United Nations Day & Pakistan’s Peacekeeping Role

By Sajjad Shaukat

Each year, United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24. On this day in 1945, the United Nations (UN) came into force when the five permanent members of the Security Council ratified its charter This followed a declaration by the UN General Assembly in 1947 which designated 24th of October as United Nations Day, by proclaiming that the day would be instrumental in making people aware of the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gain their support for its work.

Since its creation, Pakistan has played a significant role as UN member, in bringing peace through active diplomatic, moral and material support in various regions of the world. Therefore, this very day also reminds Pakistan Armed Forces role in UN peacekeeping measures, during war and peace time. 

Pakistan Armed Forces are considered the best organized institution, and are highly respected in the country, as since the founding of Pakistan, its military has played a key role in holding the state together, promoting a feeling of nationhood and providing a bastion of selfless service.

Today, Pakistan’s position as one of the largest troop contributing country in the world with one of the highest peacekeepers’ casualty figure is testimony to its commitment and endeavours towards promoting the noble cause of global peace. It is not easy to achieve peace in world’s conflict ridden areas. But Pakistan Army’s history is replete with sacrifices, services to humanity and promoting collective security for human prosperity.

In this regard, Pakistan is a big player in UN peacekeeping forces. Pakistan joined the United Nations on September 30, 1947. Since 1960, it has been actively involved in most of the UN peacekeeping missions. Major contributions of Pakistan Army are in Congo, Liberia Somalia, Ivory Coast, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor Haiti etc. Even, at present, more than 8200 troops of Pakistan Army are engaged in different peacekeeping missions across various volatile countries.

The performance of Pakistani peacekeepers has been recognized worldwide by several world leaders including those of the UN. An undeniable professional standing of Pakistani forces has made them the passion of every special representative of Secretary General and Force Commander in each of UN peacekeeping operations. In this respect, Pakistan’s dedication towards UN has been acknowledged by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who himself visited Pakistan and inaugurated the Center for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) on 13 August 2013 and praised Pakistan’s efforts in UN peacekeeping missions.

However, Pakistan has participated in 41 UN missions in 23 states where total 142,542 Pakistani personnel engaged, taking start from UN Congo Operation in 1960. Pak army delivered its services there, and contributed in ordnance, transport and staff. It is still present in Congo, and provided a Battalion Group comprising one infantry battalion and supporting elements.

For maintaining and monitoring ceasefire during transition of West Irian from Dutch rule to Indonesians, Pakistan contributed 1500 infantry troops from October 3, 1962 to April 30, 1963. In a rare acknowledgement of excellent role done, Chinese Premier Chou-En-Lai had said, “The only example in United Nation’s history, when United Nations force had gone in…performed its role honestly and came out, was Pakistan’s military contingent to Indonesia.”

Besides, Pakistan’s contribution was in United Nations Yemen Observer Mission (UNYOM) as a military observer from January to September 1964. Yemen entered into a state of civil war in 1962. To ensure that this conflict did not escalate into global incident, the UN set up its Yemen Observation Mission. And, United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (UNTAG) was established to assist the special representative of the UN Secretary General to ensure the early independence of Namibia through free and fair elections, and to carry out a number of other duties. For the purpose, 20 military observers from Pak Army performed their duties from April 1, 1989 to March 21, 1990 in Namibia.

Notably, Pak Army played a positive role in the Middle East, and was on forefront for peace restoration. United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) was set up in April 1991, following the forced withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Its task was to monitor the demilitarized zone along the Iraq-Kuwait border and deter border violations. Pakistani forces which helped continuing their services there from April 1991 to 2003 were assigned the most difficult area in the north of Kuwait city—reclamation of Bubiyan Island was also entrusted to them. The operation was carried out by a task force of Pakistan Army Engineers. The professionalism and dedication displayed by this force was praised at international level.

While, inside the United Nations Transitional Authority on Cambodia (UNTAC), the Pakistan’s military forces carried out peacekeeping operations in the most thorny and remote areas during the period-May 1992 to August 1993. They overcame enormous logistic and operational problems, and proved their courage and determination by defending themselves and those for whom they were sent. Coping with the odds, they handled crisis after crisis and persuaded the warring factions to lay down their arms.

And on the request of the UN in Latin America under the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), Pakistan provided one infantry battalion, ‘PAKBAT’ which arrived in Haiti in March 1995 and was deployed in Cape Haitien—the area faced extremely volatile security situation and was also the hotbed of political agitation. ‘PAKBAT’ discharged its duties with an extensive patrolling program, covering various regions there.

Nevertheless, Pakistan’s army has worked in difficult terrains and situations for the global peace. Now, inside the country, although Pakistan Armed Forces are facing a tough situation in wake of war against terrorism, yet they are contributing to global peace and prosperity; having still a large number of their presence in various parts of the world.

Now, the major powers must abandon their false propaganda against Pakistan and its Armed Forces, as the latter did more in response of international demand of world peace.

Nonetheless, in pursuance of Pakistan Army’s unwavering commitment towards international peace, 130 Pakistani soldiers have sacrificed their lives. In this connection, Pakistan Armed Forces’ positive role in the UN peacekeeping measures reflects Pakistan’s desire to see the principles of human dignity, freedom and self-determination.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and Kashmir

By Tariq Rizwan

Kashmir has once again become a flash point attracting world attention. It is a disputed territory, left over by the British Colonial Power and pending since 1947; when Indo - Pak Sub Continent was divided into two parts, India and Pakistan. Since then Kashmir is considered as the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today. Pakistan considers Kashmir as its core political dispute with India. The international community also supports it as witnessed by the several resolutions passed by the UNSC. India's forcible occupation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 is the main cause of the dispute.

