Swat operation 2009

By Muhammad Jamil

FOR years, Mullah Fazlullah had a free hand to indoctrinate the people of Swat, and he carried out his campaign through illegal FM radio. The then NWFP government, instead of putting up a brave face, had buckled under his pressure to enforce his version of sharea, which is contrary to the understanding of great majority of the Muslims. Political leadership was also found wanting when Charsadda was attacked by the thugs, and leader of the ANP Asfandyar Wali left his abode to find a safe haven in the President House in Islamabad. In view of the critical situation obtaining in Swat due to Mullah Fazlullah’s vile acts, civil and military leadership had decided to conduct military operation in Swat. On 16th May 2009, operation in Swat was initiated, and within months paradise was regained.

Militants had been destroying schools especially girls schools, shrines, video shops and barbers’ shops. In view of continuous propaganda launched by Mullah Fazlullah, and barbarities perpetrated by his thugs, people were scared rather traumatized. They, therefore, asked the then government to enforce sharea so that their ordeal and suffering could end. Chief of the defunct Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TSNM) Maulana Sufi Muhammad had handed over the list of his demands to the government representatives and was waiting for the reply. Earlier ANP government had given draft Sharea law for Malakand Division to Maulana Sufi Muhammad who had suggested some amendments to it. While talking to media men, he had assured that TSNM would take upon itself the responsibility to restore peace in Swat, Bajaur and other districts of Malakand division. Perhaps, it was strategy to deal with the government to get their demands accepted, or Mullah Fazlullah did not listen to his father-in-law Sufi Muhammad, which had been once acknowledged by himself. Therefore, it was of no use to negotiate with him for restoring peace in Swat. In fact, after 26th November Mumbai terror attacks, the US and the West have been pressurizing Pakistan government that it should take stern action against militants. Hence; any agreement with the militants at that point in time would have been considered as an act of ‘provocation’ by the international community. Secondly, sovereignty is never divisible; you can’t have sharea in Malakand division or Swat, tribal law for Balochistan and 1973 Constitution for the rest of the country. Any amendment can be made by the majority of assembly members. 

Anyhow, Government of Pakistan and the armed forces had to make a choice vis-à-vis put the country at stake by not taking any action or take military action to get rid of the terrorists. Apart from decimating infrastructure and network of the militants, the military also had to make arrangement for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that had left their abodes on their instructions. In other words, they had helped the army by responding to their call to facilitate it so that it could flush out the terrorists from the area. Of course, accommodating such a large number of IDPs was a challenge for the government; and despite the best efforts of the government people did face difficulties. Anyhow, they and their coming generations would later live without trepidation and fear.
To destroy the internal enemies is not difficult for the Pakistan armed forces but because of the divided opinion of political and some religious parties the action was somewhat delayed. Secondly, the govt in its earnest had accepted the peace agreement between the NWFP government and Tehrik Nifiz-e-Shariat Muhammadi; and it wanted to give them some time. The president had approved the Nizam-i-Adl but leadership of the TNSM and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) did not fulfill their part of agreement i.e. laying down arms. It was therefore decided by the government to launch military operation to stem their tide. It was an open secret that the TTP was offering $300 per person to recruit to bring the people on their side, in addition to using the name of Islam.

Defence experts and analysts say that difficult terrain, porous border and friendly population that provide safe hideouts to the militants are the ingredients for the success of guerilla warfare. And TTP operatives had all of these advantages. Moreover, the TTP leadership was using religion to motivate and indoctrinate the people. Some knowledgeable persons and political analysts had been pointing out that India, US and Israel and Afghanistan had coalesced to destabilize Pakistan. Even Pakistan government functionaries hinted that foreign hands were behind the terrorists’ attacks in Pakistan. In this backdrop, it was not an easy task to dismantle the infrastructure and fortifications of the militants. However, Pakistan has proved the skeptics wrong by giving practical demonstration of its ability, capability and willingness to accept the challenge posed by the terrorists. 

