VIEWPOINT
Islamabad must get its house in order

Qudsia Kadri

Terrorism - the term has become synonymous to the United States of America and Europe in context to Pakistan. The indulgence and active participation of the US goes back to the early eighties during the period of the Reagan administration when the focus of American foreign policy was directed towards the war on terror. That was around the time when Russia invaded Afghanistan and the American administration of Reagan used the regime of the late President Zia-ul-Haq to fund the rise of militancy in Pakistan. And it did not stop its interference with funding only, but it brought into Afghanistan the most radical Islamist extremists it could find from anywhere and everywhere in the world to train and arm them.
And the rest is history, the Russians were driven out of Afghanistan but the extremists stayed behind and continued to flow in and out of Pakistan through borders unmanned and unprotected. Today, US foreign policy is directed towards the elimination of terror world-wide. But, if we were to pause here for a minute, it would be crystal clear that what has dramatically given a re-birth to terror activities and particularly after 9/11 is the imperialistic policies of the US and Europe in being the major sponsors of what one would call "state-terrorism." The foreign policies of terror-states are defined as un-provoked invasion of smaller-weaker countries on the basis of misconceived media propaganda and intelligence reports, as was in the case of Iraq. The invasion brought forth the tyranny and diabolic mindset of the US. The mindset, which is further devising plans to target Muslim states like Iran, Syria and Pakistan. The latest attack on the Bajaur territory, as has been almost confirmed by the western media that the attack was carried out on the Madrassah by an unmanned US Predator drone fire. The Pakistan military helicopters arrived soon after the attack had been launched. A section of the American media had not too long before the Bajaur attack predicted the onslaught coming. The presence of American intelligence agencies in the region and manning the Afghan-Pakistan borders forecast further doom. The Americans believe that the Taliban are being protected and being given space to resurface. The American government is being advised by its intelligence reports to enter more forcefully into areas of western Pakistan, and areas also which are along the eastern borders with Pakistan such as Khost, Paktia, Paktika etc. The flame is further being incited by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Karzai who has not been an effective leader in the South and East of Afghanistan. He is facing his own pocket of uprisings since taking over. And it is an agreed fact by analysts that any post-war torn region cannot have a road-map planned for them by outsiders.
Particularly in a region like Afghanistan which has its pockets of war-lords who have never been actually brought into any government's domain. Hamid Karzai surely cannot believe that he is acceptable to the once Taliban dominated parts of the country. The Americans must realise that Afghans in the south are capable of re-organizing themselves by developing their strength, their political infrastructure and their resources. And Pakistan cannot be solely blamed for the Talibans gaining strength. It would be naïve on the part of the American foreign policy makers to hound and harp on a myopic vision of the strategic geo-political boundaries of the region.
Pakistan's dilemma is further enhanced with the government's handling of the Balochistan issue and the situation perhaps is at its most fragile and explosive during the past sixty years. What Islamabad is refusing to accept is that the situation in Balochistan is not passive and has been "dealt" with. The sooner President Musharraf accepts the fact that no aggression or rebellion can be squashed with military force and negotiations and debate with the volatile tribals and locals of this province is absolutely imperative for any long lasting peace and tranquility in the province of Balochistan and its surrounding areas. And we as Pakistanis must never forget that they are a part of this country and entitled like the rest of the provinces to their full rights and share of the economic prosperity and development.
We seem to have easily forgotten that the Indian interference in Balochistan has been frequent and undying. Any act of terrorism, which takes place in India, has their intelligence forces looking to Balochistan for a retaliation and a pay back. President Musharraf has often rebuked the media for comparing the Balochistan issue to the East Pakistan disaster. But, the similarities and thinking process of locals are too strong to be brushed away and ignored. All political and ethnic parties have to be taken on board by Islamabad, where personal likes and dislikes, irrational fears and belief of invincibility of the present set up are all factors contributing to weaken the government internally. And at these times internal strength is most required to consolidate and strengthen national integrity. The more vulnerable we look, the stronger the level of interference from the US and others. Pakistan perhaps today stands at a cross-road it has never been at before. The emerging dynamics of the political, regional and global scenario is urging and compelling Pakistan to get its house in order, to share power and resources concentrated now in Islamabad. National integrity and solidarity of the nation today is dependent on negotiations and dialogue. It is dependent on the protection of its citizens and value of human lives. It is dependent on the consolidated stand against any foreign interference and any outside military intervention within the territorial boundaries of Pakistan.