The fact is that all the principles on the basis of which the Indian Subcontinent was partitioned by the British in 1947 justify Kashmir becoming part of Pakistan: the State had majority Muslim population, and it not only enjoyed geographical proximity with Pakistan but also had essential economic linkages with the territories constituting Pakistan. Per contra, India signed' a controversial document, the Instrument of Accession, on 26 October 1947 with the Maharaja.and extended all possible military help against the popular will of Kashmiris who wanted to join their Muslim brethren, opting for Pakistan. Today, India claims Kashmir as an integral part, in utter violation of UNSC resolutions. The people of Kashmir and Pakistan do not accept the Indian claim. There are doubts about the very existence of the Instrument of Accession. The United Nations also does not consider Indian claim as legally valid: it recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. With the exception of India, the entire world community recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory.

It is pertinent to have a bird eye view of Kashmir in its historical perspective. The State has remained independent, except in the anarchical conditions of the late 18th and first half of the 19th century, or when incorporated in the vast empires set up by the Mauryas (3 rd century BC), the Mughals (16th to 18th century) and the British (mid-19th to mid-20th century). All these empires included not only present-day India and Pakistan but some other countries of the region as well. Until 1846, Kashmir was part of the Sikh empire. In that year, the British defeated the Sikhs and sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh of Jammu for Rs. 7.5 million under the Treaty of Amritsar. Gulab Singh, the Mahraja, signed a separate treaty with the British which gave him the status of an independent Princely State of Kashmir. He died in 1857 and was replaced by Rambir Singh (1857-1885). Two other Marajas, Partab Singh (1885-1925) and Hari Singh (1925-1949) ruled in succession. They ruled 80% Muslim Kashmiris in a tyrannical and repressive way.

Kashmiris rose against Maharaja Hari Singh's rule in 1931/1932 but were ruthlessly crushed. Sheikh Abdullah formed Kashmir's first political party-the All Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference (renamed as National Conference in 1939). In 1934, the Maharaja gave way and allowed limited democracy in the form of a Legislative Assembly. However, unease with the Maharaja's rule continued. According to the instruments of partition of India, the rulers of all princely states were given the choice to freely accede to either India or Pakistan, or to remain independent. They were, however, advised to accede to the contiguous dominion, taking into consideration the geographical and ethnic issues.

The people of Kashmir were demanding to join Pakistan, however, the Maharaja, fearing tribal warfare, eventually gave way to the Indian pressure and agreed to join India by, as India claims, ‘signing' the controversial Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947. This was spelled out in a letter from the Governor General of India, Lord Mountbatten, to the Maharaja on 27 October 1947. In the letter, accepting the accession, Mountbatten made it clear that the State would only be incorporated into the Indian Union after a reference had been made to the people of Kashmir. Having accepted the principle of a plebiscite, India has since obstructed all attempts at holding a plebiscite.

In 1947, India and Pakistan went to war over Kashmir. During the war, it was India which first took the Kashmir dispute to the United Nations on 1 January 1948. The following year, on 1 January 1949, the UN helped enforce ceasefire between the two countries. The ceasefire line is called the Line of Control. It was an outcome of a mutual consent by India and Pakistan that the UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) passed several resolutions in years following the 1947-48 war. The UNSC Resolution of 21 April 1948--one of the principal UN resolutions on Kashmir—stated that “both India and Pakistan desire that the question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite”. Subsequent UNSC Resolutions reiterated the same stand. UNCIP Resolutions of 3 August 1948 and 5 January 1949 reinforced UNSC resolutions.

The fresh uprising started in the wake of Uffa Agreement. July 2015 was a busy month for India-Pakistan relations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Ufa, Russia, with the two agreeing that their respective national security advisors would meet to discuss ways to combat terrorism. But just a week or so after this diplomacy, the two countries once again exchanged gunfire across their disputed frontier in Kashmir. According to reports, a heavy exchange between the Indian and Pakistani troops took place along the line of control (LoC) in Jammu’s Poonch district. As usual, each side blamed the other for the incident. An unnamed Indian defense spokesman was reported as accusing Pakistani troops of opening fire on several posts along the Line of Control that divides Kashmir. He was quoted as saying that Indian forces responded with their own barrage to the “unprovoked firing” by Pakistani forces. In contrast, Pakistani officials had earlier said in a statement that Indian troops used heavy weapons on July 18, when Muslims were celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr (marking the end of the holy month of Ramazan), to pound Nezapir in Kashmir. More clashes and casualties were reported on both sides followed by a single attack in Gurdaspur, Punjab on Monday left seven dead. India has blamed Pakistani terrorists for the attack, an accusation Pakistan has vehemently denied. The continued incidents of firing on LoC and harsh exchange of parleys in UN General Assembly have raised serious concerns about another possible war between the two nuclear rivals.

Above all, the innocent Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Territory have suffered brutalities due to deployment of over seven million troops. The urgency of peacefully settling the dispute was even more compelling today. The calling for termination of consultations, as a precondition for dialogue, is unacceptable as well as counter-productive, referring to the Indian pre-condition for talks. The tension on the Line of Control in Kashmir and the Working Boundary require Pakistan and India to take possible measures to avert further escalation.

The Writer is a freelance journalist, based in London

Shadows of Sectarian Violence Muharram

Sajjad Shaukat

Although terror-related sectarian incidents have continued in various regions of Pakistan in the past few years, yet as soon as the month of Muharram approaches, the shadows of fear and uncertainty cover the country. Similarly, these events occur throughout the year, claiming human lives, but during this month, the incidents of religious extremism increase manifolds becoming a source of shame for Muslims and Islam i.e. religion of peace.

In the last week of Muharram, in Novemeber 2012, several people had been killed and injured in suicide attacks and bomb blasts. Despite the tight security measures, a bomb attack on a procession killed five mourners in Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on November 25, as Shias marked their holiest day Ashura. On day ago, a remote-controlled bomb killed eight people near a Shia procession in the same city. Earlier, 22 people were killed and several injured in Rawalpindi on November 21 when a suicide bomber targeted a Muharram gathering near Imambargah. This terror-event came hours after two bomb blasts occurred in Karachi near Imambargah, which killed three people.

