Intractable Issues of Afghanistan

Intractable Issues of Afghanistan

Sajjad Shaukat

While Afghanistan has already been facing intractable issues internally and externally, some latest developments will create more complications, darkening the future of the war-torn country in wake of new emerging geo-political scenario.

At a time when Afghan President Hamid Karzai was making strenuous efforts to have a long-term strategic partnership with the United States for the survival of his regime, also indicating that sovereignty of Afghanistan should be respected in that partnership which has faltered due to some recent events. In this regard, position of US which reached its lowest level after the desecration of the copies of Holy Quran at a US military base on February 20 this year—sparked six days of angry riots across Afghanistan that left 40 people dead including six US troops who were killed by Afghan security forces, another incident came like a sky from the blow when on March 12, an American soldier broke into three village homes in Kandahar province and brutally killed 16 people including women and children. This massacre has further intensified criticism of Afghan president within the inner circle.

While acknowledging that the mission has been complicated by recent events including the loss of six British soldiers in a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron declared on March 14 that they would stick to a timetable for winding down the war by the end of 2014. They also insisted that the American-led coalition was helping Afghans to provide their own security. In this connection, on March 16, US President Barack Obama agreed to Karzai’s concerns about night raids, house searches and the presence of foreign troops in Afghan villages.

Recently, Karzai told visiting US Defence Chief Leon Panetta that Afghanistan wants to take over control of the nation’s security in 2013 rather than 2014 when withdrawal of from troops will be completed. Panetta stated that the US and Afghanistan would work out a treaty allowing US military presence in the country beyond a pullout in 2014.

However, after the departure of foreign troops, US has decided to establish six permanent military bases in Afghanistan, having eyes on the energy resources of Central Asia, with multiple strategic designs against Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia.

In this context, on January 5, 2012, US President Obama had unveiled a new defence strategy which calls for greater US military presence in Asia, after cutting troops from Europe—the strategy calls for the US military to “rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region…even US troops continue to fight in Afghanistan, the tide of war is receding.”

Nevertheless, American military presence in Afghanistan, a country of geo-strategical importance, will further deepen the intractable issues of the country. Iran fears that US bases in Afghanistan will enhance its ability to gather intelligence on Iran which could give the US and Israel a major strategic advantage, if they attack Tehran in relation to its nuclear programme, though immediate invasion has stopped temporarily.
Especially, America wants to protect Karzai regime and Indian influence in Afghanistan. It has already been supporting cross-border infiltration in Pakistan with the assistance of American CIA, Indian, RAW and Israeli Mossad which have well-established their tentacles in Afghanistan to ‘destabilise’ and ‘denuclearise’ Pakistan. For this purpose, highly trained militants, equipped with sophisticated weapons are being sent to Pakistan’s various places, who are regularly conducting suicide attacks, targeted killings, ethnic and sectarian violenc, while committing similar acts in Balochistan by assisting Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and another separatist group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have kidnapped and murdered a number of Chinese and Iranian nationals in the country. Jundollah is also involved in subversive acts in the Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan. Particularly, While, Balochistan’s mineral resources and geo-strategic location with Gwadar seaport, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia have further irritated the US and India because China has already invested billion of dollars to develop this seaport. It is due to secret strategic designs that the US which signed a nuclear deal with India in 2008, intends to control Balochistan, contain China and subdue Iran.

US double game with Pakistan could be judged from the fact that at present, Islamabad is redefining its relationship with Washington after the US-led NATO air attack on Pakistan Army border posts on November 26 last year. While, America has also requested Islamabad to play a key role in the peace talks with the Afghan militants, recognising the fact that without Pakistan’s help, stability will not be achieved in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reaffirmed American commitment on March 14 to remain engaged both with Afghanistan and Pakistan even as the US works to end the Afghan war. On the other side, US has again started drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas, which have killed several people the past few weeks. The main aims behind the new phase of drone strikes are to sabotage the recent offer of the Pakistan government and the militants for peace talks and to provocate the insurgents for more suicide attacks inside the country and on the security forces.
In this backdrop, a shift has already occurred in the foreign policy of Pakistan. In this context, Islamabad which had already having cordial relationship with China, has also cultivated its relationship with the Russian Federation. Moscow and Islamabad agreed to enhance the bilateral relations in diverse fields. In 2010, the then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin publicly endorsed Pakistan bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Putin also remarked that Pakistan was very important partner in South Asia and the Muslim world for Russia. During the trip of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Moscow, on February 9, she stated that SCO was an exceptionally important forum within the region to counter regional challenges.

In their summit of August 16, 2007, the leaders of the SCO had displayed strength against the US rising dominance in the region and NATO’s military presence in Afghanistan, near the region of Central Asia.
Nonetheless, by ignoring the interests of other stakeholders like Pakistan, Iran China and Russia in Afghanistan, America will fail in safeguarding its clandestine aims. Besides, India has illegitimate interests in Afghanistan; hence it is involved in illegitimate activities under the umbrella of US. While, Pakistan wants stability in Afghanistan, which is not possible due to Indian presence—Pakistan has legitimate concerns in Afghanistan, sharing common geographical, religious and cultural bonds.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports are coming about US peace dialogue with the Afghan militants in Qatar. In this regard, on March 10, Karzai’s spokesman said five Taliban detainees held at the US Guantanamo Bay military prison had agreed to be transferred to Qatar to boost a nascent peace process. On the same day, White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden pointed out that the US had not yet agreed to transfer a detainee from Guantanamo as an incentive for the Taliban to participate in peace talks. Besides Taliban commanders have refused to talk to Karzai whom they consider imperial puppet.

Now, question also arises that if well-trained and well-equipped NATO troops could not succeed in defeating the Afghan militants as to how Afghan forces, with the limited support of American troops, will cope with them. In this respect, Taliban may wait till the other NATO troops withdraw from that country.
According to a defence analyst, “The Taliban are now a battle-hardened guerrilla group…whom many believe have little incentive to accept American conditions…at present they are far stronger than Afghanistan’s police and army.”

Despite the military presence of the US, after the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, the Karzai regime will fall like a house of cards due to stiff resistance of Afghan Taliban. US also believes that India can be a player in any future arrangement of Afghanistan for stability. But Even India which has already invested billion of dollars in Afghanistan, and signed a strategic partnership agreement with that country to further fortify its grip there to get strategic depth against Islamabad, will not be in a position to maintain its network in wake of the successful guerrilla warfare of the Taliban.

There are a number of complexities in connection with Afghanistan. In this regard, some political experts opine that the Afghan Taliban are irreconcilable because “stocked hatred, opening old wounds and deepening ethnic tensions in an already volatile country where fear of civil war is growing after the withdrawal of foreign forces.

Consequently, after the withdrawal of occupying forces, US ambivalent strategy will throw Afghanistan in an era of further uncertainty and chaos, intensifying country’s intractable issues.

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

Intractable Issues of Afghanistan >>

 

Mehrangate Scandal Exposes Politicians’ Corruption

Mehrangate Scandal Exposes Politicians’ Corruption

Sajjad Shaukat

Although various forms of mal-practice such as horse-trading, nepotism, bribery, graft, illegal obligation etc. are very common in Pakistan’s politics, yet after the NRO regarding Swiss bank accounts of the President Asif Ali Zardari, the Mehrangate scandal has clearly exposed the corruption of country’s politicians who claim to be representatives of the people in the national and provincial assemblies as well as the related-governments.

