India orchestrated Boat Drama to Defame Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

Renowned thinkers, Hobbes, Machiavelli and Morgenthau opine that sometimes, rulers act upon immoral activities like deceit, fraud and falsehood to fulfill their countries’ selfish aims. But such a sinister politics was replaced by new trends such as fair-dealings, reconciliation and economic development. Regrettably, India is still following past politics in modern era.

In this regard, Indian agencies orchestrated a drama to defame Pakistan in the world. On December 31, 2014, Indian media allegedly reported that a Pakistani fishing boat as a Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was intercepted by Indian Coast Guards, some 356 km. off the coast of Porebandar, Gujarat. As per Indian Coast Guard IG, K R Nautiyal, an operation was undertaken on a precise intelligence tip and boat was ordered to stop, but it did not comply and sped away. However, having failed to evade Indian Coast Guard, the crew set the boat on fire and it exploded. Indian Coast Guard officials stated that no body or debris was found due to bad weather. Moreover, it was also stated that search is on for another boat which they fear was in communication with the capsized boat.

The Pakistani media said that the Indian media was playing up the incident without establishing proper links to terrorism. The incident was strongly rejected by Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam, terming it as mere propaganda aimed at tarnishing Pakistan’s image. She elaborated, “Pakistan expects India to conduct a transparent probe to ascertain the facts of the boat incident, while highlighting that its own investigation has shown that there was no sound evidence to substantiate India’s assertions. On the so called terror boat incident, India has not approached Pakistan through diplomatic channels.”

However, the boat incident has stirred a controversy within India itself. Indian National Congress has stated that it has doubts on government’s version of Porebandar incident. The BJP in response has stated that Congress is lending credence to Pakistani stance. In this context, hitting at Congress, BJP President Amit Shah asked the opposition party, whether it was fighting elections in India or Pakistan.

It is notable that 48 hours after the incident, the Indian officials have started portraying another version by suggesting that the boat which had left Keti Bandar, Karachi might have belonged to small time smugglers.

And, it is not possible that 30 HP boat could run four state of the art Indian Coast Guard ships. The media clips show only fire damage to the boat, whereas, in case of an explosion, as suggested by the Indians, complete boat which was small in size, would have torn to pieces.

Indian officials said that wreckage and dead bodies could not be recovered due to bad weather, whereas, open source met data forecasted fair weather. The argument is supplemented by the fact that small boats do not operate in deep open waters unless weather is clear.

Meanwhile, despite the insistence of Islamabad, still, no solid proof was provided by Indian authorities about the incident, and no inquiry reports was shared with local and international media. Hence, Pakistan should launch strong diplomatic protest at UNO, demanding impartial inquiry which could expose Indian fabricated story regarding the Boat episode.

Nevertheless, we cannot see the event in isolation. The aim of this stereotype Indian orchestrated Boat drama is to create an aura against Pakistan prior to US President Barrack Obama’s visit (25-27 Jan. 2015) to India and put pressure on Pakistan government on Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s bail issue and allege LeT as an organization, posing regional threats. Prior to Obama’s visit, Indian propaganda seems to be part of overall plan to malign Pakistan of sponsoring terrorist activities in India. New Delhi, for the last few months, is propagating conduct of terrorist activities by LeT inside India.

India has also been projecting the possibility of a terrorist attack coinciding with Obama’s visit or targeting the dignitary. In this regard, Indian secret agency, RAW, Intelligence Bureau and other intelligence agencies have been issuing threat alert almost on daily basis. The issuance of such alerts by New Delhi reflect the concerns of the US and the West regarding the prevailing law and order and security situation in India—being deteriorated by the Hindu terrorism which has been encouraged by BJP hardliner Narendra Modi who got a land sliding triumph in the Indian elections 2014 and has become the prime minister of India. Hindu majority was mobilized on anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim slogans. Therefore, he is fulfilling the agenda of Hinduvta (Hindu nationalism).

In fact, Hindu politics and culture are dominated by the fundamentalist parties such as BJP, RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena and other similar groups which have been propagating Hindutva. Provocative utterances of their extremist leaders have resulted into unending violence against the Muslim and Christians including other minority groups, while, India is also facing insurgency and terrorism in its various regions.

It is mentionable that on January 20, 2013, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confessed the nexus between BJP and the RSS, disclosing that organized training camps run by these fundamentalist parties were promoting Hindu terrorism. They also disclosed that these parties were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts including Gujarat and Babri Masjid incidents. Earlier, New Delhi was accusing Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency, ISI for blasts in Malegaon and other cities.