In a short span of time, they did more than what the US, NATO and Afghan forces put together could not do in Afghanistan. After having made tremendous gains by flushing out militants from Dir, Buner and Swat, Pakistan Army had moved into Waziristan to destroy Taliban’s infrastructure there. The question then was being asked by critics and analysts as to what took Pakistan so long to decide and to move. The army struck Swat and Waziristan when Indians thought that their proxies were safe and had an upper hand. The Delhi- sponsored TTP overplayed their hand, and tried to move into Buner. This was not acceptable to Army Brass who had given Baitullah Mehsud enough rope to hang himself with.

The statement of Sufi Muhammad denigrating the constitution, parliament and judiciary exposed their real motives; and his live interview was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. According to the government there was incontrovertible evidence that India was involved in inciting and supporting nationalists in Balochistan and also in Malakand Division. Baitullah Mehsud, India and the US seemed to have common objective to destabilize Pakistan, but all for different reasons. The former wished to have control over FATA and then extending it to settled areas of NWFP. India wanted Pakistan to forget about Kashmir and other issues; and the US wanted to prove its point that militants could one day take over Islamabad and nukes could land in their hands. 

Karachi carnage, RAW suspect

By S M Hali

KARACHI incident of 13 May in which 45 innocent Pakistanis (belonging to Ismaili Sect) have been brutally killed has been condemned by all and sundry. Unfortunately, it appears to be the machination of the Indian spy agency RAW, which has been working full time to destabilize Pakistan as well as create disturbances to sabotage the Pak – China economic corridor (CPEC) by indicating to the Chinese that if Pakistan government is not able to provide security to its citizens, how can it protect CPEC. Prior to this incident, Sabeen Mehmood was also killed by RAW to drive a wedge between Balochistan and rest of Pakistan.

Unfortunately, a progressive group in Pakistan is trying to belie our foreign office’s claim that RAW is actively involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. Some pseudo intellectuals would like to sacrifice Pakistan’s security at the altar of human rights. They are demanding that the Foreign Office promise of sharing proof of RAW’s subversive activities in Pakistan with India be made public. They have been holding seminars, writing columns and raising slogans in the name of good practice.
My learned friends have been quoting the example of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the Karachi University (KU), which were discouraged from holding discussions titled ‘Baloch missing persons and the role of state and society’. The event was a commemorative service for the fallen civil rights activist Sabeen Mahmud who was murdered right after hosting a panel discussion on Balochistan’s plight at her Karachi café, The Second Floor (T2F), on April 24, 2015.
At Karachi, when the event was cancelled by the University authorities to maintain the sanctity and sensitivity of the subject, the organizers held the event outside the premises of the University and clandestinely brought in Baloch human rights campaigner Mama Qadeer Baloch to speak on the issue. 

It is being alleged that freedom of speech is being curbed while the free voices are being gagged. It should be understood that Pakistan is passing through very trying times and the very survival of the nation is at stake. If an organization, which is responsible and does not utter a single word contrary to diplomatic nuances, claims that Indian Spy Agency RAW is behind the trouble in Pakistan, it should neither be doubted nor challenged. If the Indian External Affairs Ministry were to challenge the statements of its Pakistani counterparts, it would be understandable for they are the root of the problem. For bona-fide Pakistanis to raise a hue and cry on the subject is questionable. Perhaps such conscientious objectors are not fully cognizant of the gravity of the situation in Balochistan. Security forces, residents of Balochistan, with a different ethnic origin e.g. from Punjab or Karachi are being made to disappear by the scores and the culpable parties are insurgents or those agents of the enemy, who are not fighting for any human rights but are mercenaries or miscreants. Has there been
The Prime Minister of Pakistan flew to Kabul with his team of foreign office and defence advisors, comprising the Advisor on national Security, the Army Chief and the Director General of ISI. Reportedly, before the departure for Kabul high level team, went into a huddle at the PM House, where they discussed threadbare the modus operandi of the visit and talks. High on their agenda was the involvement of RAW in launching anti Pakistan surreptitious operations form Afghanistan into Balochistan, Karachi and rest of Pakistan. One-on-One discussions between heads of states especially of a sensitive nature as discussed above do not reach the Press. This scribe was not privy to the discussion either but has a fair idea of the gist of the matter discussed.
True that Balochistan has been neglected and denied its rights but for the past many years, Pakistan Armed Forces and the Government have bent backward to launch development projects, recruit Baloch youth into the Armed Forces and bureaucracy and uplift the downtrodden province. Many Baloch youth have been misled and recruited by enemies of the state to carry out operations against their own province. 

