J.L.Koul Jalali
USA is looking into role Pakistan played in Afghanistan after its war against Taliban and terrorism following terrorist attacks on World Trade Centre and Pentagon on eleventh September,2001. This was revealed by US Secretary of State Tony Blinken to angry US lawmakers who were protesting against Pakistan`s “duplicitous” role in Afghanistan. They also wanted Blinken administration to re-assess Pakistan`s role as major non-Nato ally of US. Congressman Bill Keating,Chair, House Foreign Affairs Sub-committee said that Pakistan created and named the Taliban and helped it to regroup in 2010 in Pakistan adding that ISI has strong ties with Haqqani network responsible for death of US soldiers. He bemoaned that Pakistan Prime Minister celebrated Taliban take over of Kabul describing it as “breaking shackles of slavery”. Among other lawmakers Democrat Congressman Jiaoquin Castro from Texas and Chair of the Sub-committee on International Development forcefully pleaded for reassessment of US relationship with Pakistan.
Pakistan started to follow duplicitous policy towards USA soon after it came into existence in August 1947.In 1952 when West was engaged in its efforts to contain communism, Pakistan opted for American block and arms purportedly to fight expansion of communism but actually to strengthen its muscle against India.This was clear some years later when the then military ruler of Pakistan late General Ayub Khan stated that the arms received by Pakistan from USA are not meant to be kept wrapped in wool implying that those can be used against India. America had directed Pakistan to use these arms,if need be, only for stopping expansion of communism. Subsequently these weapons were actually used against India during 1965 and 1971 wars.
Despite formal breakup of erstwhile Soviet Union in 1993,USA continued with its special relationship with Pakistan. Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in 1979 had added to strategic importance of Pakistan. Pakistan dexterously exploited it to continue its special relationship with USA despite clear signs of duplicity. USA turned Pakistan into a ground for Mujahidin fighting against Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and conduit for arms and funds from USA to equip them with weaponry. It diverted a part of these arms and equipment to perpetrate terrorism in Kashmir and to train,equip and indoctrinate the Pashtun students from Afghan refugees in Pakistan who had fled from their country following erstwhile Soviet occupation in 1979. They were indoctrinated under the radicalization programme started under the then Pakistan President General Zia-ul Haq mainly to address the ethnic divide because of which Pakistan had failed to have its full sway in Afghanistan.Apart from fomenting terrorism in Kashmir Pakistan`s main aim was to create Taliban Islamic Movement to acquire leverage in Afghanistan after withdrawal of Soviet forces from there and establish a commanding position especially vis-a-vis India. But despite clear indications, USA appeared to connive at the ulterior motives of Pakistan to foster its own geo-political and other interests in the area.
Soviet forces were forced to withdraw from Afghanistan in 1989 and USA too faded out from the scene after ensuring that Pakistan too had established its influence on Mujahideen.After withdrawal of Soviet forces, civil war ensued in Afghanistan. Interspersed by Pakistan army, Pakistan introduced the Taliban Militia of Taliban Islamic movement in this civil war in November,1994. After wrecking havoc on hapless people of Afghanistan, the Militia occupied the seat of power in September,1996. In the process with Saudi fugitive Osama bin Laden already present in the area and declaring Jihad against West,Afghanistan turned into bastion of terrorism. Pakistan with its calculated use of terrorism as tool of its state policy had already become epicentre of terrorism. India continued to caution the world about dangers to world peace emanating from the region.In an article on 2.10.1999 titled “International Drive To Fight Terrorism”, the writer criticised narrow American approach towards Pak-Taliban nexus.But USA did not turn the corner. Obviously ground had been laid for 11th September, 2001 terrorist attacks on America.
Subsequently following terrorist attacks on World Trade Centre and Pentagon on eleventh September,2001 USA waged war against Taliban and to root out terrorism and to punish al Qaeda. But public opinion in Pakistan was against this war effort. When criticised for aligning with West in the war, the then Pakistan President General Parvez Musharaf reportedly stated that had he not done so America might have taken action against Pakistan too. Pakistan was aware that its dupicity had started to be noticed. Taliban was soon after removed from power. But years later Pakistan resumed its help to Taliban and helped it to regroup. Pakistan was turned into safe haven for terrorist attacks on Afghanistan in which Haqani terrorist network wrought havoc in already war shattered Afghanistan. Pakistan`s duplicitous attitude prompted the then US President Donald Trump to say in 2019: “USA has foolishly given Pakistan more than thirty billion dollars in aid over the last fifteen years and they have given us nothing but lies and deceit thinking of our leaders as fools. They gave safe havens to terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan with little help.”
Obviously now inevitable has happened.Despite a positive sign or two, resurgence of Taliban poses threat to peace not only in the region but the whole world. Radicalisation has been the main factor behind rise of Taliban. Apart from diplomatic and other means,the challenge can be met by promotion of liberal Islam through encouragement to Sufism. Though Sufis are a small minority but Sufism has an eternal appeal and with passage of time and through proper encouragement it can turn into a potential challenge to radicalism and extremism. As stated in my article on “Islamic Radicalism and Sufi Islam” published on 8.10.2016,like India Russia too was hit hard by Jihadi terrorism in Chechenya. But after dealing with the situation strongly and successfully,it encouraged liberal and Sufi Islam to root out remnant Jihadi terrorism. Consequently violence and terrorism were wiped out from there.
Terrorism has brought the world to cross roads both civilisationally and culturally. For evolution of human civilisation ultimately,it is essential that leaders introspect and find out ways to eradicate radicalism and extremism. They also need to foster the attitude to look at issues not only in the perspective of geo-political interests alone but also through the prism of evolution of human civilisation and survival of mankind. Structural reform of the world body UN and then establishment of a democratic world Parliament could also aid the process and also tackle so many other issues facing mankind.
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