Pakistan has launched a global campaign to garner support for the Taliban government in Afghanistan, its senior officials including the Foreign Minister and PM are making all out efforts to ensure that Taiban Govt gets the world’s recognition.
The gist of Pakistan’s message is that failure to engage with the Taliban will lead to humanitarian disaster and also security consequences. In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last weekend, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “There is only one way to go. We must strengthen and stabilize the current government, for the sake of the people of Afghanistan.”
So, at one hand they are resorting to Emotional selling of Taliban to the Western world and on the other hand issuing a threat as well. This has been Pakistan's old trick.
It is quite likely that West particularly USA may soon under some pretext, start the aid to Taliban Govt, like it has been dealing with Pakistan for last so many years. Pakistan , having been a Blue eyed boy of the Western world, knows; which side of the Bread is to be buttered.
Instead of focusing on what US does or does not do, we all must do our job and that is to tell the world, the naked truth about Pakistan and its Jehadi factory because ;
One, it’s a question of our saftety and security.
Secondly, its quite likely that many in the Western world may not be aware of the truth as foreign policy issues are never an Election agenda.
lastly, Many in west believe that Indians have a long history of rivalry with Pakistan and so they cannot take India’s accusations on face value.
Therefore, instead of pointing fingers towards Pakistan we need to raise questions and allow people to find their answers and come to the conclusion themselves .
- How many individuals have been listed on UN list of terrorists and How many of them are from Pakistan?
- Do you know Pakistan has Third most number of citizens in the UNSC’s proscribed list, it has mind boggling xxxxx individuals declared by UNO as terrorists.
- Where was Osama Bin Laden residing before being killed by US Commandos and For how long, he had been living in that house?.
- Can some one reside so close to the premier Defence academy of Pakistan in almost a fort like house surrounded by huge walls and wire obstacles(Concertina Coil) etc without the knowledge of Pakistan army establishment for such a long period that too so close to its premises?.
- Do you believe this story that No one including the local Police authorities ever went to enquire as to who was living in such a Fort like House?
- What is Haqqani network ? & Where are they operating from ?
- Which is that Madrasa in Pakistan where Mullah Omar, the one eyed Taliban Chief, Masood Azhar, leader of Jaish e Mohammad have received education from ?
- Do you know, this Madrasa is still operational and has a reputation of producing many Commanders working for various Terror groups?
- Do you know that there are numerous such madrasas operating in Pakistan?
- Do you know that despite being declared terrorists by UNO , they are freely roaming around in Pakistan. For instance ; Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar etc are often seen giving press interviews.
- Do you know that the Generals of Pakistan army and its intelligence branch, the ISI, calls these terrorists as their assets?
- Have your Generals and senior officers spoken about Pakistan being a safe haven for terrorists? Pakistan is home to at least 12 recognised terror groups including Al Quaeda, ISIS, Taliban . For instance Do you know that ;
- A. Former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff of US, Mike Mullen described the Haqqani Network operating from Pakistan as the 'veritable arm of Pakistan's ISI'.
- B. The erstwhile US National Security Advisor James L Joneshad sent a message in the past to Pakistan saying that double standards on terrorism were not acceptable. James in his interview in 2010 said ; “ We have expressed our strong concerns over the existence within the borders of Pakistan of terrorist organisations that have goals to de-stabilize and to attack our way of life, your way of life to prevent our strategically stability in Afghanistan and this is in violent conflict with how we see the world collectively and bilaterally in the 21st century. Pakistan must recognise that it is contrary to their own interest for the future and stability of the region to continue to tolerate the existence of insurgents within their border so it's the first means of correcting that and it's the first means of showing that the Pakistan wants the same things we want and has the values we want. They have to make tough decisions to go after these terrorist organisations and state concretely and publicly that this matter of policy this cannot be tolerated.”
- Why did the US Govt not inform the Pakistan Govt about the attack it carried out to eliminate Osama Bin Laden, when Pakistan was its ally in fighting terrorism?
- In view of the above and in the light of what has happened recently in Afghanistan Is it not pertinent to ask ; why your Govts did not act against Pakistan ?
- Is it justifiable for any nation to use terror groups to resolve foreign policy objectives? For instance ; If India and Pakistan have an old rivalry , should Pakistan be nurturing, training , financing and using terrorists wherever Indians have an interest?
Hopefully, the readers will seek answers of these questions and ask their respective Govts to take necessary action against Pakistan. This Humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan is Paksitan's doing and it must not be allowed to go laughing all the way to Bank.
Author. Col N Bhatnagar is an alumnus of NDA, Prestigious Def Services Staff College and XLRI. He served in Indian army as an Infantry Officer in all parts of the country and also in Srilanka and has also worked with Reputed Companies - Power, Hospitality and Health Care sector . He has also worked as a National Assesssor of CII for its CII-EXIM Bank Award and HR Excellence award. He has also authored Three Books.
Disclaimer. The views expressed are of Author.