Pakistan: RAW Terrorized Zimbabwe Cricket Team

By Sajjad Shaukat

Coupled with hostile propaganda campaign, India has continuously been arranging various acts of terrorism like suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence in Baluchistan, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Sindh and Karachi including other regions of Pakistan through its secret agency, RAW which has also terrorized the Zimbabwe cricket team to cancel its trip to In this regard, on June 23, this year, Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada disclosed to the members of the Punjab Assembly that Indian intelligence agency RAW sent a text message to the manger of Zimbabwean cricket team in Dubai threatening them with “possibility of terrorism in Pakistan and cancellation of tour”.

He revealed that the message received by the team manager was finally tracked down and it was found that it had come from New Delhi and that RAW was behind this conspiracy to malign Pakistan. He elaborated that India wanted that cricket series should be cancelled, so that Pakistan’s image could be tarnished abroad, but all-out security was assured to the Zimbabwean cricket team to foil nefarious designs of India. The minister further pointed out that the biggest challenge for Pakistani law-enforcement agencies including the police was to ensure security of cricket series which was restored by the ICC after a lapse of six years, thanking LEAs for protecting the foreign team and helping conduct the five-match series successfully. He maintained that international agencies including RAW were responsible for 90 percent of the terrorism in Pakistan.

However, Zimbabwe cricket authorities confirmed that Pakistan’s tour would go ahead as per schedule, while foolproof security was given to the team, during its trip to Pakistan, started from May 22, 2015. Interior ministry directed the authorities to make strict security arrangements even Both sides played cricket matches—two twenty internationals on May 22 and 24, followed by three one day internationals on May 26, 29 and 31, in Qaddafi Stadium Lahore. By setting aside the RAW supported phenomenon of terrorism in wake of severe heat, thousands of persons went to see the cricket matches at Qaddafi Stadium. It is notable that revival of international cricket after six years was a cheerful occasion for everyone. In this context, a letter of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said, “Sports for peace is our message, we feel pride in hosting Zimbabwe cricket team in the city”. Nevertheless, while indicating Pakistan’s soft image in the comity of nations, it is a collective responsibility of all of us to not only highlight Pakistan’s positive aspect in connection with sports, but also give a message to the world through print, electronic and social media that Pakistan is a safe country for sports. And, particularly, it will be a way forward for other international cricket teams to play in Pakistan.

It is of particular attention that Indian RAW was also behind the Lahore terror-attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team, on March 3, 2009. In this respect, the bus of the Sri Lankan team was targeted, killing eight and injuring nine individuals including six visiting cricketers. It is mentionable that under the pretext of Mumbai carnage of November 26, 2008, India had cancelled the scheduled visit of its cricket team to Pakistan, while Sri Lanka accepted the invitation of Islamabad. Indian rulers and its media anchors had expressed their displeasure at Colombo’s decision. Hence, New Delhi clandestinely pressurized Sri Lanka’s government to withdraw the decision. It could be judged from the fact that even Sri Lankan sports minister Gamini Lokuge disclosed that Pakistan “tour had become a diplomatic issue”. Its Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama stated that he decided the trip, taking it as a sporting issue, as his country promoted “people-to-people visits” among South Asian member states. In fact, despite Indian duress coupled with a sense of jealousy, Sri Lanka remained determined and sent its cricketers to Pakistan. So, New Delhi punished Colombo through pre-arranged terror-attacks, conducted by well-trained and well-equipped terrorists of RAW. In this regard, it is noteworthy that in 2009, by striking a blow to the Indian backed militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and by capturing their strongholds; Sri Lankan security forces successfully dismantled the Tigers’ mini-state in northern Sri Lanka where the rebels lost 98 percent of the territory, and were retreating even from their last bastion. On March 7, 2009, Sri Lankan Foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama, while showing solidarity with Islamabad, categorically expressed Sri Lanka’s firm opposition to isolate Pakistan in the sporting arena or in any manner internationally over the incident of March 3, 2009.

Indian awkward strategy of mixing politics and sports is totally strange. Whether Indian team plays with Pakistan or that of Sri Lanka or the latter with our team has positive impact in restoring peace in South Asia, but regrettably, it is only anti-Pakistan and anti-Sri Lanka agenda of New Delhi whom politics and sports make no difference. And India seems determined to sabotage South Asian peace by terrorizing the cricket teams which intend to visit Pakistan. If non-state actors are problem for New Delhi, these take origin from its own state terrorism, being perpetrated on minorities and the freedom fighters of its six states, fighting for independence. Indian brutal tactics of state terrorism, employed on the innocent persons in the Indian-occupied Kashmir might be noted as special example in this context. In such a situation, New Delhi should not have seek revenge against Pakistan and Sri Lanka by conducting terrorist acts through RAW-trained agents in order to divert its attention from Indian home-grown terrorists. Facing reality, New Delhi must better unearth the forces behind the Mumbai attack and Notably, on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma revealed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws. But, Indian top officials and media had blamed Islamabad and a Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for those attacks. Nonetheless, RAW terrorized Zimbabwe cricket team by threatening the latter to sabotage Pakistan’s tour, though this attempt badly failed.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Pakistan’s Constitution Is In Accordance with Islamic Shariah

By Sajjad Shaukat

Two Nation Theory which is the basis of the Ideology of Pakistan was kept alive from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to Quaid-e-Azam. It stated that Muslims of the Sub-continent have their own Islamic culture, traditions and religion which are quite different from those of Hindus. In accordance with the Two Nation Theory, Allama Iqbal had demanded a separate land for the Muslims, where they could live freely according to their own religion, culture and social norms. Both Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam endorsed the Ideology of Pakistan which is based upon the Islamic principles. Undoubtedly, it was in the name of Islam that Pakistan emerged on the map of the world and the ground norm of the new state and its society, which came to be known as the ideology of Pakistan, was nothing but Muslim faith. Before embarking upon the task of framing of our first constitution, this ideology was translated into words in precise from by the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in a resolution passed by it in 1949. However, the Constitution of 1973 which was adopted during the PPP founder, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (The late), was signed by the members of all political and religious parties. It declares the country, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and clearly mentions that Pakistan is basically a democracy, guided by the Islamic principles and values—no law would be made contrary to Quran and Sunnah—the government will made efforts to implement Islamic system (Shariah) in future.