There are always two sides of an argument. If the government of Pakistan is providing opportunities to the misled youth to lay down their arms and join the mainstream, perhaps their grievances can also be resolved amicably. 

Instead of condemning the armed forces of Pakistan or the law enforcement agencies and blaming them of committing ignoble deeds, it would be prudent to look at the whole picture and not get carried away by occidental vogues of freedom of speech. After all, in the garb of freedom of speech, caricatures of the Holy Prophet (MBUH) and cartoon competitions are also being launched, but all sane minds are critical of such atrocious activities. 

Similarly, in Pakistan, we need to be patient and let the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Interior and Law Enforcing Agencies conduct their operations as they are all collectively fighting the “Battle for Pakistan”. 

If they fail, what to talk of freedom of speech, we will lose our very independence and freedom and become serfs and minions to those who want to subjugate us and use our own brethren against us. Freedom of speech is a favourable ideal but its pursuit sometimes gets glossed over by furtive deeds. 

No one has counted the bodies of the security and the non Balochi people found in mass graves, massacred by those who believe decapitation of humans is justified in the way of demanding their rights. Let good sense prevail. 

Forces behind Karachi massacre

Dr. Muhammad Khan

FOLLOWING the Karachi massacre where 45 people belonging to Ismaili community were killed on May 13, 2015, there arose question, as to who is behind this strategic targeting of those communities and what could be the objective, behind. Ismaili community is the most peaceful community living anywhere in Pakistan. Similarly, the children of APC Peshawar were innocent and so were the Christians, killed during multiple attacks. They all had no enmity or clash with any sect or ethnic group. Then, why these people were being targeted, in a sudden rise of terrorism in Pakistan.

Just a week ago, it was revealed during the Corps Commanders’ conference that, the Indian spying network, RAW is involved in organizing the terrorism in various parts of Pakistan. It was also revealed that, RAW is sponsoring the activities of TTP as well as Baloch sub-nationalists. In a recent press conference, a senior police officer of Karachi Police also revealed that RAW is involved in the target killing of Karachi. There are deep-rooted linkages between some political groups of Karachi and RAW.
It is worth mentioning that, the very establishment of this spying network (RAW) in 1968 was aimed at destabilizing the neighbouring states. It was RAW, which planned the insurgency through instigation of locals in former East Pakistan and paved the way for Bangladesh. The activities of RAW in today’s Pakistan are reality. According to Indian media, RAW is the most powerful tool than ever before in the dispensation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, while dealing with Pakistan. Destabilization of Pakistan is part of Indian strategy and India is doing that since decades. 

The current wave of terrorism under the RAW is aimed at sabotaging the economic development of Pakistan, which has just concluded a $46 billion project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project connect Gwadar Port with the Kashgar, a traditional Chinese business centre in Xinjiang autonomous region. On its part, Kashgar connects China with South and Central Asia, the Gwadar Port provides an excess to Middle East, Persian Gulf and Africa through Arabian Sea besides providing shortest possible land access to Central Asia and Afghanistan. For the development and generating economic activities in Western China, Gwadar port provides shortest possible route to China. CPEC would be a strategic linkage between Pakistan and China, which will benefit not only these two historical and friendly neighbours but other regional countries including India and ASEAN.
In many ways, the CPEC offers a panacea to most of its problems, facing the state and society of Pakistan at economic, social and political level. Besides, the corridor provides China, an alternative overland route for the transportation of its energy needs, especially from Africa and Middle East, avoiding the Chinese Malacca Dilemma. CPEC is a historical opportunity for strategic linkage, but there are many domestic and external challenges, which may be confronted in the completion of CPEC. The security situation in some of the areas along the CPEC route may present a challenging situation, thus need a special consideration. Pakistan Army has already taken the responsibility for the protection of this corridor and facilities linked with CPEC.
Whereas, dealing with the security challenges and desire of people that the CPEC must pass through their areas is a domestic factor, Pakistan can handle efficiently, the regional and global forces, opposing the very construction of Gwadar Port and the CPEC need proficient handling through seasoned diplomacy and political engagements. Upon construction, CPEC will not only benefit Pakistan and China, but contribute towards regional peace, harmony, stability and economic opportunities for all even including India. 

