Why India is Reviving Baloch Militancy?

PART - I

By Tariq Rizwan

            The recent announcement of Prime Minister Nerendra Modi to support the Baloch cause of separate homeland in Pakistan’s province of Balochistan is quite alarming and against all the international norms. It is clear example of interference in the neighboring Pakistan. The self exiled Baloch leader Brahmdagh Bugti’s brutal acts in Pakistan followed by his desire to get Indian nationality reflects the growing chemistry of expansionist India with Baloch Sub Nationalists (BSNs) to use the later against the CPEC and deprive the people of Balochistan from the immense benefits of the project. Apart from the active support provided to BSNs through Afghan intelligence NDS, Indian effort through media is also an open secret. The ongoing propaganda against Pakistan on Balochistan, while twisting the facts through a website “Baloch Voice” and journals “Sangar Magazine and Sangar Publications” is also a strong indicator of Indian intentions against CPEC. The writers are using cover names like Maj Majeed, Taj Baloch, Sajid Baloch and Zahid Abdullah.

            The fact is that the decade long resistance movement of BSNs is almost over now. Balochistan is awaiting development and prosperity which the ongoing mega project ‘CPEC’ is bound to ensure in near future. Development work on Sea Port, Airport and industrial Zone in Gwadar is in full swing. The government measures like banning non locals from getting the right of vote, local CNICs, industry and business without the support of local residents in Gwadar coupled by the appointment of Hasil Bizenjo as Federal Minister for Port and Shipping augured well in raising the confidence of common man in Balochistan. It is tantamount to overcome the concerns of locals not to be converted into minority. Peace has returned to the province as evident from the passage of first business convoy of fort trucks from Kashgar to Gwadar, peaceful transition of consecutive provincial governments in Balochistan.

            Most of the militants have perished forever; either killed or surrendered to the Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs). About 1025 militants have surrendered so far to the LEAs since the take of PML (N) government in Balochistan, according to daily DAWN, 26 April, 2016. The demise of late rebel leader Nawab Khair Bux Marri in June 2014 added fuel to the destruction of these outfits and their baseless proxies. The latest but most lethal phase of militancy started after the accidental killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti in August, 2006 giving birth to BRA led by Brahmdagh Bugti. Nawab Bugti was killed in an operation in Chalgri area of Bhamboor hills of Balochistan along with his 37 tribal guards.

            Despite the SNBs’ strive to label him as their comrade and anti - state Baloch leader, the late Nawab Bugti is considered a veteran leader and highly respected figure in the political circles. He had served as Chief Minister and Governor of Balochistan province in the past. He was strong patriot and a leading figure along with then Khan of Qalat Mir Ahmed Yar Khan to receive the founding father of Pakistan, Quaid - e - Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Quetta. He was always praised for his role in acceding to the dominion of Pakistan. The famous treaty of accession to Pakistan was inked in March, 1948.

            Like other political figures, Nawab Bugti also fell victim to Gen (Retd) Pervaiz Musharaf policy of extending government writ in remote areas of Balochistan province in mid 2006. Differences developed over a gas royalty issue. The Nawab revolted and took arms. He along with his personal guards went into hiding in the mountains to give fight to the LEAs. In a search operation, he was killed along with his 37 personal guards who all were Bugti tribesmen. His death is considered a great loss to the nation.

            The BSNs have tried their level best to portray the late Nawab as their hero but in vain. Except the latter’s grandson Brahmdagh Bugti who went into self-exile, Afghanistan and then Geneva as refugee, the remaining family has preferred to stay back calm and remained cooperative with the LEAs. As per their tribal traditions, his eldest grandson Aali Khan Bugti was nominated new Nawab of Bugti tribe. Jamil Bugti, the only surviving son of Nawab is battling a legal case in the court to bring the so called killers of his father to the book.   

            The militants’ strived hard, backed by the hostile forces from abroad to exploit him as their hero, but failed abruptly. Besides destroying the government infrastructure, the Baloch militants killed hundreds of innocent non - Baloch people in their so called liberation war during last ten years. The daring LEAs led by FC have flushed out all the militant groups. Baloch militants were either killed or living in exile. They are now part of history.

