Agenda driven militant organisations
TERRORISM and militancy are anti-thesis to Islam. This Holy religion is all about peace, respect and love for human beings. The term militancy and terrorism are synonymous hence used interchangeably. Prejudicially, ever since the unfortunate incident of Twin Tower attacks in 2001, commonly known as 9/11, the terrorism has been linked with Islam and Muslims. This is totally misconstrued, biased, discriminatory, illogical and well-planned connexion, established by the forces which have their vested interests to oppose and operate against Islam and Muslims. In Pakistan, the main militant outfit is Tehrik-i- Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
This terrorist outfit has damaged the image of Pakistan and Islam and Muslims ever since it formally started its terrorism in various parts of Pakistan in 2007. It was banned and declared outlawed terrorist organisation by the Government of Pakistan. Its roots are traced from Afghan war (US invasion) having elements from the former Mujahedeen who fought against Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the decade of 1980s. In 2007, it was founded as an umbrella organization of all terrorist organizations which were operating in Pakistan prior to Red Mosques incident. Since 2007, this militant organization has killed thousands of men and officers of security forces and general public all over Pakistan especially all Pak-Afghan borders. There are four prominent features of this terrorist organization: a) it uses Islam as its philosophy and ideology to attract and conceal its evil designs and the hidden motives, b) it is brutal and inhuman in its actions and behaviour which goes against the actual ideology of Islam, c) it is heavily funded from across the frontiers with strong control of regional and international spying networks and d) it is totally against the state, society and constitution of Pakistan besides the armed forces of the country. The terrorists of this banned organization undertake their terrorist acts while using highly sophisticated weaponry and war munitions which include modern surveillance system and night vision goggles.
Currently they operate from Afghan soil, since their bases in Pakistan were destroyed through a series of military operations from 2009 to 2017. There is presence of slipper cells of TTP along with other splinter terrorist organizations in Pakistan which help their terrorists while cross the Pak-Afghan border. Unfortunately, TTP has an intimate support of Interim Afghan Government of Afghan Taliban who allows using Afghan soil as well as facilitate them during border crossings. This support of IAG is in addition to the financial and weapons support of regional and international spying networks of anti-Pakistan forces, which means; there exists a strong nexus between IAG and these spying networks. Besides TTP and its splinter groups, a number of terrorist organizations are operating in various parts of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Indeed, Balochistan terrorism landscape is diverse; a number of Baloch anti-state groups, sponsored by hostile intelligence agencies (HIAs), are involved in terrorist activities. TTP has inconsequential presence in Northern Balochistan whereas Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has been carrying out attacks and extortion in Quetta and surrounding areas while BRA GIS has remained very active in Southern Balochistan and conduct terrorist acts against security forces. After formation of BNA, Kech and Noushki have been seriously affected. Scattered pockets and sleeper cells of ISKP have been effective in Quetta and North East Balochistan but with very limited potency. BNA was one of the major contributing organization in BRAS which was formed in 2018.
On April 7, 2023, Pakistani intelligence network arrested Gulzar Imam, code named Shambay (GIS), a high profile terrorist. GIS is the founder and leader of the banned Baloch Nationalist Army. GIS, head of BNA was one of the main operational commands for its activities in the province. He worked as a contractor and correspondent of a local newspaper before joining terrorist group in 2009. He remained deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in BRA till 2018. Later, after creation of Baloch Raj Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), formed a new militant outfit named Baloch National Army (BNA). He was an ideologue, who remained a leading character in steering militant activities in Balochistan, particularly in South Balochistan.He was staunch believer of independent Balochistan and was in contact with HIAs. He visited India on fake documents in December 2017. Upon shifting of militancy leadership from feuds to commoners, GIS emerged as an influential character in BRAS due to links with HIAs. GIS also remained operational head of BRAS prior to his arrest. These Balochistan based anti-state organizations are now operating along with TTP and other so-called religious organizations. Neither TTP nor the Balochistan based militant organizations are serving the cause of masses, but are driving the agenda of their international handlers. Recently, there emerged nexus between all these Pakistani terrorist organizations, the foreign spying networks especially RAW and IAG.
This nexus further leads towards commonality of objectives of anti-Pakistan forces. The objectives of all these can be precisely interpreted and deciphered as; a) threatening Pakistan from the perspective of security through terrorism and militancy all over Pakistan, b) destabilizing Pakistan through political and social chaos and c) creating economic crises in Pakistan through various international and local organizations and cartels.The final aim of this entire process is to declare Pakistan as a failed state at a subsequent stage. Upon reaching at such a stage, the international forces and power centers will compel Pakistan to denuclearize and reduce the number of armed forces, which will be amounting to surrendering the state’s sovereignty and independence. While this all is being done, the political forces and judiciary are heading for a direct conflict which no one is ready to mitigate. The need of the hour is; all stakeholders in Pakistan must read between the lines and get over the emerging crises sooner than later.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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