SIKANDAR NOORANI
FIXING the responsibility of unrest and disorder in South Asian region is not an easy job! It becomes more complicated in peculiar context of Kashmir and Afghanistan! No oversimplification will ever work in figuring out the role of Pakistan, being a genuine stakeholder, in these regional crises. British journalist Owen Bennett Jonnes has developed a misleading analysis by oversimplifying this highly complex matter in one of his recent pieces titled ‘Regional Politics’. Crisis in Kashmir and unrest in Afghanistan, both, are decades long regional issues entirely attributable to the foul-play of India and global players respectively. It will be unfair to exclusively view the stakes of Pakistan with proxy lens without laying focus on actual roots. Kashmir, undoubtedly the nuclear flashpoint of South Asia, was discussed twice in UN Security Council during past six months amid objectionable revocation of Article- 370 by New Delhi.
Since 1948, Kashmiris awaiting action from UN on their justified demand for plebiscite. Before blaming Pakistan, why not to establish that who converted this region into a nuclear flash point? Undoubtedly, New Delhi initiated nuclear race in the South Asian region. With seven times greater numerical superiority on Pakistan, India is always dreaming to annihilate Pakistan through a deadly combination of proxies, conventional and non-conventional military adventures. An undeniable display of aggressive Indian mindset surfaced last year in the post Pulwama surgical strike at Balakot. Kashmiris have picked arms, as a desperate retaliatory measure, in response to inhuman state sponsored atrocities. Owen seems extremely unfair in his judgement when grades indigenous Kashmiri freedom movement a Pakistani proxy. One should recall maiden speech of Pak PM in the last UNGA session in which he loudly demanded the forum to reconcile from prolonged inaction over Kashmir. PM clearly warned the world at UNGA forum that persistent Indian atrocities and designs of a massive genocide would actually radicalize the oppressed Kashmiris.
Pakistan, instead of relying upon proxy methodology, has demanded a plebiscite under UN. Case of eight million human beings, facing state imposed lockdown and communication blackout, should not be trivialized through frivolously fabricated allegations of terrorism. Indian aggression can be gauged from frequent threatening statements made by top ministers, services chiefs and ruling party’s ideologues. Top Indian hierarchy is desperate to crush Pakistan and capture AJ&K through a military strike. Surprisingly, a well-informed journalist like Owen discarded all condemnations echoing at international level against Indian atrocities in Kashmir. Recently many world leaders including Turkish President, Iranian supreme leader, Malaysian PM, UN Secretary General and parliamentarians endorsed Pak stance over Kashmir issue. Alleging Pakistan for proxies appears more dubious as PM Imran Khan very explicitly instructed all desperate elements to refrain from crossing LoC being an act harmful to freedom movement. Fact is that any irresponsible act of Pak-based non-state actors would help New Delhi in justifying its inhuman brutalities against innocent Kashmiris. Pakistan is pursuing a well thought out policy to provide moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiri freedom movement on all international and regional forums. Astonishingly, Owen considers Pakistan responsible, as a proxy patronize, for overall Afghan mess stretched over four decades. By all means it is an unfair and out of context opinion! Pakistan neither invited Russia to invade Afghanistan back in the 70s nor compelled the US to jump in this arena. Afghanistan and Pakistan, both, have paid heavy price of the foul-play of global players. With a weaker economic and administrative infra-structure, Pakistan has been hosting more than three million Afghan refugees. UN Secretary General, during his recent visit to Islamabad, openly acknowledged historic role of Pakistan in hosting the refugees without any significant support from the world. Afghanistan was infected with proxies by India with an obvious aim to coerce Pakistan.
No unbiased person can deny that Pakistan is a major victim of unrest in Afghanistan. Hardcore terrorists involved in major attacks across Pakistan have safe havens in ill governed folds of Afghanistan. Through these terrorists New Delhi was aiming to paralyze and destabilize the state of Pakistan! Resilient nation stood firm in tough testing times while armed forces played a remarkable lead role in war against terror. Peace and stability was earned for Pakistan with countless sacrifices. It is India behind all anti-Pakistan proxies and terrorism, from Karachi to Balochistan and tribal belt, as mildly hinted by Owen Benett Jones in his article. Liberals referred by Owen as the precise predictors have been proved absolutely wrong with recent unfolding of events on Afghan canvas. US has inked a deal with Taliban which in fact is no less than a practical rejection of its self-created Kabul government. Ghani- Abdullah rift over presidency has further stamped the flawed opinions of those quarters that always pointed fingers on Taliban as a peace spoiling element. While battling against Afghanistan based proxies and terrorists, Pakistan facilitated peace process between US and Taliban. Despite baseless verbal cannonade from Indian Influenced Afghan official quarters, Islamabad congratulated Ashraf Ghani for winning presidential election. Owen Benett Jones should not blame Pakistan for the mess created in Afghanistan by the US and its puppets. Indian state actor Commander Khalbhoshan Jhadev has already disclosed all the details of Indian sponsored terrorist networks and proxies operating in the region to destabilize Pakistan. As far as Taliban factor is concerned, US is thickly engaged with them while being thankful to Islamabad for making it all happen. Mike Pompeo’s recent outburst on Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, for their spoiling role, is a unique confession of flawed past dealings. Interestingly, a day prior to signing of peace deal New Delhi threw its weight against the Taliban by sending Modi’s special message to Ashraf Ghani through her Ambassador in Kabul. Undeniably, Pakistan is striving hard for restoration of regional peace through non-violent diplomatic means at Kashmir and Afghan fronts.
—The writer is a free lancer who often contributes in national newspapers.
