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Weekend Things To Do
Get out of the house and have some fun this weekend, there's plenty to do
Winds Of Change Blowing Across The Islamic Republic Of Pakistan
. Winds of change blowing across the Islamic republic of Pakistan
By
M.M.Khajooria
The war against the Taliban by the Pakistan army was inherently handicapped for want of the popular support . The common man’s perception was that the Pakistani soldiers were being pitted against their own kin to serve the interests of the hated Americans .This was considered the most formidable and almost insurmountable obstacle The impossible had, however happened. The Taliban themselves did it.
After they successfully brow beat the Pakistan government and National Assembly in to notifying the Nizam –I- Adil Regulations for Swat, the Taliban overlords, Mufti Mohannad,Fazlulah, Baitullah Mehsood and their ilk became reckless and threw all caution to winds . They violated all and every clause in the agreement and declared democracy and other attributes of the Pakistan Nation state as un Islamic . Becoming ever more emboldened they demandd the hand-over of all the seven districts of Malakand division and Kohistan district . Unmindful of the consequences ,they started implementation of their intolerant, divisive and brutal agenda and recklessly launched intrusion into adjoining areas raising hackles not only in Pakistan but also in the rest of the world . There were talks of Taliban take over of Islamabad and imminent threat to country's Nuclear assets. The blowing up of Ziarats and bombing of mosques while the faithful offered prayers provided the proverbial last straw on the camel's back. The people of Pakistan woke up to th grav threat to their lives and liberty. As veteran Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid put it Pakistan was facing a major existential crisis: 'I no longer say that there's a creeping Talibanisation in Pakistan, it's a galloping Talibanisation"
- The differences regarding their genesis and motivation, notwithstanding considerable unanimity had emerged in Pakistan that the Taliban posed a grave threat to the very existence of the Pakistani as a nation state and the unity of its the Islamic society .The emerging consensus was that they can't be allowed to impose their despicable and divisive version of religion by force, as they attempted to in Swat.
- Prime Minister Gilani announcement of the decision to call out the armed forces “to eliminate the militants and terrorists in order to restore the honour and dignity of our homeland, and to protect the people “could not have come at a more appropriate time. The change in government policy towards the Taliban may have been prompted by the consensus arrived at the tripartite Af-Pak strategy meetings presided over by President Obama Such a categorical reassurance was, in any case absolutely necessary because of the public perception that “ while the political government was indecisive and dithering ,the Pakistan army operations were half-hearted and botched.” Motivation and the circumstances that led to the shift in policy will perhaps be debated for long time to come but the threshold had been crossed. In fact ,the decision to confront the Taliban head-on could easily become a historical landmark in Pakistan's quest for the a state that judiciously combines elements of modernity, sterling liberal Islamic ethos and responsive and responsible democratic governance .
Gen Parvez Kayani's, the chief of the army staff, who bears the grave responsibility of implementing the Diktat of the Pakistan Federal government did well to bluntly state that 'The present security situation requires that all elements of national power should work in close harmony to fight the menace of terrorism and extremism". His intention obviously was to make it clear that the government and other concerned could not wash their hands off after issuing directives because the army alone could not win the war against terrorism .It would need the active support and sustained backing of all other elements- the government , the civil society the political class and the liberal clergy
- The realisation that the very existence of Pakistan was under threat provoked deep introspection in the thinking community. In an article titled "Unheeded lessons of democracy "published in Dawn on 19May, 2009 , Niilofur Farrukh reminded the nation that "Dictators may have deprived us of our vote from time to time, but we as a nation have contributed to a system built on nepotism, expediency and convenience. Pakistanis clamour for democracy during dictatorships yet make a mockery of adult franchise when less than 30 per cent of the voting population casts its vote. Our tolerance for bribes, kickbacks, illegal commissions etc has reached an alarming level. So it comes as no surprise that Pakistan ranks among this planet's five most corrupt countries. Institutions, both in the public and private sector, that could have served as the building blocks of democracy have been turned into personal fiefdoms with little regard for the mandate they have been given to serve." Disgusted with the prevailing situation , she quoted Humorist Imran Aslam’s portrayal of the core values in a play that "we are a country where Ideas is a departmental store, Liberty is the name of a market and Freedom and Trust are personal hygiene products." and says " Maybe it's time to ask if Pakistan was ever a democracy, or have we rapidly slipped from being a colony to an oligarchy constituted by a powerful, dishonest and self-serving elite that connives at monopolising politics, land, the military and industry. The conspiracy to keep the majority disenfranchised is clear to anyone who has lived through or studied the country's short history." The collective conscience of Pakistan was being pricked.
The Sunni Tehrik activists were ,perhaps the first to organise public protests all over Sindh in mid April . rejecting the enforcement of Nizam-i-Adl Regulation by Taliban in the NWFP through brutal force and use of gun. They reminded the religious zealots that Islam spread through love and forgiveness, and not terror. "Islam is a religion of tolerance and piety and renounces oppression of all kinds", they declared.
Its Sindh convener Maulana Noor Ahmed and scores of Tehrik activists came out wearing shrouds to condemn the sacrilege of shrines and killing of Pir Sharifullah Mujjadidi in Swat and Ajmal Darbari in Mirpurkhas. Maulana Ahmed was aghast as to how blood-thirsty law-breakers could be expected to guarantee peace and justice . "How come people unaware of the essence of Shariat can enforce it through gun and powder and which religion allows killing followers of sects, other than theirs." he demanded and said "It's disgusting to see the Taliban indulging into bombing and rocket attacking places, sacred to followers of other sects".