Besides some sectarian events and assaults like targeting killings which took place during the month of Muharram, on November 15, 2013, sectarian violence between Shia mourners and Sunnis in Rawalpindi left 10 dead. Angry protesters targeted the mosque and the seminary, torching its building. Very soon, the incident enveloped other cities of the country where violent demonstrations and bloody clashes between the two religious sects took place, which also caused some deaths. Curfew was imposed and Army was called to restore peace not only in Rawalpindi, but also in other affected-cities.

In this regard, several Ulema (Religious scholars) and politicians belonging to Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Sunni Ittehad Council, The Sunni Tehreek Ulema Board, The Melli Yakjaheti Council, Tanzeem-i-Nefazi Fiqa Jafria, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F and Muttahida Quami Movement said, “Conspiracies were being hatched to destroy peace in the country through sectarian divide…the enemies had once again succeeded in igniting sectarian strife.” They also urged the masses to be patient to foil the international conspiracy and asked the government to unmask the culprits including some hidden forces behind the Pindi sectarian incident.

It is mentionable that sporadic sectarian violence against the Muslims cannot be seen in isolation as, it includes multiple anti-Pakistan designs. Notably, secret agencies like American CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW are behind sectarian unrest in Pakistan.

In fact, the US had planned to spark a civil war between the Sunnis and Shias in wake of global war on terror. So, we cannot blame these secret agencies without solid evidence.

For the purpose, a study of the Rand Corporation, titled ‘US Strategy in the Muslim World After 9/11’ was conducted on behalf of the then US Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force. The report of the Rand Corporation-a leading think tank, released on December 27, 2004 advocated that Sunni-Shia sectarian division should be exploited to promote the US objectives in the Muslim World.

The report of the Rand Corporation was first implemented in Iraq. In this context, CIA also got the services of Mossad and RAW to fuel sectarian violence in Iraq. In 2004, major terror-attacks were carried out against the Shias in Karbala and Baghdad. Afterwards, a chain of Shia-Sunni clashes started between Iraqi Shias and Sunnis, targeting each other’s mosques, religious leaders through bomb blasts, suicide attacks etc.

After Iraq’s experiment, more deadly pattern of sectarian strife and clashes have been conducted in Pakistan, which still continues in one or the other way.

As a matter of fact, some banned religious outfits like Lashkar-i-Janghvi and the Sunni militant groups, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have claimed responsibility for a number of terror assaults on Shias in Balochistan get arms and ammunition from RAW and CIA. These foreign-backed militants groups which have close connections with each other and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan are behind target-killing of many Sunni and Shia leaders, political figures of these sects, bomb blasts, suicide attacks, assaults on the religious processions, mosques, Imambargahs etc., carried out in various regions of Pakistan to achieve the covert aims of the US, India and Israel.

Now, these foreign-backed entities have made Pakistan to wage proxy war of Saudi Arabia and Iran, while these hostile elements are also manipulating sectarian differences between Riyadh and Tehran—also noted in Syria and Yemen which have been destabilized due to civil wars.

In this context, while hinting towards US, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had rightly disclosed, “The bloody actions being committed in Iraq, Pakistan and Iran are aimed at creating a division between the Shias and Sunnis—those who carry out these terrorist actions are directly or indirectly foreign agents.”

However, various measures should be taken in countering the sectarian violence in Pakistan, especially in the month of Muharram. In this connection, the right hour has come that religious clerics, political and religious parties including media persons and the intellectuals must play an effective role in creating religious tolerance and enlightenment amongst all religious factions, particularly those of Sunnis and Shias, convincing them to live in harmony and peace. They must point out that violent attacks on places of worship and clashes against each other’s sect, and damaging the property is against the teachings of Islam.

In order to tackle the sectarian divide, forbearance, self control and tolerance must be preached by all segments of society, and especially media must educate the people to adopt the principle of mutual co-existence, while religious clerics must come forward to impress upon the audience to remain cool and promote cohesion and brotherhood among different religious groups.

At the same time, sectarianism should be taken as a serious threat and dealt with strictly. Sectarian vulnerability should not be allowed to create ferocity, unrest and disorder in the country. This entails application of stringent measures and harsh control over sectarian groups to avoid conflicts and spread of religious hatred.

It is of particular attention that Islam stresses upon forgiveness, kindness and safety of everyone. It is not possible that we who believe in One Allah and Prophet (PBUH) cannot live together with harmony and peace. Both Shia and Sunnis must unite to shun sectarianism and extremism in the country. Muslims must know about the conspiracies being hatched by their enemy to divide Muslims into sects and they have to remain vigilant to foil these nefarious designs.

Again, the month of Muharram is equally respectable for Sunnis, Shias and all other sects of Islam. Media’s role for bringing harmony and unity among different sects can not be over emphasized. Religious scholars should act as a binding force of the nation and they must play active role in discouraging sectarian issues. Islam and all other recognized religions always denounce reckless killing and acts of violence in the name of religion; therefore, we must refrain from speaking against religious personalities who are respected by people of different sects. No gathering or activity should be held without the permission of local administration. Muslims should also respect people, belonging to other religious groups and their places of worship. The government must take strict security measures for Muharram Majalises (Religious ceremonial sittings) and processions and organizers of such events must cooperate with the administration.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

US Weak Position for the New Cold War

By Sajjad Shaukat

Coped with multiple internal and external issues and problems, the US has weak position for to the New Cold War which has begun. Although United States is the homeland of hundreds of leading think-tanks and strategic institutes, yet due to his faulty strategy, its President Barack Obama failed in waging the war of nerves, which also includes the elements of ‘hot war’ at present. In this regard, recent developments such as Russian airstrikes on the ISIL (Daesh) targets by boosting its military presence in northern Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad, the Defense Department’s announcement to abandon the goal of training the Syrian rebels—failure of estimated 10,000 CIA-supported rebels to topple his government, Russian President Putin’s coalition with Iran, Iraq and Syria to root out the ISIL militants, his warning to the Israeli Netanyahu regarding Israel’s violations of Syrian sovereignty, indicating the Zionist regime in the US and  Israel for their “phony war on ISIL”, and saying, “NWO (New World Order) agents and Satan worshipers simply have no clothes”, while, all the current state of play in Syria has been described by the analysts as “the most spectacular US foreign policy debacle.”