It is also noteworthy that on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma revealed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws. But, Indian top officials and media had blamed Islamabad and LeT for those attacks.

Therefore, as part of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan move, BJP-led government which is continuously manipulating the double standard of the US-led Western countries in relation to New Delhi and Islamabad has orchestrated the boat drama to defame Pakistan prior to Obama’s Indian visit.

Does ISIS Exist in Pakistan?

                                                   

Recently, propaganda intensified that the militant outfit Daish or ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) has its presence in Pakistan. Besides some newspapers and media anchors of some TV channels also misperceived that ISIS has penetrated into Pakistan. In fact, they made their observation on the basis of media announcements by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders and Indian media.

Although ISIS does not exist in Pakistan, yet Pakistan government, law-enforcing agencies, media and civil society must exercise high degree of vigilance against any possible ingress by any elements like ISIS. Despite this, existence of ISIS in Pakistan needs special analysis, as its presence can not merely be propagated on the basis of wall chalking or media announcements of the TTP leaders and India.

As regards this militant outfit, on 29 June 2014, ISIS proclaimed a worldwide caliphate by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, based in Iraq. It claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims, while ISIS’s actions have been widely criticized around the world, with many Islamic communities judging the group to be unrepresentative of Islam. One of ISIS’s goals has been to establish a radical Sunni Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant region, which covers Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine etc., and southern region of Turkey. It is widely known for its violent propaganda which includes Internet videos of beheadings. The UNO and Amnesty International have held this group responsible for human rights abuses and war crimes. ISIS group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the UNO and the European Union.

Some reports suggest that as part of the double game, American CIA has also been supporting the militants of the ISIS to overthrow the Shia regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Another aim is to spread sectarian violence in the Islamic countries.

However, besides some Islamic countries, a majority of the religious extremists from the Western World and especially India has joined the ISIS. In this context, a deliberate oblivion on the part of the West about ISIS recruits from their countries also exposes their duplicity and hypocrisy.

It is notable that although various kinds of terror attacks in Pakistan have been conducted by the TTP and its banned affiliated groups in the past few years, yet the massacre of 132 school children at Army Public School and College in Peshawar on December 16, 2014 proved a watershed, as it has given a final wake up call to the nation to unite against these ruthless terrorists.

In this respect, the armed forces of Pakistan have conducted several successful military operations against the terrorists; the most recent one being operation Zarb-e-Azb, which has successfully broken the backbone of militants. Frustrated by their failures, these insurgents are resorting to coward acts like attack on innocent children in Peshawar.

Taking note of the school attack, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif has himself started supervising the military action against terrorists, and as part of the operation, several terrorists have been killed during air strikes. Gen. Raheel stated, “We are extremely saddened, but our resolve has taken new height”, and added “We will continue to go after the inhuman beasts, their facilitators till their final elimination.”

Undoubtedly, as a result of ongoing operations in Waziristan and Khyber Agency especially operation Zarb-e-Azb, militants are finding no place other than Afghanistan to flee and save their skin.

In this context, Gen. Raheel accompanied by the DG of Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI), rushed to Kabul on December 17, 2014. During his meeting with his Afghan counterpart, President Ashraf Ghani and the ISAF commander, he presented evidence of the Peshawar massacre’s linkage with TTP sanctuaries in Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan. He also asked the extradition of TTP chief Mullah Fazlluah, and handing over to Pakistan. In response, they assured him to take action against the TTP.

In fact, Afghanistan has become a hub of anti-Pakistan activities from where external secret agencies, especially Indian RAW are sending logistic support to Baloch separatist elements and TTP insurgents in Pakistan. Posing themselves as Pakistani Taliban, these enemies have joined TTP and other banned extremist outfits. In the recent years, especially TTP’s insurgents and its affiliated banned groups conducted many terror-activities in various regions of the country like suicide attacks, ruthless beheadings of tribesmen, assaults on security personnel and prominent figures including Shias, Ahmadis, Sufis, Christians and Sikhs as part of the scheme to create chaotic situation in the country.

It is of particular attention that spokesman of the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Usama Mehmood and some other militant groups have also condemned the TTP in relation to the massacre of innocent children at Peshawar school.

Nevertheless, after Peshawar incident, strong public reaction against extremism/terrorism and dislike for Taliban/TTP elements—has been equally condemned by the political leadership as a national policy, showing solidarity with the armed forces. In this connection, on January 2, this year, political and military leaders agreed on a draft of legislative measures which would pave the way for establishment of special military trial courts. The participants also reiterated the commitment for dismantling and destroying all forms of terrorism and terrorist networks operating within the country. It was unanimously resolved that the 20 points enunciated in the All Parties Conference (APC) Resolution of December 24, 2014 shall be acted upon expeditiously—the bill as 22nd (Constitutional) Amendment, will be enforced soon after its approval from the parliament.

