh, which was used by them to reach the base. SP, his friend Rajesh Verma, and cook Madan Gopal were abducted and afterwards released.

Latest reports disclose that the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has been entrusted with the attack probe, is questioning the SP, his friend and cook, deliberately connecting him with Pakistan’s banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad and spy agency, ISI.

Earlier, without any investigation and evidence, since the first day of the incident, Indian media and top civil and military officials claimed that the attackers had arrived from Pakistani Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, and had links with Jaish-e-Mohammad and ISI.

The fact is that none had crossed the highly secured border from the Pakistan side and Jaish-e-Muhammad had been banned by Pakistan several years ago. Quite contrarily, Indian and foreign media have disclosed that Pakistan-based Kashmir’s militant body United Jihad Council on January 4 claimed responsibility for the Pathankot airbase attack. Besides, why the SP, his friend and cook were spared by the terrorists, proving them an opportunity to alert the senior authorities about the plot. How could the terrorists still penetrate the air base when some 200 commandoes had been airlifted to the base on January 1 and the base security was fully alert? As regards the number of the terrorists, New Delhi started from four and by adding one each day, reached the figure of 11.

Meanwhile, during queries of media persons, Indian home minister could not give appropriate replies to all these contradictory developments.

In fact, like other past episodes, Indian intelligence agencies, especially RAW have themselves arranged terror attacks at the Pathankot airbase to fulfil a number of anti-Pakistan designs.

As regards the case of cross-border terrorism, India has shown ambivalent approach which can be judged from some other developments. In this connection, on July 27, 2015, three gunmen dressed in army uniforms killed at least seven people, including three civilians and four policemen in the Indian district of Gurdaspur, Punjab. Without any investigation, Indian high officials and media started accusing Pakistan, its banned militant outfits and intelligence agencies for the Gurdaspur incident. Indian Police remarked that the attackers were from Indian-held Kashmir, and some said that they were Sikh separatists, while Indian Punjab police chief claimed that the three gunmen were Muslim, but as yet unidentified. Contradicting speculations, India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that the gunmen came from Pakistan.

Khalistan Movement Chief Manmohan Singh stated that the Gurdaspur incident is “a conspiracy of Indian secret agency RAW to defame Pakistan.”

Notably, on December 31, 2014, prior to the US President Obama’s second visit to New Delhi, Indian intelligence agencies orchestrated a boat drama to defame Pakistan, allegedly reporting that a Pakistani fishing boat as a Pakistan-based outfit group Lashkar-e-Taiba was intercepted by Indian Coast Guards, off the coast of Porebandar, Gujarat. And Indian Coast Guard crew set the boat on fire and it exploded. The Indian government had claimed that it had foiled another 26/11-type attack of Mumbai. But, its reality exposed Indian terrorism, when some Indian high officials admitted that there was no such boat which came from Pakistan.

In case of the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008 and assault of the Indian parliament of December 13, 2001, without any enquiry, Indian high officials and media had started deliberate blame game against Pakistan by alleging that Mujahideen and the banned Lashkar-e-Tayba based in Pakistan and ISI were behind those terror events.

It is of particular attention that on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma disclosed that terror attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws.

Nonetheless, it clearly proves that under the cover of the orchestrated Pathonkot episode, India wanted to postpone the secretary-level dialogue, while shifting the the blame game to Pakistan, as New Delhi is non-serious in resolving all disputes, especially Kashmir issue with Pakistan.

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: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

India Exporting Terrorism in the Region

Sarah Khan

South Asian states especially those bordered with India have been suffering at the hands of terrorists, insurgents, extremists and separatists since decades. India, an extremist Hindu ideological state remains the exporter of terrorism in its neighbouring countries. Almost all neighbours of India to include Pakistan, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh are suffering hard at the hands of India. The country ruled by extremists of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which mentors the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are sowing seeds of terrorism throughout the region. No country is safe from their nefarious infiltrations. Even minorities inside the Indian state are not safe from cruelties and unjust behavior of extremist Hindus of RSS. In the recent past, Hindu extremist Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has stated that India will use terrorism to counter terrorism from other countries. The statement of Indian defence minister is open and blatant admission and declaration of sponsoring terrorism. Indian defence minister specifically mentioned that regulation will not be used to quell terrorist activities and terrorism will be promoted instead. The statement of using terrorism as a tool in other countries by a government official of India is indicative of Indian involvement in spreading terrorism in the region.