Moreover, on the one side, Obama continued US war on terror, especially by fighting Al-Qaeda militants on global and regional level, while on the other; he assisted the Al-Qaeda Jihadists in case of Syria. Similarly, on the one hand, his administration backed ISIL by CIA, while, on the other, he ordered to conduct aerial campaign on their targets in Iraq. President Obama’s contradictory approach which has resulted into failure of America’s external policy in the Middle East has been meeting the same fate in South Asia. In this respect, it is notable that on September 25, 2008, Obama, while accusing President Bush’s policies in the region, offered it as part of his policy to encourage India and Pakistan to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and resolve the Kashmir problem to reduce nuclear dangers in South Asia and militancy in the region. Quite contrary to his commitments, during his first visit to New Delhi, on November 6, 2010 President Obama announced the measures, America would take regarding removal of Indian space and defence companies from a restricted “entities list”, and supported Indian demand for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council including membership of four key global nuclear nonproliferation regimes. US agreed to sell India the most expensive—the new F-35 fighter jets including other modern aircraft and weapons.

In fact, US still backs Indian hegemony in Asia to counterbalance China. During American President Obama’s second visit to India, on January 25, 2015, the US and India announced a breakthrough on a pact which would allow American companies to supply New Delhi with civilian nuclear technology, as agreed upon in 2008 in order to make India a great power of Asia. This duplicity has initiated a dangerous arms race between Pakistan and India, and between China and India. By manipulating American conflicting policy in South Asia, India is destabilizing the regional countries in general and Afghanistan and Pakistan in particular. In order to obtain its secret designs, aimed at augmenting Indian dominance in the region, India is foiling the peace process between Afghanistan and Pakistan by managing terrorist attacks like the recent ones in Afghanistan which revived old blame game against Islamabad.  India is also thwarting the peace process between the Afghan officials and representatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan, which started in Murree, Pakistan, on July 8, 2015 through a meeting, hosted by Islamabad, and in it, Chinese and American representatives, also participated.

In this connection, highlighting inter-related regional problems, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif said on September 29, 2015 (Pakistan’s successful war against terrorism), “Practical steps are required to manage Pak-Afghan borders for gainful conclusion of the military operation Zarb-e-Azb—Afghan instability had telling effects on the region”. He stressed on all stake holders to revive reconciliation process, despite hurdles, and elaborated, “A peaceful Afghanistan can open regional connectivity—China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) benefits can be shared—is essential for socio-economic development of the whole region”. However, Pak-Afghan stability in context of regional security is not only important for Asian countries, but also for the US and other western countries. But, President Obama has been acting upon an ambivalent policy in South Asia.

As regards the Islamic World, Obama had stated in his first address, “To the Muslim World, we seek a new way forward, based upon mutual interest and mutual respect.” In this respect, Muslim experts had opined that President Obama would rectify the blunders, committed by his predecessor in the name of war on terror, and he would resolve the Palestinian-Israeli dispute and issue of Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Instead of applying pragmatic approach, Obama-led US Administration continued indirect support to the Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians, while showing silence over the brutal tactics, adopted by the Indian security forces in the Indian-held Kashmir. This ambivalent strategy resulted into more recruitment of Jihadists, and it became difficult for the pro-American rulers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and other volatile Islamic countries to cope with the problem of militancy.

And learning no lesson from the flawed policies of Bush, Obama continued state terrorism and extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons through illegitimate drone attacks—assisting undemocratic forces, the return of a military strongman in Egypt by toppling the elected government, like Iraq, creation of more collapsed states such as Libya, Syria, Yemen etc. which opened the door for Al-Qaeda and ISIL activists. In these terms, after 14 years of the protracted war, a perennial wave of attacks on the US and NATO installations and ambush assaults on their military personnel by the Taliban in Afghanistan, terror-attacks on Christians in Nigeria and other African countries including Iraq—sectarian violence and some terror-attacks inside America, France and UK deteriorated the global war on terror. Thus, President Obama caused political and economic instability in the world, jeopardizing the American global interests. His acts also distorted the image of the US which claims to be champion of human rights.  It is due to the pursuance of the policies of Bush era, particularly, culminated into the prolonged war with the Islamic activists that the US bargaining leverage has reduced on the major powers and small countries. North Korea, Venezuela, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Cuba and Turkey have rejected American undue pressure on a number of issues and matters. America’s decision not to attack Syria in 2013 owing to Moscow’s stand, and refusal of France, Germany and UK to support American such an invasion, and Russian control of Crimea might be cited as instance.

Besides, a number of external and internal developments such as huge cost of war on terror, financial crisis, and other-related problems which affected American public, enveloping other western countries—leakage of Transpacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), (An agreement to suppress sovereign democratic rights in favor of multinational corporations), negative effects of globalization, unequal world order and small countries’ demand to reform the UN system, including curtailment of liberties, rise of homegrown terrorism, unresolved gun-policy, failure of the of Obamacare, rift between the Republicans and the Democrats etc. discredited the Obama presidency. Now, realizing these realities, Americans have started criticizing CIA, FBI, military establishment, and their huge budgets. Question has arisen in America that are people paying taxes to the CIA which is fighting useless proxy wars in the world.

It is mentionable that rapidly developing geo-political differences among major powers display that the new Cold War is likely to be waged between the Russia-China alliance and the US-led alliance in Asia. Despite cooperation, disagreements exist between Washington and Beijing over Chinese export of missile technology, human rights and Taiwan issue. American strategic thinkers take China’s military modernization as a great threat to its military bases in the continent. In the past too, some developments had also revived the old animosity between Russia and the US. Apart from differences over American occupation of Iraq and its national missile defense system (NMD), in August 2007, America blamed Russia in connection with an incident of a missile, dropped on Georgian soil. In that backdrop, Russian President Putin had openly stated that his country was returning to its Soviet era practice of sending long-range bomber aircraft on regular patrols near NATO airspace.