The BSNs are now part of history. Prominent outfits remained Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Baloch United Liberation Front (BULF) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). The left over remnants are operating on papers from abroad with the covert support of foreign powers. BLA and BRA were led by Hairbyar Marri and Brahmdagh Bugti from UK and Switzerland respectively. The later is likely to get the nationality of India as he has already announced to settle in India to the displeasure of most of the ethnic Baloch. India is ready to take and use him against CPEC in future.    Continued

The writer is a freelance journalist

Afzal Guru: Kashmir Movement is Alive

By Sajjad Shaukat

Every year, the martyrdom anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Gur is being celebrated on the 9th of February to pay homage to him, as India secretly hanged him and buried inside the Tihar jail complex on February 9, 2013. His martyrdom resulted into protests in Kashmir and widespread condemnations from various political and human rights organisations. Afzal Guru was convicted in 2001 Parliament attack case and awarded death sentence. Afzal had always denied plotting the attack, which left 14 dead, including five militants.

In the past three years, during his martyrdom anniversary, a complete shutdown was observed in the Indian occupied Kashmir and protest demonstrations were held to demand the return of mortal remains of Afzal Guru.

Call for the strike had been given by pro-freedom leaders and organizations to mark the anniversary of Muhammad Afzal. Indian authorities had arrested Kashmiri leaders, Yasin Malik, Shoukat Bakhshi, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza along with several other Hurriyet activists and lodged them in different police stations and jails. The authorities also placed Hurriyet leaders, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Ayaz Akbar under house arrest.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, in a statement had denounced the arrests and vowed that the Kashmiris were struggling for their basic right and would succeed in their mission at the end of the day.

In their statements and meetings, all the leaders of the freedom movement of Kashmir paid glowing tributes to the martyr Muhammad Afzal Guru who sacrificed his live for the Kashmir cause.

Even, the Sikh organization, Dal Khalsa President H S Dhami, while paying tributes to Muhammad Afzal Guru on the eve of his second martyrdom anniversary, in a statement in Amritsar criticized India for failing to hand over his mortal remains to his wife.

In fact, the very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to crush through various forms of brutalities.

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Occupied Kashmir through various machinations.

However, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities.

While, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces.

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is mentionable that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves.

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

Meanwhile, like the previous year, Pakistan’s recent serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations—the speech of Pakistan’s prime minister, highlighting the Indian atrocities, Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people.

But, New Delhi is still showing its intransigence in order to resolve Kashmir dispute with Pakistan by neglecting the fact that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between both the neighbouring countries.

Nevertheless, this time, the very day has come at time when the people of Kashmir have accelerated their legitimate struggle in the aftermath of the martyrdom of the young Kashmir leader Burhan Wani by the Indian security forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) in wake of continued sieges and prolonged curfews. Since July 8, 2016, Indian forces have martyred more than 150 innocent persons who have been protesting against the martyrdom of Burhan Wani and for liberation of their land.

By manipulating the false flag terror attacks at a military base in Uri and Baramulla, the BJP-led Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also intensified war-hysteria against Pakistan. After deployment of heavy arms and weapons at the Line of Control (LoC), Indian forces have increased troops and continue shelling in Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir. And Pakistani troops are giving matching response to Indian unprovoked firing across the LoC and are well-prepared for Indian another surgical strikes, as threatened by Indian new army Chief Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhaag. New Delhi’s main aim is to deflect the attention of the international community from the new phase of Kashmiri Intifada, while pressure has been mounting on the Modi government both domestically and internationally to resolve the issue of Kashmir with Pakistan.

In response, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa on January 5, 2016 rejected claims by his Indian counterpart Gen. Bipin Rawat about “so-called surgical strikes” and their possible recurrence.

According to ISPR, Army Chief Gen. Qamar Bajwa made it clear that “Pakistan Armed Forces were fully geared to respond to any aggression by India.”

It is of particular attention that like the teror asaults at Pathonkot air base, in Mumbai and at Indian parliament were orchestrated by the Indian security agencies to obtain several sinister designs against Islamabad such as suspention of the process of Pak-Indian dialogue, shift of blame game to Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency ISI etc. While, on July 19, 2013, the Indian ex-investigating officer Satish Verma disclosed 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.

Nonetheless, Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds. New Delhi reached to a conclusion that only bullet is the right way of dealing with Kashmiris, demanding their right of self-determination. Surprisingly, Indian successive governments are trying to ignore the dynamics of the freedom movement of Kashmiris for the sake of their alien rule.

Undoubtedly, the martyrdom of Muhammad Afzal Guru infused a new spirit into the Kashmir movement keeps is alive today. His martyrdom anniversary provides an opportunity to ponder over the fact that various countries of the world got independence by sacrificing their precious lives. On this vary day, the best way to pay homage to the hero of Kashmir movement, Muhammad Afzal Guru is that all the Kashmiris must renew their pledge to take the war of liberation to its logical end.