Therefore, the Constitution of 1973 contains various Islamic provisions, based on the principles of Holy Quran and Sunnah. 1. Pakistan shall be known as “Islamic Republic of Pakistan”. 2. Islam shall be the state religion of Pakistan. 3. Sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah and the authority bestowed by him on men is a sacred trust which the people of Pakistan will exercise with the limits, prescribed by Quran and Sunnah. 4. The constitution also gives the definition of a Muslim. A person who believes in Tauheed or Oneness of Allah, and in the prophet hood of Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H) as the last prophet of Allah has described as a Muslim. 5. The constitution laid down that only Muslims shall be elected president and prime minister of Pakistan. It was made compulsory for the president and prime minister to also profess faith in the finality of prophet hood. No Non-Muslim could hold these offices. 6. Steps shall be given to enable the Muslims of Pakistan to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam. 7. The State shall take necessary steps for prosecution of social justice and eradication of social evils and shall prevent prostitution, gambling and taking of injurious drugs, printing, publication, circulation and display of obscene literature and advertisements. 8. The state shall try to make the teachings of Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language. 9. The state shall endeavour to strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries in order to promote Islamic unity. 10. There is a council of Islamic Ideology which shall guide the government, and shall make recommendation to parliament and the provincial assemblies for bringing the existing laws into conformity with the injunctions of Islam and Islamic teachings, their implementation and propagation.

Its chairman and members are appointed by the president. Although its advice is not binding on the government, yet it is not easy for any government to ignore or over rule its suggestion or opinion regarding any law. 11. The government shall endeavour to secure correct and exact printing and publishing of the Holy Quran. 12. The federal and Provincial Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National and Provincial Assemblies, the chairman of the Senate and the Governors and Chief Ministers of the Provinces also take oath to preserve and protect the Islamic Ideology. It is also mentioned in the Constitution that the state shall secure the proper organization of Zakat, Auqaf and Masjid, and would protect the real rights and interest of minorities, living in It is also emphasized in the Constitution that all steps will be taken to introduce interest free banking system in the country in the light of Islam.

Nevertheless, all religious scholars endorsed that the Constitution of Pakistan is absolutely in accordance with the Islamic Shariah and there is no law repugnant to the principles of Islam. Federal Government also obtained a Fatwa (Religious verdict) from country’s most prominent clerics to declare that the Constitution of 1973 is based on Shariah. Pakistan’s Constitution is mindful of the fact that it seeks to rule a diverse populace divided along religious, cultural, ethnic and sectarian lines. It lays down a general rule that no law shall be made against the dictates of the Ouran and Sunnah. The entire legal system of Pakistan is, therefore, within the confines of Shariah. Our Constitution forbids any law which contradicts the teachings of Islam and sovereignty of Allah. Hence, there should be no controversy or division of opinions regarding the Constitution of 1973.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Pakistan’s Determination to Win War against Terrorism

By Sajjad Shaukat

Terrorism has caused massive damage to the prosperity of Pakistan. In this context, the Parliamentary Secretary for Interior, Maryam Aurangzeb, while informing the National Assembly on December 19, 2014 said, “Pakistan which has been major victim of terrorism has suffered a loss of almost 80 billion dollars including loss of 50,000 precious lives of civilians and security agencies…huge collateral damage during the decade long war against terrorism.” Afterwards, these losses increased. Undoubtedly, in our country, the victims of terror attacks and suicide bombings have been innocent men, women and children. Regrettably, those militant entities like TTP, which try to justify terrorism and suicide bombings in the name of Islam, are misguiding the people, while these brutal acts are clearly against the teachings of Islam. Although currently, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria and other Muslim countries are in shambles due to AI-Qaeda and  ISIL terrorism, yet all types of  violent  tactics,  employed   by  the  militant organizations could not break Pakistan’s  resolve to defeat them.

Valiant security personnel are facing the brunt of terrorist attacks, as they have stood up as the saviors of the Pakistani nation. Pakistan Army consists of six million professional  troops who are  highly  motivated  to  root  out  terrorism   from  the  country.   In this regard, the capability of Pakistan’s Armed Forces could be judged from the one year progress of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb which started on Jun 15, 2014 against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA). On June 10, this year, while showing the progress of the Zarb-e-Azb, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif said, “Terrorists have been cleared from their strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and fight now is moving into last few pockets close to Afghan border.” He laid emphasis on “continuation of the operations till elimination of the last expected and probable terrorists groups and sanctuaries.”

However, since June 15, 2014, the jets of Pakistan Air Force have bombed militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, and killed thousands of insurgents including foreign militants, while Pak Army has also killed several terrorists through ground offensive and many of them surrendered before the Army. Thus, these forces destroyed their strongholds, demolishing tunnels and factories producing IED (Explosives), while drying the sources of their funds and sinking their In fact, the different war between Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the insurgents is simply a ‘clash of wills’ between two entities. Military thinkers agree that although the physical force will determine the type and scale of war, yet it is the ‘will to fight’ or ‘moral force’ that determines the outcome of war. Clausewitz puts it this way, “One might say that the physical force seems little more than the wooden hilt, while moral factors are the precious metal, the real weapon.”

In his book, “Fighting Power: German and U.S. Army Performance, 1939-1945”, Creveld identifies the elements of ‘moral force’, whom he calls “fighting power, the willingness to fight and the readiness, if necessary, to die.” The greater these elements, the less vulnerable an armed force will be to demoralization. ‘Moral force’, then, is the crucial factor in determining the combat power of any belligerent. During the successful military operation, Zarb-e-Azb” retreat of the Taliban from North Waziristan has proved that such elements like ‘will to fight’ and ‘moral force’ have been more found in Pakistan’s Armed Forces then the Taliban militants. It is owing to this factor coupled with the spirit of sacrificing their own lives that the Armed Forces demoralized the militants of the TTP and their affiliated militant outfits. However, Pakistan’s security forces are also waging this different war against terrorists in other parts of the country. In this respect, every settled district has operational policing system.  Punjab and Sindh Rangers are available to backup Army and Police. Frontier  Corps,  Frontier  Constabulary  and Levies  personnel are providing  additional enforcement  against  the  militant organizations. Intelligence  agencies  of  the  country  are working  round  the  clock  to foil nefarious  designs  of terrorists  and  their  masters  in hostile agencies.