Now-a-days, Supreme Court of Pakistan has been hearing a decade old petition, filed by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan in 1996, pleading to punish all those political leaders who received money from Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in relation to the Mehran Bank Scandal.
In this regard, former chief of Mehran Bank, Younis Habib disclosed before the Supreme Court on March 8 this year that former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan and former Army Chief Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg pressurised him to arrange Rs. 1.48 billion, out of which Rs. 400 million were distributed among anti-PPP politicians to influence the elections of 1990. Habib claimed that the bank account numbers in which the money transferred was also provided by Aslam Beg.
Talking to media outside the Supreme Court, Younis Habib revealed that Rs. 340 million were given to form Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI)), and Rs. 3.5 and Rs. 2.5  were given to Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif respectively.
Former ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani on March 10 also admitted before the Supreme Court that on the instructions of the former Army Chief Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg, he distributed money among politicians of IJI, a right-wing political alliance to counter the PPP.
During the Mehrangate investigations of 1993 which led up to the Supreme Court case, Younis Habib as per his statement indicated that besides Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, other political figures also received money. In this respect, Mir Afzal received Rs. 10 million, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi Rs. 5 million, Jam Sadiq Ali Rs. 5 million, Mohammed Khan Junejo Rs. 2.5 million, Pir Pagaro Rs. 2 million, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada Rs. 3 million, Yusuf Haroon Rs. 5 million, Abida Hussain Rs. 1 million, Humayun Marri Rs. 5.4 million, Jamaat-e-Islami Rs. 5 million, Mustafa Sadiq Rs. 0.5 million, Arbab Ghulam Aftab Rs. 0.3 million, Pir Noor Mohammad Shah Rs. 0.3 million; Arbab Faiz Mohammad Rs. 0.3 million, Arbab Ghulam Habib Rs. 0.2 million, Liaquat Baloch Rs.1.5 million, Javed Hashmi MNA and others Rs. 50 million, Jam Yusuf Rs.0.75 million, Nadir Magsi Rs.1 million etc.
Mehrangate scandal was further highlighted among the people, opening a debate over the media and among rival politicians when in another startling revelation on March 10, Younis Habib disclosed in a private TV channel that he had delivered money with his hand to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at the latter’s home, he also sent an amount to Shahbaz Sharif. He told that Aftab Sherpao was given a “bigger amount.” He elaborated that he was pressurised to arrange money ‘by hook or by crook’, and the money paid to the politicians was nothing less than a bribe, admitting that taking or giving bribe was a sin—“Bribe leaves no trace behind.”
On March 11, PML (N)’s spokesman Pervez Rasheed reacted to the statement of former Mehran Bank chief against Sharif brothers, and termed the allegations as fabricated, calling Younis Habib as President Asif Ali Zardari’s tool. Earlier Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah remarked that the Mehran Bank Scandal was reopened to hide the corruption of the present government. While hinting towards ISI, he accused that the establishment and secret agencies were involved in the opening of the Mehran Bank Scandal, and the case did not have any supporting proof. Besides, other leaders especially of the Jamat-i-Islami have also denied the receipt of money.
As regards the authenticity of the scandal, Interior Minister Rehman Malik indicated on March 12 that he had collected the main documents and was ready to appear before the Supreme Court and produce evidence with regard to Mehran Bank Scandal.  He said that action should be taken against those who violated constitution, adding that the Nawaz-League, which has been dragging the PPP to court, should get itself cleared of accusations from the court. While, Federal Information Minister, Firdaus Ashiq Awan stated that those politicians who have been “exposed” in the Asghar Ali Khan case should present themselves before the apex court.
Nevertheless, it is Swiss bank case (NRO) or Mehran Bank case; these scandals have exposed those representatives and politicians who have been misusing the mandate of people. Instead of paying attention on the development of the country and redressing the grievances of general masses who have already been facing multiple problems such as acute poverty, unemployment, shortage of clean water, price hike, loadshedding of gas and electricity, our leaders remain engaged in looting the national exchequer, while employing other techniques of corruption like bribery, commission and so on. It proves that during the election campaign, our political leaders make verbal declarations, based upon falsehood, while addressing the processions. But their promises, made with public are no more than political tricks which in fact contain deceit and fraud.
While talking about the ongoing Mehran Bank case, Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan said on March 10, it is proved that the leadership of PML (N) and some other politicians have taken money from the ISI in past. While claiming that he would leave the politics, if it was proved that he has ever taken funding from establishment, he pointed out, “The current regime of PPP is the worst government in the history of the country and it has enjoyed full support of PML (N) in looting the country.”
In this connection, besides other cases, sometimes, it is the case of missing persons and sometimes, Memogate scandal which have continuously been manipulating by some media anchors, PPP leaders, particularly those of PML (N) and Jamat-i-Islami, who have repeatedly been criticising the Pak Army and ISI with a view to getting the sympathies of general masses and to increase their vote bank in the forthcoming elections. After observing the largest processions of Tehreek-e-Insaf in various cities, opposition leader of the PML (N) in the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has repeatedly accused army and ISI in backing its Chairman Imran Khan. But now real faces of these politicians have been unveiled through NRO and especially by the Mehrangate scandal.
However, as regards Mehran Bank money scandal, Pak Army or ISI simply obeyed the orders of the then head of the government; otherwise, defiance on any grounds would have led these security agencies to take unconstitutional course. So, Pak Army and ISI opted to obey the lawful command.
It is notable that while giving arguments in the court, no lawyer agrees with his rival, otherwise, he will lose the case. In these terms, question arises as to why action is not being taken by the Supreme Court against those heads of the political parties, who received the money. As they have denied the receipt of amount, the case will continue on the fake evidence, provided by their lawyers. Hence, manipulation by lawyers is likely to turn the table against Army and ISI, distorting their image. So ISI must be alert in this respect.
ISI may be directed by the Court to recover the amount and deposit it in the State Bank of Pakistan. But it will be a good sign for Pakistan’s external elements, creating wrong impression for the ISI about its role in the intervention in the elections. In this regard, bank records of the recipients may be traced back and exploratory investigation should be initiated to collect evidence that money was actually distributed amongst the recipients. Former chief of the Mehran Bank and former DG ISI should be provided full support to prove their case in the court. Defence ministry’s lawyers and ISI must work out all possible dimensions of the case for counter arguments.
Returning to our earlier discussion, Pakistan’s politicians have so far befooled the common men for grabbing power and to maintain their status and influence. As to how one can expect elimination of corruption from those political figures which are themselves found involved in this curse at the cost of public welfare. Nonetheless solid proof of Mehrangate scandal has exposed politicians’ corruption.
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

Mehrangate Scandal Exposes Politicians’ Corruption >>

 

Indian Failure to Protect ‘Nukes’

Indian Failure to Protect ‘Nukes’

Sajjad Shaukat

A committee of Indian experts, appointed by the Tamil Nadu government regarding the safety aspects of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNNP) recently submitted its report to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, opening a controversial debate over the project, while, the State government also invited the representatives of People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) for talks.

It is notable that in October 2011, thousands of protesters and villagers living around the Kudankulam nuclear project, blocked highways and staged hunger strikes, preventing further construction work, while demanding its closure as they fear of the disasters like the environmental impact, radioactive waste, nuclear accident etc. In this regard, S P Udayakumar of the movement had pointed out, “the nuclear plant is unsafe” and “the safety analysis report and the site evaluation study have not been made public. No public hearing was held. It is an authoritarian project that has been imposed on the people.”
However, severe differences have arisen between government sponsored scientists and private and former scientists who are really worried about the lives of the local people, living around the Kudankulam project. In this connection, M.R. Srinivasan, a former chairman of Indian Atomic Energy commission and member of experts committee remarked, “Let the government has a cool view of the report…but I have not taken back my words on the issue despite that few government officials are satisfied over the issue.”
Now, in order to conceal its own poor safety measures, Indian government has bribed the representative of anti-KKNPP Struggle Committee, S.P. Udayakumar who has sent a legal notice to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for insinuating that the anti-Kudankulam protests were funded by United States, and the Scandinavian non-government organisations.
Nevertheless, this debate is because of the fact that India has failed to protect its nukes and plants as country’s past records prove. In this respect, on November 25, 2010, more than 90 Indian workers suffered radiation due to contamination of drinking water at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnataka. Indian rulers tried to conceal the tragedy, but were compelled to admit it when the media got the story after many suffered persons were hospitalised. The Time of India reported that there “was no official word from the usually secretive nuclear establishment…the employees were in hospital because they experienced a higher level of radiation after drinking water. However, tests confirmed radioactivity in the urine samples.”
Instead of realising their faults and to improve the security of their atomic plant, both Indian scientists and high officials hastened to cover the incident. But their statements were contradictory. Some Indian scientists remarked that the affected employees did not use to “go into the actual reactor area, but work around it”, while Director of the Kaiga station, AM Gupta said that these workers had “no exposure to the reactor directly, it was surprising to see them with higher level of radiation.” In this respect, The Nuclear Power Corporation, which runs Kaiga plant, did not reply to the media queries over the nuclear accident. Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada, N S Channappa Gowda, pointed out that no casualties or injuries were reported. Notably, Indian Atomic Energy Chairman, Anil Kodkar called the mishap at Kaiga an act of sabotage.
Meanwhile, India’s poor nuclear safety can be noted from the statement of Minister of state, Prithviraj Chavan who had clarified that there were no video cameras there to catch who did the mischief, further saying that in future “the government would install cameras in all such areas.” Surprisingly, this statement made it clear that Indian other atomic plants are also without cameras.
In this context, an internal probe by Nuclear Power Corporation had stated the possibility of mischief by an insider who had deliberately added some heavy water containing tritium to the drinking water cooler. So it is a most alarming that anyone can cause any mischief at Indian any nuclear facility. This raises more questions regarding the poor safey of all Indian nuclear plants.
Notably, on July 27, 1991, a similar event took place at the heavy water plant run by the Department of Atomic Energy at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Nuclear radiation had affected and injured many labourers there.
In fact,  these incidents coupled with other events of nuclear theft, smuggling and killing have become a regular feature of Indian atomic plants and facilities.
In July 1998, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seized eight Kg. of nuclear material from three engineers in Chennai. It was reported that the uranium was stolen from an atomic research center. The case still remains pending. On November 7, 2000, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) disclosed that Indian police had seized 57 pounds of uranium and arrested two men for illicit trafficking of radioactive material. IAEA had said that Indian civil nuclear facilities were vulnerable to thefts.
On January 26, 2003, CNN disclosed that Indian company, NEC Engineers Private Ltd. shipped 10 consignments to Iraq, containing highly sensitive equipment including titanium vessels and centrifugal pumps. Indian investigators acknowledged that the company falsified customs documents to get its shipments out of India.
While in February, 2004 same year, India’s Ambassador to Libya, Dinkar Srivastava revealed that New Delhi was investigating that retired Indian scientists could possibly be engaged in “high technology programs” for financial gains during employment in the Libyan government.
On June 12, 2004, Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (BNC), an American company was fined US $ 300,000 for exporting illegally a nuclear component to the Bhaba Atomic Research Center in India. In December 2005, United States imposed sanctions on two Indian firms for selling missile goods and chemical arms material to Iran in violation of India’s commitment to prevent proliferation. In the same year, Indian scientists, Dr. Surendar and Y. S. R Prasad had been blacklisted by Washington due to their involvement in nuclear theft. In December 2006, a container packed with radioactive material disappeared from an Indian fortified research atomic facility near Mumbai.
In June, 2009, death of India’s nuclear scientist, Lokanathan Mahalingam raised new apprehension about the safety of Indian atomic assets. He was missed from the scenario and after a couple of days; his dead body was recovered from the Kali River.
Besides, two dangerous developments clearly prove that Indian military officers can even sell or provide the nukes or Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMDs) to the private persons. In this regard, on July 7, 2011, Indian army sources admitted that the 27 officers, mostly lieutenant colonels and colonels bought weapons and arms from the Central Ordnance Depot of Jabalpur, and illegally sold to people of dubious character.
In the recent past, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra arrested a serving Lt. Col. Srikant Purohit along with some army officials who confessed that they were involved in training of the Hindu terrorists, supplying them the military-grade explosive RDX, used in bombings of various Indian cities including Malegaon. The investigation further indicated the confession of Lt. Col. Purohit for the bombing of Samjhota express, (Train), while proving close links of the Indian army officials with prominent politicians of Indian fundamentalist parties, BJP, VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal.
In this context, most dangerous aspect is that Hindu fundamentalists, trained by Indian military experts or secret agency RAW could even prepare and obtain WMDs. Thus they could jeopardise the global peace by using these fatal weapons inside America and Europe so that these developed nations could also point finger at Pakistan because of their ‘stereotypes’ against the Muslims and Islamabad in wake of war on terror.
Nevertheless, despite Indian failure to protect its nukes and nuclear installations through tight security measures and despite nuclear proliferation by New Delhi in violation of various international agreements and its refusal to sign Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), CTBT and Additional Protocol with the IAEA, the US not only included India in its joined non-proliferation goals like Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), but also signed a pact of nuclear civil technology in 2008. It seems that all the global non-proliferation conventions led by the US are applicable to Iran, North Korea and particularly Pakistan, while India is exempted because Washington has to fulfill its Asian interests through New Delhi especially at the cost of Pakistan and China.
This is right hour that international community must take notice of the dangers posed by Indian failure to protect its nukes, before these endanger whole the world.
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