Pakistan is the country which is most hardly hit by terrorism supported by Indian RAW and RSS. During visit to Bangladesh Indian Prime Minister Nerendra Modi himself confessed that “India played a significant role in creation of Bangladesh in 1971”. In June 2015, BBC published a report which stated that Indian RAW was supporting, training, arming and financing military wing of MQM which spreads terror in Karachi which was once economic hub of Pakistan. In Sindh and Baluchistan India is supporting separatists group to dismember Pakistan as it did in 1971.

In Nepal, India is arming and training Madhesis, Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region. They are protesting against division of their ancestral homeland. India has closed the main trading point near Raxaul, halting supply of essential goods from India, causing an acute shortage of fuel in Nepal. Similarly, in Sri Lanka India has supported the Tamil Tigers for long to create turmoil in the country. India became more actively involved in the late 1980s, and on June 5, 1987, the Indian Air Force airdropped food parcells to Jaffnna while it was under siege by Sri Lankan forces. At a time when the Sri Lankan government stated they were close to defeating the LTTE, India dropped 25 tons of food and medicine by parachute into areas held by the LTTE in a direct move of support toward the rebels. After decades of insurgency/ terrorism supported by India, Sri Lanka was able to defeat the insurgency with the help/ support of Pakistan Army.

Whenever Pakistan makes strides towards creating peace in Afghanistan, Indian extremists carry out terror acts on Pakistan and Afghanistan territory in order to create hurdles in the way of peace and prosperity in the region. This time RAW and its extremist even staged attacks in their own country (Pathankot Air Base) to halt the comprehensive peace process which was likely to be initiated after visit of Modi to Pakistan. The timings of attacks in Afghanistan and India are very critical. In Afghanistan, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff met President Ashraf Ghani to revive peace dialogues with Taliban and soon after its announcement Indian consulate was attacked by spoilers of peace. In India the attack on Pathankot air base occurred only few days after surprise visit of Indian PM Modi to Pakistan and revival of comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan. Indians extremist Hindus started to point fingers towards Pakistan which will again halt the peace process. Pakistan Army is putting its sincere efforts to revive peace in the region but extremists in the region remains big hurdle for which India and Afghanistan need to play their role.

Confession by head of government, statements by ministers and international media reports on Indian/ RAW involvement in terrorist related activities in Pakistan leaves no doubt that India is the biggest exporter of terrorism in the region and international organizations and US/ West take actions to penalize India.

Who is Behind Pathonkot Airbase Attack?

By Sajjad Shaukat

On January 2, this year, India a terrorist attack when a heavily-armed group of militants, wearing army uniforms stormed the Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot, located near the Pakistan border.

The crossfire between the Indian security forces and the terrorists have continued on the fourth day during search and combing operation inside the Pathankot airbase. On January 5, an Indian Air Force official told the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) that the operation was stepped up. But, firing could be heard from inside during night of January 4 and morning of January 5. An Indian military official said a fifth terrorist was killed on the third day of the siege and at least one attacker remained in the complex, as troops worked to secure the sprawling compound.

Indian sources revealed on January 5 that during the gunbattle, so far five terrorist and seven personal of the security forces including one Lt Col Niranjan of the National Security Guard (NSG) have been killed, while the operation at the base continues. But, the same day, Indian defence minister said that the operation finally came to end.

The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement: “Pakistan condemns the terrorist incident in Pathankot…we extend heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India and the bereaved families. Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region.”

On the other side, without any evidence and investigation, since the first day of the terror attack at the Pathankot airbase, Indian media, its leading newspapers and the TV channels started a deliberate blame game against Pakistan by accusing the latter and its primary intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding the episode. In one way or the other, Indian officials also followed the blame game against Pakistan.