It is notable that as terrorists had accelerated anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices, while challenging the writ of the state, and had frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. Hence, leaders of various political and religious parties including all segments of society and media anchors—particularly commentators of TV channels, who wanted that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis are admiring the successes of the security forces against these insurgents. Now, the whole nation is united against terrorism and is backing the military operations against these brutal militants.

Nevertheless, the success of the military operations and defeat of the terrorists will become assured, if the ruling and the opposition parties including all the segments of society display practical unity not only with one another, but also with the Armed Forces including other security agencies, which is also necessary to maintain order at this sensitive moment and to win this war against the militants. So, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s media, politicians, leaders of religious parties and the general masses must not only show solidarity with the security forces and other law-enforcing and intelligence agencies, but must also cooperate with them against these zealots, and to take this war to its logical end.

Therefore, collective wisdom demands that the victory of people  of Pakistan  is inevitable  in this different war, as few  thousand  militants occupying  a part of FATA  can neither capture  whole Pakistan  nor subjugate  its 200 million people. While the state of Pakistan has the capacity to sustain counterterrorism operations, the militant organizations are already in disaster. Our salvation lay in final victory, each and every  citizen  must   own  this  war  against terrorism   and  we  must  put  our  full  trust in Government and Army. Everyone should play his part and remain united against terrorists by showing Pakistan’s strong determination to win this war against terrorism.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Modi Madness

 By Hamza Jilani

            With Narendra Damodardas Modi, a Hindu Nationalist taking over as the 15^th Prime Minister of India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tightened their grip on Indian Policies. Modi, a controversial figure, domestically and internationally, was elevated from former Chief Minister of Gujarat to the Chief Executive of India; a tea seller from Vadnagar Railway Station has come a long way. Modi joined RSS as a Balswayamsevak (Junior Cadet) when he was eight years old and became the BJP chosen Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001.His involvement in anti Muslim riots of 2002 is still being debated with Martha Nassbaum commenting “ there is by now a broad consensus that the Gujarat violence was a form of ethnic cleansing, that in many ways it was premeditated, and that it was carried out with the complicity of the State Government and Law Enforcement Agencies”. So much for his past, a google search for top 10 criminals displays his photographs even today!

            Now that Mr Modi is the Indian PM, BJP and RSS Zealots have a free hand to  pursue their anti Pakistan agenda openly. RAW has been re-energized to unleash its sinister designs against Pakistan, Indian Ministers threatening use of terrorism as a tool. Ajit Kumar Doval, a self styled Indian James Bond, has been appointed as the National Security Advisor with the same agenda. Pakistan China Economic Corridor (PCEC) is the latest Indian nightmare for reasons best known to them only and they have been crying hoarse. Naive as they are, forgetting their dirty ploys since the creation of Pakistan, dismemberment of East Pakistan, saturated presence in Afghanistan, meddling in FATA and Balochistan with the only frenzied ambition – damage Pakistan.

            Indian PM visited Bangladesh recently and openly confessed Indian involvement in the breakup of East Pakistan; so much for his statemanship! India – Awami League (AL) partnership is old and time tested. The visit was ostensibly meant to ratify the long pending India Bangladesh Land Boundry Agreement (LBA). The other major pending issue, Teesta water sharing, however, was not discussed. There are plans for Special Economic Zones for Indian Investors in Bangladesh. India is exporting 500 MW of electricity through Bangladesh with an estimated potential of 50,000 MW. Settlement of Maritime Boundry has prospects of joint exploration of oil and gas reserves in Bay of Bengal. New initiatives likely to be announced include direct bus services, rail and road

links. Amidst all this fanfare, irritants like Teesta and Feni Rivers, Farakkha Barrage, terrorist safehavens in Bangladesh, illegal migration, border fencing, trans – shipment issues, Asian Highway, sea boundary demarcation, smuggling, treatment of minorities, trade barriers and imbalances have been left in the doldrums.

            Mission RAW, a book by RK Yadav, a former RAW Officer highlights details of Indian obsession and plans of undoing Pakistan by creating turmoil in its Eastern Wing just three years after its creation in September 1968. Besides an account of RAW Commandos in East Pakistan, he states that “RN Kao, former RAW Chief orchestrated hijacking of an Indian Airliner to Lahore so that Pakistani Flights over Indian Airspace could be banned”. Yadav has also given an account of how Sikkim was merged in India. Mr Zainal Abedin, a senior Bangladeshi Journalist in his book RAW and Bangladesh writes that “as a former student leader and freedom fighter he crossed over to India in 1971 for military training. He soon realized that he had made a big mistake. He states that after the fall of Dhaka, he saw large scale loot and plunder by Indian Troops, their so called liberators. They looted everything from ceiling fans to military equipment, utensils to water taps. Thousands of Army Vehicles were used to carry the looted goods to India. History has recorded few such cruel and heinous plunders. From the Indian conduct it was evident that they treated Bangladesh as a colony. It is now evident, writes Mr Abedin, that India helped in the creation of Bangladesh with the aim that it would be a step towards the reunification of India. Soon after the creation of Bangladesh, India let loose all forces at her command to cripple the newly born country. The most significant player of this heinous game of Akhand Bharat is RAW, which is still eating into the vitals of Bangladesh. Mr Abedin dwells at length on Arthshastra, a book written by Koutillaya and how the Indian Leadership applies his principles even today”. With Sikkim gone, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives and Kashmir are still in their crosshairs. Pakistan remains a painful thorn in their side for standing up to their hegemonic designs. Their wish list stretches even further to Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian Republics. Too late Mr Abedin, you should have heeded to the advice of your neighbour who had warned you that “Indians would make us their slaves again!”