The abrupt increase in the terrorist activities after it was known that, Pakistan and China has finally worked out the modalities to implement this gigantic task means a lot. Indian Shipping Minister made a visit to Iran and offered this Pakistani neighbor to complete the Chabahar port, long pending for its completion. The objective one can abstract from this visit and offer for financial and technical assistance is very clear. India is making all out efforts to counter the operationalization of Gwadar Port and create all out obstructions and hurdles in the construction of CPEC. This speaks of a very narrow approach Indian Government is following. 

Apart from this RAW has strong linkages with some political parties in Pakistan. All the terrorists belonging to such political parties get training, weapon and finances from RAW and carry out terrorism in Karachi and even other parts of Pakistan. The massacre of Ismaili community has to be analyzed keeping in view various angles. Murder of Sabeen Mehmood and killing of Ismaili community has to be seen in the same context. It may an attempt to divert the attention of the LEAs, people of Pakistan and even the media, from the ills and evils of this group. Let us not through the blame of all killings in the credit of TTP or religiously mislead people. Sabeen Mehmood was killed to defame security and intelligence agencies and Ismaili community to de-track the LEAs from chasing the terrorists of political and ethnic parties.

Although the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has chaired a high-level meeting on Karachi’s security situation at the Governor House on May 13, 2015, and assured the grieved families for justice, yet there is a need that the real forces, and their abettors are exposed and brought to justice. It is high time that the province of Sind be governed through rules of governance and justice should be given to the people who have been deprived of this. Pakistan cannot afford such a law and order situation in any part of the country and Karachi is the economic hub of entire Pakistan. This is a clear conspiracy against the state and its perceived economic development. Let us join hand against the enemies of Pakistan and those among us, working against the interests of the state. 