However, we need an appropriate analysis to know as to who (Pakistan or India) is behind the terror attack at Pathankot airbase.

In this regard, like the past practice, the Indian media, citing security officials reported that the terrorists were speaking Punjabi with each other and they hailed from Pakistan-based Jaish-i-Muhammad group—the terrorists were supported and financed by the ISI.

The Indian media further claimed that the attackers had arrived from Pakistani Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, another revelation made by Indian officials, even when the operation against terrorists continued in Indian Air Force base of Pathankot. While, Indian Superintend of Police who was abducted one day before the assault told that the terrorists were speaking in Urdu.

Indian Intelligence agencies had already alerted security agencies about the possible terror group’s planning of the attack. They also claimed that they traced the phone calls of the militants. On January 1, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had alerted the Indian Air Force, NSG and Punjab Police about a possibility of terror attacks. Following the alert, Western Air Command chief Air Marshal SB Deo had reached Pathankot air base on the same day of night himself to take stock of security preparations. Some local residents also confirmed that at the night of January 1, there were movements of the security forces in the area. While, the militants entered the Pathankot airbase at 3 A.M on January 2. One day before, the terrorists had also hijacked the Indian SP’s car which was used by them to reach the base.

The fact is that none had crossed the highly secured border from the Pakistan side, the hijacking of the Indian SP’s car and the alleged use of his phone was a drama and so was the charge that the attackers were linked to an organization Jaish-e-Muhammad which had been banned by Pakistan several years ago. Quite contrarily, Indian and foreign media have disclosed that Pakistan-based Kashmir’s militant body United Jihad Council on January 4 claimed responsibility for the Pathankot airbase attack. Besides, why the SP and his cook were spared by the terrorists, proving them an opportunity to alert the senior authorities about the plot. How could the terrorists still penetrate the air base when some 200 commandoes had been airlifted to the base on January 1 and the base security was fully alert?

In the evening of January 2, Indian home minister announced that the operation was over and four terrorists were killed. But, the operation again started on January 3, as he indicated that some militants are still hiding in the base. As regards the number of the terrorists, New Delhi started from four and by adding one each day, reached the figure of 11.

Meanwhile, during queries of media persons, Indian home minister could not give appropriate replies to all these contradictory developments. Contradictory statements of the Indian military and civil officials have also been recorded, during the operation. According to latest information, India has guessed that the operation would continue for a few days.

As a matter of fact, Indian intelligence agencies, especially RAW have themselves arranged terror attacks at the Pathankot airbase to fulfil a number of anti-Pakistan designs.

In this respect, in the recent past, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan to meet his counterpart Nawaz Sharif. The two countries decided to start a dialogue process to resolve outstanding issues, with the foreign secretaries of both countries, scheduled to meet in Islamabad on January 15, 2016. Earlier, New Delhi had itself suspended the talks with Pakistan.  But, under the cover of Pathankot terror attack, Indian government said that it is “mulling options” regarding holding of Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan in Islamabad.

It is mentionable that on November 26, 2008, several persons were killed in the simultaneous terror attacks in Mumbai. Without any investigation, Indian high officials and media had started blaming Pakistan.

Under the cover of the Mumbai catastrophe, India began a deliberate propaganda campaign against Pakistan and tried to isolate the latter in the comity of nations by showing that Islamabad was sponsoring terrorism in India. Indian top officials and media anchors had remarked that Indian Mujahideen and the banned Lashkar-e-Tayba based in Pakistan and ISI were behind the Mumbai terror attacks.

Similarly, on December 13, 2001, Indian parliament was attacked by five terrorists. Without any proof, Indian top officials and TV channels started a blame game against Pakistan by involving the banned Lashkar-e-Tayba and ISI in relation to the Parliament assault.

Availing the pretext of the parliament attack and Mumbai catastrophe, New Delhi had, twice, suspended the process of dialogue with Islamabad in wake of its highly provocative actions like mobilization of troops. Pakistan had also taken defensive steps to meet any Indian prospective aggression or surgical strikes. But, India failed in implementing its aggressive plans, because Pakistan also possesses atomic weapons.