            So much for history, the latest from Indian adventures? attack on “insurgents” in Myanmar. In East Pakistan it was a War of Liberation, in Manipur it is an insurgency.

Double standards is too decent a term for such insane behaviour. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an Indian Minister had the nerve to call it a warning to Pakistan. India  would be well advised to focus on an estimated 30 liberation movements in Kashmir, Khalistan, Assam, Arunachal Pardesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Laddakh with 16 belligerent groups and 68 major organizations, conveniently termed as terrorists, fighting  for their cause. Hindutva, the Hindu political philosophy seeped in prejudice would implode India sooner or later. Mr Modi while sticking to the teachings of Koutillaya must not forget the proverb, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Continuous saber rattling could turn into a conflagration which would engulf the whole region, so stop this madness Mr Modi.

Progress of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb

By Sajjad Shaukat

The ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb which started on Jun 15, 2014 against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) is successfully achieving its objectives. On June 10, this year, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif, while recounting the successes of security forces in the Zarb-e-Azb said, “Terrorists have been cleared and dislodged from their strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and fight now is moving into last few pockets close to Afghan border.” He laid emphasis on “continuation of the operations till elimination of the last expected and probable terrorists groups and sanctuaries.”

When the Pakistan Government decided to launch this operation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the nation into confidence through parliament, asserting that Pakistan would not be allowed to become safe havens of terrorists. Earlier, DG, ISPR Directorate, Major-Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa had stated, “Armed forces of Pakistan have launched the operation against foreign and local terrorists…who had been waging a war against the state of Pakistan by disrupting our national life in all its dimensions, stunting our economic growth and causing enormous loss of life and property…with the support of the entire nation, these enemies will be denied space across the country.”

He further stated that military operation would continue till achievement of ultimate objectives. On June 16, 2014, Gen. Raheel Sharif also pointed out, “Operation Zarb-e-Azb has been launched with the objectives of rooting out terrorists, eliminate their sanctuaries in NWA and rid the country of terrorism.” After the militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) massacred 132 school children at Army Public School and College in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, while emphasizing national unity against terrorists, Gen. Raheel had repeatedly stated, “Our resolve has taken new height”, and added “We will continue to go after the inhuman beasts, their facilitators till their And Gen. Raheel Sharif has himself started supervising the military action against terrorists, and as part the operation, Zarb-e-Azb. However, since June 15, 2014, the jets of Pakistan Air Force have bombed militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, and killed thousands of insurgents including foreign militants, while Pak Army has also killed several terrorists through ground offensive and many of them surrendered

Undoubtedly, the noble cause followed by troops enabled them to eliminate terrorists, destroyed their strongholds/sanctuaries, demolishing tunnels and factories producing IED (Explosives), while drying the sources of their funds and sinking their public support. In fact, the different war between Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the TTP insurgents is simply a ‘clash of wills’ between two entities. Military thinkers agree that although the physical force will determine the type and scale of war, yet it is the ‘will to fight’ or ‘moral force’ that determines the outcome of war. Clausewitz puts it this way, “One might say that the physical force seems little more than the wooden hilt, while moral factors are the precious metal, the real weapon.”

In his book, “Fighting Power: German and U.S. Army Performance, 1939-1945”, Creveld identifies the elements of ‘moral force’, whom he calls “fighting power, the willingness to fight and the readiness, if necessary, to die.” The greater these elements, the less vulnerable an armed force will be to demoralization. ‘Moral force’, then, is the crucial factor in determining the combat power of any belligerent. During the successful military operation, Zarb-e-Azb” retreat of the Taliban from North Waziristan has proved that such elements like ‘will to fight’ and ‘moral force’ have been more found in Pakistan’s Armed Forces then the Taliban militants.

Nevertheless, there are other causes which demoralized the insurgents of the TTP and their affiliated militant outfits. Firstly, strong determination and cohesiveness as noted in Pakistan’s Armed Forces played a key role in expelling terrorists from North Waziristan Agency. In this regard, airstrikes by Pakistan Air Force targeted their strongholds. And during street to street fighting, without bothering for their lives, and by air-dropping commandos at the risky places, our forces made a great headway in disrupting the Taliban supply routes. They besieged them at various hotspots, rendering them unable to send reinforcements to their fighters. Secondly, morale of Pak Army was very high. Thirdly, local people started denying the Taliban sanctuaries, and disrupted their links with each other. Fourthly, general masses of the area opposed the brutal acts of these terrorists which compelled them to leave their houses. They came to know that under the cover of Islamic laws—terror, not Sharia was these militants’ real agenda. Hence, they were misusing Jihad which does not allow suicide attacks in killing their own Muslim brethren.

Undoubtedly, Pakistan’s Armed Forces have successfully broken the backbone and organized capability of terrorists to launch well thought-out attacks against the government assets and on innocent people. They have met serious setbacks in operation Zarb-e-Azb, and shall finally be totally eliminated from Pakistan. It appears, as if the militants of TTP have lost major grounds, and in severe frustration, they are trying to create some kind of so-called pressure on the government and the Armed Forces through some terror-activities which are due to external support of Indian  RAW and other anti-Pakistan powers to these terrorists. But, Armed Forces have castigated them to put up strong resistance.

It is notable that the North Waziristan Agency was the largest tribal agency with difficult and complicated topography. But, by sacrificing their own lives, Armed Forces successfully cleared the region. Therefore, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been returning to North Waziristan, and Pak Army helped them in their resettlement. As terrorists had accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices, while they had challenged the writ of the state, and had frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. Therefore, leaders of various political and religious parties including all segments of society and media anchors—particularly commentators of TV channels, who wanted that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis are admiring the successes, achieved during the operation Zarb-e-Azb. Now, the whole nation is united against terrorism and is backing the military operation against these brutal militants.

