Pakistan: How to End Sectarian Violence

Posted by Belharvi

12 died, 80 injured and millions of rupees damage caused to the properties of the people in the sectarian violence of 16 November in Rawalpindi. Authorities have imposed a curfew for two days in Rawalpindi after sectarian clashes erupted at a Muharram 10 procession near Fawara Chowk. Beyond any doubt, one can deduce that the sadism resulted due to the negligence of local administration and prejudice conduct of the religious leaders who just promote radicalism in their followers.

Sectarian division also exits in major countries of South Asia as well, but unfortunately it is only Pakistan where sectarian violence is extremely getting intense with its brutal face of aggression and conflicting antagonism. The growing trends of sectarian fighting in Pakistan indicate that sectarian violence as a menace is turning into a second most threatening monster after terrorism. In fact, Pakistani Muslims particularly Sunni continue to participate in and support the Ashura processions of Imam Hussain. Muharram used to be observed with unified harmony and reverence by all sects including Shiite and Sunni Muslims. While Shias moved in processions the Sunnis would line up managing SABEELS, paying respect to the Shia procession and providing protection.

 Last two decades witnessed a frightening upsurge in the Shia-sunni sectarian violence in Pakistan, both in term of scope and intensity. These clashes between the two sects left hundreds dead and thousands injured, including Iranian diplomats, senior state functionaries and important religious leaders on both sides. The ongoing sectarian strife has engulfed even those areas, which were previously unaffected, largely because of the interference of hostile agencies and emergence of organized terrorists group along sectarian lines. Besides target killing, these groups now hit even ordinary members of each other sects, whenever and wherever they find it operationally convenient. Pakistan is already going facing foreign sponsored terrorism, in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi.

It has become extraordinary challenges to security forces to fight against terrorism on internal and external front. The friendly Muslim countries are also involved in promoting and strengthening of sectarian organizations in the country in general. Iran is backing Shia organizations and Arab states are financing Sunni and Deobandi sectarian groups to further their own interests. The Western countries are also providing funds to moderate religious groups as part of their strategy to hit Islamic Ideology in Pakistan.  These foreign interventions are major agents of sectarianism in the country, which are eventually harming the cause of national integration.   Thus, there is a need to highlight the interference by foreign elements that are fueling sectarian strife in our country due to their own vested interest. Government should take steps to create unity and brotherhood amongst various sects, especially at this moment when Pakistan is facing multi dimensional external as well as internal threats.

Sectarian divide has become a susceptible vulnerability that is posing neurotic and precarious threat and making it difficult to maintain peace, mutual harmony and tranquil politico-social order. Routine gets disturbed and business stalled, impeding the economic activities in the country whereas the feelings and emotions are negatively charged. Hatred and vengeance spreads through social settings and blood-shed marks its signatures disturbing law and order situation in the country, to an irreversible degree. Under such circumstances anti Pakistan elements and rival out-groups (foreign agencies) leave no stone unturned to exploit the situation to accomplish their wicked designs. They use money, influence and other means to ignite sectarian emotions and hateful communications to keep the issue alive at community level contaminating the entire structure of civil society as people fight among each other without going into the details of the dispute and hollowness of their claims. The aim of foreign anti Pakistan elements focuses on destabilizing the state of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan must understand the wicked scheme of anti Pakistan elements desirous of creating permanent fissures among core sectarian groups to geographically divide the country into Shia – Sunni zones, thereby weakening Pakistan as a viable and effective state.

Though brutal acts of cold blooded target killings have been condemned by the entire nation, yet general public feels insecure with instant feelings of sinking into pit or suffering lapses of depression, as avenging reactions may lead to sectarian strife, thereby exploding the sectarian bomb with its negative psychological impact and devastating brunt on law and order situation, social order, political stability and economic growth. In short, religious leaders should deliberate make efforts to create harmony amongst in all sects. We must remember Muslim community though consist of various sects but believe in one God, one Prophet (PBUH) and one Holy Quran. Historically they have been living in harmony with each other. They should revive old traditions of mutual respect and reverence. Government should take steps to educate the people on tolerance as basic tenet of Islam and professes that extremism needs to be curbed for peaceful co-existence of different communities in the country.