Particularly, on May 27, 2014, Indian Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shariff in the oath-taking ceremony proved faultless, because Modi raised baseless issues like terrorism or cross-border terrorism as pre-condition to advance the Pak-Indian dialogue.

It is of particular attention that on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma disclosed that terror attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws.

It has clearly proved that Indian secret agencies; particularly RAW had arranged terror assaults of parliament and Mumbai.

While, during the talks between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, at Ufa, Islamabad has conveyed to New Delhi a comprehensive agenda to discuss all outstanding issues, including Kashmir as well as terrorism. But, New Delhi’s insistence to restrict the agenda for the dialogue to terrorism or cross-border terrorism only, demonstrated India’s confused policy towards Pakistan.

Indian foreign secretary level talks were held in Islamabad on March 3, 2015. In this context, Indian External Affairs Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry discussed contentious issues including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other bilateral issues. While, in 2014, India postponed the Secretary level talks with Pakistan; under the pretext that during his Indian visit Sartaj Aziz met Kashmiri leaders.

In fact, a lack of seriousness on India’s part to settle all disputes, especially Kashmir issue has compelled New Delhi to follow a self-contradictory and confused strategy towards Islamabad. Hence, India has been arranging various terrorism-related events to shift the blame game to Pakistan, as it does not want to settle issues with Islamabad, particularly Kashmir dispute.

As regards the case of cross-border terrorism, India has shown ambivalent approach which can be judged from some other developments. In this connection, on July 27, 2015, three gunmen dressed in army uniforms killed at least seven people, including three civilians and four policemen in the Indian district of Gurdaspur, Punjab.

Without any investigation, Indian high officials and media started accusing Pakistan, its banned militant outfits and intelligence agencies for the Gurdaspur incident. Indian Police remarked that the attackers were from Indian-held Kashmir, and some said that they were Sikh separatists, while Indian Punjab police chief claimed that the three gunmen were Muslim, but as yet unidentified. Contradicting speculations, India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that the gunmen came from Pakistan.

Khalistan Movement Chief Manmohan Singh stated that the Gurdaspur incident is “a conspiracy of Indian secret agency RAW to defame Pakistan.”

Besides, on December 31, 2014, prior to the US President Obama’s second visit to New Delhi, Indian intelligence agencies orchestrated a boat drama to defame Pakistan, allegedly reporting that a Pakistani fishing boat as a Pakistan-based outfit group Lashkar-e-Taiba was intercepted by Indian Coast Guards, off the coast of Porebandar, Gujarat. And Indian Coast Guard crew set the boat on fire and it exploded. The Indian government had claimed that it had foiled another 26/11-type attack of Mumbai. But, its reality exposed Indian terrorism, when some Indian high officials admitted that there was no such boat which came from Pakistan.

Likewise, India intends to obtain various hidden purposes by blaming Islamabad for terrorism. First of all, it wants to divert the attention of the international community from the involvement of RAW which has well-established its network in Afghanistan, and is fully assisting cross-border incursions and terror-activities in various regions of Pakistan through Baloch separatist elements, Jundullah and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) including their affiliated outfits. On a number of occasions, these insurgent groups claimed responsibility for their acts of sabotage.

It is worth-mentioning that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif accompanied by the DG of ISI went to Kabul on December 17, 2014. During his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, President Ashraf Ghani and the ISAF commander, he presented the evidence of linkage between the massacre of children at Peshawar school and TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan. He also asked about action against the TTP and handing over of its chief Mullah Fazlullah to Pakistan.

It is regrettable that New Delhi is destabilizing the regional countries in general and Afghanistan and Pakistan in particular. In order to obtain its secret designs, aimed at augmenting Indian hegemony in the region, India is foiling the peace process between Afghanistan and Pakistan by managing terrorist attacks like the recent ones in Afghanistan which revived old blame game against Islamabad.