No doubt, the progress of the operation Zarb-e-Azb is very encouraging, as it is fruitfully advancing towards its logical end. At present, especially Pakistan’s media need to show sense of hope and optimism by indicating that the present broad-based military operation will annihilate Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

India’s Operation Blue Star Revisited

                                          

By Sajjad Shaukat

                                               

Operation Blue Star was an Indian military operation which occurred between 3–8 June 1984, ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to control over the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) complex, the holiest shrine of the Sikhs in Amritsar, Punjab, and to arrest Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the complex buildings. Bhindranwale had earlier taken residence in Harmandir Sahib and made it his headquarters in April 1980. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the only leader who had boldly been fighting for the genuine rights of the Sikhs.

Indian Army led by General Kuldip Singh Brar, supported by troops and armoured vehicles broke all records of the state terrorism and extra-judicial killings through that barbaric operation.

However, at that time, there were only 251 Sikhs inside the complex to protect the Harmandir Sahib, and to resist the well-trained Indian army, equipped with sophisticated weaponry. In those days, majority of the Sikhs were coming to the temple-complex to celebrate Martyr Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.

Then the Indian regime used tanks and destroyed the Akaal Takhat Sahib which is right in front of the Harmandir Sahib. On June 6, when all Sikh fighters were martyred along with Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Indian troops entered the temple-complex with their shoes by deliberately ignoring the holiness of the place, showing utter indecency. When the Indian Army felt that only 251 men had prevented them from entering the Harmandir Sahib for so many days, they started killing innocent Sikhs who had come there to visit the temple. The only purpose was to hide their humiliation.

In this regard, in their book, “The Sikh Struggle”, Ramnarain Kumar and George Sieberer writes, “The army killed every Sikh who could be found inside the temple-complex. They were hauled out of rooms, brought to corridors on the circumference of the temple and with their hands tied behind their back, were shot in cold blood. Among the victims were many old men, women and children.” However, all visitors were locked up in rooms for two days without any food, water, or electricity and were starved to death. Besides, the Harmandir Sahib remained under the army control for many months.”

The brutality of the ‘Operation Blue Star’ was not confined to the Harmandir Sahib. Indian armed forces simultaneously attacked 40 other historical gurdwaras all over East Punjab.

When Sikhs in other states came to know about the desecration of the Harmandir Sahib and massacre of their brethren, they quickly left for Punjab. New Delhi tried to stop them before they could reach Punjab. Many Sikhs were assassinated on the way and many others were arrested.

According to an estimate, about 50,000 Sikhs were killed within a few days. The whole Amritsar city was sealed and was burnt. A number of tourists either were murdered or arrested. Shops belonging to Sikhs were looted and their houses were set ablaze by Hindu mobs. In most of the cases, Sikh women were molested and some persons of their community were also burnt.

Another tragic dimension of the operation is that historical Sikh artifacts—all the literature written by the gurus was also set ablaze by the Indian army. But New Delhi fabricated a false story by claiming that it was burnt, while bombing the Harmandir Sahib.

In the same year of November, two dedicated Sikhs named Beant Singh and Satwant Singh who were posted at Premier Indira Gandhi’s residence in New Delhi, assassinated her. Then Hindu riots erupted in the capital and other cities in which more then 15,000 Sikhs were murdered in broad daylight by the supporters of Indira Gandhi while police watched silently so as to provide the Hindus with free hand to massacre Sikhs.

However, the attack on the Harmandir Sahib and genocide of Sikhs only accelerated the liberation movement for Khalistan as Bhindrenwale became a folk hero.

Meanwhile, after ‘Operation Blue Star’ and the Sikh genocide, Sikhs’ struggle for independence continued, but the Indian government made every effort to crush the same with the state machinery. To maintain its control over the Harmandir Sahib, another attack was launched on the Temple in 1987, called ‘Operation Black Thunder’. This time only Sikh resistance which was natural outcome of the tragedy, was the main target. In that respect, quite a number of people of their community were killed and dead bodies lay inside the sacred place for many days. According to a report, many trucks were loaded with dead bodies and all were burned with kerosene oil. Afterwards, ‘Operation Woodrose’ and ‘Operation Black Thunder-II’ were conducted against the Sikh community, which also assassinated them extra-judicially.

After these barbaric operations, Sikhs organised themselves into an armed power in order to fight the Indian state terrorism. Many Sikhs left India to escape religious persecution. Sikhs have spread out all over the world to keep the movement of Khalistan alive. In this respect, their struggle is still going on.

We may conclude in the words of, a renowned scholar, Dr. Sangat Singh who writes in his book, “The Sikhs in History”, remarks, “The Indian government has killed over 1 million to 1.2 million Sikhs. Since 1947, Indian government has also killed 50,000 Christians and 100,000 Muslims. The only way to stop this state terrorism is to create a Khalistan state, where Sikhs and other religious people can enjoy their freedom.”

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Declare India the Terrorist State

                                              

By Sajjad Shaukat

Since the US started global war against terrorism, after the 9/11 tragedy, various political experts have opined that terrorism comes in a variety of forms such as religious terrorism, secular terrorism, cross-border terrorism etc.

Bruce Hoffman, in his book ‘Inside Terrorism’ writes: “For the religious terrorist, violence is the foremost divine duty executed in direct response to some demand or imperative…the secular terrorist sense leads to a sanctioning of almost limitless violence against a virtually open-ended category of targets.”

State terrorism refers to terrorist acts by governmental agents or forces, which involves the use of state resources to achieve ideological or political goals as part of state’s foreign policy.

Judging in these terms, India has broken all the records of violence by applying terror-related tactics in relation to its internal and external policies, and its genesis is ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). In fact, Hinduvta agenda enabled BJP hardliner, Narendra Modi to get a land sliding triumph in the Indian elections 2014 and become the prime minister of India. During the election campaign, Hindu majority was mobilized on anti-Pakistan and ‘hate Muslim’ slogans. Hence, Modi regime is giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism.

Although New Delhi has been destabilizing all regional states through its well-planned and deliberated strategy, however, its major focus has always been towards Pakistan.

