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Outright mischief

Outright mischief

Author: Editorial
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: October 16, 2001

Introduction: Al-Qaeda's reference to Kashmir is a self-serving exercise

The latest propaganda videotape from Al-Qaeda is fresh proof of increasing desperation within the terrorist camp. In bringing up Kashmir, the Al-Qaeda spokesman, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, continues the mischief of Osama bin Laden in an earlier videotape when he raised the Palestinian and Iraq issues. These are transparent attempts to win over people in those territories and turn them against the US. It is also very clearly intended to sow confusion in Muslim countries like Pakistan which are supporting the military attacks on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, except for fringe elements, most people ought to be able to see through the game and recognise it for the cynical self-serving exercise it is. After all, the first time bin Laden was heard to express sympathy for the Palestinians and Iraqis was when the bombing of Al-Qaeda facilities by the US became a certainty; before that he was either critical or indifferent. Today bin Laden focuses on Kashmir; tomorrow it may well be Chechnya or Xinjiang or Nigeria. Anything will do as long as it provokes reaction in the streets.

Vis a vis Kashmir, of course, matters are somewhat more complex. There is no evidence that Kashmir has ever been a bin Laden priority but the Al-Qaeda connection is both direct and long-standing through the terrorist groups who have trained there and draw sustenance from it. Was there a message for them in the latest tape? It is hard to say. Jaish-e-Mohammed is under severe pressure and close scrutiny and may have no choice but to lie low just now. Lashkar-e-Toiba and others are not to be under similar restraints. In any case, it would be wise to read the latest Al-Qaeda videotape as a bid to stir up trouble within India. As the US closes in on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime begins to implode, as desperation grows, India's security forces will have to stay on high alert. Above all, the propaganda on Kashmir is meant to fuel suspicion among Pakistanis about the Musharraf government which had agreed to make Pakistan the key frontline state in the US military operations. Those in India who imagine there can be any movement forward with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue in this situation, do not have their feet on the ground. While guarding against fresh terrorist atrocities in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country, New Delhi's best policy would be to keep relations with Pakistan on an even keel and wait out the immediate war on Al-Qaeda. After that there should be less insistence on Washington doing the Vajpayee government's work for it and more effort on resuming the bilateral dialogue.

Bin Laden's purpose is to turn the international campaign against terrorism into a battle of Islam against the rest. That would serve his fundamental objectives very well. Those aims are to exploit every existing quarrel involving members of the Islamic faith and even imaginary ones in order to fashion, as it were, a coalition against the forces of modernisation and globalisation. Washington frequently reminds the world, it will be a long campaign against terrorism. There should be no illusion either about the determination of those who would drag their societies and countries backwards into the past.
 


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