The Fallen Heroes of July 13th, 1931

Sohail Parwaz

Unfortunately the disunity of Muslim Ummah has remained me of few lines from a famous German poem, through which the German intellectuals were condemned and criticised for their silence and cowardice. It aptly fits on the Muslim Block today, which is divided all along thus could never keep itself as a united block to show strength or display their worth. The poem says;
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Socialist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
The Muslim block is finally at a crossroad, where it has completely gone astray and doesn’t find a way out. The Muslim Ummah has not only lost its objective but has lost its distinctiveness, guts, moral fiber and faith (Emaan) as well. The British member Parliament George Galloway, sometime ago bashed the Muslim leadership of the world for their indifferent approach and criminal silence over ruthless killings in Gaza strip by the brutal Israelis. He openly said, “I address the Arab and Muslim leaders sincerely with the question. Have you no sense of shame? Judge yourselves before you are judged”. He never hesitated to condemn, the Indian atrocities in the blood bathed valley of Kashmir, in past, as well. Although both the issues have centuries old historic background, nevertheless, in near future the both were founded with hardly six months difference; the announced siege of the Kashmir valley took place on 26 October 1947 while Israel was founded hardly 200 days later on 14 May 1948. Hence I always call them ‘Twin Mayhem’.
For Gaza, still there are people who raise their voice but ironically for the children of lesser god, mostly the world is dead and mum. Hence it provides me a reason to shed few tears for the burning valley where the inopportune Kashmiris are facing the atrocities at the Indian goons, no less bad than what the Palestinian brethren are facing at the hands of inhuman Israelis in Gaza. The plight of inopportune Kashmiris is a never ending saga. Like 26^thOctober and 5^th February there are many other dates also associated to the Kashmir freedom movement. One more historical day was 13 July 1931, a day that was not only a mile stone but a turning point in the history of Kashmir. That was the day when the Kashmiris bluntly spelled their hate and revulsion against tyranny and oppression.
The deliberate efforts were made to minimize the Kashmir issue’s gravity as some ‘internal matter’ or some bilateral matter, while the history suggests that the issue existed even before India and Pakistan were founded as independent and separate nations. However, through a systematic and deliberate planning the Kashmir issue is being shoved in the dusty draws. The basic issue was the freedom and Kashmiris’ right of self-determination, which was molded with the passage of time as an unfinished business of partition.
As aforesaid that the dilemma of Kashmiris is a anthology of dates while 13th July is just another important date in the resistance of Kashmir. It is by no means the date when resistance started in Kashmir. There have been incidents of equal importance before this date like the deal between the East India Company and Maharaja Ghulab Singh, merely for rupees seventy-five lacs in 1846.  Hence, July 13^th, 2031 was by no way the start of people’s movement against Dogra aristocracy and oppression as some historians seem to have chosen this date to mark it so. However, it was certainly the turning point in freedom movement.
It was the Maharaja and his forces’ highhandedness that forced the people to turn against them in 1865. The Kashmiris, mostly the Muslims were marginalized and persecuted. Severe taxes; almost 300% was imposed on the Kashmiri working classes which was hundred percent Muslims, and these taxes ended pushing the commoners to scarcity and poverty. Among other oppressive tactics, ruining of Shawl industry was one, which the weavers, having no other option available were ultimately compelled to close but were not allowed to, by the State. Those who tried to flee the trade were heavily fined or sentenced the imprisonments. The struggle didn’t die during all that time.
However, sixty-six years later, 13th July 1931 had its own significance as it announced another start of a prevalent movement against the Dogra aristocracy. The things started with the address of an unknown and non-political figure Abdul Qadir to the protesters who gathered at the central mosque in Srinagar against the Dogra rule, on June 25^th. His speech drew huge support from the public who had been subjected to centuries of tyrannical and primitive domination. Abdul Qadir was arrested immediately by Dogra soldiers, and was tried at the Srinagar Central Jail on 13th July. When common Kashmiris gathered to protest against his prosecution, they were fired upon by Dogra forces killing a large number of people, some claim 21, others 22 and few believes that the martyrs were 23, however through cyber research an authentic list of 28 people is found where their names have also been mentioned. Such brutal action by the Dogra forces was repeated across Srinagar, coming down heavily against other protests across the city and painting the city with blood. The incident shook the whole State and the traffic from Srinagar to Rawalpindi and to Jammu was halted from 13th to 26th July. That’s why the martyrs’ day is remembered every year, in the memory of those fallen heroes of July 13th, 1931.
The same prejudiced West that shows concern for Arab Spring and lost sleep for people’s rights in Libya and Syria is ironically seen indifferent to the miseries of the Palestinians and the Kashmir quandary. It’s a point of great concern that due to the atrocities by Indian security forces from January 1989 till mid June 2014, around 94,038 innocent Kashmiris have been killed and that excludes custodian killing which comes around 7,023. During this period approximately 126,209 arrests have been made while 22,778 women have been widowed and 107,469 children have been orphaned. The most heinous crime is of gang-raping which the inhuman Indian soldiers, shamelessly committed, thus raped and molested 10,120 women.
In July 2011, British parliamentarian George Galloway, the veteran campaigner on Kashmir, while addressing a seminar at the UN in Geneva had said that Kashmiris simply want plebiscite which was promised to them by the UN and former prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. He pointed out to the world that due to a crime committed by the British empire the sufferings of the Kashmiris were greater than the Palestinians and some 80,000 had died in more than 20 years of freedom struggle, uncountable numbers had been imprisoned, exiled, wounded and maimed, while the rape was used as a tool of occupation. Mr. Galloway stated in unambiguous words that Kashmir was never the part of India.
Dr. Subramanian Swami of BJP has recently said in a television interview that the only solution to the Kashmir problem is a decisive war against Pakistan and latter must be nuked if India is interested in a peaceful Subcontinent. It reflects the mindset of Indian leadership and their interest for the peace but still if someone is interested in presenting the other cheek to the Indian hardliners then he is certainly living in a fools’ paradise. Forlornly, despite a lapse of 66 years, Kashmiris are still struggling and sacrificing to achieve their alienable right under UN resolutions for the plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. What the world needs to understand is that the global village will always remain restive if the flashpoint Kashmir remains unresolved and is not handled seriously.