In this regard, Indian Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, while using the Hindi phrase “kante se kanta nikalna’ (removing a thorn with a thorn) assertively said, on May 23, this year, “We have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only…why does my soldier have to do it…the issue could not be discussed beyond this…there are certain things that I obviously cannot discuss here.”

Showing grave concerns, Pakistan’s Foreign Office, prime Minister’s advisor on national security and foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and other political leaders remarked, “The Indian defence minister’s open statement has proved that India is sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan—and Indian secret agency RAW is playing this nefarious role—it is also against others in the region and beyond.”

In fact, Indian defence minister’s statement cannot be seen in isolation, it is part of inter-related developments against Pakistan, China and Afghanistan. In this respect, Indian External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj has recognized, on June 1, this year that India strongly opposes $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

In her reply, on June 2, Sartaj Aziz clarified that the CPEC project will bring stability in the whole region—even China has clearly stated that this project is not against any other country.

Meanwhile, apart from previous terror attacks, a new wave of RAW-arranged assaults is noteworthy. On May 13, 2015, 45 persons were killed, after gunmen brutally opened fire on a bus of the Ismaili community in Karachi. Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for Jundullah which is the affiliated group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the bus attack. On April 11, gunmen killed 20 laborers at a dam construction site in the Turbat district of Baluchistan. On May 29, 20 people were killed when unknown militants opened fire at the kidnapped passengers in Mastung area of Balochistan—after abduction of two buses. New Delhi’s the main aim behind such terror-activities is to create hurdles in completion of the CPEC,

as Pakistan’s economic development irks its eyes. Besides other related projects, the establishment of CPEC between deep Gwadar seaport of Balochistan and the historic Silk Road city in western regions-Xinjiang of China will connect Gilgit-Baltistan through Khunjerab Pass.

Notably, RAW has well-established its network in Afghanistan, and with the tactical assistance of anti-Pakistan secret agencies, it is fully backing cross-border incursions including terror-activities in Balochistan province and other regions of Pakistan so as to destabilize the latter. It has continuously been assisting the Baloch anti-Pakistan groups like BLA, Jundullah and TTP including their affiliated outfits with logistic support—the militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province and other areas of Pakistan through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence to create lawlessness in the country. They also abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan.

It is of particular attention, that Indian former Army Chief Gen. VK Singh openly admitted that during his tenure, he supervised special army unit, Tactical Support Division (TSD) on the instructions of the then defence minister to sponsor subversive in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan.

During the recent visit of the US Secretary of State John Kerry to New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Modi was humbled in the meeting when American team showed some hard evidence of TTP chief Mullah Fazalullah and RAW nexus in Afghanistan to influx terror in Pakistan.

It is worth-mentioning that unlike the Indian-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai, President Ashraf Ghani realized that Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing similar challenges of terrorism and will combat this threat collectively. During the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif to Kabul, on May 18, this year, the two countries signed the security agreement—Pakistan’s ISI and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) to share intelligence and conduct coordinated operations against terrorists. Now, frequent visits of Pak-Afghan civil and military leaders to each other’s country also irritate New Delhi.

It is notable that theoretically, Indian Constitution safeguards the rights of minorities, but in practice, ideology of Hindutva prevails. Hindu politics and culture, dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP, RSS VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena including other extremist outfits have been propagating Hindutva. Provocative utterances of their extremist leaders and the BJP rulers have resulted into unending violence against the Muslims, Christians Sikhs, and Dalits, while creating war-like situation between Pakistan and India, as Indian unprovoked shelling across Line of Control and Working Boundary displays.

In this connection, destruction of the Babri Masjid (mosque) in 1992, massacre of 2500 Muslims in the in the BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 and those of more than 2002 Muslims during the communal riots of 2008 in Uttar Pradesh—participation of Indian high officials and leaders of the VHP, BJP and Bajrang Dal in the incidents including attacks on churches might also be cited as instance. Similarly, under the BJP regime, forced conversions of Muslims and Christians into Hindus might also be noted as example.

On April 30, in its annual report 2015, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said, “Since the [last year’s] election, religious minority communities have been subject to derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling party BJP and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups, such as RSS and VHP.”

It is mentionable that on January 20, 2013, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confessed the nexus between BJP and the RSS, disclosing that organized training camps run by these fundamentalist parties were promoting Hindu terrorism. They also disclosed that these parties were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts including Gujarat and Babri Masjid incidents. Earlier, New Delhi was accusing Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency, ISI for blasts in Malegaon and other cities.

While, on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma revealed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws. But, Indian top officials and media had blamed Islamabad and a Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for those attacks.

In the recent past, Indian agencies orchestrated a boat drama to defame Pakistan, allegedly reporting that a Pakistani fishing boat as a Pakistan-based outfit LeT was intercepted by Indian Coast Guards, off the coast of Porebandar, Gujarat. And Indian Coast Guard crew set the boat on fire and it exploded. But, its reality exposed Indian terrorism, because, some Indian high officials admitted that there was no such boat which came from Pakistan.

As regards Hindutva terror, besides other brutal tactics, it is also employed in the occupied Kashmir. In this context, various human rights groups have reported thousands of unmarked mass graves in the Indian controlled Kashmir. Especially, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves. Notably, foreign sources have said that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and para-military troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by RAW.

Nonetheless, India is also manipulating the so-called statement of the ISIL or ISIS which said on May 23 that it can buy nuclear device from Pakistan within a year. Most alarming point is that RAW can itself supply nuclear bomb to this militant group to use against America, Israel or any western country so as to cause World War 111 in wake of global war against terrorism.

We can conclude that it is the right hour that the US-led western countries must declare India the terrorist state, as it is carving out a disastrous strategy, and it would never help in rooting out terrorism which is an international issue, threatening all states.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

India and Sub-nationalists are Hand in Glove

                           

By Sajjad Shaukat

Pakistan is a peace loving country and has been subjected to worse kind of terrorism. All amicable efforts to negotiate with the terrorist outfits have failed. In fact, Indian covert and overt activities against the federation of Pakistan had led to the separation of the former East Pakistan in 1971. Now, India has been promoting sub-nationalism in Baluchistan, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Sindh and even among the Karachiates (Mohajirs). New Delhi has been exploiting sub-nationalist elements locally and abroad as proxies against Pakistan.