Meanwhile, media has reported that an Indian person namely Mehdi Masoor of Banglore remained affiliated with ISIS, and is running a pro-ISIS tweeter account. So question arises as to how India justifies its propaganda of ISIS linkage with Pakistan?  As a matter of fact, New Delhi has been frustrated by the successes achieved against the Taliban/TTP insurgents by Zarb-e-Azb. Therefore, sinister aim of Indian false propaganda about the presence of ISIS in Pakistan is to distort country’s image in the eyes of international community, while ISIS does not exist in Pakistan.

Mass Conversion to Hinduism In India

By Faheem Belharvi

Bajrang Dal, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) converted at least 57 Muslim families (200 people) into Hindus at a “Purkhon ki Ghar vapsi” coming home of the ancestors ceremony held at Agra, Uttar Pardesh. It is not a first event of its kind. Previously, in early 2014, Christians were forcefully converted to Hinduism which created unrest among Christian Clergy. BJP is trying to portray the event as of wishful conversion, however, since coming of BJP government in the center, RSS and its offshoots have accelerated their efforts for minority conversion into Hinduism. Recently a BJP state minister for Food and Security, Nirangan Jyoti stated that Muslims and Christians are sons of Ram, those who don't believe, should quit India. There was a lot of protest from Muslims and civil society circles to remove the minister but PM Narendra Modi denied her removal. 

There was a proper ceremony who arranged with coded name by the Hindu Pundits. In the ceremony and asked the Muslim to follow the words as spelled by the pundits. This was a high time that Hindus forcefully converted Muslims into the Hinduism. However, Hindus are claiming their religious is peaceful and there is no concept of force in Hinduism to convert the followers of other religious into Hinduism. This ceremony was the question mark on the assertiveness of Hindu Pundits. As they have violated the basic norms of their religion and tried to harm the ideologies other communities. 

Indian government, especially Indian religious ministry could not take any measures to slab the Hindus by taking this big step against the Islam and Muslims.Indian media portrayed this event negatively and made the Muslims responsible of this. Indian media has the view that the converted families were actually belong to Hindus about thirty years back. Indian media had projected that the families were not forcefully converted as they are free to follow any ideology according to their faith and will.   

Definitely, there were certain social factors for conversion of Muslims into Hinduism like poverty and illiteracy. The remote areas of India where Muslims and Hindus are living to gather. Being as the biggest minority in India, most of the Muslim population is living below the poverty line and they could not even meet with basic necessities. The fault is being exploited by the Hindu Pundits and they take the favour from circumstances to convert the Muslims into Hinduism. 

Surprisingly, Indian Muslim community did not display off their reservations and apprehensions on this ceremony and continued their silence. More than 180 million Muslims are living in India. They are dominating in the field of politics, economy, science and other social and professional sectors despite of that they kept silent on the ceremony. Even Muslim community did not launch any strong protest against this heinous act.

The custodian organization that are designed to protect the rights of Muslims throughout the world are appeared to be toothless. Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) could not lament the issue in order to mount pressure on Indian government.

Muslim print and electronic media also inactive and was not yielded strong response on event of mass conversion. However, in the presence of some very strong news agencies of Muslims like Al Jazeera and Al Arabia TV channels. But it could not respond the rebuttal on the issue. Muslim media should carry out efforts on the pattern of BBC and CNN.

The suggestions are here be given to neutralize such type of incidents in the future. The first and former responsibility of the Indian government to bar Hindu Pundits from doing such atrocious acts as it is the violation of the basic human rights. Being considered itself as a custodian of so called biggest democracy of the world its government must think over it.

Personal analysis, this is a planned conversion and the trend will continue for the next five years. It is part of RSS agenda of converting India into one religion people. It is the idea of Hindutva or Hindu nationalism, being promoted by BJP and PM Modi around the world among Indian origin people.   Stems from this ideology and the forced conversions are against international norms and fall under human rights violations. All major religions of the world are striving across the globe to protect their followers and ensure them peaceful independent religious life. However, the compulsions being committed in India are required to be highlighted massively. It is suggested that such conversions will have serous backlash not only in India but across the globe. Moreover, it has the potential to de-stablize the region. If India continues with this trend of forced conversions along with its successes at international level, the region will be threatened with the same menace.