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Source: DAWN, KARACHI, PAKISTAN
Pakistan faced with the dilemma of sorts; its formidable armed forces managing to take the terrorism bull by horns is struggling to tackle the greatest threat posed by the menace of sectarian violence. The general populace divided on the basis of ethnicity indulge in violence killing thousands and damaging properties worth billions. The anarchic situation has so far uprooted the basic structure of society and economy to dangerous levels.
The two pronged onslaught from Pakistan’s western and eastern borders made things worse as India becomes more threatening and damaging with its weakening foothold in Afghanistan and planned regular ceasefire line skirmishes with fatalities creating tension giving rise to insecurity and frustration. It is widely believed the ongoing cold war between the two countries has all the footprints of a potential full-fledged nuclear confrontation.
The mindset of religious extremism of India’s Modis, Mahasabhas, Bajrangdals, Sangparivars and last but not the least Shivsainiks is on the increase and will hardly ever change or diminish. American historian Stanley Wolpert, in his book, ´Partition of India´ quoting Pandit Nehru’s remarks about growing religious fundamentalism in India to his first High Commissioner in Karachi saying “our government would not last many days and there would be no peace....it would lead to war with Pakistan because of public opinion here and of war-like elements coming in control of our policy".
US mission “accomplished” in Afghanistan and its near total exit makes India nervous as it invested huge amounts of money and material to gain strong hold hoping to convert Afghanistan into a satellite state somewhat similar to Bangladesh. A country with over a billion people needs energy to survive and India in desperation by hook or by crook wants to gain access to Central Asia bypassing Pakistan. The trust deficit bars India to accept Pakistan as a conduit to meet its energy requirements thereby looking for a channel through Afghanistan or attempting to annex Azad Kashmir that would give it an independent road link to Afghanistan or even Iran. The weak and disturbed Pakistan is in India’s interest and Pakistan, it seems, is well aware of the factuality.
President Obama, in his recently concluded visit, symbolically made his point to tell India that religious extremism is not acceptable. This was in view of dangerously poised narrative of Hindu nationalistic belligerence sending alarm bells to all the minorities of India. The powerful Christian world showed serious concern about threats against Christian community and burning of Churches in a brazen manner. Most of India’s energy needs are met by the Arab world and the rhetoric of “Ghar wapsi” slogan rolled in fascism would not be music to Arab ears.
The behaviour of Pakistan's political mafia for the last 66 years has been appalling, shameful, and dreadful. The lust for power, family rule, corruption, nepotism, biradari system (brotherhood) backed by feudal lords forced Pakistan army to take over power at different times. Now the economic and internal political situation being extremely volatile and mercurial; Pakistan army finds it difficult to take control of the messy combination of circumstances dirtying its hands with mucky and slimy political and economic affairs seemingly unmanageable. Since the security of the country is of paramount importance, army manages to chip in to help civilian government to sort its self created knotty problems. On a positive note Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, it seems, means business and has taken control of most the areas of civilian administrative governance and the situation is stabilizing day in and day out.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government peaks the inefficiency in running the affairs and the caucus of people around indulging in criminal and corrupt practices, perhaps deliberately, complicate worsening law and order and economy. It is widely believed that Sharif brothers are unable to control large scale corruption and violence as the perpetrators closely connected have a psychological control on Sharif family blackmailing it by putting lid on the family’s unprecedented loot, plunder, crimes and more importantly coming to power through the large scale rigging of the elections.
It is also believed that army is kept busy fighting imposed terrorism aided, abetted and funded internally and externally. It is an irony of fate that Pakistan in a catch-22 situation on one hand faces external enemy geared up full throttle to destabilize it and on the other hand an embedded hand within local political setup seen to extend help for unabated skirmishes on ceasefire line in Kashmir or on international border so as to keep army at a distance to force it to remain oblivious to the happenings within the country. A nuclear Pakistan is a huge hindrance for Pakistan’s enemies to execute the plan to fulfil the agenda regionally and internationally.
Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) is almost routed in elections on national level and apparently decimated even on the local level. Sharif brothers Muslim League survives with the crutches offered on international level as a weak prime minister would be easy to work with especially when Sharifs have their businesses spread out in major world capitals. The colourful turbaned religious mafia have lost all the ground and following in view of the mass killings as a result of suicide bombings.
Imran Khan, the new entrant in the arena of politics turned out a mirage as his inexperience to handle sensitive issues like his party’s soft pedalling relationship with religious fundamentalist parties making him pay a heavy price. Khan mostly influenced by living standards and political norms of the west tries to use the same yardstick when dealing with people around him in Pakistan. He needs to realize that 95% of Pakistani public do not understand the basic principles of democratic value and how western democracy works.
All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) headed by ex-President Pervez Musharraf is a cause of anxiety for the nexus among Sharif brothers, Zardari family and fundamentalist forces. Musharraf is judged by people for his past performance in running the government and believe unblemished Musharraf able to take the country out the messy governance of the present regime. It is noticed that more and more people seem to join him on daily basis.
Moreover US President George W Bush’s question that “you are either with us or against us” remains unanswered. People of Pakistan want to know the reaction of this 9/11 question from heads of all political parties to tell the nation how, on the day, they would have responded?