These sub-nationalist parties have never protested against the killing of innocent women, children and men at the hands of their militant groups. Has ever, journalist community questioned them about this aspect? These terrorist groups abduct, kidnap and then kill innocent Balochs, Sindhis and Punjabis to strengthen their case of missing persons and extra-judicial killings to distort the image of Pakistan and its security agencies abroad.

To affect the flourishing relations of Pakistan and China, Baloch secessionists have been directed to step up their activities on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Indian secret agency RAW has created a heavily funded China-Pakistan specific desk to sabotage growing Pak-China- Afghanistan relations.

Since April 20, 2015 when Islamabad and Beijing signed 51 agreements for cooperation in various fields, related to CPEC project, India which is hand in glove with the sub-nationalists has accelerated terror-attacks inside Pakistan to discourage this project.

In this regard, on May 13, this year, at least 45 people were killed when gunmen brutally opened fire on a bus of the Ismaili community in Karachi. Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for Jundullah which is the affiliated group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the bus attack. Without any doubt, Karachi bus incident is a handy work of RAW to sabotage the CPEC by showing that if Pakistan government is not able to provide security to its citizens, how it can protect CPEC. Ismailis belong to Hunza (Gilgit/Baltistan) or have a spiritual linkage with this area, are Pakistanis. The CPEC would also originate from the same region. Besides, on April 11, this year, gunmen killed 20 laborers at a dam construction site in the Turbat district of Baluchistan. On May 29, 20 people were killed when unknown militants opened fire at the kidnapped passengers in Mastung area of Balochistan—after abduction of two buses.

India knows that the establishment of CPEC between deep Gwadar seaport of Balochistan and the historic Silk Road city in western regions-Xinjiang of China will connect Gilgit-Baltistan through Khunjerab Pass. Beijing would also build an international airport at Gwadar, while the roads infrastructure in Gwadar would link the communication network of rest of the country to facilitate transportation of goods. As New Delhi has been opposing this Pak-China project which will make Pakistan an economic power, hence, it has been destabilizing Pakistan by creating unrest in the Balochistan province.

Undoubtedly, some foreign anti-Pakistan forces, especially RAW are making efforts to weaken Pakistan, and especially Balochistan by promoting acrimonious sense of dissent, political volatility, sectarian violence, deteriorating law and order situation and arousing sentiments of separatism. India is leading terrorist activities in the Balochistan by using the soil of Afghanistan, harbouring and financing terrorists and projecting them as freedom fighters. 

In this respect, Dr Allah Nazar is a terrorist hailing from Awaran, Balochistan. He is being directly supported by Indian RAW to commit heinous crimes against humanity, requiring state reaction to safeguard the life and property of its citizens. Killing men, women and children, attacks on women university students, armed forces, members of the law-enforcing agencies and blowing up of electric pylons as well as gas pipelines are part of the anti-Pakistan scheme. In a sane society, how such acts could be counted as deeds of a liberation movement.

While, in May, 2013, a day before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Islamabad; Chinese engineers being driven through Clifton Block-1 in Karachi escaped a major bomb attack. As regards anti-China diplomacy, Afghanistan has become a hub from where external secret agencies like RAW and Israeli Mossad have been assisting subversive activities in other parts of Pakistan—particularly in Balochistan through their affiliated militant groups like TTP, BLA, BLF etc. including Jundullah at the cost of Pakistan, China and Iran. In the past few years, they abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan, and claimed responsibility for their terror-acts.  

It is notable that Indian former Army Chief Gen. VK Singh openly admitted that during his tenure, he supervised special army unit, Tactical Support Division (TSD) on the instructions of the then defence minister to sponsor subversive in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan.

Although New Delhi has been destabilizing all regional states through its well-planned and deliberated strategy, however, its major focus has always been towards Pakistan.

In this connection, Indian Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, while using the Hindi phrase “kante se kanta nikalna’ (removing a thorn with a thorn) assertively said, on May 23, this year, “We have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only…why does my soldier have to do it…the issue could not be discussed beyond this…there are certain things that I obviously cannot discuss here.”

The Indian defence minister’s open statement has proved that India is sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, and RAW is playing this nefarious role.

It is mentionable that unlike the Indian-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai, President Ashraf Ghani realized that Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing similar challenges of terrorism and will combat this threat collectively. During the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif to Kabul, on May 18, this year, the two countries signed the security agreement—Pakistan’s ISI and Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) to share intelligence and conduct coordinated operations against terrorists. Now, frequent visits of Pak-Afghan civil and military leaders to each other’s country also irritate New Delhi.

However, besides terror-assaults in various regions of Pakistan, simultaneously, sub-nationalist political parties have been activated to cry foul against CPEC and Chinese investment in Pakistan. For the purpose, SANA, WSI, WSC and other sub-nationalist organizations are directed to spit venomous propaganda against Pakistan by alleging so-called human rights abuses, killing of sub-nationalist elements in Balochistan, Sindh etc.

While, being a democratic country, Pakistan has never attempted any action against the sub-nationalists parties; however, the country has showed undaunted resolution to check militancy of all kinds.

In this context, Pakistan’s law-enforcing agencies in Balochistan have been carrying out action against terrorists like Allah Nazar, Marris and Bugtis who created “no go areas” and challenged the writ of the government.

Nevertheless, India which is hand in glove with the sub-nationalists continues exploiting these elements so as to weaken the federation of Pakistan.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Balochistan: Anti-Punjab and Anti-Army Propaganda

By Sajjad Shaukat

The ink on Pak-China agreements related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was barely dry when some western media, especially Indian secret agency RAW started playing up the Baloch insurgency. In this regard, the director of The Second Floor (T2F), a social activist Sabeen Mahmud was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Karachi on April 24, 2015, followed by a bomb blast in Sibi, which killed several persons on April 26. However, she had left T2F after attending the session on Balochistan province, when she was targeted. She was likely to conduct a seminar at LUMS in Lahore about Balochistan. Earlier, on April 11, gunmen killed 20 laborers at a dam construction site in the Turbat district of Baluchistan. On May 29, 2015, 20 people were killed when unknown militants opened fire at the kidnapped passengers in Mastung area of Balochistan—after abduction of two buses. Particularly, on May 13, 45 people were killed when gunmen brutally opened fire on a bus of the Ismaili community in Karachi. Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for Jundullah which is the affiliated group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the bus attack.

