Terrorism and SAARC

Now the wheel has come back a full circle. The Pashtuns, who form the biggest majority in Afghanistan, are, generally, up in arms against the 'occupation' of their country with the complicity of the warlords from the North. A surrogate regime under Pashtun Karzai is supposed to run the country but all reports indicate that its ambit is Kabul. While the South/East remains under the influence of the Taliban, the rest of the country is run like small fiefdoms by the accomplices of the Kabul-regime. To ingratiate the warlords, the foreign forces had to look the other way at the fantastic growth of opium in Afghanistan in the last 4 years. It was started by the greed of the Northerners and the South also started chipping in for its 'survival'. Even the Karzai Govt concedes that opium etc are earning the country about $ 4 Billion every year as the demand for the drugs remains high in US, Russia, EU etc. Taliban are reported to be getting a share out of such earnings by providing security to such operations in the Pashtun area. As such this makes their lifeline.

As Pakistan has been suffering from acts of terrorism by the extremists, it had demanded that the border may be walled like in Berlin of Soviet days. This has implications which can only be overridden by the consideration for winning the 'war on terror'. However, finally this was not agreed to by the parties concerned. Now about 80,000 troops are trying to seal all movement across the border. The cost to the forces is high as the topography defeats operational capability of the troops.

The progress of the 'war on terror' appears to be dismal except for its political utility. Too many reports indicate how the issue has been used to mislead public opinion, particularly in the US. Looking back one finds a far more peaceful Near-East/ South Asia immediately after the Taliban were bundled out of Kabul on the charge of complicity with OBL a la 9/11. Defying history for some reason, the US neo-cons preferred 'occupation' through a proxy-regime which has proved to be corrupt and unreliable over the last five years. The local resentment against the US has been growing steadily due to the terrible governance by its surrogates. As the economic situation keeps on deteriorating, particularly in the Pashtun areas, despondency appears to be the name of the game there. The indiscriminate bombing by foreign troops on the basis of 'intelligence received' appears to have helped the Taliban in a big way as their numbers swell despite the remonstrance by a 'beleaguered' Karzai.' Such killings in Pakistan are fast eroding US' goodwill among moderate majority which has obliged the elected Govt to take a tough stand on the issue.

SAARC can do precious little while Kashmir is burning. It is time India heeded the attempt by Arundhatti Roy etc to smite her people' conscience. Branding the freedom struggle as 'insurgency' would only complicate the situation. The oppression launched by 'occupation forces' would incite more volunteers to join the Jihad from all over the Muslim world. Once Kashmir gets an equitable deal, SAARC would be able to function more harmoniously to realize its potential for quantum-jumps in human welfare including victory over Terrorism.  

The writer is a former Secretary Interior

E-mail imnor@brain.net.pk