 Pakistan is a progressive Islamic state and a responsible atomic power thus surge in extremism always be taken as serious threat to its ideology. But external powers infiltrate their agents in the extremists groups to work towards fulfillment of their nefarious designs. Therefore, as Pakistani, we must realize our responsibilities and indicate the moles present in our society .Every individual need to apprehend that outside powers are using Pakistan as a turf for fighting their ideological wars by promoting sectarian and extremist organizations and by providing them with funds and weapons to fight their proxy wars in Pakistan. Poverty, religious illiteracy, iron hands against terrorism, registration of madrassas and banning of all terrorism organizations are those steps which can help in eradication of sectarianism from Pakistan.(By Zaheerul Hassan)

Countering Iranian Allegations & Removing Misunderstanding

Posted by Belharvi

Being a neighbouring and brotherly country, Pakistan always respects Iran’s sovereignty, system of governance and its socio-political developments. But, some external elements misguide Iran through false propaganda by manipulating various terror-incidents which take place inside Iran, especially its province of Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s province of Balochistan.

It could be judged from the latest incident of October 25 when 14 Iranian border guards lost their lives and six others were wounded in a shoot-out with terrorists in the border region of Saravan in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. In this regard, Iranian lawmakers accused that the US and Pakistani intelligence services lead the Pakistan-based Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group responsible for the recent deadly attack on Iranian border guards. While raising false allegations, Iran’s Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee member Javad Karimi Qoddusi said, “The key point in this case is role played by US spy agency by means of Pakistan’s Services Intelligence (ISI) in conducting such terrorist attacks…the ISI’s control over such terrorist like Jaish-ul-Adl Group has been authenticated.”

On the other side, Islamabad denied the charges as baseless, while Pakistan Charged Affairs in Iran, Sohail Siddiqui stated that Iranian government urged Pakistan to further investigate the issue. Pakistan’s government assured that that the country would investigate the issue and would fully cooperate with Iranian officials in arresting and handing the terrorists. 

Earlier, an Iranian deputy foreign minister pointed out that the country was weighing plans to dispatch a delegation to Pakistan to probe the recent terrorist attack in southeastern Iran.  But, it is regrettable that instead of grasping reality in order to remove the misunderstanding, Iranian lawmakers, analysts and the TV channel leveled self-created allegations against Pakistan and involvement of ISI in terrorist attack on Iranian border guards. They must better observe prudence by knowing the real conspirators who are not only behind this terror attack, but also other subversive events which have continuously been taking place in Pakistani side of Balochistan, and from time to time, in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan.

Notably, although the whole of Islamic world is target of Indo-Israeli plot, yet the same has intensified in case of Pakistan and Iran. In this regard, US-led some western countries have also been supporting the Indo-Israeli nexus against Islamabad and Tehran overtly or covertly.

However, we cannot blame India and Israel including US regarding the conspiracy against Pakistan and Iran without some concrete evidence. In this context, in his interview, published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008, Israel’s ambassador to India, Mark Sofer explained regarding India’s defence arrangements with Israel by disclosing, “We do have a defence relationship with India, which is no secret” and “with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret.” In reply to a question, Sofer replied, “Certain issues need to remain under wraps for whatever reason.”

Indo-Israeli plot remained under wraps till 2003, when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India to officially reveal it. In this respect, Indian ‘The Tribune’ wrote on September 10, 2003, “India and Israel took giant leaps forward in bolstering the existing strategic ties and forging new ones” and Tel Aviv has “agreed to share its expertise with India in various fields as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance satellites, intelligence sharing and space exploration.” Next day, ‘Indian Express’, disclosed, “From anti-missile systems to hi-tech radars, from sky drones to night-vision equipment, Indo-Israeli defense cooperation has known no bounds in recent times.”

As regards the American tactical backing to Indo-Israeli relationship, on September 5, 2003, American Wall Street Journal pointed out, “The U.S. finally gave its approval to Israel’s delivery of Phalcon Airborne Warning & Controlling Systems (AWACS) to India.”

Now, the matter is not confined to purchasing of military equipments only, Indo-Israeli overt and covert links are part of a dangerous strategic game. In the aftermath of 9/11, as to how this strategic game is being played can be judged from some developments. For example, on October 18, 2009, a deadliest suicide attack killed dozens of officers including the deputy commander for the Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier General Nour Ali Shoushtari and the provincial commander, Brigadier Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh in the Sistan-Baluchistan. Jundullah (God’s soldiers), a Sunni militant group which is pro-active against the Iranians, claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Revolutionary Guard released a statement after the attack, revealing that there was “no doubt that this violent and inhumane act was part of the strategy of foreigners and enemies of the regime.” Afterwards, Iran directly accused US and Britain for their alleged patronage and funding of such type of terrorist attacks for creating instability within Iran. Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani blamed the US, saying, “We consider the recent terrorist attack to be the result of the US action. This is the sign of America’s animosity against our country.”