Like these terror attacks which continue in some way or the other, Karachi bus incident was also handy work of RAW to sabotage the CPEC by showing that if Pakistan government is not able to provide security to its citizens, how it can protect CPEC. Ismailis belong to Hunza (Gilgit/Baltistan) or have a spiritual linkage with this area, are Pakistanis. The CPEC would also originate from the same region.

Similarly, RAW was behind the assassination of Sabeen Mahmud-a well thought-out plan not only to try to harm Pak-China CPEC project, but also to accuse Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Another aim was also to drive a wedge between Balochistan and rest of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Indian high officials themselves proved that India is sponsoring terrorism in various regions of Pakistan, particular in Balochistan. In this respect, Indian Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, while using the Hindi phrase “kante se kanta nikalna’ (removing a thorn with a thorn) assertively said, on May 23, 2015, “We have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only…why does my soldier have to do it…the issue could not be discussed beyond this…there are certain things that I obviously cannot discuss here.”

Indian External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj recognized, on June 1, this year that India strongly “opposes $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.”

In this respect, while addressing a ceremony during his Bangladesh tour, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi openly admitted on June 7, this year that Indian forces helped Mukti Bahini to turn East Pakistan into Bangladesh. He elaborated that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had played an active role in separating Bangladesh from Pakistan, and he had also come to Delhi in 1971 to participate in the Satyagraha Movement launched by Jana Sangh as a volunteer to garner support for the Mukti Bahini members.

In the recent past, Indian former Army Chief Gen. VK Singh openly confessed that during his tenure, he supervised special army unit, Tactical Support Division (TSD) on the instructions of the then defence minister to sponsor subversive acts in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan.

These blatant admissions by New Delhi endorsed that RAW has well-established its network in Afghanistan, and with the tactical assistance of some anti-Pakistan secret agencies, it is fully backing cross-border incursions and terror-activities particularly in Balochistan so as to destabilize Pakistan. It has continuously been assisting the Baloch separatist elements and anti-Pakistan groups like BLA, Jundullah and TTP including their affiliated outfits with logistic support—the militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. They also abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals. Therefore, they are responsible for dumped bodies and extrajudicial killings and the missing persons in the province. On a number of occasions, these insurgent groups claimed responsibility for their acts of sabotage, but India and some external powers have been shifting the blame game of human rights violations in Balochistan towards Pak Army.

In this context, these entities continue a deliberate propaganda campaign against Pakistan Army by always making Army role controversial. They indicate that Punjabi Army never killed people in Punjab; carried out military operations in other provinces like Balochistan. Their main aim is to create resentment among the Baloch against Punjab and Army. In this connection, those who are building Sabeen Mehmood murder case as a campaign for Baloch rights are in fact more interested to demonize Army and ISI rather than helping the poor masses of Balochistan.

Whereas Army has not only been successful in uprooting the anti-state elements, but also contributed a lot in socio-economic development of Balochistan. It is mentionable that besides protecting mega projects, and promoting other developments works, Pak Army set up a number of institutes in Balochistan, which have been providing especially technical training to thousands of Balochis. Pak Army has also been imparting military training to the Baloch youth. The purpose is to bring them in the mainstream of the country.

As a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by a nationalist leader Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established. And on December 7, 2013; local bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in Balochistan. The successful elections have greatly negated the cause of terrorist groups, who always claim to enjoy the majority support. These elections also proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, as they have rejected the case of separatists, being projected by India and other major countries.

And a Gallup survey of the UK official body, DFID, conducted on July 20, 2012 had disclosed that the vast majority of the Baloch people oppose the idea of an independent Balochistan.

It is notable that CPEC is to be economic game changer in whole the region, which is badly hit by below average living conditions, while people of Balochistan would be the main beneficiaries of the CEPC project. Two decades down the timeline, Gwadar would be a thriving metropolitan providing economic opportunities to the youth of Balochistan.

But, RAW University New Delhi is continuously conducting research and destabilizing the region through its political and terrorist assets located in UK, Sweden, Karachi, Balochistan and Afghanistan.

It is mentionable that with the inception of new political governments both at the center and the province, a meaningful negotiation with all the armed separatist groups have been initiated by a high level reconciliation and negotiation committee, comprising seasoned Baloch, Pashtoon  and Sindhi leaders to initiate dialogue with Baloch separatists.

Open offers to negotiate issues have been made to armed Baloch groups who have owned the responsibility to kill many innocent persons. On the instruction of New Delhi and some foreign anti-Pakistan entities, these groups continue to deny such offers on various reasons.

In this connection, as part of propaganda, all these anti-Pakistan entities are linking Balochistan with dismemberment of East Pakistan and Kashmir struggle which is nothing, but a deliberate effort to twist the facts. The Kashmir liberation movement is a rightful struggle and is the UN stature—unresolved agenda item. Likewise, the separation of East Pakistan was not based purely on indigenous movement or the policies of West Pakistan; it was in fact India who exploited the situation by promoting militancy in East Pakistan, and then militarily occupied it to install government of their choice. The involvement of RAW in Balochistan is the continuation of the same Indian policy to cause maximum damage to Pakistan.

As matter of fact, during its operations, natural calamities and humanitarian services, Pak Army never discriminated between Punjabis and non-Punjabis. It was due to uncontrolled violent events in Sindh, Balochistan and FATA that Army was compelled to conduct military operations, but with the public support of every segment of society including provincial and local people of those areas.

Nonetheless, our media entities must indicate that terrorists, operating in Balochistan are against Pakistan and pursuing the agenda of the vested interests of their foreign masters, especially pointing out Indian support to Baloch separatists.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com