Trump on Whose Extremist Agenda?

By Sajjad Shaukat

During and after the presidential election campaign, taking note of the US new President Donald Trump’s religious bigotry, racialism and extremist statements such as calling a “ban on Muslims entering the United States”, “Islam hate us”, opposition to the Muslim refugees, especially from Syria etc., some writers, researches and bloggers, including American politicians have called him a “crazy person”, while some called him a “mad man.”

In fact, American President Donald Trump is neither a “crazy person” nor a “mad man”, as he is acting upon the extremist agenda of Israel and India (Under Prime Minister Modi) without bothering for its dangerous consequences which could envelop the entire world, including the US herself.

When he took oath as the American president, it was expected that being the president of the superpower, Trump would soften his attitude and would behave with responsibility. But, no such a change has emerged in his political character, as he seems determined to follow the Indo-Israeli extremist agenda against the Muslims and the Islamic World.

In this respect, through the executive order, President Trump on January 27, 2017 blocked visas being issued to anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Trump also announced strict conditions for the citizens from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon. In his first interview with the ABC News, President Trump elaborated, “We’re going to have extreme vetting in all cases. And I mean extreme. And we’re not letting people in if we think there’s even a little chance of some problem.”

Althouth a federal judge temporary suspended the executive order on February 4, this year restoring travel for refugees and the people from seven Muslim countries, yet the Justice Department filed papers saying that it would seek to have the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit block the judge’s decision. US President Trump lashed out at the judge James Robart in a Twitter post and wrote“The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!”

However, the executive order which he stated was part of an extreme vetting plan to keep out “radical Islamic terrorists…the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas”—also established a religious test for refugees from Muslim nations, especially from Syria. Trump also ordered that Christians and others from minority religions be granted priority over Muslims.

President Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim order faced severe criticism inside America and around the world, particularly Europe in wake of protest-rallies.  

In this regard, a memo signed by 900 of the State Department diplomats opposed Trump’s ban on refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the US has been delivered to top officials, as CNN reported on February 1, 2017. The memo warns that such a policy will not keep America safe, but it will harm efforts to prevent terrorist attacks—the ban will not achieve its stated aim of to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, when asked about the memo at a press briefing, told the federal employees who backed it to “either get with the program or they can go.”

Besides the resignations of some high officials, Donald Trump relieved the acting US attorney general Ms. Sally Yates, after she told justice department lawyers not to defend his executive order banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

While, world leaders, especially those of American European and western allies, EU president and prominent figures including human rights groups have blasted US President Donald Trump's travel ban from the seven Muslim-countries from entering the US as divisive, illegal, insulting and discriminatory—violation of the US constitution and the United States’ obligations under the Geneva Convention on refugees.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “The necessary and decisive fight against terrorism in no way justifies a general suspicion against people of certain beliefs, in this case people of the Muslim faith or from a certain origin…these actions, according to my beliefs, are against the core idea of international aid for refugees and international cooperation.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault stated that welcoming refugees was “a duty of solidarity…terrorism doesn’t have a nationality; discrimination is not an answer.”

In response to Trump’s ban on Muslims, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that those fleeing persecution, terror and war would be welcomed in Canada. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek also expressed similar views.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar denounced Trump’s travel ban, saying, “it won't affect terrorists. Instead, it will increase the miseries of victims of terrorism.”

British Prime Minister Theresa May who took a harsh anti-immigrant stance in her former position as Home Office secretary and was now leading Britain’s exit from the EU had refused to harshly condemn the ban and revoke her invitation asking Trump to make a state visit to the UK. In response, Britons launched a petition calling for the invitation to be suspended, which has since garnered over one million signatures, and thousands marched in protest of Trump’s executive order and May’s inaction in cities throughout the U.K. May has compelled to clarify that she believes Trump's policy is “divisive and wrong”.

Human rights activists also denounced Trump’s actions, describing them as officially sanctioned religious persecution dressed up to look like an effort to make America safer. And the American Civil Liberties Union described it as a “euphemism for discriminating against Muslims.”

Despite criticism of the new immigration policy to discriminately target the Muslims and his Islamophobic intentions, US President Trump remains firm on his extremist stance.

It is well-known fact that since the creation of the state of Israel through the Balfour Declaration (1917) which was a conspiracy of the Zionists, the British government and the US against the Palestinians, America has been supporting the fundamentalist regimes of Israel at the cost of the Muslims.

In this context, American various presidents encouraged Tel Aviv’s state terrorism on the Palestinians, occupation of their regions, including those of Syria and Jordan.