Indian Failure to Protect ‘Nukes’>>

 

Indo-Israeli Secret Alliance

Indo-Israeli Secret Alliance

Sajjad Shaukat

In the first week of February, this year, Israeli secret agency, Mossad’s Chief Tamir Pardo visited India with a three member delegation. Pardo’s detailed talks with the Chief of Indian spy agency, RAW, Sanjeev Tripathi was part of Indo-Israeli secret alliance. The major aim of this meeting was to accelerate joint initiatives through their secret agencies so as to manipulate the strategic developments in South and Central Asia including Middle East. The purposes behind latest liaison of the top spymasters were also to intensify covert activities particularly to destabilise Pakistan and Iran, and to disrupt their cordial relationship besides exploiting US hardlining approach against China. 

Another major aim of Mossad’s head with his counterpart was to prepare a clandestine plan to obtain the secret designs of India and Israel in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops from that country. Both are also disappointed by the new peace initiative by Pakistan and Afghanistan which does not favour their collective interests. So they intend to create misunderstanding between Kabul and Islamabad by sabotaging their new cooperation including their peace deals with the Afghan militants. Although Indo-Israeli secret alliance has full tactical support of the United States regarding China, Iran and Pakistan, yet it is also working against America where similarities of interests are more important in case of New Delhi and Tel Aviv. In these terms, the two countries also seek to thwart the peace talks, being held in Qatar between the US and Taliban militants. Some reliable sources suggest that with the help of their affiliated militant groups, Mossad and RAW which have established their tentacles in Afghanistan have decided to intensify subversive acts on the US-led NATO installations in order to create obstacles in the withdrawal schedule of foreign forces, and to implicate both Afghan militants and Pakistan in this respect.

In fact, since 9/11 tragedy, India and Israel have left no stone unturned by manipulating the world phenomena of terrorism to achieve their common goals by convincing the US-led European states clandestinely that Pakistan is sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan and Kashmir. And Iran and Syria are doing the same act in Iraq, Lebanon and Israel. In this context, equation of the ‘war of liberation’ in Kashmir and Palestine with terrorism and use of delaying tactics in the solution of these controlled territories have become the main purpose of New Delhi and Tel Aviv which also intend to divert the attention of the west from their own atrocities, being perpetrated on the innocent Kashmiris and Palestinians. Besides, Pakistan, having close ties with Beijing, is immediate target of the Indo-Israeli secret nexus. So, with the support of US, India and Israel are in collusion to weaken Pakistan for their common strategic interests.
It is mentionable that India and Israel are collectively exploiting the double standards of the west in relation to terrorism and human rights vis-à-vis Pakistan, China and Iran. If New Delhi considers both Islamabad and Beijing as its arch enemies, Tel Aviv takes Tehran in the same sense especially due to its nuclear programme which is also opposed by the US-led EU. Israel is also against Pakistan as it is the only nuclear Islamic country. However, these similarities of interest have brought the two countries to conclude a secret alliance.
It is noteworthy that with the assistance of American CIA, both RAW and Mossad have been sending heavy weapons and well-trained militants from Afghanistan into Pakistan, who not only attack the checkposts of security forces, but also commit target-killings, suicide attacks, abductions etc. in the country. These secret agencies are especially supervising saboteurs to conduct subversive acts in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where they also support separatist elements, especially Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Besides, kidnapping and killing a number of Chinese nationals through their related-insurgents, these external secret agencies are also assisting Jundullah (God’s soldiers), a Sunni militant group which has so far killed several Shias in Pakistan, while committing acts of sabotage in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan. Iranian leaders directly blamed Israel and CIA for those terror-attacks.
While taking cognisance of the Indo-Israeli secret alliance against Islamabad and Tehran, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said that the suicide attacks in Iran’s Sistan were a conspiracy against brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran. He further added, “It is obvious that the same forces that are working in Pakistani Balochistan are also working in Iranian Sistan.”  In the recent past, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei indicated, “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.”
It is worth-mentioning that both Tel Aviv and New Delhi have successfully manipulating the presumed threat of China in Asia in order to involve America. In that backdrop, US which signed a nuclear deal with India in 2008, intends to make India a great power of Asia to counterbalance China. In this context, during his visit to India, on November 6, 2011, President Barrack Obama who announced $10 billion in trade deals, supported Indian demand for membership of four key global nuclear nonproliferation regimes.
It is of particular attention that Jewish-Hindu lobbies are collectively working in America and are well-penetrated in the US Administration. These lobbies are exploiting the war against terrorism and presumed threats of Iran, China and Pakistan so as to protect the Indo-Israeli covert designs. With the help of some American law-makers and media, these entities have introduced dangerous socio-religious dimension in the world by equating the “war on terror” with “war on Islam” and acts of Al Qaeda with all the Muslims. It is due to these lobbies that President Obama who had earlier shown enthusiasm to resolve the dispute of Kashmir and Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while strongly opposing the new Jewish settlements have become helpless. Moreover, it is because of Indo-Israeli lobbies that Dana Rohrabacher introduced a House Concurrent Resolution in the US House of Representatives on February 17, 2012, calling upon Pakistan to “recognise the right of self-determination for Balochistan.”
Besides, a number of recent developments such as US war-mongering diplomacy against Iran, Israel’s threat to attack Iran, Obama’s new defence strategy, which calls for greater US military presence in Asia—maintenance of six permanent bases in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops, unprovoked firing on two Pakistan Army border posts, killing 24 troops in wake of US-backed intermittent infiltration of militants from Afghanistan and new wave of drone attacks clearly prove that President Obama has become powerless before the Indo-Israeli secret alliance which is also working against American interests in order to obtain their collective goals.  New Delhi and Tel Avis has also ignored US cost of war against terrorism which is more than seven trillion dollars including debt-crisis and other related problems which Americans have been facing.
As regards, Indo-Israeli alliance, it has solid proof which could be assessed from the interview of Israel’s ambassador to India, Mark Sofer published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008. Regarding India’s defence arrangements with Israel, Sofer had surprisingly disclosed “We do have a defence relationship with India, which is no secret. On the other hand, what is secret is the defence relationship”. And “with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret.”
Indo-Israeli nexus remained under wraps till 2003, when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India to officially reveal it. In this regard, Indian ‘The Tribune’ wrote on September 10, 2003, “India and Israel took giant leaps forward in bolstering the existing strategic ties and forging new ones” and Tel Aviv has “agreed to share its expertise with India in various fields as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance satellites, intelligence sharing and space exploration.” Nevertheless, from anti-missile systems to hi-tech radars, from sky drones to night-vision equipment, Indo-Israeli defense cooperation has known no bounds in recent times.
The matter is not confined to purchasing of military equipments only, Indo-Israeli overt and covert links are part of a dangerous strategic game in Asia. In this connection, the then Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu had already made it clear in July 1997 saying, “Our ties with India don’t have any limitations—as long as India and Israel are friendly, it is a strategic gain.”
In this respect, we should remember that the major cause of the World War 1 was the secret alliance among Austria-Hungary and Germany—then Italy joined the Austro-German alliance, initiated by German leader Bismark. On the other side, France and Britain concluded counter alliance—ultimately all that resulted into militarisation of Europe and the World War 1.
So, if not checked in time by the international community, Indo-Israeli secret alliance could culminate into third world war in case of particularly Israeli prospective attack on Iran or use of America for this purpose.
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