And, waging a prolonged war in Afghanistan, the US and other NATO countries have realized that after the withdrawal of foreign troops, Afghanistan would be thrown in an era of uncertainly and civil war. They recognize the fact and terrorism or stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan is interrelated. Hence, US-led developed nations which also spent billions of dollars for the development of Afghanistan have repeatedly agreed that without Islamabad’s help, stability cannot be achieved there. In this regard, a meeting was hosted by Pakistan between the Afghan officials and representatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan in Murree (On July 8, this year) and dialogue were conducted for an Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, while the representatives of China and America also participated in the meeting.

In this backdrop of growing engagements of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US, Indian desperation in Afghanistan is increasing. Moreover, New Delhi is trying to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Recent terror-attacks in Pakistan and Balochistan might be noted as instance. Indian RAW has also created a heavily funded China-Pakistan and Afghanistan specific desk to target growing Pak-China-Afghanistan relations.

Furthermore, on the direction of the Indian leader of the fundamentalist party BJP and Prime Minister Modi, Indian forces have accelerated unprovoked shelling across the Line of Control and Working Boundary, while creating war-like situation between Pakistan and India.

Notably, Islamabad has raised the question of Indian cross-border terrorism and RAW involvement in Pakistan at the UNO forum, with strong evidence which was also shown to the US.

It is notable that renowned thinkers, Hobbes, Machiavelli and Morgenthau opine that sometimes, rulers act upon immoral activities like deceit, fraud and falsehood to fulfill their countries’ selfish aims. But such a sinister politics was replaced by new trends such as fair-dealings, reconciliation and economic development. Regrettably, India is still following past politics in modern era.

Without any doubt, we can conclude that India is behind the Pathonkot terror attack in order to obtain various goals against Pakistan.

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: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

‘Demoralization’ of the US-led Forces and the ISIS Terrorists

By Sajjad Shaukat

Present ‘different war’ is simply a clash of wills between two entities. Military thinkers agree that although the physical force will determine the type and scale of war, yet it is the will to fight or moral force which determines the outcome of war.

Clausewitz puts it this way, “One might say that the physical force seems little more than the wooden hilt, while moral factors are the precious metal, the real weapon.”

In his book, “Fighting Power: German and U.S. Army Performance, 1939-1945″, Creveld identifies the elements of moral force, whom he calls “fighting power, the willingness to fight and the readiness, if necessary, to die.” The greater these elements, the less vulnerable an armed force will be to ‘demoralization’. Quite opposite to ‘demoralization’, moral force, then, is the crucial factor in determining the combat power of any belligerent.

In this regard, more than 14 years have passed and the US-led NATO forces have been facing defeatism in Afghanistan in their longest war of history. The ambush attacks on their military installations and personnel by the Afghan freedom fighters have continued, particularly, targeting American bases, check posts and armed persons. While, the US-led troopers and their vehicles are equipped with sophisticated weaponry and modern technology, but they have badly failed in crushing the stiff resistance of the Afghan Taliban.

Likewise, in case of Iraq, the US-led forces occupied the country in 2003. When Iraqis started a war of liberation, Anglo-American forces became helpless before the stiff resistance of the freedom fighters. In that respect, the US President George. W. Bush had repeatedly said that Iraq is the main battleground of the ‘different war’ against the militants, and he would not withdraw the forces. However, US faced a humiliated defeat in that country.

In fact, despite their qualitative and numerical superiority over Iraqis (During occupation) and Afghans who are well-equipped with the elements of moral force, and have been showing unmatched courage by sacrificing their lives, the US-led forces have been demoralized.