Once Henry Kissinger stated “legitimacy is not natural or automatic, but created.” Under the cover of the 9/11 tragedy, the US President George W. Bush who was in collaboration with the neo-conservatives and the Zionist Jews, orchestrated the drama of global war on terror to obtain the illegitimate interests of Israel by targeting the Islamic countries and persecution of the Muslims. Bush who used the words, “crusade against the evil-doers” adding to the perception that the ongoing ‘different war’ against terrorism is actually a war against the Muslim.

By justifying the unjustified war on terror as part of the anti-Muslim approach, and with the assistance of its Western allies, American President Bush and President Barack Obama deliberately created chaos in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria including other Islamic countries such as Somalia, Yemen etc. where Washington was indirectly involved to obtain the religious, political and economic interests of the Zionist Jews and Israel through illegitimate tactics. During the phony global war on terror US-led Western forces killed millions of innocent persons in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria. In connivance with the Israeli Mossad, Indian RAW, American CIA utilized a global network of secret prisons, foreign intelligence agents and torture centers in various Muslim countries, including Belgium, Bagram (Afghanistan), Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and ships where torture was conducted directly by the CIA and FBI operatives. Besides encouragement to the Israeli brutal tactics on the Palestinians and those of India in the Indian occupied Kashmir, CIA conducted Shia-Sunni violence in Iraq and Pakistan. Now, terror-attacks on sectarian lines could also be noted in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Syria, while, CIA which created Al-Qaeda, also formed the Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL) and Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front in accordance with the double game of America.

If dual strategy of Bush franchised Al-Qaeda, Obama’s double game franchised both Al-Qaeda and ISIS in advancing the extremist agenda of the Zionist Jews, Israeli lobbies and the neoconservatives.

Meanwhile, since September 2015, unexpected developments such as Russian-led coalition with Iran, Iraq, the Syrian army-the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Lebanon-based Hezbollah in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, retreat of the CIA-supported rebels and mercenaries after their failure to topple the Assad government, proving links of Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front and ISIS with America and Israel, Russian President Vlamir Putin’s clear-cut statement, indicating the Zionist regime in the US and Israel for their “phony war on ISIS” surprised the  Israel-led America and some European countries who wanted to oust Assad.

When Russian-led Syrian forces stared retaking cities, especially the Aleppo by defeating the rebel groups and the ISIS militants who began fleeing, Israel and America were greatly disappointed. Particularly, the agents of Mossad who were in collaboration with some of the CIA operatives and ISIL militants arranged terror attacks in Paris, Brussels, Orlando, San Bernardino, Nice, Munich and Berlin.

Besides obtaining a number of sinister designs such as getting the assistance of Europe for US in relation to the Syrian civil war, persecution of the Muslims, creation of chauvinism against the Muslims in Europe, propagation of the so-called threat of Islamophobia etc., Israel’s main aim was to ensure the victory of the extremist President Donald Trump in the presidential race, who manipulated various terror assaults in the US and Europe in fueling anti-Muslim racialism to get the sympathies of a majority of the ordinary Americans who did not have much time to go into depth-analysis and had been instigated by his emotional speeches, statements and false hopes. Another major aim of Mossad was to give impetus to the far right-wing parties and nationalist entities in wake of “Stop Islam” movement in the West, especially in Europe, which are becoming popular by largely attracting their people—have also made electoral gains.

After facing defeatism in Syria by Russian-led forces, in retaliation, Mossad also conducted several terrorism-related attacks in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the world through ISIS. While in case of Somalia and some African countries—splitting away of a hardliner-faction Al-Shabaab which is an offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, though the US defined Al-Shabaab as Al-Qaida’s ally, claimed responsibility for several terror assaults on the Christians. It is what extremist regime at Tel Aviv wanted.

Notably, when, Obama’s anti-Muslim policies were clearly exposed, before the end of his tenure, President Obama wanted to rectify his blunders. In this context, on December 23, 2016, the US abstained and allowed a UN Security Council resolution, condemning Israeli settlement construction in the occupied territories of the Palestinians to be adopted, defying extraordinary pressure from the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government which was already in alignment with the President Donald Trump who harshly criticized the Obama’s policies on the settlement issue and reiterated his support for Israel, while questioning the effectiveness of the UNO, saying, “it’s just a club for people to have a good time.”

President Trump who remains firm to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, is supportive of settlers by pledging that the Palestinians would no longer have a platform at the UN when he becomes president on January 20, this year, said, “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S…the beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!”