Indo-Israeli Secret Alliance >>

 

Multi-prone Attacks on Pakistan

Multi-prone Attacks on Pakistan

 Sajjad Shaukat 

In the past, conventional forces of a country used to attack on a rival country in order to achieve its strategic aims. But in the modern era of globalisation and technology, a rival country can be invaded through ‘different war’ which includes various tactics of psychological warfare. In these terms, Pakistan has become the target of multi-prone attacks such as suicide attacks, bomb blasts, abductions, targeted-killings, ethnic and sectarian violence, coupled with sporadic battles of the security forces with the militants in some tribal areas and assaults on the security agencies including their premises.

Besides subversive acts of the past eight years, a new wave of terrorism has once again enveloped Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has perennially been facing latest terror-activities. In some major incidents, on March 2 this year, 58 people were killed in a suicide bomb blast outside a mosque at Tirah Valley, while ten soldiers embraced martyrdom in clashes with the militants. 26 Shias were killed on February 17 in a suicide bomb assault in Parachinar.
On February 28, this year, gunmen disguised in military uniform hauled 18 Shias off buses and shot them in the Kohistan region. On February 26, militants damaged fourteen railway tracks across Sindh. New subversive events such as target killings, setting the vehicles on fire, kidnappings in Karachi etc. has again started. Several innocent people, workers of different political parties, three Shia lawyers, two activists of the Sunni Tehreek (ST) and a doctor, two students, Baluch MPA Nawabzada Bakhtiar Khan Domki’s wife and daughter were killed. In the past 50 days, more than 60 persons have been targeted brutally in Karachi.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the National Assembly on February 2 this year that the deteriorating situation in Karachi was the result of a well-planned conspiracy. He revealed that links between the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Sipah-e-Sahaba had been uncovered in carrying out joint terrorist activities. On July 18, 2011, Rehman Malik, while disclosing the involvement of foreign hands in Karachi, had openly stated that the miscreants were using Israeli-made weapons for fomenting unrest in the city.
Notably, the situation has deteriorated in Balochistan where subversive events and human rights violations have intensified. In this regard, BLA and an another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad, and are also trying to sabotage Pakistan’s relationship with China and Iran. In the past few years, their militants kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan. Jundollah also arranged a number of suicide attacks in Iran, while Tehran had directly named CIA for assisting those terrorist attacks.
It is mentionable that Dana Rohrabacher introduced a House Concurrent Resolution in the US House of Representatives on February 17, 2012, calling upon Pakistan to “recognise the right of self-determination for Balochistan.” The resolution has noted that “Baloch people are subjected to violence and extrajudicial killings,” by security forces and intelligence agencies.
In fact, US-led India and Israel have been inciting the general masses of Balochistan to openly speak against the federation of Pakistan and the Punjabis for all the injustices, created by the Baloch feudal lords (Sardars) who have been fighting for their own so-called status, prestige and influence. While Balochistan’s mineral resources and ideal geo-strategic location with Gwadar seaport, has further annoyed America and India because China has already invested billion of dollars to develop it. However, it is due to multiple strategic designs that the US which signed a nuclear deal with India in 2008, intends to control Balochistan in containing China and destabilising Iran.
Recently, Pakistan’s high officials and some politicians have indicated foreign hands in backing the separatism in Balochistan. In this respect, Balochistan Chief Minister, Nawab Aslam Raisani disclosed on February 27, 2012 that there were confirmed reports of external intrusion in the province in the backdrop of prevailing circumstances.
However, we cannot see the terror-events in one province in isolation as these are part multi-prone attacks on Pakistan. Especially, America has been supporting cross-border infiltration in Pakistan with the assistance of CIA, RAW and Mossad which have well-established their espionage network in Afghanistan from where highly trained militants, equipped with sophisticated weapons are being sent to Pakistan’s various places, who are perennially conducting multiple acts of sabotage in the country besides fuelling sectarian violence. Now, these secret agencies have also established their collective network in Pakistan. These agencies have recruited Pakistani nationals who are vulnerable and can work on their payroll. They have recruited smugglers, criminals, experts of the psychological warfare and journalists so as to obtain anti-Pakistan goals of their countries. Their main purpose remains to ‘disintegrate’ and ‘denuclearise’ Pakistan.
Besides other high officials, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit without naming CIA had revealed, “The evidence of foreign powers’ involvement in the destabilisation of Pakistan will be shared with relevant countries.”
It is noteworthy that the agents of CIA, RAW and Mosssad are well-penetrated in various foreign-based and Pakistan-based NGOs and human rights organisations including media which are being used for vile propaganda, spreading disinformation against Pakistan’s security forces and spy agencies, especially Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
In the recent past, ISPR spokesman, Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, while rejecting human rights groups’ reports as a conspiracy against Pakistan, called for probing the funding of these organisations as this could be traced back to those forces which want to destabilise Pakistan. In this regard, Senate Standing Committee on Finance on February 27 strongly supported a bill seeking regulation of NGOs, operating with foreign funding.
At this critical juncture, while Pak Army and ISI are countering the sinister designs of external secret agencies against Pakistan, without knowing the ground realities and services of these security agencies, just like the foreign enemies and their media, some political leaders, human rights activists and media anchors of the country have been distorting the image of Pak Army—particularly ISI. Sometimes, it is memogate issue and sometimes, it is the case of missing persons and sometimes, it is Mehran Bank Scandal which are being manipulated by these internal entities, taking the same to the Supreme Court. While the political wing of ISI was closed when Ahmed Shuja Pasha became its director-general, but internal entities spread disinformation that this wing still exists.
Let us know the reality behind missing persons. Since 2001, a majority of Pakistanis joined the Jehadi groups and most of them also left for Afghanistan for Jehad, without informing their families. In case of Balochistan, BLA and Jundollah have claimed responsibility for kidnapping and killing of many innocent people on various occasions.
Nevertheless, in this context, what the difference one can note about our political leaders, media commentators and so-called human rights groups who speak in tone of Pakistan’s external enemies in maligning Pak Army and ISI. It seems that some of our politicians and journalists are either on the payroll of US-led anti-Pakistan elements or they want to get good coverage in the western media by targeting especially Pakistan’s superior intelligence agency. No doubt, their such acts are benefiting the US and India which want to create a division between Pakistan’s security agencies on the one side and general masses led by political parties on the other so as to cause further anarchy in the country. In fact, the main purpose of US-led India and Israel is to divert the attention of Pakistani Army and ISI from their real role in defending the national interests of the country.
Particularly, Islamabad is redefining its relationship with Washington after the US-led NATO air attack on Pakistan Army border posts in Mohmand Agency. While, America has also requested Islamabad to play a key role in the peace talks with the Afghan militants, but US has re-started drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas, which have killed several people. These strikes have provocated the Pakistani Taliban who suspended the peace talks with the government, and again began terror-attacks inside the country.
Meanwhile, some other developments such as Pakistan’s new relationship with Russia, enhancing regional cooperation with Iran, assurance to support Tehran’s stand in case of Ameran or Israeli invasion, and rejection of US pressure to abandon the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project in wake of US Secretary of States Hillary Clinton’s recent threat of dire consequences—all show that US does not seek stability in Pakistan.
Now, terror-activities will create further political and economic instability in wake of other related-problems. Nonetheless, Pakistan has become a special target of multi-prone attacks arranged by CIA, RAW and Mossad which are implementing various tactics of psychological warfare coupled with US double game with Islamabad.
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

>> Multi-prone Attacks on Pakistan

 

 

Missing Persons: Reality vs Evidence

By Sajjad Shaukat

Thinkers, researchers and writers always pay attention to reality, while describing factual position of any development, event or incident. But on the other hand, learned advocates in most of the cases produce fake evidence in order to win the case, even then the reality of the event exists. While giving arguments in the court, no lawyer will agree with his rival, otherwise, he will lose the case.

