by Sajjad Shaukat
During the election campaign, the militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated groups who had accelerated their terror-activities to sabotage the elections 2013 in Pakistan failed in their nefarious designs as they did not want to see democracy to be flourished in the country. TTP which had accepted responsibly for terror-assaults on the election-sites, especially of ANP and MQM including some other political entities and office of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through terror-devices had pledged to continue such attacks in future.
Despite the subversive activities and threats of these militants, a majority of people cast their vote, and turn over was more than 60 percent which shows that the general masses and politicians want that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis through their undemocratic and Un-Islamic means.
However, as part of their previous subversive activities like suicide attacks, target killings, bomb blasts, assaults on civil and military installations, forced abductions and sectarian violence, these heartless insurgents have again started similar criminal acts. In this regard, on May 17, this year, these miscreants killed 20 worshippers in bomb explosions inside two mosques in Malakand. On the same day, they killed two soldiers of the security forces in the northwestern city of Peshawar. It clearly displays that the militants would not end terror-attacks in various places of Pakistan.
Question arises as to why terrorism continues in our country. In fact, there are various causes behind the phenomenon. The real cause is that TTP and its affiliated outfits have been recruiting children and very young boys, and after their brainwashing through indoctrination, they train them for suicide bombings or to commit any terror-attack. By misconception of Islam, terrorist groups manipulate the feelings of innocent Muslim men and women who are naturally prone to favor the cause of Muslims. Hence, they become targets of terrorists? propaganda who project their unfair designs in the name of Jihad, and undertake criminal activities of terrorism, inflicting serious loss of innocent lives and damaging property. The planners misguide these Muslims by convincing that they will have a noble place in the Heavens in exchange of suicide attacks.
Notably, on 19th November 2012, the TTP sent a woman suicide bomber to kill the former chief of Jamaat-e-Islamic (JI), Qazi Hussain Ahmed, in Mohmand Agency. Blowing herself up, she hesitated until his convoy had passed. A would-be suicide bomber was killed in Dera Ismail Khan on November 23 before a Muharram procession.
During Swat and Malakand military operations, Pak Army captured a number of children and teenagers who were being trained by the insurgents. And 11 children were arrested in Quetta, who were lured by United Baloch Army to plant bombs and trigger blasts against Security Forces and innocent civilians.
Another reason of terrorism is that with the tactical assistance of American CIA and Israeli Mossad, Indian RAW has set up its espionage network in Afghanistan, which is in contact with its spy-network in Pakistan. Particularly, India?s several secret training camps are present in Afghanistan from where highly-trained militants, equipped with sophisticated weapons are being dispatched to destabilise Pakistan so as to fulfill the secret strategic designs of US, India and Israel. The recent statements of RAW officials and admission of the Indian released spy-prisoners in Pakistan clearly prove anti-Pakistan conspiracy.
Some Indian Muslims and foreign insurgents who are especially backed by RAW have joined the ranks and files of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Sipah-e-Sahaba, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other religious sects. They have also got the membership of MQM, ANP and PPP. Besides killing the leaders and persons of the rival political and religious parties, these miscreants also target the Pushtuns, Urdu-speaking people and even the people, belonging to the interior Sindh in order to fuel ethnic violence to weaken Pakistan. Particularly, unrest in Karachi might be cited as example.
It is mentionable that while, stressing a greater political consensus to tackle extremism and terrorism, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on April 30, this year, ?A small faction wants to enforce its distorted ideology over the entire nation by taking up arms?defies the democratic process and considers all forms of bloodshed justified.?
Despite the fact that Pakistan?s law-enforcing agencies and intelligence outfits have thwarted many terror attempts of the militants through pre-arrests, discovery of weapons and huge explosive material, suicide jackets etc., but terrorists have kept on conducting terror-attacks.
So far, these terrorists have killed more than 5000 personnel of the security forces and 40000 innocent people including huge collateral damage. They have also destroyed thousands of schools.
In fact, it is war of entire nation against terrorism. But such a war needs better intelligence-gathering which is possible, if people provide information to the law-enforcing and secret agencies about the presence and covert activities of the Taliban and other militants. People must also point out foreign agents who have joined the ranks and files of these terrorists or are backing the latter.
Nevertheless, Pakistan?s security agencies are fighting a ?different war? with the invisible enemy. It is a war in which offence knows its target, but defence does not know. Army and security agencies cannot wage this war alone, as it is everyone?s war.
Although our rulers, leaders of political and religious parties have repeatedly condemned the terror attacks of the Taliban and other extremist groups, yet instead of verbal statements, they must show practical unity against these elements which seek to create anarchic situation in the country to accomplish their self-motivated power designs.
Recently, condemning the TTP?s inhuman activities, Islamic scholars clarified in their joint fatwa (edict) that killing of innocent people through terrorism and sectarianism was not Jihad, and was against the spirit of Islam. Ulemas must intermittently issue fatwas in this respect.
Nonetheless, this new style war demands strong cooperation of the media, political and religious leaders including general masses with the security forces and intelligence agencies.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Affairs
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