The Economic Corridor: A Hurdle For the ‘Enemies’ – II

Aasef Chauhdry
 
While terror-acts still keep on going in Balochistan, but without grasping reality, and speaking in the tone of external entities, some politicians, human rights activists and media persons of Pakistan have been propagating against Pak Army, Frontier Constabulary (FC), country’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) including other law-enforcing agencies regarding subversive acts in the province. It seems ridiculous when some of them allegedly say that security agencies are behind terrorist activities in Balochistan.
It is mentionable that India, the US and Israel have been internationalizing the Balochistan issue in accordance with their secret designs. In this respect, in connivance with the Baloch separatist leaders who have taken refuge in Switzerland, Sweden, US and London, these foreign elements use media, various NGOs and human rights organizations for false propaganda against Pakistan’s security forces and ISI in relation to extrajudicial killings, mutilated bodies and the missing persons.
It is notable that Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is also in collusion with some US Congressmen to get foreign support so as to animate the scheme of separatism in Balochistan. For the purpose, BLA and the Baloch feudal lord, Khan of Kalat had planned to take the issue of Balochistan to International Court of Justice (ICJ) and expected that India would pay $2.4 million lawyers’ fee to contest their case in ICJ. As Indian support did not get materialized, BLA and Khan of Kalat went over to US leaders to press forward their case. In February 8, 2012, three Republican Congressmen including Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert and Steve King tabled a bill before US Congress. Although the US Administration quickly distanced itself from Congressional hearing by Rohrabacher and Peters’ testimony, yet US denial does not augur well with ground reality, as American think tanks, NGOs and websites go on instigating the separatist elements in Baluchistan.
As regards the deteriorating situation of Balochistan and the missing persons, everyone knows the foreign-backed separatist groups such as the BLA, Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and their affiliated outfits including another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province get logistic support from American CIA and Indian RAW—these miscreants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province. They also massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. Therefore, they are responsible for dumped bodies and extrajudicial killings in the province. On a number of occasions, these militant outfits claimed responsibility for their subversive acts.
The government of Pakistan traced the roots long ago and then formally demanded the government of Afghanistan to eliminate the training camps of Indian spy agency, RAW, operational in the landlocked country, stating that they are involved in destabilizing Balochistan in specific and Pakistan in general. As per the statement by the defense minister, it has been confirmed that some of the Baloch leaders used Indian passports. Banned organisations including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) were directly funded by RAW, which had established training camps in Kabul, Kandahar and Nimroz. Pakistani officials are of the view that it has been made clear to the Afghan government that Pakistan is ready for a joint operation and cooperation to eliminate these training camps. They have said that as long as RAW is active in Afghanistan, Balochistan will not become stable.
If the situation mentioned above is critically analysed then it’s not very difficult to understand that why Braham Dagh Bugti addressed a so called German Chapter of the BRP’s press conference to highlight human rights situation in Balochistan and has criticized the CPEC and Gwadar port projects while calling for a UN-sponsored referendum in Balochistan to “decide its future”. The truth is that the drama is over. The naissance of economic corridor will not only bring prosperity to the Baloch people but will prove to be a death warrant for the ages old obsolete and unjust ‘Sardari System’ of Balochistan.

Cultural invasion

By S M Hali

The interest of the Pakistani public in the Indian entertainment industry has been aroused to the extent that Pakistani private television news bulletins extensively air reports about the latest Bollywood releases and developments in the Indian film industry US philosopher Elbert Green Hubbard (June 19, 1856 to May 7, 1915) once commented: “He who influences the thought of his times influences the times that follow.” This lesson has been learnt well by India, although it did not lack tutelage on the subject because of the maxims provided by that master of deceit and guile in statecraft, Chanakya, who professed that the “mind is the ultimate weapon”. The Indian electronic media, comprising film, television, radio and social media, has been more than adept in the art of promoting Indian culture. Sushma Swaraj, the current Indian external affairs minister, in her earlier tenure as minister for information and broadcasting (MOIB) under the BJP regime, had declared that India does not need to invade Pakistan physically as it can conquer the minds and thoughts of Pakistanis through an onslaught of Indian television and film content. 