Tehran also lodged a strong protest with Islamabad over the failure of its law enforcement agencies to dismantle the Jundullah network in its part of Balochistan, while remarking that plan was prepared in Pakistan. Some reports suggest that in confusion, even some Iranian leaders expressed apprehension on some of Pakistan’s officials in cooperation with the Jundulluh regarding that suicide attack. This is what the US, India and Israeli wanted.

While condemning the terrorist attack, the former President Asif Ali Zardari assured the then President Ahmadinejad that Government of Pakistan would provide all out assistance in arresting all those responsible for the attack, if they are found on Pakistani soil. Afterwards, Islamabad ensured a visiting Iranian delegation for an appropriate investigation in relation to the mayhem. Nevertheless, misunderstanding against Islamabad and Tehran was eliminated.

In this context, the former Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi had stated, “It is obvious that the same forces which are working in Pakistani Balochistan are also working in Iranian Sistan.” While, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had indicated, “The bloody actions being committed in Iraq, Pakistan and Iran are aimed at creating a division between the Shias and Sunnis…those who carry out these terrorist actions are directly or indirectly foreign agents.”

It is mentionable that on February 8, 2012, the hearing of the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Dana Rohrabacher favoured an independent Balochistan. And military scholar Lt. Col. Ralph Peters, while writing in the June 2006 issue of The Armed Forces Journal of the US had suggested Washington about the creation of a “Greater Balochistan” which would integrate the Baloch areas of Pakistan with those of Iran—and the Frontier Province should be incorporated into Afghanistan.

Nevertheless, it would be a good sign that besides Pakistan, Iranian rulers and media must also understand that it is a collective plot of the US, India and Israeli to sabotage Pak-Iranian ties, and is part of their secret strategic game against the Islamic countries.

In fact, America, India and Israel have been backing the Baloch separatists of Pakistan through their secret agencies CIA, RAW and Mossad respectively as witnessed by a perennial wave of subversive acts such as destruction of gas pipelines, attacks on the government buildings and murder of political leaders. They are covertly supporting the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch nationalist leaders who have been fighting for secession of the province.

As regards Jundullah, in past few years, the group has conducted multiple terrorist activities like kidnapping and killing of a number of Iranian nationals including suicide attacks in Pakistan’s side of Balochistan and that of the Iran. Its agents are also behind sectarian violence. On many occasions, BLA and Jundullah claimed responsibility for terrorist acts.

According to some reliable sources, Jundullah is a small group which does not have potential to inflict more than small attacks on security forces in Pakistan and Iran. Like BLA, this militant group is also supported by RAW and Mossad with the technical help of CIA. Now, both BLA and Jundullah have links with each other. And their militants are getting arms and ammunition from Afghanistan where US-led India and Israel have established their secret network not only to create lawlessness in Pakistan and Iran, but also to sabotage good relationship of these countries. Notably, Afghanistan shares a common border with Pakistan and Iran, so it has become easy for these foreign elements to achieve their sinister anti-Pak-Iranian aims.

It is notable that Jewish-Hindu lobbies are collectively working in America and other European countries to exploit the double standards of the west in relation to terrorism and human rights vis-a-vis Pakistan and Iran. They also accuse Tehran and Islamabad of sponsoring cross-border terrorism in the related regions of South Asia and the Middle East.

It is worth-mentioning that US-India nuclear agreement is part of American desire to make India a major power to counterbalance the rising influence of China in Asia and control Iran. In this context, on May 22, 2013, Islamabad and Tehran signed the gas pipeline project without waiting for New Delhi’s participation because the latter was tilted towards Washington, using delaying tactics in this connection.

Moreover, it is owing to the ideal geo-strategic location of Balochistan with Gwadar seaport which could prove to be Pakistan’s key junction, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia and further strengthening Pak-Iranian strategic position that America has also become a part of Indo-Israeli plot in creating instability in Pakistan and Iran so as to complete the hidden agenda.

Nonetheless, instead of leveling baseless allegations against Pakistan and ISI in relation to the recent terror-attack on the Iranian border guards, Iran’s top officials, lawmakers and political experts must better show realistic approach by taking note of the foreign conspirators which have been creating misunderstanding between Islamabad and Tehran.(By Sajjad Shaukat)