During his trip to Australia, on November 17, 2011, President Barrack Obama, while sending an unmistakable message to Beijing said, “The United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay.” The then US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had revealed during his visit to Singapore that the US will shift a majority of its warships to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020 as part of a new US military strategy in Asia. Russia, on January 18, 2012 rejected the tough US-led western strategy of sanctions over Iran and Syria. In this regard, Russia and China had opposed the US-led NATO attack on Libya. In February, this year, they jointly vetoed the American-sponsored resolution in the UN Security Council, calling on the Syrian president to step down. Notably, old NATO ally Turkey also changed its policy. By supporting the cause of Palestinians, Ankara was increasing trade with Iran in defiance of sanctions against Tehran. Both Moscow and Beijing had asked the US to resolve the question of Iran’s nuclear programme peacefully. Although this issue has been settled in the recent past, yet Israel calls it American historical blunder, and is still acting upon a war-like diplomacy against Tehran.

It noteworthy that on August 16, 2007, during the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), their leaders displayed strength against the rising dominance of the US in the region, and called for a multi-polar system in the world. President Putin had even proposed defense cooperation among the member states. Participating in the Summit, this year, Pakistan and Iran got permanent membership of the SCO which is seen as anti-American club. In 2009, Islamabad and Tehran signed the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project without New Delhi, as the latter was reluctant in this context owing to its pro-US tilt. Pakistan has a strategic geo-political location at the corridor of major world maritime oil supply lines, and has close proximity to oil-rich Central Asian countries. Pakistan’s location could influence Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. Pakistan’s province, Balochistan where China has invested billion of dollars to develop Gwadar seaport (The CPEC agreement) could link Central Asian trade with rest of the world. It has even shifted the central gravity of the Great Game to Pakistan. Besides China, Pakistan has also cultivated its relationship with the Russia.

Moscow and Islamabad agreed to enhance bilateral relations in diverse fields. So, Islamabad is the focus of attention in the wake of the emerging geo-political scenario of the Cold War. The new Cold War would divide the world between two blocks. Main players of the game such as North Korea, Pakistan, Iran and Asian Republics are likely to align with Russia-China block. On the other side, Japan, Georgia, Ukraine, South Korea and India would join American block. In case of foreign troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, the latter could also join the Russia-China block, because Taliban could reemerge in Afghanistan, and could topple the US-backed present regime. In that scenario, India would have to rollback its network from Afghanistan. Apart of other Islamic countries, at the latter stage, a majority of the Arab countries will also join the Russia-China block in wake of public backlash against Obama’s unsuccessful policy of the Middle East.

As regards the European countries and European Union, their major states which are reluctant to favor American military adventurism due to NATO’s defeat in Afghanistan, economic instability in the world, and are preoccupied with their internal problems—are further reducing their defense budgets, could play their impartial role of reconciliation between the two rival blocks. Nonetheless, instead of rectifying America’s internal and external policies of Bush-era, President Obama’s faulty strategy clearly prove that he has weakened the US to wage the new Cold War.

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

RSS is the Real Controller of India

By Sajjad Shaukat

Taking cognizance of various developments such as unprecedented rise of Hindu extremism, persecution of minorities, forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus, ban on beef and cow slaughter, inclusion of Hindu religious books in curriculum and creation of war-like situation with Pakistan, analysts have still been opining that being the leader of the BJP, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is implementing the fundamentalist agenda of his party with the support of other Hindu fanatic outfits. But, a Mumbai-based writer, author and lawyer, A. G. Noorani in his article, “Modi’s loyalties,” published in Pakistan’s leading daily, Dawn on October 10, 2015 proved with authentic events and arguments that Hindu fundamentalist party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the real controller of India and BJP is only a show piece.

In the article, A. G. Noorani said, “It was an unprecedented journey; but caused little surprise. On September 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Nagpur, the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, to present himself before the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Almost his entire council of ministers and the BJP’s parliamentary board were there to demonstrate their accountability to the RSS. On Oct 2, a dozen or so junior ministers of state got into a huddle with senior RSS functionaries in New Delhi in what was described as a regular review meeting. A press release issued thereafter revealed: The prime minister said he was proud to be a Swayamsevak and he had reached where he had because of the values he had imbibed as a member of the RSS.”

A. G. Noorani elaborated, “Modi is a lifelong RSS activist (pracharak), having left his family to dedicate himself to the organisation. It, in turn, ensured his rise to the post of the highest executive of the country. The entire exercise was a flagrant violation of the fundamentals of the parliamentary system. The prime minister is accountable only to parliament and to no outside body. As a member of the ruling party, he participates in its deliberations but receives no mandate from it.” The writer pointed out, “When responsible government was introduced in 1937, under the Government of India Act 1935, Mohammad Ali Jinnah strongly criticised the Congress high command for giving directives to the Congress ministries in the provinces.”

A. G. Noorani revealed, “The BJP general secretary Ram Madhav is an RSS man who was seconded to the BJP along with many others. He wrote recently—the RSS model is unique. It has a parivar [family] of 40-plus organisations. The RSS is their ideological fountainhead. It is also the BJP’s muscle; it provides the cadres and foot soldiers who are indispensable at election time. Bhagwat disapproves of the personality cult which Modi and his men have built up ever since he became prime minister. Immediately after his trip to Nagpur, a BJP leader disclosed on Sept 5, that the message which Modi had received there was that no matter how big or popular you are, you cannot be bigger than the RSS. It has in the past sacked two presidents of its political wing -one was the president of the BJP’s ancestor the Jan Sangh, Mauli Chandra Sharma, who was sacked in 1954, the other was a former president and founder of the Jan Sangh who was expelled by L.K. Advani in 1973. In July 2005, as president of the BJP, Advani was administered a heavy dose of the same medicine. Three designated mandarins were despatched from Nagpur by the RSS chief to ask him to put in his papers. His crime was that he had written in praise of Jinnah in the condolence book at his mausoleum in Karachi.”