India has indeed invaded Pakistan culturally through the use of all-pervasive media tools. Pakistani society comprises of two schools of thought: one pursuing an orthodox bent of mind and the other a relatively liberal one. The Pakistani electronic media had a head start over India and its content was so strong that it was being followed with interest, awe and admiration in India too. For Pakistani viewers, Indian television’s only appeal was the broadcasting of Hindi films but, before the advent of the satellite dish, only the residents of the border areas could view them. Pakistani television content was moderate and devoid of propaganda elements since it was directed towards domestic audiences. Moreover, the Pakistani electronic media, until 2002, comprised of only the state-owned television channel, PTV, and the PBC radio network. Satellite television and the cable network, which made some ingress into Pakistani viewership in the 1990s, enabled Indian television channels to be accessible to Pakistani viewers. The Kargil incident prompted the Indian government to ban the ingress of Pakistani television channels into India, perhaps because India wanted to insulate its viewers from the truth regarding the Kargil operations, compelling them to accept the Indian version. Pakistan also followed suit and banned Indian television channels from its cable network. 

With the advent of media freedom and the granting of television and FM radio licenses to the private sector, unbridled power was gained by the private media sector. India found it opportune to invade Pakistan’s airwaves by entering into agreements with various Pakistani entertainment television channels to air Indian dramas, talk shows, song and dance programmes and even quiz and infotainment content for children. Indian movies also started being aired on Pakistani television channels and, at a later stage, the government of Pakistan relaxed conditions for Indian movies to be screened in Pakistani cinema houses. 

The result has been explosive; the Indian cultural invasion has pervaded Pakistani minds, especially the youth and the tender thoughts of children. The interest of the Pakistani public in the Indian entertainment industry has been aroused to the extent that Pakistani private television news bulletins extensively air reports about the latest Bollywood releases and updates regarding developments in the Indian film industry.
Resultantly, Sushma Swaraj’s prediction of invading Pakistan culturally appears to have been fulfilled. Song and dance tableaus being presented by Pakistani school children now render Indian film songs and dances instead of following Allama Iqbal, Khawaja Altaf Hussain Hali, Faiz Ahmed Faiz or Hafeez Jallandheri’s nationalistic poems. The Pakistani fashion industry, even our bridal couture, is under Indian influence. So much so that Pakistani children have started mimicking and emulating Hindu customs in their social events. This cultural invasion has softened the stance of average Pakistanis towards India, eliminating enmity, hatred and promoting overtures of friendship. The latter would have been welcome if the Indian government, its intelligence agency RAW and the current Indian national security advisor, Ajit Doval, had not been engaged in machinations to destabilise Pakistan. 

Under these circumstances, the government of Pakistan, especially the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB), which appears preoccupied in day-to-day political firefighting, must adopt policies to check this Indian cultural invasion. One step could be to outright ban Indian movies from being screened in Pakistani cinema houses and Indian television content on local media. This would be a harsh move and could be counterproductive since, in this age of information technology, even the ban of YouTube in Pakistan has not been effective as the youth manages to view it through proxy servers. Instead, the MoIB must adopt measures to motivate the Pakistani film and television industry to produce content superior to Indian media instead of making cheap copies so that Pakistani viewers slowly lose interest in Indian programmes and this cultural invasion can be checked effectively with a counter-narrative. 

Naltar tragedy and display of valour

 By Muhammad Jamil

Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman told state television that “the MI-17 helicopter was fully airworthy, but just prior to landing it suddenly lost control due to technical reasons”. He dismissed as bogus claims by Taliban of having shot it down. Pakistan Air Force has constituted the board to investigate the deadly air crash at Naltar, which has begun its proceedings. “It was purely an accident, and accidents do happen,” Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said. Envoys of the Philippines and Norway and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors were among seven persons killed when the helicopter, carrying 12 foreigners, crashed in Gilgit-Baltistan area in the north. Two army pilots and a Pakistani crew member were also killed in Friday’s crash. The nation will always remember their valour, sense of responsibility and for laying down their lives to save many precious lives.