In these terms, it is better to discuss the case of the missing persons, which is now-a-days, being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In this regard, recently, the apex court had ordered Raja Muhammad Irshad, the council for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) to produce the 11 missing persons. Intelligence agencies on February 13, 2012, produced seven men. In this respect, Raja Irshad had told the Supreme Court on January 30, last year that that four of the 11 persons of Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, who were picked up by intelligence personnel in 2010 for investigation into their role in the October 2009 attacks on the GHQ and ISI Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi, had died. According to press reports, four of them have expired in the custody of agencies, but Raja Irshad pointed out that they died in Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.

Media reports suggest that detainees were taken away from Adiala Jail by their own terrorist-masters, under the guise of intelligence persons, to FATA. After relentless efforts, they were again tracked and caught from FATA, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the secret agencies. These detainees were not convicted by Anti-Terrorist Court of Rawalpindi, but released due to lack of evidence, which was essential for the court, while the witnesses were afraid to appear before the court because of threats. Even the heirs of detainees used to threaten the judges of the court including superintendent and staff of the jail. However, it is a common practice that the key witness is always given death threat by perpetrators of terrorist attacks. But court requires evidence as its is not concerned with realtiy.

Quite opposite to the fabricated evidence,  reality is that these suspected militants were arrested on charges of terrorist assault on former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, attacks on GHQ, Kamra Base and Hamza Camps, while suicide jackets, weapons and hand grenades were also recovered from them.

Nevertheless, best treatment was provided to the four suspected terrorists in CMH and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, but they died natural deaths due to some serious diseases. Their dead bodies were handed over to their families by hospital authorities. And their bodies were dispatched with full respect. Notably, families of the militants were asked for autopsy, but the same was refused by them.

Nonetheless, at no stage, it was indicated that they died owing to torture or poisoning as accused in the writ petition and highlighted in the media campaign against PAK Army and ISI. Even death certificates of the deceased given by the doctors of the concerned hospitals clear prove that they were not tortured or poisoned during the detention period.

Taking cognisance of the linkages of these suspects with terrorist groups in FATA, they were interned under “Action in Aid of Civil Power Regulation 2011 for FATA. Pursuing the orders of Supreme Court, meetings of the suspects with the families were also arranged under the extremely dangerous security environment.

Since prevailing security environments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA impose restrictions on freedom of actions therefore, it took relatively longer time to establish that sufficient evidence is not available to try these suspects under Pakistan Army Act. Fabricated and concocted evidences were not created to initiate legal proceedings under Pakistan Army Act.

The question arises in the mind of every sensible person that as to how justice will be given to the heirs of over 50 innocent individuals who have been victims of terror-attacks at Raja Bazar, Hamza Camp, GHQ, and Kamra Base.

It is notable that in the aftermath of 9/11 tragedy, more than 35,000 innocent civilians and 5,000 personnel of the security forces including several police men were killed in varous subversive acts conducted by the insurgents such as attacks on markets, shopping plazas, school children buses, places of worship etc. Moreover, ISI sub-headquarters, located in Lahore, Multan and Peshawar were also targeted by the militants besides their personnel at various places. In this context, in the recent past, BBC, while quoting ISI DG, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha revealed, “Nobody expressed their condolences over the 78 officials of the ISI who have been killed.” While during the past few years, various forms of subversive acts like suicide attacks, hostage-takings, beheadings, target killings etc. have been continuing by the insurgents in various parts of Pakistan. Again question arises that as to how justice will be provided to the concerned families of all these brutally murdered persons. No doubt, reality of all these incidents exists, but court needs evidence.

It is due to the loopholes in the existing legal system, anti-terrorism law—lack of evidence, as a result of which terrorists are freed from the courts and then they again continue playing with the blood of the innocent people and the security forces and agencies.

Pakistan intelligence agencies, especially ISI have made relentless efforts and unearthed the terrorist networks. We should appreciate these agencies which foiled planned terror activities by capturing the terrorists, and  thus saved hundreds of other innocent lives.

While discussing reality and evidence, it is also mentionable that Pakistan’s media is still crying for the four dead detainees who were party to the hideous crime which costed thousands of innocent lives. In this context, negative approach of our media anchors can be judged from the fact that on June 15, 2011, hundreds of journalists and human rights activists from across the country had marched in Islamabad, while accusing ISI for the murder of Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad. Human rights activist Asma Jehangir who is pro-American had also filed a case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this connection, openly blaming this intelligence agency regarding Saleem’s assassination. Some American high officials had also expressed similar thoughts. But the report of a high-level judicial commission which was released on January 12, 2012 to probe the killing of Saleem Shahzad found no proof about ISI in this matter.

Regarding the cases of missing persons, the situation of Balochistan is of particular attention, where acts of sabotage like bomb blasts, target killings, destruction of gas pipelines, forced abductions, ethnic and sectarian violence have become every day occurrence. Everyone knows that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from American CIA and Indian RAW. These militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province. Besides, a number of missing persons went to Afghanistan and India as they were serving their external secret agents. Some of them were murdered by foreign secret agencies in order to implicate Pak Army and ISI. Notably, since 2001, a majority of Pakistanis also left for Afghanistan for Jehad purposes, without informing their families. But media and so-called NGOs including human rights organisations not only exaggerate the figures of the missing persons, but also accuse Pak Army and ISI for extra-judicial killings. These entities have failed to provide details about the missing persons, spreading sensationalism and conducting press conferences without obtaining real facts.

It worth-mentioning that on February 8, 2012, the hearing of the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Dana Rohrabacher discussed target killings and human rights violations in Balochistan. He has also co-authored an article a few days ago, favouring an independent Balochistan. It has exposed US support to the Baloch separatists.

In fact, the agents of CIA-led RAW and Mosssad are well-penetrated in media, various NGOs and human rights groups which are being used for vile propaganda against Pakistan’s security forces and secret agencies in relation to the human rights violations, particularly about the missing persons.

In light of our earlier discussion, our legal system and anti-terrorism law should be reformed so that Pakistan’s judges should grasp reality instead of depending upon fake evidence, produced by the lawyers. In this regard, appropriate training should also be given to the journalists and reporters so that they could cover an event—especially on the sensitive issue in accordance with reality. Similary, action should also be taken against the so-called NGOs and human rights groups which are following the foreign agenda in distoritng the image of Pakistan and its security agencies by ignoring the facts. Nonetheless as regards the missing persons, reality exists, but there is no evidence as the same is concealed or concocted.

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

>>Missing Persons: Reality vs Evidence

 

 

Dangerous Consequences of Attacking Iran

By Sajjad Shaukat

Very tension arose between Iran and the US-led EU which imposed tough sanctions against Tehran in January this year, which included a freeze of the country’s central bank assets and an oil embargo set to begin in July. These sanctions are part of Western efforts to curtail Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West says is aimed at developing atomic weapons. While Iranian leadership has repeatedly denied the charges, clarifying that its programme is for peaceful purposes, and in recent weeks has again vowed no nuclear retreat. However, in response, Iran has cutt off oil shipments to France and Britain. Meanwhile on February 22, 2012, UN nuclear watchdog’s latest mission to Iran, after talks on Tehran’s atomic weapons research failed—a setback likely to increase the risk of confrontation with the US-led West.

Tension between Washington and Tehran had already soared in December, 2011, after Iranian authorities recovered a CIA surveillance drone that had been launched from Afghanistan. Notably, on January 8, 2011, Iran launched a military exercises near its border with Afghanistan, days after naval exercises in the Gulf, and after testing its new missiles in wake of US-Israeli threatening diplomacy. Tehran also threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, shipping lane vital to global energy supplies.

On the other side, US has also threatened military action, if Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. In this regard, The American aircraft carrier on February 15, 2012 joined another US battle group already positioned in the region.

Despite US military pressure, on February 19, 2012,  in their warnings, both the US joint chiefs of staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, and British Foreign Minister William Hague revealed that an Israeli invasion on Iran would have grave consequences for the entire region and urged Israel to give international sanctions against Iran more time to work.

On February 21, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have shown displeasure to US national security adviser Tom Donilon over the statements of senior American officials, critical of any Israeli attack on Iran. Dempsey revealed that the US has so far not been able to persuade Israel not to attack Iran.

It is notable that in January, 2012, during the American visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, US President Barack Obama had warned his Chinese counterpart that the United States would not be able to keep Israel from attacking Iranian nuclear installations for much longer.