He wrote, “The stark reality is that the BJP can never be a right-wing party in the traditional sense. Its ideology binds it to the RSS which also controls it organisationally. The RSS has riveted its control over the BJP installing its trusted men to run the secretariat. The then RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar articulated the organisation’s ideology, indicating its strategy as far back as in 1949. “We have kept before ourselves the ideal of Bhagwan Shri Krishna who held a big empire under his thumb but refused to become an emperor himself. In 1944, the British decided that the RSS was a politico-commercial organisation which concentrated on the formation of a militant body on fascist lines.”

He explained, “The word ‘fascist’ was aptly chosen. As Donald E. Smith says in his classic India as a Secular State—The leader principle, the stress on militarism, the doctrine of racial-cultural superiority, ultra-nationalism infused religious idealism, the use of symbols of past greatness, the emphasis on national solidarity, the exclusion of the religious or ethnic minorities from the nation-concept—all of these features of the RSS are highly reminiscent of fascist movements in Europe. A responsible correspondent reported in August that the RSS membership is growing at 10,000 to 15,000 recruits every month and says it has reached every district except parts of Kashmir and Assam. The RSS influence on governance was obvious when Atal Behari Vajpayee was prime minister. It successfully vetoed Jaswant Singh’s appointment as finance minister. The RSS shadow lurks ominously on issues dear to it. Ram Madhav specifically mentioned Kashmir as one of them; which implies also relations with Pakistan.”

A. G. Noorani concluded by writing, “There are clear limits to the BJP’s ideological evolution. They were well described by Walter K. Anderson, a scholar who served in the State Department, in his book The Brotherhood in Saffron, which was co-authored by Shridhar D. Damle. It is questionable if the BJP could survive politically without the RSS cadre, and the cadre will not stay unless the leadership of the party stays firmly in the hands of the ‘brotherhood’.” However, these new revelations prove that all the extremist parties like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and other extremist outfits including his own ruling party are subsidiaries of the RSS, while under the influence of RSS; Prime Minister Modi has been rapidly radicalizing India.

While, the constitution declares India to be a secular state, granting equal rights to the religious minorities, but in practice, ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) prevails. Hindu politics and culture dominated by the fundamentalist parties—under the control of RSS have been propagating Hindutva. Provocative utterances of their extremist leaders have resulted into unending violence against the Muslims and Christians including other minority groups. It is mentionable that forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus also continue.

In this regard, Bajrang Dal, an offshoot of the RSS, converted at least 57 Muslim families (200 people) into Hindus at a ‘Purkhon Ki Ghar Vapsi’ (Coming home of the ancestors) or Shudhi (Purification) ceremony in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Previously, in early September 2014, Christians were also forcefully converted to Hindus which created unrest among Christian clergy. Four months ago, a similar event in Aligarh saw Christian families converting to Hinduism. However, since installment of BJP government in the center, RSS and its offshoots have accelerated their efforts for minorities’ conversion into Hindus. As regards persecution of minorities in India, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Testimony by Human Rights Watch presented before US Senate Committee (2014) on atrocious attitude of Hindu majority has highlighted the plight of minorities in India.

But, it is strange that US government denied visa to Modi on the basis of his involvement in Gujrat pogrom, however, after his election as Indian prime minister, American changed to his favour. Undoubtedly, more than 2500 Muslims were massacred in 2002 in the BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujara where Modi was Chief Minister. In relation to that massive genocide, both Human Rights Watch in 2002 and Amnesty International in 2003 charged the “Gujarat state administration” for involvement in “a massive cover-up of the state’s role in that massacre” and pointed out numerous police officials—specifically ministers, high officials and leaders of the VHP, BJP and Bajrang Dal as participants.” And RSS was the real force behind that tragic episode. In fact, Modi who was also a volunteer worker of the extremist Hindu terrorist outfit RSS since 8 years of age is a natural born Hindu extremist, while RSS involved in Muslim genocide, rape of women, demolition of mosques and alive burnings of the innocent persons.

It is noteworthy that particularly, on the basis of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan slogans, BJP got a land sliding triumph in the Indian elections 2014, and enabled BJP hardliner, Narendra Modi to become Indian prime minister who was so far seemed to be implementing his party’s extremist agenda by giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism—not only against other minorities, but also against Pakistan, as under his direction, New Delhi has intensified unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir and Working Boundary across Pak-Indian border. Now, these latest revelations clearly prove that the Indian Prime Minister Modi follows the instructions of the RSS which is the main decision-making party and real controller of India, while the BJP and other fanatic outfits are only a show pieces.

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

Terrorism: India, Undermining Pak-Afghan Stability

By Sajjad Shaukat

In the recent years, when the US-led NATO forces felt that they are failing in coping with the stiff resistance of the Taliban in Afghanistan, they started accusing Pak Army and country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of supporting the Afghan Taliban. The high officials and media of their countries not only blamed Pakistan for cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan, but also presumed that a plot to attack the US homeland would be prepared in FATA where safe-havens of Al Qaeda exist. India avail the opportunity and also accused Pakistan of similar allegations.

It is notable that Pakistan’s Armed Forces broke the backbone of the militants through military operation Zarb-i-Azb which started on June 15, 2014 in North Waziristan Agency, and afterwards, extended to some other tribal agencies—killing thousands of insurgents including foreign terrorists, while, ISI and other law-enforcing agencies captured several terrorists in various regions of Pakistan, including suicide-jackets and weapons. What the US-led NATO countries could not do in Afghanistan in the last 14 years, Pakistan’s Armed Forces have done in one year. Taking note of the ground realities, the US and other western countries have started appreciating the capabilities of Pakistan Army and other security agencies, and are, now, recognizing the sacrifices of the country against terrorism. They also recognize the fact that there is a co-relationship of stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Highlighting inter-related regional problems in his speech at the Central South Asia Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif said on September 29, this year, “Practical steps are required to manage Pak-Afghan borders for gainful conclusion of the military operation Zarb-e-Azb—Afghan instability had telling effects on the region”. He stressed on all stake holders to revive reconciliation process, despite hurdles, and elaborated, “A peaceful Afghanistan can open regional connectivity—China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) benefits can be shared—it is essential for socio-economic development of the whole region”.

