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| Can Pakistan survive? | | |
JN Raina
Soothsayers' prophecy about Pakistan has started coming true. Former US President George W Bush had once warned Pakistan to be 'either with us' on war against terror, 'or else' it would be reduced to a 'Stone Age'. In the face of dire consequences, the then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, after being snubbed, became an instant ally of the Americans, in the wage 'jihad' against global terror and its epicenter in Pakistan. Amazingly, while Bush had failed in his 'mission' to contain terrorism, Taliban has succeeded in pushing Pakistan back to the 'Stone Age'. Bush was perhaps oblivious of the fact that there are different ways of chiselling stones.
It is bigotry in North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) that has engulfed a large part of the society in Pakistan back to the Stone Age. Now it is official. President Asif Ali Zardari has disclosed that Taliban has established its sway over large parts of his country. It was trying to 'take over' the country, he lamented. The sort of official acceptance of 'take over' by Taliban is bound to have its serious repercussions in South Asia . It cannot be taken lightly. It can have far-reaching consequences on Pakistan 's Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), responsible for creating, the Frankenstein of Taliban.
On the heels of the 'take over' announcement, Zardari threw another bombshell. His government played footsie with Taliban and signed an agreement with the ultra Islamic extremist group, led by Sufi Mohammad, which would enable the radicals to impose Islamic law, Sharia in Swat, as a quid pro quo, for sustaining a brief ceasefire by the Taliban that is questionable.
But will peace prevail? That is a million dollar question. At least 1200 people have been butchered in the picturesque valley of Swat , during the past year. Is it a sign of establishing durable peace or does it presage further break-up of the beleaguered country, which is on the edge of a precipice. One is apt to believe so, because of the continuing upheaval in Pakistan . The obscure peace deal will only help the Taliban to regroup against NATO forces in Afghanistan , where the situation is more precarious. The deal will help Taliban to make further incursions into Pakistan 's other two provinces of Punjab and Sindh, which have hitherto remained somewhat less affected. Initial reports said the US has taken the deal seriously. Zardari's critics at home have discerned the deal as 'capitulation' before Taliban.
Days are not far off when Taliban will take control of Pakistan in toto. Swat is just 80 km from Islamabad . Danger signals have been hoisted in the Arabian Sea, inimical to India 's interest. Taliban is growing with full fury in all directions. It remains no longer confined to remote Tribal areas in Pakistan 's North-West region.
In Swat, Taliban has established a reign of terror. People have been fleeing like pigeons from the radicalized territory. Over five lakh people have been displaced. Several hundred schools, including 200 girls' schools have been closed Those who do not obey the dictat, are being beheaded. All this happened under the belly of the military dictatorship.
Taliban first opposed women's participation in a marathon, calling it 'immoral and unethical', against the principles of Islam. It launched a campaign against polio vaccination, calling it part of the western 'conspiracy', that it said was aimed at 'reducing Muslim population'. The plea was that polio drops would make people 'impotent'. Zealots harmed girls and stopped them from attending schools. Shops dealings in DVDs and VCDs were shut down. Even Qazi courts were set up to enforce Sharia, parallel to the country's courts established by law. It has had its effect in India also, mostly in the Muslim-dominated state of UP.
US Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan , Richard Holbrooke has reacted to the situation in Pakistan thus: " US , Pakistan and India face an enemy that poses a direct threat to our leadership, our capitals and our people". It is still to make its position known on the burning issue. The security forces in Pakistan have in a way succumbed to Taliban pressure and have conceded defeat. Their main argument is that the government is 'fighting a losing battle'.
Zardari made his stunning disclosure in a CBS interview: "We are aware of the fact...Taliban is trying to takeover the State of Pakistan--we are fighting for the survival of Pakistan etc ". Imagine Zardari made this kind of disclosure as head of the State of Pakistan. That is alarming.
Zardari's statement came just a few days after Pakistan admitted that Mumbai attacks were partly planned in Pakistan . In fact, India was taken by surprise, since Pakistan has had been dithering on the issue for long, changing stances, with different ministers and spokespersons singing in different tunes. Zardari has urged India to look beyond Pakistan while broadly investigating the 2611 gruesome incident. He wants India to recognize the fact that Mumbai attacks were hatched by a global terrorist network, under a conspiracy, involving non-state actors. He has also called upon New Delhi to restore diplomatic relations. India, it seems, has changed its approach, in view of the new developments in Pakistan. The real enemy seems to be working in a different garb, in conjunction with some 'players' in Pakistan . It is a vicious circle within a circle.
After Zardari's diatribe on Taliban and subsequent peace deal , one is led to believe that Pakistan has become a 'failed' State, contrary to Musharraf's expectations that Pakistan is a nuclear-powered country and strong enough to repulse any attack. He must know that Pakistan is virtually in control of only two provinces.
Nuclear weapons will remain a show piece in such an emerging situation. Pakistan has failed in NWFP, resulting in the creation of a State within a State. Musharraf has himself admitted that terrorism and extremism pose a serious threat to his country and agreed with Zardari; "We are fighting for the survival of Pakistan ....and that the government has to win or we can foresee crises..."
But in the process of saving their country from the clutches of Taliban , Pakistan is bleeding on its own soil, getting deep cuts. The situation is hardly retrievable. Pakistan is too much obsessed with Kashmir . It will be 'better served' if it gives up its Kashmir-centric policy. That was the refrain in Pakistan at a conclave recently.
If Pakistan really wants to stand-up on its own legs, rather than to be propped up by a Big Brother, as a healthy nation, it has to be unbigoted. It will have to dismantle its terrorist infrastructure with immediate effect, at any cost, and without a pause, till terrorism becomes a thing of the past. It is not to 'oblige India ' as Zardari himself believes, but for its own survival. If it does not happen, vested interests might take advantage of the prevailing anarchy in Pakistan . There is every danger the nuclear arms might fall in the hands of Taliban.
It is no surmise that a part of Pakistan establishment, in conjunction with Taliban, is in favour of Pakistan going Taliban way. For that not to happen, extremism has to be eliminated completely. Or else, Pakistan will remain a constant nightmare for the world at large.
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