Hindu Vivek Kendra
A RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE PROMOTION OF HINDUTVA
   
 
 
«« Back
Prove it, Powell!

Prove it, Powell!

Author: C R Irani
Publication: The Statesman
Date: October 16, 2001

George Bush thought he was throwing a lifeline to the Taliban by his offer to do something about what he was doing to their country, if only they would save him the trouble and bring in Osama bin Laden and his gang quietly and without fuss. Apart from always calculating what suits them best, the Americans have again shown themselves to be either excessively naive or incredibly self-centred. There is total misjudgment of what the Taliban are all about. It is not my purpose to glorify them but nothing will be achieved by misreading their temper. Bush expects them to indulge in continuously updating calculations ¡X comparing damage suffered, deprivation stoically borne, hope slowly extinguished with what can be gained by handing over Bin Laden as demanded. Whatever they may be, the Taliban are not Chicago gangsters. They are fanatics, they are religious bigots, they kill easily and sacrifice themselves in the process. They are among the toughest fighters and indeed survivors in the world. They know nothing of compromise, of reason, even of common sense. Their minds are closed, barred and bolted and the keys thrown away. They are indoctrinated as only closed minds can be; they are promised something no one on earth can offer instant access to the best in heaven. Against such an enemy even a Napoleon would be at a loss how to proceed.

These assumptions make American-style combat impossible. Taliban¡¦s professional commanders at the periphery are indoctrinated too; however if there is hope it may lie here, but it is a faint hope. In other words, the world must be readied to do away with them, if the rest of us are to have any peace. And here the Americans are about to make another miscalculation. The Taliban are not unique; they share their thinking with other religious fanatics. What is common is the terrorist mindset, essentially the willingness to die for what they believe is a cause greater than any the world has known. And there is no difference between terrorists in Kashmir, in New York or indeed the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. One may pity them but they are not reclaimable. They are lost to humanity and will kill, spread terror, indulge in brutality that beggars belief, like Musharraf's men returning bodies of Indian soldiers mutilated, not merely dead. The Al-Qaida have just announced that they would like the USA to stop backing India on Kashmir. This is no flash in the pan. Kashmir is about vengeance sought by Pakistan over the ignoble surrender in Dhaka and the contemptuous return of 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war. The Taliban and Pakistan have made common cause for a very long time. Afghan terrorists have infiltrated Kashmir and Pakistani regulars, at brigade and battalion strength, have fought alongside Taliban. The Pakistanis have withdrawn for now for fear of conceding prisoners in the wake of expected advances of the Northern Alliance. Retired Pakistani army commanders have trained and led Taliban in battle and the most unkind cut of all, both Islamic countries have collaborated in the very profitable but utterly un-Islamic activity of dealing in drugs. This is why Pakistan is now flapping at the prospect of alternative regimes replacing the Taliban. It is a failure of logic to argue that a vacuum created by the anticipated defeat of the Taliban should be filled only by the Taliban. The suggestion is merely an indication of panic at skeletons tumbling out of the cupboard. The only sane alternative is for the vacuum to be filled by a combination of the Northern Alliance and the forces gathering behind the former King. At one stroke Bin Laden has exposed Pakistan¡¦s hypocrisy and its obsession over Kashmir. This is the reality that faces the world and it makes the latest American casuistry particularly deplorable. For three days and more the Americans have been publicly discussing banning the Jaish gang in Kashmir; they knew their friend, General Musharraf was up to his neck in the stuff. Having given all concerned time to wind up and resurface under another name, Washington announces that the accounts of Jaish and Masood Azhar who was released from an Indian jail under compulsion of a terrorist hijacking, have been frozen to the accompaniment of suitably worded protests. It is such sophistry that ensures less than respect for America's word.

Colin Powell will have some explaining to do when he comes visiting. Such behaviour hardens the feeling in this country that when it comes to terrorism as it affects India, 1) it is a different kind of animal from that which laid America low and, 2) that we will have to fight this battle alone. Powell has the makings of a statesman; all he needs to do is to prove it.
 


Back                          Top

«« Back
 
 
 
  Search Articles
 
  Special Annoucements