Why do we feel euphoric on Pentagon telling the US Congress that Pakistan is using home grown militant groups as proxies to counter the superior India military? Pentagon’s latest six-monthly report, which is under discussion, is actually reflecting on current situation in Afghanistan and the role Pakistan is playing there. India has been mentioned in passing while report’s focus is on Afghanistan. Even a layman knows that Pakistan has been waging a proxy war against India in Kashmir for last two decades and more. Therefore, what Pentagon has said is nothing new or unknown.
Pentagon is the old friend of ISI. They have many shared memories of clandestine cooperation in a number of leading historical events beginning with Baghdad Pact to SEATO, CENTO, Iran-Iraq War, Soviet incursion into Afghanistan down the line to the Operation Topac of General Zia. Without Pentagon’s nod, no military coup ever happened in Pakistan. Don’t forget that during Bangladesh war Pentagon had moved its 7th Fleet into the Bay of Bengal to intimidate India. And also don’t forget that despite so-called undertaking by Pakistan not to use US supplied weapons and war material against India, Pakistan army did deploy Patton Tanks in Indo-Pak war and we have still dozens of captured tanks in our possession.
The US State Department has categorized Lashkar-e-Toiba as a terrorist organization based in Pakistan. Obviously, the US must have the input from its intelligence sources including the Pentagon about the activities of this terrorist organization on the basis of which ban has been clamped on it. LeT never made a secret of its designs against India; it has repeatedly and specifically stated that its operations in Kashmir are meant to cut off Kashmir from India. It has often said that its armed activities are India specific. Moreover, the role of LeT in Mumbai attack has been clearly stated by the Pak-born American terrorist Hadley. All these facts prove that Pentagon has been very much in know of inner and most secret stories of what the LeT is up. The question is why has not Pentagon made a clear and unambiguous statement to Congress about the role of terrorist organizations of Pakistan in fomenting insurgency in Kashmir? Why has the US never stopped sanctioning huge cash doles in favour of Pakistan for one or the other project but which Pakistan actually uses to strengthen war machine against India including support to terrorist organizations. The US has played most crucial role in making space for religious fundamentalism based terror in Pakistan. Who has a hand in shaping the jihadis in Afghanistan who fought against the Soviets and who is now fighting against the Americans?
This being the ground situation, the Pentagon has viewed India’s positive role in Afghanistan from its own point of view. When Pentagon knows that India is providing support to Afghanistan in building its infrastructure, roads, factories, dams, bridges, hotels etc. in comparison to Pakistan which has its terrorists in Afghanistan to attack Indian interests as in Herat, what action has Washington taken to impress upon Islamabad to wind up its terrorist shop in Afghanistan. India has repeatedly said that her relations with Afghanistan are embedded in history. The two countries have always shown great understanding and cooperation in each other’s interests. India is committed to help Afghanistan modernize the country in all spheres of economic, social and political life. She has made largest investment in Afghanistan after the US. Naturally, the US, while preparing its exit from Afghanistan by the end of this year, must give due recognition to India’s strategic importance to Afghan region and must take into account that India has a positive role to play. The report under discussion does give inkling to that effect and we appreciate it.
The fact of the matter is that Pakistan’s terrorist organizations, which are prompted by her army and ISI, are playing inimical role in India and Afghanistan on the behest of the GHQ. The GHQ, as has been said in the beginning, is the blue eyed darling of Pentagon. Most of the Pak Generals have established intimate personal relations with the higher up in Pentagon. Pentagon believes that Pakistan army and ISI will not rein in the Pakistan based terrorists and will give them all the freedom to disrupt peace in Afghanistan. What counter strategy has the US to meet this challenge because the Afghans alone cannot face the threat? It means that the US is interested in leaving Afghanistan exposed to the threat of her own insurgents plus those who support them from the neighbouring Pakistan. If this is the situation, then the question will be asked what was the mission of US-NATO combine in waging a war in Afghanistan.
The US should know that the time has come when Theo-fascism has to be challenged globally. A vast and pervasive strategy has to be chalked out by all democratic countries of the world to face the rising menace of religion-based terror. It is not only Afghanistan or India or the US that are being challenged. This challenge is to the political philosophy of democracy and freedom of expression. Free world has made enormous sacrifices over so many centuries to develop democracy as the only just, equitable and transparent political dispensation. Democratic countries have made great investments in promoting this form of Government. It is now challenged by radicals and obscurantist. The question is will the free world go on just making concessions and not call a halt to passivity of action.
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