Pakistan in the grip of terrorists

On the last Friday of Ramadan in Pakistan killers were on the rampage, especially in Karachi capital of Sindh and Quetta capital of Balochistan. Earlier Kamra Air Base was attacked and nearly two dozen Shias were killed point blank in KP province. Though, on the face value these appear separate incidents but establish a common point ‘security forces in Pakistan are incapable of protecting Pakistanis as well as strategic installations of the country.

Many local and foreign analysts term these ‘security lapse’ but the reality is Pakistan in a state of war for more than a decade. Despite doing the best it has to hear ‘do more manta’ from the United States and face the pressure of ‘domestic constituency’ to pull the country out of proxy US war. There is growing perception that Afghan occupation by Nato forces may have other motives but bringing any change in the quality of life of Afghans, bearing the brunt of war for more than three decades. Some even go to the extent of terming it war of drug barons.

In the recent past Shia Hazaras have been the worst victim in Balochistan but now killers are on the rampage in KP and GB. For a considerably long time efforts are being made to show that that Shias and Sunnis are killing each other. However, with the Shia-Suni conflict becoming too visible in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, efforts are being made to instigate armed conflict between the two Muslim sects in Pakistan also.

Attack on the bus carrying participants of Youm-e-Qudus Rally in Karachi was to convey a message that any group following Iranian plan can face death in Pakistan. However, the cynics fail to understand that it is not the attempt of Iran to create its hegemony in the region but to remind the Muslims that Israel is occupying Palestinian territory for decades and Arabs have failed in getting the holy city of Jerusalem free from Zionist occupation.

Many Western critics say that Iran has expansionist designs and attaining uranium enrichment technology is the first step for producing atomic warheads. Though, Iran has been refuting this allegation, United States under the pressure of Zionists want to teach it a lesson. More than 32 years of economic sanctions have failed to deter Iranians from their path. In fact Iran has emerged as a symbol of resistance against the US hegemony.   

  DPC opposing opening up Nato routes

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad speaks during All Parties Conference held under Difa-i-Pakistan Council at Lahore Hafiz Muhammad Saeed,  Maulana Samiul Haq, Syed Munawar Hasan and General (R) Hameed Gul also present

The Difa-i-Pakistan Council (DPC) rally that started from Lahore, stayed at Gujrat overnight and finally held a meeting outside parliament building in Pakistan’s federal capital.The meeting was addressed by some of the stalwarts belonging to banned religious outfits, among these the most prominent was Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Lashkar-e-Teba fame.

The entire proceedings went very well because at no point either the provincial government headed by PML-N or the federal government led by PPP made any attempt to stop the rally. However, attack at an army camp in Gujrat spoiled the entire game. It was certainly not a reward to the government for providing a safe passage to the leaders and the participants of rally.

Lahore is the stronghold of PML-N and Gujrat the home town of Pervez Elahi, Deputy Prime Minister and Ahmed Mukhtar, ex-defence minister and presently heading ministry of water and power. PML-N chose not to participate in APC held earlier but fully compensated. PML-N has often attracted criticism for having deep-rooted relations with some of the banned religious outfits.

The number of people attending Islamabad meeting were quoted from as low as 15,000 to as high as 30,000. Creation of an elaborate stage, assembly of such a large number of demonstrators and appearance of leaders of banned outfits in ‘red zone’ raise a question, what was the federal home ministry and capital police doing?

One of possible explanation could be that the ruling junta to which PML-N is also a part has realized the gravity of situation, extreme anti United States sentiments among Pakistanis and just wanted to avoid any confrontation. The demand for pulling out Pakistan out of US proxy war in Afghanistan is on the rise

It is becoming difficult for the ruling junta as it can’t satisfy the domestic constituency on supporting the US, which is no longer considered a friend. Most of Pakistanis strongly believe that the United States has been playing the most active part in creating Indian Hegemony in the South Asia. An impression is being created that Pakistanis are mercenaries fighting Proxy US War in Afghanistan and India a major trading partner of the United States. 

Pakistan Succumbing to US Pressure

And finally Pakistan has opened Nato supply route, without demanding any transit fee on simple sorry by Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State.

In return Pakistan is likely to get US$1.1 billion due under Coalition Support Fund, which has been subject of wrangling between the two countries.

Pakistan’s claims often rejected and smaller sums approved by Washington for reimbursement. It is not a favor because the amount had been approved and already gone through the process and pertains to services rendered before closure of the supply route.

The announcement coming from the two governments suggest that the suspension of Nato supplies was not in the interest of Pakistan, which seem incorrect. In fact Nato had to incur almost three times the expense in using alternate routes. On top of all opening of route was necessary for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, expected to commence in 2014.

Most offending is one of the editorials published in The New York Times alleging that the military of the 'crippled and chaotic' state continues to play a double game of accepting aid from America while enabling the Afghan Taliban. It also said that Pakistan's political system is growing ‘ever more dysfunctional’.

Pakistanis fail to understand because on one hand says the US administration says it needs Pakistan’s help in reopening a critical supply route to Afghanistan and in urging the Taliban to engage in peace talks so that combat troops can be withdrawn from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and on the other hand Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says “reaching the limits of our patience.”

According to the editorial the US President, Barak Obama declined to hold an official meeting with President of Pakistan, Asif Zardari at the NATO summit meeting in Chicago in May. It also said The United States has little choice but to continue drone attacks on militants in Pakistan. It has urged India to become more involved in Afghanistan. Surprising was the phrase ‘Pakistan is paranoid about India’, which it sees as a mortal adversary.

Equally disturbing for Pakistan and United States should be the threats from Pakistani Taliban to attack Nato supply trucks and kill its drivers if they tried to resume supplies to troops in Afghanistan. Prior to the closure they have carried out dozens of attacks; disrupting supplies destined for Afghanistan, and have repeatedly warned of more if Pakistan reopened supply route.

Opening up of Nato route is likely to get fierce response from religious groups and politicians who have been demanding Pakistan should pull itself out of proxy US war in Afghanistan. Opponents of the present regime enjoy street power and if these demonstrations turn violent containing these would be difficult.