Pakistan is being driven to desperation. Taliban, ‘made in Islamabad’, are bleeding Pakistan profusely. The uncontrollable jihadi movement, meant to be India-specific, has recoiled on the perpetrators themselves. Insurgency is at its peak. There is hardly any sign of abatement.
Pakistan has acquired a new hue. Terrorism is now Pakistan’s new emblem. All educational institutions, including universities, have been closed in Pakistan, for fear of Taliban. The Army has launched a major offensive to wrest control of the lawless South Waziristan.
Soothsayers’ oracles have started coming true and taking shape. There were a lot of warnings for Pakistan. Analysts were given to understand that Pakistan would become a ‘failed state’. David Kilcullen, a specialist in counter-terrorism, had specified a time frame of six months for Pakistan, when it will ‘collapse into utter chaos’. He is a former U S Military Advisor. An Atlantic Council Report, co-authored by Senators John Kerry and Chuck Hagel had warned: “We are running out of time to help Pakistan change from its present course towards increasing economic and political instability and even ultimate failure.” Now war within Pakistan is visible.
The radicals, patronized by General Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s first powerful dictator, are towing the Islamic nation on way to economic collapse, and social disarray.
Saner elements in Pakistan are tetchy about October 10 audacious attack on powerful military establishment in Rawalpindi by Tehrik-e-Taliban, once considered a ‘valuable asset’ as a destabilizing force. It is eye opening that 22-hour dramatic siege of the Army Headquarters resulted in the killing of over 20 people, including a brigadier and a lieutenant colonel. It indicates to what extent the Taliban can stretch their arms to prove the clairvoyant right.
Ostensibly, it seems to be a prologue to the dismemberment of the beleaguered Islamic country, in possession of nuclear weapons. The main aim of the Taliban, raised by ISI, is to challenge the writ of the Pakistan state and seize the weapons of mass destruction for annihilation of the ‘infidels’.
The Pakistan Army is engaged in a do-or-die military operation in South Waziristan, the stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Five day long offensive till October 21, has left 105 people killed, including a score of army men in the battered region.
What happened in Rawalpindi is mind-boggling. Not only Taliban but also Al Qaeda is involved in the brazen act. The General Headquarters is considered one of the best –guarded in the world.
The Army has ruled Pakistan for over 30 years. It is the Army that matters in Pakistan. It is queer how the hostage drama could continue for long hours, and how Taliban could engage itself in killing at ease army personnel, in a bid to ‘capsize’ Pakistan state.
The U S Secretary of State Mrs Hillary Clinton was filled with awe and horror. She had to announce at an impromptu press conference in London that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are safe. But how long? It is anybody’s guess. Taliban are not alone in the race to get hold of the nuclear weapons. It is ultimately Al Qaeda’s game plane.
Ironically enough, the U S is still groping in the dark about categorizing ‘good Taliban and bad Taliban’. Former Pakistani intelligence Chief Jawed Ashraf Qazi had forewarned Pakistan that militants are well organized and ‘if the Army takes action, they are able to hit back.’ The climax reached when Taliban attacked the Headquarters. Instead of acknowledging his government’s fault for raising the huge ‘commercial’ crop of Taliban—the Frankenstein of terrorism—Pakistan’s Interior
Minister Rehman Malik has alleged that India was involved in Baluchistan. But he feels sanguine when Lahore High Court dismissed the case against Hafiz Saeed, Jamaat-ud-Dawa Chief, brain behind Mumbai carnage. Malik wanted to divert attention from the ugly happenings in Rawalpindi and bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul, the handiwork of ISI. Afghan Taliban and Pakistan Taliban are hand in glove and exist in a ‘symbiotic relationship’. Saeed’s exoneration denotes Pakistan’s lack of sincerity in dealing with India. Pakistan Army stands exposed for its diabolical role to fight Taliban in Afghanistan under U S pressure, while it had been feeding the Pakistan Taliban, kept in reserve, who have now turned against their ‘masters’.
Pakistan has no control over jihadis, once created with the sole purpose of disintegrating India and grabbing Afghanistan. Just a day before the siege drama, a car bomber in Peshawar exploded and killed 53 people. There is no end to it. It is difficult to keep count of the sordid killings at the hands of the terrorists and the Army. What is happening in Pakistan is not in India’s interest. Only the ‘imperialists’ are interested.
Just a few days before October 10, the ISI tried to bargain with 60 ‘surrendered’ Taliban. They were motivated and chastised to cross LoC and infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir as part of jihadi force. They were sternly told either to get dumped in the jail or fight for Muslims in Kashmir. The ISI wanted to make best use of them, but the Taliban turned their back to Pakistan’s disadvantage, sending shivers down the spine of the army generals.
Pakistan is on the path of ruin because of ISI’s manipulation. The infiltration bid was ISI’s latest ploy to hoodwink the world opinion, particularly the US, and tell them that the entire fuss is about Kashmir. But the scheme did not fructify. The battle-hardened jihadis trained their guns on the military, which had been feeding them for orchestrating jihad in India. The state actors in Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to use terrorists for achieving their ‘objective’ in Kashmir. Because of Pakistan Army’s onslaught in Waziristan and Swat, several thousand terrorists and civilians have been butchered. Over 2000 militants have been killed since operations began in Swat and NWFP.
People in Pakistan, particularly in South Waziristan region, are terrified because of the Amy offensive to ferret out Taliban and smash their hideouts. At least 90,000 displaced people have been registered as refugees since August. It is war within Pakistan. It is in this unruly belt of Waziristan that dreaded Al Qaeda and Taliban are well trenched, waging war against US-led NATO forces in Afghanistan. An avalanche of Taliban attack in Pakistan has resulted in the horrific death of several thousand innocent people. Anti-Taliban offensive in northwest Swat valley earlier this year had forced two million people to flee. The siege of the Army Headquarters and three suicide blasts that preceded it indicates that Talibanisation of Pakistan is in full swing. The Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud has vowed to avenge the killing.
In another development of far-reaching consequences, Pakistani aircraft had bombed militant hideouts in South Waziristan, killing over 150 militants. Earlier, a top commander, Nisar Ahmed, who was close to slain militant chief Baitullah Mehsud, carrying a bounty of Rs one crore, was killed in battle royal Nisar was one among top 15 commanders.
Political pundits have observed that Taliban’s militant operation will in fact have an ‘unsettling influence’ on security establishments round the world, as Pakistan is a country with nuclear weapons. “The fear of terrorists seizing command and control of the Army in Rawalpindi is tantamount to their getting hold of the nuclear arsenal…”
The situation in Pakistan has come to such a pass that U S need not hesitate from capturing Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, lest they are in the hands of Al Qaeda. Former Pakistan President General Musharraf had developed such fears long ago that had he not joined war on terror after 9/11, Americans might have entered Pakistan to capture nuclear weapons.
- Asian Tribune -
Comments
Post new comment