On the same day, US Secretary of State John Kerry had also disclosed reality and issued a desperate final warning to Tel Aviv by pointing out, “The settlement building policies being carried out by Israel’s government on occupied land and applauded by Donald Trump were destroying hopes for peace between Israelis and Palestinians…is jeopardizing Middle East peace.” He explained, “The two-state solution is now in serious jeopardy…if the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both…the most extreme elements” of Israel’s Right-wing were shaping the country’s future and strangling the prospect of a two-state solution.” 

It is noteworthy that in accordance with the extremist agenda of Israel, Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Iran on February 3, this year. Earlier, the hardliner President Trump had stated that he would abandon the Iran nuclear deal. However, Tehran responded by saying that the sanctions were in violation of the nuclear agreement, calling them illegal and extraterritorial.

As regards South Asia, by pursuing the double standards of the US in its worst form, President Trump also intends to favour India, while opposing the nuclear weapons of Pakistan. True to his own extremist and fanatic approach, Trump has brushed aside the ground realities that Indian extremist Prime Minister Narindra Modi led by the ruling fundamentalist party BJP has been implementing anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan agenda, while encouraging Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). He ignored the facts that besides Muslims, BJP and other extremist outfits have also been targeting the minorities, especially the Christians and their places of worship. Trump is also silence over Indian moves like promotion of religious and ethnic chauvinism in India, creation of warlike situation with Pakistan, perennial atrocities on the innocent Kashmiris in the Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Taking cognizance of maltreatment of minorities by the fanatic Hindus, and forced conversions of Christians and Muslims in Hindus by the extremist Hindus, in the recent past, more than 200 Indian writers, authors, scientists, artists, filmmakers, film-stars etc. decided to return their national awards in protest to rising Hindu extremism, while more than 100 persons have returned their rewards. Former Indian military personnel have also started returning their medals, criticizing the policies of the BJP government.

President Donald Trump is also silence over the facts that under Modi rule, New Delhi accelerated unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir and Working Boundary across Pak-Indian border, as unresolved issue of Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between Pakistan and India.

Undoubtedly, the US President Trump seems determined to fulfill extremist agenda of Israel and that of India. As part of the double game, based in Afghanistan, operatives of American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad which have well-established their secret network there, and are well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like ISIS, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their terrorists to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities. In this connection, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target. Especially, in the recent past, ISIL claimed responsibility for acts of terrorism in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which are part of the same scheme against the Muslims.   

It is of particular attention that it is due to the Islamophia, created by the anti-Muslim and racist President Trump that on January 28, 2016 a mosque in Texas was destroyed by setting to blaze by cause unknown. It shows that more assaults on the Muslims and their places of worships, including their buildings are expected under Trump’s presidency, as Israeli Mossad is availing the opportunity.

In this regard, six people were killed and eight wounded when gunmen opened fire at a Quebec City mosque (at the Islamic Cultural Centre) in Canada during prayers on January 29, 2016 in what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a “terrorist attack on Muslims”, and condemned the same. The shooting came one day after Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees.  A right-wing French-Canadian student Alexandre Bissonnette who was known for his activity on social networks in support of Marine Le Pen, a French nationalist politician who opposes Muslim immigration was identified who opened fire at the mosque.

It is worth-mentioning that addressing the US Congress on September 24, 2015, Pope Francis said, “No religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism…we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism. A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetual in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system…every life is sacred.”

Taking note of America’s non-acceptance of the Syrian refugees, Francis reminded the law-makers by remarking that the United States “is part of a larger whole on America in the Americas, where immigration is a deeply rooted part of history…we, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.”

At this crucial juncture, some American and western political leaders should stop irresponsible statements by equating the war on terror with war on Islam, and acts of Al Qaeda and ISIS with all the Muslims. Their media should also be brought under control through appropriate legislation or law, as freedom of expression does not mean the introduction of dangerous socio-religious dimension in their societies by dividing world politics on cultural and religious lines with the negative projection of Islam which is a religion of peace, and prohibits any kind of terrorism like other religions.

If not checked in time by the peace-loving Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews and Buddhists, the rigid and racist policies of the President Donald Trump who is completing the extremist agenda of Israel and India are likely to result into more recruitment in the militant outfits, particularly in the ISIS group, inspiring the extremist Muslims for more terrorism-related attacks. This Mossad-RAW-Trump cabal could also culminate into civil war in the US who is already facing multiple internal crises which are owing to the prolonged war on terror (And in Afghanistan). While the world has already been radicalized on religious lines, this cabal can bring about a major war between the Muslim and the Christian worlds.

