When militants struck at a restaurant
in Pahalgam on June 12, the tourist industry in Jammu & Kashmir was
literally shell-shocked. It was hitherto believed that militants would
not do anything that would harm the industry, which is run by their own
kith and kin. But it was proved wrong. Five tourists were killed and over
two score injured. The violence was promoted by mercenaries from across
the border, and those who do not want normalcy and prosperity to return
to the State.
Unknown and unimportant terrorist
groups like Al Nasirun took credit for the violence. The reality is, other
than Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba the only other credible militant
organisation in the State is the Hizbul Mujahideen. None owned the act
of violence, as it would earn them the ire of the Kashmiris. Hence the
effort to give "credit" to unimportant organisations.
The argument that acts of violence are indulged in by those who do not want the Centre-Hurriyat talks or the India-Pakistan dialogue to succeed is not going to wash. The decision to go ahead with the talks is to be determined by Hurriyat leaders and no one else.
Earlier in the week, 11 persons, including six Army personnel, three policemen and two civilians were killed in Karachi when unknown assailants attacked the convoy of Karachi Corps Commander, Lt-Gen Ahsan Salim Hayat. The Corps Commander escaped but his driver was killed and 13 other people received severe injuries. While President Musharraf rang up the Corps Commander after the attack, the Jamat-e-Islami Chief Qazi Husain Ahmad blamed the United States and its agents in Karachi for the attack. Meanwhile, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain telephoned the Karachi Corps Commander and condemned the attack. He also assured the Corps Commander of his party's unconditional cooperation in establishing peace in Karachi and other parts of the country. It may be mentioned that the MQM and the MMA are ranged against each other in urban Karachi.
The Daily Times (June 11) in its editorial said: "The deadly morning ambush in Karachi shows some facts clearly. Terrorists are alive and well; they have the means, resources and the motivation to mount attacks on high-value targets, and from now onwards top commanders of the army will be on their hit list. The biggest indication of internal threat to a country comes when its army is attacked. We have seen that happen in south Waziristan; we have seen that happen in Karachi. It is no coincidence that the two countries that face the gravest danger from extremist terrorism are Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Both have been allies in the cloak-and- dagger stuff that started with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan."
President Zia took full advantage of the developments that started with Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Pakistan, with US help, nurtured the Taliban, fashioned the jihad weapon against the Soviets, and salted away arms and ammunition for use in J&K to wage its own jihad, first by promoting militancy and later by taking over the movement itself.
The seeds of jihad have spread and are threatening peace in different parts of the world, even the US. The world scene has changed following 9/11, and Pakistan is now among the frontline of states fighting terrorism. Jihad is threatening Pakistan itself. It is ironic that Pakistani army has to fight the Taliban in Waziristan.
The Pakistani News International (June 10) said: "Now that terrorism has become a horrific reality internationally, the need for combating it at every level could not have been more pressing. Then there is a proposal for enlisting the help of ulema in informing the people the difference between terrorism and jihad."
Today, the US and Pakistan, which
actively collaborated the founding of jihadi movement in Afghanistan, are
themselves under threat of terrorism. So also Saudi Arabia which extended
support to the movement. The US which has been a strong ally of Saudi Arabia
is now in a situation where its citizens are no longer safe in Riyadh.
In Iraq, US forces are now facing the wrath of a movement which may soon
develop into a jihad. Like the credit card, the signatures on the jihadi
card are all adding up together.(ADNI)