While Israel seems to be determined to invade Iran, if the latter continued its neclear programme. Nevertheless, such an invasion will result in dangerous consequences in the region as well as the whole world.

NBC broadcast recently indicated that Israel “would strike Iran’s nuclear facilities”, but it will not be a limited invasion as Tehran will retaliate by hitting Israel through its own missiles. So, very soon a broader war will start, which will also envelop the US. Iran will also target US bases in the Gulf as well as block the vital Gulf oil shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz. In this respect, on February 11, 2012, both President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Shirdel have warned, “If attacked by the Zionist regime (Israel), we will turn it to dust…thousands of our missiles will target Israel and the 40 bases of America in the region.”

Nevertheless, any prospective attack on Iran will cause drastic impact on the US war against terrorism, not only in Pakistan, but also in Afghanistan where US-led NATO forces are already facing defeatism. It is likely to undermine global efforts of stability both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In that scenario, it will not be possible for the US-led allies to complete the withdrawal of their troops from Afghanistan in 2014.

In an interview with CNN on February 12, Gen. Martin Dempsey already remarked that an Israeli attack could spark reprisals against US targets in the Gulf or Afghanistan.

It is mentionable that in the third trilateral summit at Islamabad, on February 17 this year, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has also pledged to support Iran, if the US launches a military attack against the Islamic Republic. The Pakistani president assured the Iranian leader that his country’s territory will not be used as a launch pad for such an assault.

It is noteworthy that Turkey, a NATO member has also changed its policy. Now, by supporting the cause of Palestinians, Ankara wants to increase trade with Iran—not to comply with sanctions against Tehran. Besides, Turkey is strengthening its ties with Pakistan. In these circumstances, military adventure against Iran will unite the Arab and non-Arab states, consequently, resulting in massive hostility towards Americans, giving a greater incentive to the extremist elements in Pakistan and the Middle East. Both Iran and Pakistan could stand together to frustrate the US strategic designs. Their alliance with Syria would radicalise a vast region from Pakistan to Somalia and Yemen to the Indian-occupied Kashmir, bringing about more terrorism against the Americans. So, American regional and worldwide interests are likely to be jeopardised in these countries including whole of the Middle East where the US has already failed in coping with the Islamic militants directly or indirectly. Such an invasion could result in violent protests in the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, toppling the pro-American regimes.

These negative developments will further reduce the US bargaining leverage on hostile small countries such as North Korea, Venezuela etc. While Islamabad has already rejected American pressure after the US-led air strikes which killed 24 soldiers in Pakistan in November last year. After the suspension of NATO supply to Afghanistan and the vacation of Shamsi Airbase, Islamabad decided to review its relationship with Washington. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s high officials, political and religious leaders have strongly condemned the US Congress resolution tabled by Dana Rohrabacher, calling upon Pakistan to “recognise the right of self-determination for Balochistan,” as a “conspiracy against Pakistan”, “provocative”, and “intervention in country’s internal matters.” On the other hand, US still needs Pakistan’s help for peace process with Afghan Taliban and for stability in Afghanistan.

In case of invasion on the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hezbollah, a close ally of Tehran, based in South Lebanon will also attack Israel. Besides, Islamic militants are likely to target American and Western installations all over the world. In this connection, recently, a US lawmaker Norman Bailey of the conservative American Foreign Policy Council accused that Iran, through its allies Hezbollah, had constructed “numerous military camps inside Venezuela as well as in South Lebanon with the express purpose of training young Venezuelans to attack American targets.”

Russia, on January 18, 2012 rejected the tough Western strategy of sanctions over Iran and Syria. In this context, on February 4, this year, Russia and China vetoed the UN Security Council resolution, calling the Syrian president to step down. Both Moscow and Beijing seeks multinational system in the world instead of unilateral one led by the sole superpower. So, in wake of US or Israeli attack on Iran, Russia and China which have so far asked the US-led EU to peacefully resolve the question of Iranian nuclear programme, will further strengthen their relationship, and a new cold war could be started between the US-led allies on one side and the Russia-China block on the other.

Another consequence of US-led Israeli conflict with Iran is that it will create political and economic instability in Asia, enveloping the developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, India etc., and Europe where general masses already held the America responsible for global financial crisis in wake of competing debt crisis. In this context, a greater rift will be created between the US and other western countries.

Besides, US cost of war against terrorism which is more than 7 trillion dollars, will further increase, deepening American debt and financial crises including other related-problems inside the country. For the US economy, higher gasoline prices would likely result in lower consumer spending. That could have devastating consequences for an incumbent president seeking re-election.

Economic experts opine that a war in the Gulf could send oil prices soaring beyond $200 a barrel, giving a greater blow to the financial markets, and “global economic growth would slow, and on the fear that any conflict could worsen and spread.” Nick Witney, former head of the EU’s European Defense Agency, said, “The political and economic consequences of an Israeli attack would be catastrophic for Europe” since the likely spike in the price of oil alone “could push the entire EU into recession.”

It is of particular attention that in March 2011, Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had remarked that NATO attack on Libya “is reminiscent of medieval Crusades.” So, most dangerous consequence of attacking Iran is that that it will divide the world in two worlds—Islamic World and Western Christian World, culminating in third world 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

>>Dangerous Consequences of Attacking Iran

 

Why Internal Elements Target ISI?

By Sajjad Shaukat 

At this critical juncture, while Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is countering the sinister designs of secret agencies like American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad which have continuously been supporting suicide attacks, target-killings, abductions, bomb blasts etc. in Pakistan, it is most regrettable that without knowing the ground realities and services of this agency, just like the foreign enemies and their media, some political leaders, human rights activists and media anchors of the country have been distorting the image of Pak Army—particularly ISI in one way or the other.

Apart from media propaganda against ISI, Pakistan’s internal elements have also started, filing writ petitions in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in order to malign this superior agency and to tarnish its image.  Sometimes, it is memogate issue and sometimes, it is the case of missing persons which are being manipulated by our political parties and so-called human rights organisations by taking the same to the Supreme Court.

Now-a-days, Supreme Court of Pakistan has been hearing a decade old petition, filed by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, pleading to the court to punish all those political leaders who received money from ISI in connection with the Mehran Bank Scandal. The Supreme Court has fixed 29 February 2012 as the next date of hearing, while the main respondents of the case, former Chief of Army Staff General Mirza Aslam Beg, former DG ISI Lt. General (retd) Asad Durrani and former Chief of Mehran Bank Younis Habib had already committed (statements made by Gen. Aslam Beg and affidavit by Gen. Asad Durrani) before the court that Rs.140 millions arranged through Mehran Bank (insolvent) were distributed among different politicians. Therefore, the case cannot be dismissed without court trial and verdict.

According to reliable sources, as regards Mehran Bank money scandal, the orders for distribution of money to political leaders and parties came from a civilian head of state through his Election Cell, headed by a senior bureaucrat Mr. Roedad Khan. Pak Army or ISI simply obeyed the orders of the Election Cell of the time; otherwise, defiance on any grounds would have led these security agencies to take unconstitutional course. So, Pak Army and ISI opted to obey the lawful command. On the other hand, the amount distributed has been denied by all the recipients, while few claims have been acquitted by the court for lack of evidence. Hence, manipulation by lawyers is likely to turn the table against Army and ISI, distorting their image.

It is notable that researchers and writers always pay attention to reality, while describing factual position of any development. But on the other hand, learned advocates in most of the cases produce fake evidence in order to win the case, even then the reality of the event exists. While giving arguments in the court, no lawyer will agree with his rival, otherwise, he will lose the case. In these terms, question arises as to why action is not being taken by the Supreme Court against those heads of the political parties, who received the money. As they have denied the receipt of amount, the case will continue on the fake evidence of their lawyers.

It is mentionable that those political leaders especially President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif and those of the Jamat-i-Islami who got the money are not only refusing any such receipt, but are also criticising Pak Army and ISI in order to increase their vote bank in the coming elections as foreign enemies of Pakistan have created a phenomena in our country through a perennial propaganda campaign against these security institutions. Same is also true in case of some journalists who have always implicated our Army and ISI.

In this context, what the difference one can note between our political leaders and media commentators including so-called human rights groups who speak in tone of Pakistan’s external enemies in maligning Pak Army and ISI. It seems that some of our politicians and journalists are either on the payroll of US-led anti-Pakistan entities or they want to get good coverage in the western media by targeting especially Pakistan’s superior intelligence agency. No doubt, their such acts are benefiting the US and India which want to create a division between Pakistan’s security agencies on the one side and general masses led by political parties on the other so as to cause further anarchy in the country.

While the political wing of ISI had been closed when Ahmed Shuja Pasha was appointed its director-general, but it could again be the subject of discussion as the court again may give a judgment to close such a wing. Supreme Court may also order ISI to trace back the record and put up evidence that political leaders nominated in the case had received the money. ISI may also be directed by the Court to recover the amount and deposit it in the State Bank of Pakistan. But it will be a good sign for Pakistan’s external elements, creating wrong impression for the ISI about its role in the intervention in the elections.

