Author: B R Haran
Publication: Vijayvaani.com
Date: Jun 8, 2009
URL: http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=623
Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, the Chief of the terrorist organization Jamaat-ud-Dawah,
who was also the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attack and against whose
involvement the Indian government had given Pakistan incontrovertible evidences
and proofs, was set free by the Lahore High Court last Tuesday, after nearly
six months of house arrest. The High Court felt that there was no concrete
evidence to extend his detention and hence ordered for his immediate release.
In the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, India had demanded the extradition
of Hafiz and also former ISI chief, apart from asking Pakistan to crackdown
on JuD (LeT). The US for its part gave an ultimatum of 48 hrs to Pakistan
government to raid the JuD HQs and arrest the culprits. Even while yielding
to the pressure, Pakistan played a silly game of telling the world that President
Zardari received a threatening call from Pranab Mukherjee, which later turned
out to be a hoax, and attempted to ready its Armed Forces.
As India quickly pointed out that Pakistan was trying to divert the world's
attention from its involvement in Mumbai attack, one of its nuclear scientists,
Dr Samar Mubarakmand, audaciously threatened India through a selective media
leak, saying Pakistan had the capacity to nuke all cities in India and that
it could be done within ten minutes as their missile systems were kept ready
for any eventuality.
The US and the European Union, in support of India, strongly criticized Pakistan
for aiding, abetting and promoting terror. The US even talked of imposing
sanctions on Pakistani officials like former ISI chief Hamid Gul and others,
who have had links with LeT, Taliban and Al Qaida. It is reliably learnt that
some former ISI and Army officers have been helping all three terror outfits
in their operations in Afghanistan, Kashmir and elsewhere. But finally US'
tantrums turned out to be tokenism and mere "lip service."
Though the UN declared a ban on Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the US and UK simply asked
Pakistan to cooperate with India in its investigation in order to bring the
culprits to book. Since then, Pakistan has been defiant to the core, putting
its foot down and influencing the world community to accept its stand. In
contrast, India has been literally begging for support, refusing to realise
that whether it is US or UK or China, each would act only in its interests.
Despite being a victim of terror for years, India doesn't seem to have learnt
its lessons properly. Instead of teaching lessons to Pakistan, it attempted
to convince US and other nations seeking their cooperation to pin down Pakistan.
Ironically those very same nations have been helping Pakistan, to achieve
their self interests! In January 2009, Home Minister Chidambaram went to US
with a huge dossier on Pakistan, and the UPA government also held discussions
with the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister, who visited India then. The end result
was a big ZERO; Pakistan won the so-called diplomatic war! Its friendly relations
with China and UK continued; it got more aid from US.
At this juncture, it would be pertinent to remind ourselves the first warning
issued by US President Obama to Pakistan immediately after taking charge:
"the $ 11 million dollar aid given by Bush administration was not for
military upgradation, but a 'conditional' one for fighting against terror
and Pakistan's performance against terror would be monitored." It was
reliably learnt then that the American establishment had short-listed 20 senior
level officers of the ISI and the Pakistan Army, who have been aiding and
abetting the terror outfits for years. Incidentally, though India's list was
bigger, all names were present in the US list figured in India's list as well!
Meanwhile, though Pakistan accepted the validity of the first 'dossier' given
by India and constituted a three member committee to probe the Mumbai terror
attack with a commitment to try those involved, nothing constructive came
out of it; US too lived neither up to its commitment nor to India's expectations.
In fact, after Pakistan's offensive against the Taliban, US immediately disbursed
$110 million in the name of welfare aid for the displaced people.
Even now, after the release of Hafiz Saeed, Washington pretended to be unhappy
and President Obama's special representative Richard Holbrooke stated that
US was "disturbed" by the news! But, soon afterwards Holbrooke changed
his stance and termed the release as "Pakistan's internal matter"!
Assistant Secretary of State Philip J Crowley also made it clear that US wanted
to make sure Pakistan was acting aggressively against extremist elements (read
Taliban) and added that US was involved in intensive dialogue with Pakistan
on its military needs. Even as he was talking about US' readiness to help
Pakistan enhance its military capabilities, Obama's administration is believed
to have decided to grant another $200 million to Pakistan following the anti-Taliban
operations.
Immediately after his release, Hafiz Saeed condemned Pakistan Army's offensive
against the Taliban and avowed that his terror activities against India would
continue, particularly in Kashmir. As if this was not enough and knowing India
would be outraged, Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani came out with a damning
statement asking "Indian occupying forces" to stop repression and
human rights abuses in Kashmir, and offering "political, moral and diplomatic"
support to the people of Kashmir to exercise their right to self-determination.
Gilani had the audacity to ask India to create
a conducive atmosphere for a final settlement to the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
India once again exposed its weakness, with External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna saying: "Kashmir was part of the composite dialogue which we
had initiated with Pakistan, and the responsibility of creating conducive
climate rested with Pakistan." It is unfortunate India didn't have the
guts to question Gilani on his outrageous statements, which have the intention
of not only diverting India's attention from the release of Hafiz, but also
attempting to spite India.
As the Congress-led UPA government has a childish habit of looking up to the
US for making each and every move vis-à-vis Pakistan, we can rest assured
it would do the same now. History has shown that US always safeguarded its
own interests by helping Pakistan while restraining India and forcing it to
engage in dialogue with Islamabad. Even in the present circumstances, especially
with regard to the 26/11 Mumbai attack, US has not been sincere in backing
India, and Barack Obama has surpassed his predecessor George Bush. Bush at
least refrained from interfering in India's Kashmir policy, but Obama seems
to be having a 'special' agenda, as evidenced by the wrong signals emanating
from his side. Pressure is likely to be more on India to give more concessions
to Pakistan and start the so-called peace talks early.
Meanwhile, credible inputs have come from intelligence agencies that the LeT
and JeM are planning major strikes across India, including Kashmir and South
Indian cities. It is reported that groups of Jihadis (25 terrorists in each
group) have been ordered to infiltrate the borders and strike at the earliest.
If Pakistan showed audacity in perpetrating terror against India, India exposed
naivety in identifying the terrorists as 'non-state' actors, as if 'state
actors' (Pakistan government) were not involved. India didn't even have the
brains to understand that non-state actors could not act without the knowledge
and support of state actors!
Immediately after the release of Hafiz Saeed, External Affairs Minister S
M Krishna doubted Pakistan's "seriousness" in fighting terror, and
Home Minister P Chidambaram questioned its "commitment" to investigate
the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack. OK, but what about the 'seriousness'
and 'commitment' of the UPA government? What is the response of the Prime
Minister to the release of Hafiz and the statement of his Pakistani counterpart?
"Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism, stupid!"
- The writer is a senior journalist, and lives
in Chennai