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_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

Think tank explains why India loathes CPEC

By Shahbaz Rana

         India’s opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stems from its fear of internationalization of the Kashmir dispute and the growing influence of China in the Indian Ocean says a new report by one of the most influential global think tanks. “There is considerable concern within India that China, which has been neutral on Kashmir since 1963, can no longer be so now that its economic and security interests in these territories are growing in stake,” says a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) — a Sweden-based think tank.

The report - titled “Silk Road Economic Belt - considering security implications and the EU - China cooperation prospects” - argues that India does not want a mediating role for China in these disputes. It is the first report by any global think tank that has discussed in detail the Indian concerns on CPEC. The report has also shed light on implications of the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative on security dynamics and its compatibility with the EU interests.

          The Sipri report says CPEC has raised political temperatures between India and Pakistan. “India strictly opposes CPEC, and while the Economic Belt is not a harbinger of a new conflict, it has so far intensified historic competition over influence in South Asia,” note authors of the report.

          The report argues that there is a factual and conceptual objection to CPEC in India. The factual objection is that India does not want to internationalise the Kashmir dispute it has with Pakistan. Chinese activity in the disputed areas automatically makes it a stakeholder in these disputes.

          At the conceptual level, CPEC allows China to gain a toehold in the Indian Ocean through direct access to the Arabian Sea. There remain concerns that this might develop a military dimension at some stage, according to the report.

          Since territorial compromise from either India or Pakistan is a political suicide for any of the ruling parties, it remains to be seen whether CPEC will contribute to a resolution of this dispute or further fan the flames. There is also a concern in India that China will use Gwadar port to observe Indian naval activity and possibly even exploit it for an expansion of China’s own naval presence.

          There is also concern in India that while CPEC in the short and medium term could be an opportunity to generate jobs and growth in Pakistan, over the longer term its strategic consequences could reshape the regional balance of power in favour of China and limit India’s geopolitical reach.

          The assertiveness and swiftness of Chinese actions in the South China Sea have implanted a preoccupation among China’s critics in India that if China gains a foothold in the Arabian Sea and, as an extension, in the Indian Ocean through Gwadar, it might make national interest claims in India’s maritime sphere too. “After all, if Gwadar grows to be the immense port China envisions it to become, China will need to take on a bigger direct or indirect security role,” it says.

          The Sipri report noted that unlike in India, CPEC has not raised concerns in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is open to all regional initiatives that could reactivate its ailing formal economy, whether that is by way of CPEC or India-led efforts to connect with the Afghan economy through the Chabahar Port in Iran. Iran has not opposed CPEC and has expressed strong interest in the Belt and Road Initiative.

          However, the report argues that Afghanistan is unlikely to benefit from CPEC unless Kabul-Islamabad relations improve. For this to happen, Pakistan’s security concerns with regard to Afghanistan need to be assuaged. The authors note that CPEC has the potential to exacerbate three fault lines in South Asian security.

          The first is between China and India themselves. The second is between China-Pakistan on the one side and India on the other. The third is between China and India and its partners – the US, Japan and, to a lesser degree, Vietnam. The region of Balochistan is being geopolitically instrumentalised by these various players, they added.

          It says that this is an evidence that CPEC has contributed to political and security bloc formation, but the bloc rivalry between the US-India and China-Pakistan exists regardless of CPEC. CPEC has merely strengthened the strategic Chinese-Pakistani alliance.

          China’s reliance on CPEC means that it needs a stable and amicable Pakistan, underlines the report. “The Silk Road Economic Belt initiative may become one of the cornerstones of Asian economic growth and integration, and eventually of closer political and security cooperation among states, but the pathway to this scenario is long and fraught with obstacles,” it says.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2017.

The Defunct Tehreek- e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)?

By Atta Rasool Malik

The once considered ruthless TTP is almost dead now. The back ground of most of the TTP leadership shows that they were not Islamists. They neither attended any religious seminary nor touched upon the basic principles of Islam. These leaders included Hakimulla Mehsud (late), Abdullah Mehsud (late), Fazlullah (sitting Amir based in Afghanistan), Sheikh Khalid Haqqani (Naib Amir based in Afghanistan), Shakeel Ahmed Haqqani, Muslim Khan, Tariq Afridi alias Gider (late), Shahryar Mehsud, teacher Waliur Rehman Mehsud (late), Khan Said Sajna, Abdul Wali Mohmand, Asmatullah Muawiya alias Punjabi, Mufti Hassan Swati, Mangal Bagh Afridi and Adnan Rasheed etcetera. As per the military sources claim and endorsed by the locals, operation “Zarb-e-Azb” has successfully destroyed the militant edifice in our tribal belt, FATA. The TTP remnants have been left with a negligible space to hide and almost absconding either in remote western parts of the country or the adjoining Afghan border territory.