We can note the same moral force or spirit of sacrificing their own lives in Pakistan’s armed forces, during the successful military operation, “Zarb-e-Azb”, which compelled the Indian-supported insurgents of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to retreat from North Waziristan Agency and other tribal areas. The jets of Pakistan Air Force have bombed militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, and killed thousands of insurgents including foreign militants, while Pak Army has also killed several terrorists through ground offensive, and many of them surrendered before the army. And during street to street fighting, without bothering for their lives, and by air-dropping commandos at the risky places, Pak army made a great headway in disrupting the Taliban supply routes and links. While, there is a significant decline in motivation of suicide bombers, because most of the TTP Taliban have either been killed or fled their areas—they have been demoralized. What the US-led NATO forces could not do in the last 14 years in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s armed forces did within 14 months, while, geographically, the North Waziristan is the largest Agency and has the same topography like Afghanistan. It is also mentionable that unlike the American CIA which is part of the US global war on terror, Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency ISI captured several terrorists in Pakistan’s various regions, including suicide-jackets and weapons—thus thwarted their subversive acts.

Displaying moral courage like Pakistan’s armed forces, within three months, the Russian-led coalition of Iran, Iraq, the Syrian army-the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Lebanon-based Hezbollah have broken the backbone of the US-CIA-backed ISIS terrorists, Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front, the rebels and the mercenaries who have been fighting against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government and against the current Iraqi regime as part of America’s double game (Of regime change). In this context, it is owing to the high moral force that Russian-led combatants have destroyed the strongholds, supply lines and installations of the US-led entities. Besides killing several commanders of the CIA-assisted militants, they have shattered the command and control system of the ISIS and their affiliated terrorist outfits. These demoralized militants have fled most of the areas in Syria and Iraq, which have been recaptured by the NDF and Iraqi military which is well-motivated with the fighting spirit of audacity and boldness. In this regard, recently Iraqi forces have defeated the ISIS terrorists and liberated the city of Ramadi which was occupied by the group in 2014. Now, without caring for their lives, Russia-led forces are successfully achieving their objectives.

Here question arises, as to why unlike the Russia-led combatants, the US-led forces have been demoralized. In this connection, it is important to know that in every kind of war, the victory or defeat depends upon the soldiers who know that for whom they are fighting for, and for what cause.  

In this context, Russian President Putin has pointed out that he was exposing the secret designs of the US global war on terror—New World Order agents, their collaboration with the Zionist-led regime in America and Israel including fake war against ISIS. Regarding NATO countries, Putin also clarified by saying that he is attacking the New World Order, “not because he wants to establish some kind of super-power entity in the Western world, but because the New World Order is imposing an irrational, irresponsible and unlivable ideology upon much of the West.”

The people of the Russian Federation are in unity with the Russian forces, which is the main reason behind their great courage. Similar is true in case of the Syria’s NDF and Iraq-Iran military entities.

On the other side, America-led forces know that they are fighting for the interests of the Zionist Jews and Israel. Particularly, the US military personnel are well-aware of the facts that they have been sent abroad—Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere in the world to maintain the supremacy of Israel, instead of protecting America whose citizens have been facing multi-faceted crises due to the prolonged phony war on terror. It is the major factor which have demoralized the US forces.

Obama’s dual policy and contradictory approach have also demoralized the US-led forces. In this respect, earlier, he had ordered the Defense Department to abandon the goal of training the Syrian rebels, after the failure of the US-supported rebels to topple Assad’s government, but, afterwards, he decided to send 50 Special Forces to Syria to help in eliminating the ISIS terrorists. Similarly, he agreed to keep the Syrian President Assad in power, but, later on, he backed out from his statement and remarked that the Assad would have to go. Then, again, he is favouring the Vienna meeting where the US Secretary of State John Kerry has agreed to maintain Assad in power. Meanwhile, ordinary Americans have been criticizing the double game of President Obama, military establishment and the US useless proxy wars which are being waged for the interests of Israel, at the cost of American tax-payers.

While comparing factors of moral force and ‘demoralization’ in connection with the combatants of this ‘different conflict’, it is also of particular attention that despite the use of every possible technique of state terrorism, the well-equipped Israeli and Indian security forces have, totally, failed in suppressing the wars of liberation in the occupied territories of the Palestine and Kashmir where freedom fishers’ resistance continues unabated.

