PAKISTAN CORNERED ON BOMBAY TERROR ATTACKS

PAKISTAN CORNERED ON BOMBAY TERROR ATTACKS

Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao ( Retired)

Although Pakistan was repeatedly told by Indian authorities that Lashkar e Toiba (LeT) was behind the terror attacks on Bombay on 26/11/2008, Pakistan has been denying its involvement and has been hobnobbing all these days. It is already known that great international pressure has been brought on Pakistan to dismantle terror camps on its soil, but very little has been done in this direction (1). After the UN resolution declaring Jammat ud Dawwa (JUD) the front line organization of LeT as a international terrorist organization and its leaders as terrorists, Pakistan has claimed that it has detained its leaders. Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi an important LeT thug has been arrested and Pakistan also claimed imposition of ban on its activities and that it has sealed its offices. Hope they have really done it. Pakistan also has conducted some raids on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) based LeT and arrested a notorious terrorist Zaraar Shah. It is reportedly known that he confirmed to the Pak police investigating team that LeT was involved in the planning and execution of the terrorist attack on Bombay (2). However Pak information minister Sherry Rehman denied any such confession. American intelligence sources have reportedly confirmed the news. American news paper Wall street Journal has recently brought out the news. This has naturally become very inconvenient to Pak authorities and they would be searching for some alibi to overcome the situation. All these days, Pakistan has been denying the involvement of the people from its soil in the terror incident and with the present situation, it has been cornered and it has no way of escape from the fact that LeT was the mastermind for the attack. Now it has to be seen what concrete actions the failed country i.e Pakistan would take to win over world opinion and wriggle out of the tight corner in which it has found itself. All these news flashes are pointing to Pakistan. But America and Britain of course are putting pressure on Pakistan to deal more sternly with respect to the terrorists. But Pakistan will make all efforts to thwart the Indian claims towards its involvement. Under any case, Pakistan does not want to show that it is buckling under Indian pressure. It does not want to be identified as a state inferior to India at any point of time. It is highly egoistic in this direction and tries to equate itself with India on every account. Every one in the world knows that it is a withering state with no future.
The point to note is that. Pakistan is desperately trying to prove that it is innocent. Although it made a show of force few days ago by mobilizing troops to the borders and by making strong statements by the army chief General Kayani, Pakistan knew very well that it could ill afford a war with India. It’s pathetic and chaotic economic condition has also forced it to slow down and mellow down all of a sudden. It has no oil stocks in reserve. It has requested Saudi Minister to mediate in the present conflict. One should know that nuclear weapon only is not the answer during a war. Pakistan knows clearly that it can not a win a war with India and that it would disintegrate after the war. This is one of the strong reasons for its slow down over war hysteria. This is good for the sub continent. But the aspect of dismantling terror camps and bringing the culprits to book remains unsolved. The shadow boxing has to cease at some point of time and concrete actions are required to emerge.
India from the beginning has been telling that it would not go to war with Pakistan and it will resort to diplomatic options like bringing international pressure. India is much obsessed with Gandhian philosophy and every instant would remind the world about its non aligned movement, non violence and peaceful co existence ( Panch sheel) and yet fought wars with neighbors all these years. By these statements by top political leaders, reasons for which are known to them, India has lost its initiative and has tied its own hands. The question is what India would do if all these diplomatic efforts fail ultimately and Pakistan shows a thumb to India? Will India accept the fait accompli and weep in isolation for its self imposed inability and helplessness. It is known that America in spite of all its promises wants to embrace Pakistan in a love game due to strategic importance, cajoling India all the time. In turn, India gets fooled.