After dislodging by Pakistan Army from the tribal area, the TTP has recently started a new way of proxy war through a malicious propaganda to brainwash the tribesmen against their homeland and Armed Forces. Out of frustration, they are targeting the two nation theory, founder of Pakistan Quaid - e - Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan, Islamic character of the Pakistani constitution and trying to raise doubts against Pakistan movement. They are exploiting minor excesses of government and Pakistan Army in the area to create a favourable space for them in the area. They are carrying out the campaign through anonymous writings and leaflets in the area.

            Suffered from the earlier setback, the militants are bent upon destroying Islam by misusing it for their personal agenda. Their claim of being Islamists, seem to be a hollow one. On the eve of ongoing military operation, the country’s prominent clerics declared TTP an un-Islamic militant group and declared Pakistani constitution according to Islam. Maulvi Kifayatullau of JUI - F, in one of his talk show said that Pakistan’s constitution is totally Islamic as it was signed by his former party leaders Sheikh Shabir Ahmed Usmani and Mufti Mehmud, after getting satisfied that it was Islamic in letter and spirit as reflected in the preamble of 1973 constitution.

Keeping in view our institutional and military strength, Pakistan is considered the “Fort of Islam” and greatly respected by the Muslim Umma across the globe. Our society is purely Islamic as compared to the class society in neighboring India. Our past history including the wars fought with India and the role played against former Soviet Union in Afghanistan with our meager resources is a true reflection of Islam. The text of our present constitution declares Pakistan as “Islamic Republic of Islam” and “sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Allah Almighty” and that “any law repugnant to Islam will be declared null and void”. Moreover, the constitution declares that “steps will be taken to enable the Muslims of Pakistan, individually and collectively, to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam”.

After Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran, Pakistan is the third Islamic country in the world. The TTP remained unsuccessful to impose its own brand of Islam and malign Pakistan. Their brutal acts against the minorities on both sides of “Durand Line” reflect their extremist brand of thoughts which they are linking with Islam. The blast in Peshawar Church, attacks against the Shia community in Kurram Agency and Punjab as well as the destruction of historical Budha statues in Bamyan province of Afghanistan in the past are evident of their frustration. All such acts are neither Islamic in nature nor human.

The militants prejudice for sectarian and political objectives can be understandable which led them to join hands with the enemies of Islam and Pakistan. Their ideology is based on intolerance and unconstitutional ways of injustice and barbarity.