When the helicopter crash-landed at the school, it caught fire. According to a TV channel report army and Air Force officers and jawans virtually went through the flames to evacuate the dead and especially survivors before fire could reach the fuel tank. The survivors of course are the witness to the tragic incident, who did not notice any hit by the rocket. South African High Commissioner Mpendulo Jele, who was on board the helicopter but miraculously remained unhurt, was all praise for military officials and jawans. “It’s an accident that can happen anywhere in the world. Unfortunately we lost some of our colleagues, but Pakistan military saved many lives,” he told a news channel. He added it was a miracle that there were many survivors - twelve passengers survived the crash, as in all there were 19 people on board. 

International community has shown solidarity with Pakistan on Naltar tragedy, which was not sabotage or an act of terror. It was an accident, an adversity or one may call it misfortune. Though tragedy or an accident sometimes does not have a cause, a board has been set up by PAF to investigate the Naltar Helicopter incident. Reportedly, the black box of the helicopter has been found and according to initial investigation the incident was not an act of terrorism. President Mamnoon Hussain has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the tragic Naltar incident. He prayed for the departed souls and extended heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families. The President stated that the government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened over the tragic death of foreigners in the unfortunate incident and equally share the grief of the affected families. 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended condolences on the demise of the two ambassadors and the spouses of two other envoys who died in the crash and had declared one day-mourning on Saturday for the loss of invaluable lives in the tragic accident. The prime minister on Saturday called Malaysian premier Najib Razak to convey his condolences over the death of Malaysian ambassador’s wife. He had contacted the Prime Minister of Norway on Friday to extend condolences on the death of Norwegian ambassador to Pakistan. “The entire Pakistani nation is heartbroken on the incident,” he told the Norwegian prime minister, according to a statement issued by the government. It is just sheer bad luck for Pakistan that a tragic accident took the lives of foreign diplomats. However, the TTP spokesman claimed the responsibility for having downed the helicopter. 

Indeed, it was a false claim and nobody believed that TTP militants have had the capacity to launch such an attack in that area. According to ISPR it was not sabotage or an act of terror but an accident; and there is no reason to disbelieve him. DG ISPR said: “The helicopter crashed due to a technical fault and ruled out the possibility of any terrorist or subversive activity. However, human error has to also be ruled out after a thorough inquiry so that we can rest easy.” The US State Department said on Friday it had no reason to doubt Pakistan’s claim that a helicopter crash, which killed several people including two ambassadors, was an accident. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said: “The Pakistani air force has already said something about this. They described it as a technical fault that they believe was responsible.”
Reminded of a claim by the banned TTP that it had brought down the helicopter, he said: “We have no reason to doubt what the Pakistani authorities have said.” Envoys of Netherlands, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Philippines, Sweden, Lebanon, Malaysia, Poland and Indonesia were on the unfortunate flight. Ambassador of Indonesia Burhan Muhammad was reported to be in a critical condition with 75 per cent burns. The 10 survivors had “varying degrees of injuries”. The injured are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital at Jutial, about 30km away from the area in which the crash occurred. The delegation was on its way to inspect projects on a three-day trip to Gilgit-Baltistan, and also to pay a visit to ski-resort where they were set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Having that said, international community has stood by Pakistan in this hour of grief. 

The Naltar incident was the fifth crash involving the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters since 2004. Most of the crashes, according to investigations into previous incidents, happened because of technical failures. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called his Malaysian counterpart Dato Sri Mohammad Najib to condole the death of Mrs. Datin Habibah binti Mahmud, wife of the Malaysian High Commissioner in the crash. Adviser to PM for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz called Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert Rosario to convey condolences on the death of Ambassador of the Philippines Domingo Lucenario. United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon expressed his sorrow and condolences over the helicopter crash in Gilgit-Baltistan that resulted in seven deaths, including two foreign ambassadors. In a statement, the UN secretary-general extended his condolences to the families of the crash victims of the Philippines, Norway, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as his wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.