It is also necessary to have a close look at Pakistan and its struggle to survive in the world. It is a country that was used by America as a third world stooge to counter Indian rise as a powerful state right from the inception and to dislodge Russians from Afghanistan by abetting and turning out fundamentalist Taliban in their madrasaas. These militants have now over grown and are out of control. They are now mocking at their creators. They are out of Pak hand. Pakistan also as a policy abetted militancy in J and K in India and all type militant thugs were harbored apart from Khalistan terrorists in the past. Now country is completely engulfed in terrorism and fundamentalist Wahhabi ideology that is the back bone of Taliban and Al Qaeda for whom Pakistan is the safe haven. Terrorism has become the national outlook for the fundamentalists in Pakistan who really call the shots. Pakistan army as a policy maintains relations with Militant groups to destabilize Kashmir. Some claim to be charitable trusts and yet involve in mass murders in J and K and plan nefarious activities. These thugs are rechristened as freedom fighters and draw sympathy from western nations. India is seen as the aggressor and as the usurper of Kashmir. Children right from the formatting years are brain washed that India is their staunch enemy. Entire generations have grown with this ideology of hatred and revenge(3).
Waziristan which is the most lawless region in Pakistan could never be controlled in past even during the rule of Englishmen in the sub continent and writ of Pakistan never works there. Thus Pakistan is completely engulfed in lawlessness. The country has not concentrated on education and industry that would have been a back bone of the nation if properly developed. Honor killings are more important than education of women. It has spent fortunes in building up its defense forces which was a wrong priority and was out of hatred towards India. Instead of improving the poverty ridden masses, the country has trekked on wrong path of hatred and revenge. Democracy did not flourish and army rule by successive dictators and despots have ruined Pak economy while armed forces were built up. Yet, it lost the wars very badly. Then Pakistan ran after nuclear weapon and managed to become a nuclear state right under the nose of America. But, at what cost? Its people were struggling for a square meal while nuclear arsenal was built up. It always saw India as the biggest enemy waiting to occupy it. It has wasted most precious time, material and money on the Kashmir struggle fighting four wars and loosing. Every time after the war, economically it suffered very badly and had to be rescued by American aid that was coming without asking. Thus Pakistan got engulfed in its own wrong priorities and has sunk into economic chaos resulting in a state and situation where its President is going around the west with a begging bowl for economic aid. Some writers even expressed fear that Pakistan could even sell some of its nuclear weapons and knowhow for a fortune to rogue sister states who are dreaming to possess a atomic weapon. Iran could be one among them..
The terrorists have succeeded in Talibanising Pakistan and now the devil is trying to devour its creator. In recent times, they killed Madam Benazir Bhutto who was some hope for the nation. There have been regular terrorist attacks in Pakistan at various places including the devastating blast at the star Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Although some name sake democracy exists, there is a great political instability in the country. Sindhis and Baluchis are struggling for independence and this further worsens the situation. As the nation is being Talibanised, the fear of falling of atomic weapons into the hands of rogues is growing day by day. Militants in Pakistan are anti American and once they capture political power in Pakistan with a strong Army who are pro Taliban, nuclear blackmail becomes a reality. The statement recently made by Taliban that they would fight along with Pak army against India incase of a war shows clearly the nexus between Pak state and the terrorists. There is no other evidence is required to nail the lies. Pakistan government and terrorists are hand in glove and fool around the world community. This aspect is worrying the west. Pakistan could be more dangerous and fundamentalist than Iran which has some legacy, past rich culture, own heritage and illustrious history of victories and empires. Pakistan has none of these except the fact that it was born out of hatred towards Hindus in sub continent and that they have no past time except Kashmir and terrorism. They are a conglamation of all sorts of people including savage barbaric tribals. Thus the world states see Pakistan as a failed state that has already turned into a terrorist state sponsoring terrorism in the world and is being labeled as failed state.
The Mumbai events have added fuel to fire and has very seriously eroded the prestige of Pakistan as a nation. This also has given opportunity to West to apply pressure on Pakistan by labeling it as a state which sponsors Terrorism indirectly. Such comments also have provided added fuel to growing perceptions internationally, projecting Pakistan as a new safe heaven for Al-Qaeda and Taliban, the ill famed international thugs.
Bill Kristol, Fox Television commentator recounts that in a 90-minute, mostly off-the-record meeting with a small group of journalists in early July, President Bush “conveyed the following impression, that he thought the next president’s biggest challenge would not be Iraq, … It’s Pakistan.” We have “a sort of friendly government that sort of cooperates and sort of doesn’t. It’s really a complicated and difficult situation.” Bush said (4). On the other hand, the policy of the President elect Barak Obama is much disturbing. Obama confirmed this position when in August 2007 at the Woodrow Wilson Centre he said: “There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again . . . If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.”
Infact, American forces are already engaging terrorist targets within Pakistan territory using drones, missiles and the war has already entered the country from the Afghanistan side. It is only a matter of time before actual infantry and marines enter Pak soil to wage war on terrorists as seen by Obama.This was followed by comments this year on July 15th in which he argued that more focus and resource were required on both Afghanistan and Pakistan. After attack on Mumbai Obama declared that he would support any action taken by India. This is clear indication that all will not be same for Pakistan. Its failure to contain terrorists and dislodge them from the country is going to cost it very heavily. It is mostly perceived that war on terror would soon enter Pakistan from Iraq and it could be the end of this nation
Thus it is seen that Pakistan has been cornered by its own doings and it would be very difficult for it to come out of the critical situation unless it demonstrates responsible actions as a civilized country among civilized nations. Or else dooms day awaits it round the corner in which Pkaistan would be ripped apart into fragments by virtue of intenal terrorism, internal political instability, economic chaos, army intervention, ISI actions and lack of fore thought.
Bibliography

1. Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao, India is over- expecting from Pakistan, December 15, 2008 and also on Progressive Islam.org, December 14, 2008, and Pragmatic Euphony.. International pressure on Pakistan & the real question, December 14, 2008, 11:45.

2. It is the work of Lashkar(Lashkar pani Telugu) Eenadu, Hyderabad, AP, India, January
01, 2009, PP1-2

3. Prof Dr Colonel K Prabhakar Rao, Pakistan in the grip of terrorism faithcommons.org, September 23, 2008, 05:44

4. Majed. Mumbai attacks, Pakistan an American strategy, http://majedsblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/03/mumbai-attacks-pakistan-and-the-american-strategy/

Dr K Prabhakar Rao