The writer is freelance journalist       

Media Hype over Missing Traitors

Itrat Naqvi

Our national (electronic/ social/ print) media is immensely reporting on the issue of five missing social media activists since last week. Without going into details of the activities being carried out by these activists, media analysts are portraying them as innocent civilians and protecting them for ‘freedom for expression’. A detailed look into activities of the five missing – Salman Haider, Waqas Goraya, Asim Saeed, Ahmed Raza Naseer and Samar Abbas – demonstrates that they were working on some foreign agenda of tarnishing image of Pakistan internationally and misleading Pakistani youth through misuse of social media. Instead of highlighting the efforts of Pakistan Armed Forces in eliminating anti-Pakistan elements and extremism being exported from eastern and western border, these social media activists were discrediting the sole institution – Armed Forces – safeguarding the national security of Pakistan. Though sudden disappearance must be probed by Ministry of Interior but these ‘missing traitors’ once found must be taken to task for spreading propaganda against Islam, Pakistan and its armed forces through social media.
Even international media is closely monitoring the issue and accordingly reporting on ‘missing persons’ in Pakistan. US State Department also expressed concern over the missing Pakistani bloggers and social media activists. State Department spokesperson, Mark C. Toner said, “We’re very concerned by reports that several Pakistani bloggers and activists have been reported missing and we’re going to continue to monitor the situation.” The United Nations and Amnesty International have expressed concern for the missing activists. “No government should tolerate attacks on its citizens,” said David Kaye, the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression. He added, “By making the investigation of these disappearances an urgent priority, the Pakistani authorities can send a strong signal that they take seriously the responsibility for the life and security of all of its citizens, particularly in cases involving freedom of expression.”
At least five activists known on social media for their secular leftist views have gone missing last week. Two of the men – Waqas Goraya and Asim Saeed – disappeared on January 4, Waqas Goraya, is usually a resident of the Netherlands. According to a cyber security NGO, Salman Haider vanished on Friday and Ahmed Raza Naseer on Saturday. Samar Abbas, a middle-aged IT worker and head of the anti-militancy Civil Progressive Alliance, disappeared on Saturday, January 7. All five were active on social media groups promoting leftist, anti-Islamic views, often against the Islam and establishment. The five activists missing include Salman Haider, a blogger known for his outspoken views on enforced disappearances in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Media analysts have mainly highlioghted the disappearance of Salman Haider as main issue because he was vocal against missing persons in Balochistan.
It has been reported in media that the missing social activists were running facebook pages like Mochi, Bhensa and Roshni. Though the pages exist no longer on internet but screenshots of these pages suggest that the blasphemous and anti-Pakistan and its Armed Forces content on these pages is quite volatile. Our most of news channel have failed to highlight this aspect of the missing persons. Most of the commentators in electronic and print media are raising their voices for early recovery of “missing persons” on the pretext of ‘freedom of expression’. Disseminating anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan views on social media under the banner of freedom of expression is unjustified. It is sheer responsibility of our national media to portray real face of so called social activists who are traitors and blasphemers in reality.
Misuse of internet/ social media by these individuals went checked for considerable time. State institutions must keep a check on social media activities being carried out inside Pakistan because it has become fastest growing channel to disseminate information/ propaganda without any delay. Millions of Pakistani youth are users of facebook and twitter. Pages like Mochi, Bhensa and Roshni can mislead the young talent of the country in wrong direction. In Pakistan the term ‘freedom of expression’ is being misused to a large extent. Anti-state elements are relying upon ignorant Pakistanis by using them as a tool to spread propaganda against Islam and prestigious armed forces of Pakistan. Our national media must play a constructive role by bringing forth the reality of missing traitors.

Discriminatory Sanction by US against Pakistan

Itrat Naqvi

The United States approach towards Pakistan has been changed to a greater extent after fulfillment of its interests in Afghanistan. US policymakers have replaced Pakistan with its arch-rival India for execution of its policies in Afghanistan. They are also worried about the rise of China in the coming decade and hedging their bets at India to counter China’s rise. Hence, US policy makers/ administration are taking all necessary steps to appease India by limiting cooperation with Pakistan. Recently, US government has announced sanctions against seven Pakistani entities allegedly associated with the country’s missile programme. The notification by the US Department of Commerce said that the entities have been added to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) list “determined by the US government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States”.

The seven identified entities include Ahad International, Air Weapons Complex (AWC), Engineering Solutions, Maritime Technology Complex (MTC) , National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), New Auto Engineering (NAE) and Universal Tooling Services. Just like India, the United States did not share evidence of any wrongdoing before leveling the aforementioned against Pakistani entities. Pakistan missile and nuclear programs are completely indigenous. The US sanctions will have “little bearing” on working of abovementioned entities. Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Pakistan is ready to work with the U.S. at the level of experts to devise mutually agreed-upon procedures for end-use guarantees. “This will help in assuring non-diversion of high-technology exports from the US without hampering our legitimate imports for socioeconomic development activities,” the Pakistani spokesman said.
Contrary to this, US managed to secure Indian membership of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in order to streamline its missile assistance to India which is a blatant violation of international nuclear non-proliferation regime. India remains one of the worst countries in terms of nuclear safety and security at its nuclear installations due to non-adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency’s set guidelines for safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities. There have been numerous accidents at various facilities in India.

On 26 December, Indian DRDO tested Agni-V, a 5,000-km range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), widely regarded as a strategic missile targeted at China as it can reach almost all parts of the Chinese mainland. By testing an ICBM, India has broken the UN’s limits on its development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missile. In response to Indian provocation West and US has remained silent, which depicts Western countries accept India as a nuclear country and are indifferent to the nuclear race between India and Pakistan. Raising security dilemma, the ICBM launch will escalate the ongoing arms race between India and Pakistan.

The US and Israel are providing state of the art modern technologies to India to assist her in development and modernization of missile program. The US has made tremendous efforts to secure Indian membership of MTCR as well. The Grossi formula by US official to streamline Indian entry is another effort by US to get Indian membership of NSG. On the other hand, US has sanctioned Pakistani entities which are strictly following international regimes and are working on strategic development almost indigenously. Hence, the fragile strategic stability of the region is at the risk of failure due to discriminatory approach of US and West in South Asia.