During his recent trip to UK, and during his interaction with the British top officials and addresses, Gen. Raheel Sharif again emphasized upon south Asian security. In this regard, he said our environment need to be understood by the world—we are fighting various terrorist groups, no new entities can be allowed to emerge—we want to finish terrorists and their nurseries, while, we also expect the international community to play its part for regional peace—terrorism is a global issue and it warrants global response—for long term success, funding of all terrorist outfits has to be checked by all—we are against use of proxies and won not allow it on our soil.” Gen. Raheel indicated that India has been continuing border violations to divert attention of Pakistan from its war against terrorism.

However, regional security is not only important for Asian countries, but also for the US and other western countries and even for the whole world. In this respect, in their recent statements, American, British, German leaders and high officials including those of other NATO countries appreciated progress of Pakistan to counter terrorism, and acknowledged the nation’s contribution towards regional peace and stability. But, it is regrettable that India is destabilizing the regional countries in general and Afghanistan and Pakistan in particular. In order to obtain its secret designs, aimed at augmenting Indian hegemony in the region, India is foiling the peace process between Afghanistan and Pakistan by managing terrorist attacks like the recent ones in Afghanistan which revived old blame game against Islamabad. In this respect, in the recent past, cordial relations were established between Pakistan and Afghanistan when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani realized that Afghanistan and Pakistan are facing similar challenges of terrorism and will combat this threat collectively. They also set up a mechanism to check infiltration of the militants through Pak-Afghan porous border.

While, it is misfortune that on direction of New Delhi and like the former regime of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s present rulers have also started accusing Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. In this context, after hours of the Taliban captured Kunduz city, on September 28, 2015, during his address to the UNO General Assembly, Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah blamed Islamabad for carrying out cross-border attacks and destabilizing Afghanistan. On June 1, 2015 President Ashraf Ghani condemned Pakistan for waging undeclared war. Despite Islamabad’s rejection of these baseless allegations, and instance on Pak-Afghan joint cooperation against terrorism, this blame game continued.

In fact, in collusion with Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), Indian secret agency RAW has well-established its network in Afghanistan, and is fully assisting cross-border incursions and terror-activities in various regions of Pakistan through Baloch separatist elements and anti-Pakistan groups like Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundullah (God’s soldiers) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In this connection, on September 18, this year, the TTP militants attacked a Pakistan Air Force camp in Badaber area, Peshawar and martyred 29 people including army personnel. In this regard, Pakistan’s civil and military sources pointed out those TTP terrorists came from Afghanistan, having connections with Indian RAW.

Notably, RAW is making efforts to weaken Afghanistan, Tibetan regions of China and Pakistan, especially Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities, promoting acrimonious sense of dissent, political volatility, sectarian violence and arousing sentiments of separatism. It is mentionable that New Delhi which has already invested billion of dollars in Afghanistan, also signed a wide-ranging strategic agreement with that country on October 5, 2011. And, the then President Karzai had also signed another agreement with India to obtain Indian arms and weapons. While, under the cover of these agreements, India has further strengthened its grip in Afghanistan. By taking advantage of lawlessness in Afghanistan, India is up to its usual tirade to foment an environment by conducting terrorist attacks in that country to prove that Pakistan is creating trouble for Afghanistan.

It is notable that Gen. Raheel accompanied by the DG of ISI went to Kabul on December 17, 2014. During his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, President Ashraf Ghani and the ISAF commander, he presented the evidence of linkage between the massacre of children at Peshawar school and TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan. He also asked about action against the TTP and handing over of its chief Mullah Fazlullah to Pakistan. Nevertheless, Indian desperation in Afghanistan is increasing in the backdrop of growing engagements of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US. Therefore, by arranging terror-assaults in Pakistan and Afghanistan, India is also thwarting the peace process between the Afghan officials and representatives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan, which started in Murree, Pakistan, on July 8, 2015 through a meeting, hosted by Islamabad, and in it, Chinese and American representatives, also participated. While, the US, China and Pakistan are jointly working to facilitate the process so as to bring peace both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the whole region. Moreover, New Delhi is also trying to sabotage the CPEC and is targeting growing Pak-China-Afghanistan relations.

Furthermore, on the instruction of the Indian leader of the fundamentalist party BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian forces have accelerated unprovoked shelling across the Line of Control and Working Boundary, while creating war-like situation between Pakistan and India. Meanwhile, Pakistan raised the question of Indian cross-border terrorism and RAW involvement in Pakistan at the UNO forum, with strong evidence in light of open statements of Indian defence minister and prime minister who recently confirmed assistance to anti-Pakistan elements including separation of East Pakistan. Islamabad also raised the issues of Indian cross-border shelling and human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that waging a prolonged war in Afghanistan, the US and other NATO countries have realized that after the withdrawal of foreign troops, Afghanistan would be thrown in an era of uncertainly and civil war. They realize the fact that terrorism or stability in Pakistan and Afghanistan is interrelated. Therefore, US-led developed nations which also spent billions of dollars for the development of Afghanistan have repeatedly agreed that without Islamabad’s help, stability cannot be achieved there. Unfortunately, India does not intend to see peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Hence, India is undermining Pak-Afghan stability by creating unrest, and by sabotaging their cordial relations.

So, the US-led developed countries must also show realistic approach by realizing that unlike India, Pakistan shares common geographical, historical, religious and cultural bonds with Afghanistan, while Pak-Afghan stability is inter-related, which is essential for their global and regional interests. Especially, America must abandon its faulty strategy in this region and double standard, and must check Indian secret strategy against Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, America, Russia and other Asian countries. Nonetheless, in order to obtain its cover aims, India has been destabilizing South Asian security which is equally essential for American and other major powers’ global interests.