- Pakistan's moderate clerics, who remained mute witnesses to the escalating fundamentalists barbarities for years were now mobilising support for the government as it battled the Taliban. '"The military must eliminate the Taliban once and for all,"' Mufti Sarfraz Naeemi, a senior cleric of the moderate Barelvi branch of Sunni Muslims, told Reuters .Otherwise they will capture the entire country which would be a big catastrophe. Mufti Naeemi claimed that the Barelvis had so far kept silent and endured the Taliban oppression because 'they wanted to avoid confrontation between Muslims "But they could not stand by and let the Taliban impose their rule". he said. 'We don't want civil war ... But God forbid, if the government fails to stop them, then we will confront them ourselves, the Mufti declared. It was a highly significant development because most of Pakistan's 160 million people from whom the armed forces personnel were drawn belonged to the Barelvi sect.
- The army Operation RAH-I-RAST was making headway in Swat .The Mngora headquarter of Fazlullah had fallen and was in ruins The Taliban commander, possibly wounded was running scared. , The Taliban strategy of bombing civilian targets in NWFP and beyond to spread terror as retaliation for the losses suffered in Swat had backfired. The people were not terrorised. Instead the anger and abhorrence against the senseless blood letting was mounting with every terror strike. On the home turf in the western parts . Elders of the Allai Tehsil decided to wage a war against militants if they tried to infiltrate into their territory.“We are the guardians of our motherland and if the militants tried to enter our area, we will teach them a lesson. The militants will never be allowed to disturb the peaceful environment of our area,” vowed members of the grand Jirga, which was held in the backdrop of possible infiltration into Allai of the militants fleeing from the neighbouring districts. They issued a decree, asking the people not to allow the militants on their soil and foil their bid for infiltration into the area.The elders warned that if anyone provided shelter to the militants, he would not only be expelled from the area forever, but also his house would be set on fire. They made it clear that every matter would be settled in accordance with the Pakhtun traditions to ensure complete peace and harmony among all the tribes. In many places local Lashkars formed to battle the Taliban were chasing and killing them . The hound was being hounded.
- The Pakistan political class, including many of the religious parties which earlier nursed a soft corner for the Taliban appeared to have sensed the dangers posed by them. 'Politicians are realizing there is no future for the country if the militants continue to expand their influence,' said retired general and analyst Talat Masood'. The moderate clergy was also feeling threatened because their role will be over under a Talbanized dispensation. This convergence of national and self- interests was providing the vital trigger to the fast changing Pakistan scenario. The views of the emerging and strident middle class, the intelligentsia and the dominant section of the Pakistan media about the reality of Islam in the Sub Continent was aptly summed up by Ayjaz Ameer "Talibanism is a menace and a threat to our way of life. There's little room for any dispute on this point." he wrote in the daily Dawn and asserted, "In the eight hundred years that Islam has been around in the sub-continent, Muslims have raised their hands to the Almighty, praised the Holy Prophet and punctiliously recited the Quran. But nothing in their creed or their understanding of it has ever stopped them from enjoying and celebrating life" .Yes, celebration of life is exactly what the Taliban forbid.
- Another very important shift related to the perception of Indian intentions in the grim situation obtaining in Pakistan. The myth of Indian aggressive territorial designs against Pakistan to "whose creation Hindus were never reconciled" perpetuated for six decades had since been exploded..The ISI chief Lt.Gen. Pasha himself told German Magzine Der Spiegl January last “We may be crazy in Pakistan, but not completely out of our minds. We know full well that terror is our enemy, not India “ Kamran Shafi summed up the commonly held view in his piece "Cravenness every where" published in Dawn of 17 , April He wrote:"I may also point out here that, like a lot of us, I do not think there is any danger of an attack by India. I think India has its job cut out in trying to make the lives of its people better; in industrialising itself; in bringing in foreign investment and tourists. What they will be extremely worried about is the take-over of Pakistan by fanatics, however, just as we would be worried if Bal Thackeray and gang were to take over India. All they have to do if that happens is to reinforce their borders."
- There were doubting toms , diehard India baiters and Taliban sympathisers ensconced in the power structure tactically biding their time . It should be hoped that the winds of change blowing across the Islamic republic of Pakistan will gain further momentum in days to come and develop the capacity to sweep away the debris of the past prejudices, misconceptions ,follies and insecurities.
- "What's our world-view? " queries Ajaz Ameer in his Islamabad diary published in Dawn . and says "Let us not get ensnared in the metaphysics of something we have been unable to define since the blood-laden circumstances of our fitful birth. To come straight to the point, to win against the Frankenstein brigades created by our past follies -- baptismal games at which our American friends played the role of Godfather -- the Pakistani state in all its functions must perform better, and must be seen by the wretched of the earth (or rather the wretched of Pakistan) as a better alternative, than the Taliban." The core question is ,will and can the forces now being marshalled against the Taliban in Pakistan successfully meet the twin challenges and achieve the goal?
About the Author
I am a retired Director General of Jammu & Kashmir Police (India) with wide experience in non-Police assignments including Director General Transport, Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation, Inspector General of Prisons. and chairman of a Public Sector undrtaking. I am the only Indian Police Serve officer to have been appointed as Commissioner of a Division, a job reserved for Indian Administrative Service (IAS). A political commentator and security analyst, I have written and spoken extensively in national and international fora on contemporary developments in south Asia with particular reference to India, Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pan Islamic Fundamentalism and its terrorist dimension is the center of my focus. All international developments impinging on these issues attract my pointed attention. I have participated in numerous national and international seminars on a wide range of subjects. and papers submitted by me published.I am associated with the Centre for Regional and Strategic studies, university of Jammu (India). A broadcaster, I am also on the panel of Asia News International (ANI), state, and national TV networks as a security expert. My views on matters relating to security and governance are frequently quoted by state and national news papers. I am presently member of the Jammu & Kashmir state advisory counci