‘Demoralization’ of the US-backed forces in Afghanistan, Syria, controlled territories of the Palestine etc. have resulted into their frustration and depression. Hence, they are killing the innocent persons through special military operations and aerial bombardment. Likewise, the US-assisted ISIS terrorists and their affiliated militant groups have also been massacring the innocent people, including their own warriors who have vacated the regions in Syria and Iraq. Many demoralized ISIS militants have deserted their comrades. They have also lost the support of local Muslims who have come to know that these brutal militants are distorting the image of Islam, and are misinterpreting Jihad which does not permit the any sort of terrorism. Moreover, in frustration, US have so far killed several soldiers of its own army and those of Afghan army in the friendly fire incidents, especially in Afghanistan.

Without any doubt, we can conclude that the US-led forces and the ISIS terrorists have been demoralized in this ‘different war’, as they are fighting for the supremacy of Israel in the entire world.

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: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

Question of Plebiscite in Kashmir

By Sajjad Shaukat

Every year, January 5 is celebrated in remembrance of the pledges of the UNO which had guaranteed the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people through plebiscite, while these people have been living under Indian occupation for the last six decades.

During the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan according to the British-led formula. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu who was ruling over the J&K in connivance with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India. 

The design to forcibly wrest Kashmir began to unfold on August 16, 1947, with the announcement of the Radcliffe Boundary Award. It gave the Gurdaspur District—a majority Muslim area to India to provide a land route to the Indian armed forces to move into Kashmir. There was a rebellion in the state forces, which revolted against the Maharaja and were joined by Pathan tribesmen. Lord Mountbatten ordered armed forces to land in Srinagar. 

However, Indian forces invaded Srinagar on 27 October 1947 and forcibly occupied Jammu and Kashmir in utter violation of the partition plan and against the wishes of the Kashmiri people. 

When Pakistan responded militarily against the Indian aggression, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on January 01, 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir.

It is mentionable that the Security Council adopted resolution 47 (1948) of 21 April 1948 which promised a plebiscite under UN auspices to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to determine whether they wish to join Pakistan or India. On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its promise of holding plebiscite. Instead, in March 1965, the Indian Parliament passed a bill, declaring Kashmir a province of India-an integral part of the Indian union.

The very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organised themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to suppress through various forms of state terrorism.

Passing through various phases, the struggle of Kashmiris which has become an interaction between the Indian state terrorism led by the Indian security forces and war of liberation by the freedom fighters keeps on going unabated.

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Occupied Kashmir through various machinations. In this regard, as already mentioned that India forcibly occupied Kashmir in gross violation of the “Partition Plan of the Indian Subcontinent, but, through the so-called-Instrument of Accession of October 27, 1947 which is illegal, and remains controversial, New Delhi justifies its hold on the Kashmir.

Nevertheless, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities.

In fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces.

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves.

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

Nonetheless, there must be no controversy over the question of plebiscite in Kashmir. It is again crucified that in response to India’s case, the UN Security Council had adopted a resolution on January 20, 1948, setting up the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) to investigate and mediate the dispute. A resolution adopted by the UNCIP on January 5, 1949 is described by some jurists as a supplementary to the UN resolution passed on August 13, 1948, which approved a ceasefire by ascertaining the future status of the territory in accordance with the will of the people. It clearly stated that the question of the accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite—the Secretary General of the United Nations will, in agreement with the Commission, nominate a Plebiscite Administrator. And the Plebiscite Administrator shall derive from the State of Jammu and Kashmir the powers he considers necessary for organizing the plebiscite.

Regrettably, sixty-seven years have passed. Now, it is an open secret that unabated Indian state terrorism was directed to subdue the freedom sentiment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In 2008 and 2010, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Srinagar and other towns of Jammu and Kashmir with the demand of their right to self-determination. This protests continue unabated. Recently, instead of respecting the sentiments of these people, Indian troops and police personnel responded with bullets, teargas shells and batons.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations—the speech of Pakistan’s prime minister and his meeting with the American president, highlighting the Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people.

We can conclude that every year, the Kashmiris and their brethren in Pakistan, and those living all over the world observe January 5 as the day of remembrance of the pledges of the UNO which had guaranteed the right of self-determination to the Kashmiri people through plebiscite.

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: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com