In this respect, bank records of the recipients may be traced back and exploratory investigation should be initiated to collect evidence that money was actually distributed amongst the recipients. Former COAS and former DG ISI should be provided full support to prove their case in the court. Defence ministry’s lawyers and ISI must work out all possible dimensions of the case for counter arguments. But here question again arises that the case will be weakened when the rival advocates of the related-political leaders will deny the receipt of the money. As already stated, reality of the scandal may exists, but court always pay attention to evidence which is always fake as the rival lawyers try to save their clients. So ISI must be alert in this context.

However, negative approach of our political parties, media anchors and human rights organisations can be judged from the fact that on June 15, 2011, hundreds of journalists and human rights activists from across the country had marched in Islamabad, while accusing ISI for the murder of Journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad. Some political leaders also joined their camps in Islamabad. Human rights activist Asma Jehangir who is pro-American had also filed a case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in this connection, openly blaming this intelligence agency regarding Saleem’s assassination. Some American high officials had also expressed similar thoughts. But the report of a high-level judicial commission which was released on January 12, 2012 to probe the killing of Saleem Shahzad found no proof about ISI in this matter.

There is another example of the case about the missing persons, which is now-a-days, being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In this regard, recently, the court had ordered Raja Muhammad Irshad, the council for ISI and Military Intelligence (MI) to produce the 11 missing persons. Intelligence agencies on February 13, 2012, produced seven men. In this respect, Raja Irshad had told the Supreme Court on January 30 that four of the 11 persons of Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, who were picked up by intelligence personnel in 2010 for investigation into their role in the October 2009 attacks on the GHQ and ISI Hamza Camp in Rawalpindi, had died. According to press reports, four of them have expired in the custody of agencies, but Raja Irshad pointed out that they died in Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Nevertheless, best treatment was provided to the four suspected terrorists in CMH and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, but they died natural deaths due to some serious diseases. Notably, families of the militants were asked for autopsy, but the same was refused by them. Nonetheless, at no stage, it was indicated that they died owing to torture or poisoning as accused in the writ petition and highlighted in the media campaign. Even death certificates of the doctors clearly proved that they were not tortured or poisoned during the detention period.

Regarding the cases of missing persons, the situation of Balochistan is of particular attention, where target killings, forced abductions, ethnic and sectarian violence have become every day occurrence. Everyone knows that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from CIA and RAW. These militant groups kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province. Besides, since 2001, a majority of Pakistanis also left for Afghanistan for Jehad purposes, without informing their families. But media and so-called NGOs not only exaggerate the figures of the missing persons, but also accuse Pak Army and ISI for extra-judicial killings. These entities have failed to provide details about the missing persons, spreading sensationalism and conducting press conferences without obtaining real facts.

Nonetheless, being the first pillar of the country in defending the national security of the country, ISI has become special target of foreign enemies which are tarnishing its image, while some of Pakistan’s internal elements have been speaking in the tone of foreign conspirators in misguiding the general masses through ‘stereotypes’ so as to exploit the present drastic phenomena for their selfish interests by setting aside the sacrifices of ISI including Pak Army during war on terror.

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

>>Why Internal Elements Target ISI?

 

Resurgence of Terrorists in Karachi

By Sajjad Shaukat 

New wave of subversive events such as target killings, setting the vehicles on fire, kidnappings etc. in Karachi have once again enveloped the city. Several innocent people, workers of different political parties including three Shia lawyers, two activists of the Sunni Tehreek (ST) and a doctor, two students killed in separate assaults. Besides Baluch MPA Nawabzada Bakhtiar Khan Domki’s wife and daughter were also murdered. In the past 40 days, more than 30 persons have been targeted brutally. In this regard, a shutter-down strike was observed in Balochistan for two days.  However, the new year of 2012 shows the resurgence terrorists in Karachi.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the National Assembly on February 2 this year that the deteriorating situation in Karachi was the result of a well-planned conspiracy. He revealed that links between the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Sipah-e-Sahaba had been uncovered in carrying out joint terrorist activities.

Last year, when violence continued unabated in the provincial capital of Karachi, raising the death toll over more than 1000 due to target killings, intense exchange of fire between two ethnic groups, setting the houses, shops, vehicles on fire, hostage-takings etc., the city was handed over to the Rangers and Police whose personnel conducted search operations in various phases, and seized weapons, suicide jackets, explosives and hand grenades from terrorists’ custody. In the past too, a number of militants along with huge cache of arms and ammunition, made of US, India and Israel had been caught.

In this regard, on July 18, 2011, Rehman Malik, while disclosing the involvement of foreign hands in Karachi, had openly stated that the miscreants were using Israeli-made weapons for fomenting unrest in the city. He added, “Over 200 persons have been arrested…Israeli-made weapons including AK-45 rifles have been recovered from them.”

Notably, hinting towards US, India and Israel, on May 1, 2009, Prime Minister Gilani had revealed that he sees “foreign hand” behind Karachi violence. Police investigations have also pointed out that the culprits, who disturbed law and order situation in Karachi were not permanent residents of the city.

However, we cannot see the terror-events in Karachi in isolation. In this respect, American CIA, Indian secret agency RAW and Israeli Mossad which have been supporting separatism in Balochistan including acts of sabotage in the province and other regions of Pakistan  have rapidly established their collective network in Pakistan. They are in collusion to ‘destabilise’ Pakistan for their common strategic interests—and to ‘denulearise’ the country after weakening it.

These foreign agencies have recruited Pakistani nationals who are vulnerable and can work on their payroll, giving them high financial incentives to work for them. They have recruited smugglers, criminals, employees of the security companies, experts of the psychological warfare, scholars and journalists in order to fulfill anti-Pakistan designs of America, India and Israel. Political and defence analysts agree that terrorists who commit subversive activities in Karachi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA are receiving training in terrorist camps located in India and Afghanistan.

As regards, Karachi, owing to political instability, poverty and unemployment—the jobless youth fall into the hands of criminals who are assisted by the external elements who use them for conducting targeted killings and other violent acts. These internal culprits, some Indian Muslims and foreign insurgents who are backed by the RAW have joined the ranks and files of the militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), Sipah-e-Sahaba and other religious sects. They have also got the membership of Muhttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Besides, killing the leaders and persons of the rival religious parties, and attaking the offices of the opponent political parties, these are real miscreants who target the Pushtuns, Urdu-speaking people and even the people, belonging to the interior Sindh. CIA, Mossad and RAW manipulate the ethnic division of Karachi through these paid-agents, while especially leaders of ANP and MQM accuse each other for murdering the people of their-related ethnic or linguistic community.

It is also fault of our political leaders that they raise one after other issue, unintentional benefiting the anti-Pakistan elements to manupulate the same. In this connection, recently question of new provinces in the country started a controversial debate among the rival political parties. On January 29, this year, on the call of the Sindhi nationalists, a province-wide strike was observed in protest against the 20th Amendment bill tabled by the MQM in the National Assembly regarding new province. The Sindhi nationalists opposed it, saying that once this door is opened, more and more provinces will be carved out on an ethnic basis, particularly in Sindh.

While, the ethnic tensions in Karachi between the Pashtun and Urdu-speaking people have also created rift between ANP and the MQM, but the issue of new provinces could peacefully be resolved in accordance with the constitution instead of giving the external elements to exploit the differences.

Nonetheless, in the past few years, aside from gang warfare and criminal activities and violent rioting and target killings have seen a steady increase with some high profile deaths. Each murder sees a retaliatory attack or similar killing. A rise in Sunni-Shia violence has also resulted into several casualties.

A recent report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan disclosed that 1,138 people have been killed in Karachi in the first half of 2011, with 490 victims of political, ethnic and sectarian violence.

Especially, Pushtuns led by ANP and Urdu-speaking people by the MQM have been fighting against each others intermittently, while on July 26, 2011, six people including activists of Sindh Peoples’ Youth Organisation (SPYO) and those of the MQM were also killed. Last year, accusations and counter-accusations between the leaders of the MQM and those of the ANP were traded in particular and MQM and PPP in general. Some MQM leaders had held the rulers of the PPP in Sindh and at center for inciting ethnic riots in Karachi. As a matter of fact, CIA, Mossad and RAW had succeded in creating and exploiting the ethnic and linguistic division in Karachi. The situation had so deteriorated that leaders of the ANP and MQM Chief had requested to Pak Army and Rangers to intervention in order to save the lives of people.

It is of particular attention that Karachi is Pakistan’s financial hub and the largest commercial markets, collecting 70 per cent of the country’s tax revenue, and it is home to the state bank and the largest port. So, besides causing unrest in the city and to thus to create instability in Pakistan, another aim of the foreign hands is to cripple the economy of the city as Karachi is intermittently brought to a halt with shut-down strikes—many shopkeepers remain reluctant to open their shops due to violence which is fuelling the flames. Besides, foreign agents misguide the disgruntled elements that national institutions are not made to develop other areas of Pakistan and policies formulated at Islamabad are not congenial to other provinces except Punjab.

