Fight against
terrorism
By K.S.
Bajwa
IN choosing military options against
terrorist related targets in Afghanistan and Sudan,
Washington has proved its sensitivity to any threats to
it projecting itself as the worlds only super
power. That in many cases, the USA has not been able to
influence some of the global situation to conform to its
concepts, has further heightened this sensitivity.
For years, Libya and Iraq
have withstood direct military action accompanied by
economic sanctions, spearheaded by the USA. Serbia
continues with its ethnic cleansing in the face of all
pressures by the USA and its NATO allies. By conducting
their nuclear tests, India and Pakistan have virtually
blown apart the global nuclear order crafted by the USA
and the nuclear Club of Five.
Most of these
developments, however, did not directly involve the USA
at the domestic level. Terrorist strikes against US
citizens and embassies are obviously perceived as a
direct challenge to the credibility of the USA as the
only super power. Further- more the USA has claimed that
its missile attacks were in self defence under the
provisions of Article 51 of the UN Charter. This is a
far-fetched argument to obscure the blatant exercise of
"Might is right".
The UN has been ignored.
The territorial jurisdiction of a number of countries was
violated during the missile attacks.
Equally, while reserving
its right to hit terrorist bases anywhere in the world,
Washington has asked India not to exercise a similar
option in Kashmir, on the plea that it carries the risk
of igniting a wider conflict. In doing so, the USA
persists with its practice of its hypocritical double
standards. These are dangerous portents for the stability
of the world order.
The punitive nature of
attacks, is intended to deter the Islamic terrorists from
acting against US interests and citizens. This approach
reflects lack of understanding about transnational
terrorism. This type of terrorism has no particular
territorial affinity and is wedded to fanatical and
fundamentalist ideologies, bordering on the fringe of
lunacy. The fundamentalist ideologues of the Islamic
world are outraged by some of the policies and actions of
the USA.
Sustained support to
Israel, backing the autocratic regimes in West Asia,
continued punitive punishment to Iraq which is said to
have caused the death of Iraqi children, presence of US
troops in the holy land of Mecca and Madina and flaunting
of its super power status, are some of the grouses
against the USA that feed the outrage.
It is, however, very
unlikely that the desired, lasting impact has been
produced.
"Strikes will
continue from every where and Islamic groups will appear
one after the other to fight American interests.", a
statement issued by World Islamic Front for Jihad
against Jews and Crusaders, a group formed in February
this year, belies this hope. It is highly unlikely that
such unilateral and isolated missile attacks would deter
the Islamic terrorists from retaliation against
US-related targets.
There are constraints that
operate out of strategic interests. Energy sources would
be the denominator of sustained development in the 21st
century. The USA, with an eye on its long term
strategic interests of security of access to the vast
pool of hydrocarbon energy sources in the Central Asian
Republics as well as West Asia, is not very keen to wage
a total war against the Islamic terrorists. If firm
international action had been taken when five foreign
tourists were abducted and killed in Kashmir by
terrorists of Harkat-al-Ansar, hundreds of lives lost in
Kenya and Tanzania may have been saved.
Unfortunately, the need
for concerted action was lost in the maze of US self
interest. To pursue its strategic agenda, the USA looks
to Taliban to pacify Afghanistan. The Taliban needs
Washington for material support and to gain global
legitimacy. However, the rank and file in the vast
gathering of Wahabi Islamic Madrassa-trained
terrorists hold Bin Laden in absolute veneration. This
fraternity is believed to have vowed to avenge the attack
on their much-admired leader. The blast at the Planet
Holywood restaurant in South Africa seems to be the
curtain-raiser. Similar terrorist strikes of US-related
targets are likely to follow.
Afghanistan has become the
main sanctuary of the Islamic terrorists. Extensive
training camps are aptly dubbed as the Sunni Muslim
Terrorist University. Pakistan is a major player in the
running of these terrorist training camps.
The demand for a
Pushtunistan is likely to gather strength from the close
affinity between the Pushto-speaking Taliban and the
pushtoons in NWFP. The next destination of terrorists,
rendered homeless by the US attacks and Taliban, (When
laid off from Afghanistan) would be Pakistan. From there
terrorist strikes would be mounted against India,
especially in Kashmir and other countries perceived as
the enemies of Islam. In addition, these well-armed and
well-trained Islamic soldiers of the Pakistan-Saudi
Arabia-Taliban Sunni Wahabi axis, would fuel the
sectarian strife in Pakistan and other Muslim countries.
Pakistan, where sectarian
strife already exists, is especially vulnerable. Economic
crises and an upsurge of anti-American feelings are
feeding internal strife. As in the past, in all such
critical situations, a diversion is sought in heightened
confrontation with India. We can expect induction of more
mercenaries into Kashmir, including a larger component of
Islamic fighters out of the Taliban.
Undoubtedly, our security
in Kashmir would come under increased pressure. Lt Gen
Krishan Pal, GOC 15 Corps, conducting operations in the
valley, feels that the Taliban who have been fighting
against rag-tag forces in Afghanistan, would be in for an
unpleasant surprise when they come up against the Indian
Army.
For decades, innocent
Indian citizens have been butchered by terrorists trained
and let loose by Pakistan, a terrorist state by any
international definition. The USA, to promote its own
strategic agenda in the region, has chosen to ignore all
evidence of Pak complicity. So for there has been no
convergence of approach between New Delhi and Washington
to address the problem of transnational terrorism. As
more terrorist strikes are launched against US-related
targets, (which is highly likely) and in consequence, the
influence of the USA with Pakistan and the Taliban
suffers an erosion, a convergence of interests is likely
to develop. While shaping our diplomatic initiatives, we
must consider that the confrontation building up between
Iran and the Taliban will jeopardise the interests of the
USA in Afghanistan and the policy to contain Iran.
Washington will be wary of
weakening the Taliban in any significant manner. The
situation will require careful watching.
We have been presented
with a significant diplomatic opportunity to gather
support for international action against terrorism and
states exporting. We must spearhead this fight. There are
growing signs of gathering support, as was evident at the
recent NAM and in the UN Security Council as well as in
the General Assembly. We must carefully build upon this
momentum.
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