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

Earthquake in Pakistan-2005 Army’s Relief Efforts

By Sajjad Shaukat

Undoubtedly, we always remember the innumerable services and sacrifices of the Pakistan’s Armed Forces, as noted in relation to the military operations again the terrorists—resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), floods, desilting of canals (Bhal Safai) etc, entailing restoration of law and order on many occasions. In the recent past, Armed Forces were in the frontline for people-salvage from areas of earthquake which hit Balochistan. During any natural calamity, the personnel of the Armed Forces coped with situation boldly. In this regard, 8th October reminds the tragedy which Pakistan faced due the earthquake in 2005 and Pakistan’s Armed Forces again rose to the occasion to meet the aftermath courageously by contributing to the relief efforts.

At 8:50 a.m. local time, a magnitude Mw 7.6, the most powerful earthquake struck the Himalayan region of northern Pakistan and Kashmir. The earthquake epicenter was located approximately 9 km. north northeast of the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir, known as Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). The main focus of death and destruction targeted northern 

Pakistan in a wide swath from Peshawar to Azad Kashmir.

Media attention riveted the first morning on rescue efforts directed at the two collapsed blocks of “Margalla Towers” in Islamabad’s posh F-10 sector, diverting attention from the massive human and material devastation in Azad Kashmir, Kaghan and Kohistan valleys till hours later. With electricity and telephones lines down reports about a greater disaster in the mountains came in patches, eg 30% houses collapsed in Mansehra, 60% in Muzaffarabad, 80% in Rawalakot and Balakot etc, entire villages perched on the hillsides disappearing in mudslides. In the next 24 hours 40 aftershocks (of which only 17-18 were perceptible) added to the panic. The Pakistani government’s official death toll as of November 2005 stood at 87,350, although it is estimated that the death toll could reach over 100,000. Approximately 38,000 were injured and over 3.5 million rendered homeless. According to government figures, 19,000 children died in the earthquake, most of them in widespread collapses of school buildings. The earthquake affected more than 500,000 families. In addition, approximately 250,000 farm animals died due to collapse of stone barns, and more than 500,000 large animals required immediate shelter from the harsh winter.

It is estimated that more than 780,000 buildings were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair, and many more were rendered unusable for extended periods of time. Out of these, approximately 17,000 school buildings and most major hospitals close to the epicenter were destroyed or severely dam-aged. Lifelines were adversely affected, especially the numerous vital roads and highways which were closed by landslides and bridge failures. Several areas remained cut off via land routes even three months after the main event. Power, water supply, and telecommunication services were down for varying lengths of time, although in most areas services were restored within a few weeks.

Massive landsliding was a particular feature of this event. A very dense, high-frequency band of landslides was triggered along the fault rupture trace in the midslope areas; however, it quickly dissipated with distance away from the fault rupture zone. Almost all landslides were shallow, disaggregated slides, with two of them larger than 0.1 km2. Due to the generally arid landscape, liquefaction was not observed or reported by others. However, it was the most powerful earthquake to hit this region in 100 years. The critical Karokoram Highway (KKH) remains blocked due to landslides in many places along its entire 600 kms length. So is the main road to Muzaffarabad. Nevertheless, some alternate roads had been cleared; evacuating casualties to nearest hospitals and providing supplies was almost totally dependent upon helicopters.

Limited by numbers in coping with the magnitude of the devastation, Army Aviation helicopters did magnificent work, keeping the relief momentum going. Pakistan’s MI-8s and MI-17s were not enough to cope with such a catastrophe. My heart goes out for the helicopter crews. Chopper flying in such conditions takes its toll. The wear and tear on the helicopter and crews monitored closely, they pushed themselves beyond normal endurance limits. But, I say this with pride that in the face of this catastrophe our “eagles” did not listen and I salute them for their unmatched services in relation to the relief operations.

In this context, the then Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) initially confirmed 18000 dead and over 41000 injured. With villages perched precariously on sides of the mountains, and the timing (about 9 am) during Ramazan, one feared that this would be revised upwards many times over, it could well be beyond 60000 dead, a mind-boggling 90000 to 100000, even more. Almost all my company employees (security and courier personnel) from Azad Kashmir, Kaghan and Kohistan valleys lost some loved ones. Pakistan Army paid immediate attention to disaster relief and to restore basic services of electricity, water etc.  No government can really plan for the worst. The first few days were always chaotic and haphazard. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf led from the front, showing the way by visiting nearly all disaster areas and many hospitals.

Although Pakistan’s civil authorities, NGOs, foreign entities, the US and other countries’ role is appreciable regarding provision of medical treatment, other basic needs to the affected persons of the earthquake, yet credit goes to Pak Army which played major role in this respect. In this connection, a permanent “Crisis Management Agency” was established under the Chairman Joint Services Committee (CJSC) for effective coordination of ground, air and naval resources in support of the effort of the civil administration. In order to address the post-disaster issues—taking note that people would be without food and shelter, their children would be without schools, continuing medical care would be needed and rehabilitation thereof, etc. The short, medium and long-term economic consequences and remedial measures thereof had to be worked out, as each disaster has different dynamics.

First or all, the personnel of the Armed Forces proved the pre-position supplies, particularly potable water, meals ready to eat (MRE), medical requisites, blankets, tents etc. They included containerized field ambulance-medical units with doctors and medicines. Besides, the problem of road closures was so significant that the Army dedicated 12 engineer battalions to open roads. Owing to the Army’s extensive experience with road building, and the availability of skilled builders in the mountain communities after many years of building the Karakoram Highway, the opening and reconstruction of roads was handled efficiently. At the time of the reconnaissance, the Jhelum ValleyRoad, the Kaghan Valley Road, and the Karakuram Highway had been cleared and opened. The Neelum Valley Road, the only other major road in the affected area, had only a 5-km stretch remaining to be cleared. While most major roads had been reopened, there is a vast network of tertiary roads serving the mountain community in the higher elevations. Many of these roads remain closed, cutting off populations which did not even experience the direct effects of the earthquake and hampering relief efforts.

And several bridges were damaged, especially within the Jhelum Valley and in Balakot. Personnel of the Pak Army repaired the bridges. Nonetheless, on this very day, Pakistanis salute to their Army due to its unmatched contribution to the relief efforts in connection with the earthquake of 2005.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com