It is mentionable that more than one million illegal small and heavy weapons contribute to violence in Karachi. In this context, first of all, unlike the previous action, a well-coordinated search operation should be conducted with an aim to cut off the supply chain of illegal weapons in the city and root out culprits from the most affected areas. But a programme of de-weaponisation and detection of foreign-baked terrorists is essential to curb violence in Karachi. In this regard, the ruling party should be fully determined to take stern action against the miscreats and outlaws without any discrimination.

Deteriorated situation of Karachi also demands that our political parties need to behave with far greater responsibility. In this respect, our national, provincial and regional leaders including media must stop exploiting various problems and disparities at the cost of the country which is already facing multiple crises of grave nature. And security forces are coping with sporadic battles with the militants in some tribal areas, especially Kurram Agency, while our external enemies also want to engage Pak Army in Karachi.

Consequently, the latest wave of violence in Karachi needs immediate attention, and cooperation among the rulers, opposition parties, security agencies and general masses as resurgence of terrorists in the city proves.

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 

 >>Resurgence of Terrorists in Karachi

Indian Attempt to Entrap Saudi Arabia

By Sajjad Shaukat

Pakistan’s media is so engaged in indicating various issues,  threatening
the security of the country that very important news about the Indian Defence Minister AK Antony’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia went unnoticed.

It is of particular attention that it was the first visit of any Indian defence minister to Saudi Arabia. However, on February 13, Indian Defence Minister AK Antony’s team which besides others included Indian Army vice Chief Lt. Gen. S.K. Singh and Indian Navy deputy chief Vice Admiral Satish Soni, paid a two-day visit to Riyadh.

In wake of rapidly changing geo-political developments in the region like Indo-US hidden agenda in Afghanistan against Pakistan, China and Iran, US decision to maintain six military bases in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops in 2014, Islamabad’s decision to redefine its relationship with US and its tilt towards Russia, new wave of drone strikes on Pakistan, unrest in the Middle East, possibility of Israeli attack on Iran and US war-mongering strategy against Tehran in the Persian Gulf, the secret aim of New Delhi is to entrap Saudi Arabia by binding the latter with Indian strategic partnership.

Nevertheless, during the Saudi visit, Antony held crucial discussions with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Salman-bin-Abdul Aziz. In this regard, on February 15, after the delegation’s return, Indian defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said, “To give a boost to the defence ties between the two countries, India and Saudi Arabia have decided to set up a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation to work out the contours of the relationship.” KAR elaborated that the Committee would also evolve plans for cooperation in numerous areas, high level reciprocal visits at all levels—and the three armed forces, conducting passage exercises. India suggested that the navies of the two countries could explore practical cooperation in the Indian Ocean. The Committee will also seek cooperation in hydrography, increased participation of both sides in training programmes. The visit of a delegation from Saudi Arabia to see Indian defence production facilities in the near future was agreed to by Prince Salman.

There is no doubt that being a major and more developed country in all the-related fields, India will get more benefits as compared to Saudi Arabia, and intends to use Riyadh as an instrument of manipulation so as to fulfill multiple strategic designs in the region.

It is notable that India whose Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had signed wide-ranging agreements with Saudi Arabia on February 28, 2010, known as Riyadh declaration, emphasing strategic partnership between the two states, has already decided to entrap Saudi Arabia by playing double game with the latter. New Delhi also wants to meet India’s growing requirement of crude oil supplies.

According to the Riyadh Declaration, “The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in exchange of information relating to terrorist activities, and develop joint strategies to combat these threats.” Under the pretext of terrorism, Indian prime minister availed the opportunity to implicate Pakistan by following his usual rhetoric. The main aim behind was to incite Saudi Arabia against Pakistan. In this respect, Manmohan Singh stated, “I explained to him (King Abdullah) the role of terrorism…aided, abetted and inspired by Pakistan…is playing in our country.” He added that he asked the Saudi monarch to “use his good offices to persuade Islamabad to desist from this path.”

Meanwhile, Indian high officials disclosed that the issue of terrorism remains high in terms of priority in this strategic partnership. While Indian media anchors have propagated that Saudi Arabia is being targeted by the Al Qaeda, while India too is in a deep state of concern due to Pakistan in this regard.

On the one hand, India has begun a new era of strategic friendship with Riyadh, while on the other, Indian writers and intellectuals leave no stone unturned in accusing Saudi Arabia in supporting Al Qaeda-related Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In fact, Saudi Arabia has abrogated all ties with the Taliban or Al Qaeda related militants, but on the clandestine direction of the Indian secret agency RAW, Indian writers have been acting upon a blame game against Saudi Arabia. They still accuse Riyadh of backing and giving sanctuary to the Al Qaeda terrorists.

As regards RAW-paid writers, the case of B. Raman is of special consideration as he always maligns Saudi Arabia in connection with the activities of Al Qaeda. In this context, in one of his articles ‘Jihadi Terrorism: The Saudi Connection’, B. Raman has indicated that the Islamic militants like Basheer and commander Abu Abdel Aziz including their followers have links with each other from Bosnia to Afghanistan and from Jummu and Kashmir to Sudan. Raman alleges, “In Saudi Arabia, the militant Basheer has floated a new organisation called the Muslim Development Force, apparently inspired and controlled by Jihadi elements in Saudi Arabia.”

B. Raman also blames by showing links among various Jehadi organizations funded by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia officially. He elaborates, “Pakistani Jihadis and Abu Abdel Aziz of Saudi Arabia were linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba(LET) which is assisting the Jihadis in Jammu and Kashmir.

In one of his articles B. Raman openly accuses: “Like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has been following a dual policy on terrorism…while the Saudis have taken “ruthless action” against al-Qaida elements within Saudi Arabia, it has avoided taking action against Wahhabi organisations which have been supporting terrorism in other countries.” He writes, “Many of the charity organizations in India, Bangladesh and the United States that fund terrorist organisations are of Saudi origin. But to date, the Saudis have paid only lip service to complaints of such sponsorship and requests to halt funding of Sunni Wahhabi groups. Wahhabi Islam, which originated in Saudi Arabia, is the primary religious movement behind extremist Islam including al-Qaida and the Sunni Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

Another RAW-paid Indian writer Hari Sud also implicates Saudi Arabia in his article, ‘End Muslim Terrorism by Ending Wahabism Influence in Saudi Arabia.’ He writes, “Osama bin Laden, Taliban Chief Mullah Mohammed Omar and Chief Suspect of Daniel Pearl’s murder, Omar Saeed are all followers of Mohammed Abdul Al Wahab, the eighteenth century fundamentalist Mullah (cleric) in present day Saudi Arabia.”

According to him, “All Saudi princes including the King are Wahabis. Western education to has not changed their outlook. While alleging Suadi Arabia as the originator of Wabism and its supporter in Pakistan, Indonesia and Afghanistan, Hari Sud writes, “All teachers of the Madarassas, Mullahs of the Mosques under pretext of Hajj pilgrimage underwent Wahabi training in religious schools in Saudi Arabia…in India, Chechnya and Philippines…Muslim terror threat is ever present for worthless causes…majority of the 9/11 terrorists hailed from Saudi Arabia.”

He maintains, “There is a little US can do directly to the policy making in Saudi Arabia. Indirectly they may be able to influence a few key princes in power to limit the amount of money, which Wahabis get under the pretext of upkeep of holy places.”

Especially in India, Riyadh is viewed as a nation with close ties with Islamabad, while people in Saudi Arabia see India as a country which considers the Gulf region as little more than a source of oil and remittance from the Indians. And ill-treatment of Muslims in India creates a negative image in a country seen as the cradle of Islam.

Besides achieving other covert aims, with the backing of US, India wants to make defence ties with Saudi Arabia in order to entrap it, and to use it against Pakistan and Iran. At this critical situation, while war-like situation exists between Tehran and America, New Delhi wants to create further rift between the two rivals. Notably, Saudi Arabia is against the nuclear programme of Tehran. In this regard, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad with the help of Indo-Israeli lobbies which are well penetrated in the US administration have continuously been exploiting differences between Riyadh and Tehran. They are also manipulating sectarian divergences on the basis of Shia-led Iran and Sunni-Wabism, led by Saudi Arabia.

So, in order to entrap Saudi Arabia, India is playing a double game with Riyadh as it openly seeks new strategic partnership with the latter, while covertly, with help of American CIA and Mossad, it has been backing RAW and its writers to propagate against the cordial relationship of Saudi Arabia with Pakistan, and to manipulate Saudi-Iranian differences. The major purpose also remains to bring Riyadh to the Indo-US secret game against China.

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

 

>> Indian Attempt to Entrap Saudi Arabia