Pakistan – Terrorism and Violence

September 23, 2018

Pakistan – Terrorism and Violence

Padmini Arhant

It is time for Pakistan to realize that terror and violence only lead to failures with nothing to gain instead tremendous loss of trust and respect from those Pakistan expects cordial relations. India as neighbor is routinely subject to Pakistan fostered terrorism and violent episodes targeting either Indian security force on the Line of Control (LOC) and on the International border or civilians in Indian metropolis that are not even recognized as criminal activities by those behind these actions in Pakistan.

In less than a week since the murder and mutilation of Indian Border Security Force personnel Narendra Singh on the international border in the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir, there has been abductions of four police officers among whom three Special Operatives police (SOP) have been ambushed and killed with their bodies desecrated like the earlier BSF member in the abhorrent crime that appears to be the desperate strategy for terrorists and sources instigating such incidents.

The bizarre reference to these terrorists as Jihadis i.e. freedom fighters among Pakistan’s pro terror factions reflects the commitment to sabotage peace efforts held hostage to terrorism and destabilization in the dismal hope of causing eternal chaos and turmoil besides maintaining adversarial status with India. 

Ironically, the newly appointed government overture for comprehensive direct talks while remaining oblivious to cross border terrorism and serial killings of Indian security forces confirms the lack of sincerity especially in the absence of condemnation on terrorism resulting in tragic deaths and subsequent violations to their body contributes to acrimony.

Pakistan’s fragile democracy subjugated in sponsoring violence and terror across the border is also mostly experienced at home as witnessed during Pakistan’s national election in Quetta polling station producing 31 casualties that should be a matter of concern for relevant authorities to rein terror consuming lives within Pakistan. The denial of terrorism despite terror attacks in different parts of Pakistan is yet another problem for Pakistan citizens. 

The refusal to recognize the issue that are constant and continues to test terror victims’ endurance in Pakistan and in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir pose a major credibility factor for Pakistan army and ISI backed government. The authorities defiance to Indian citizens’ legitimate requests to Pakistan to purge terror on their soil prior to any engagement in dialogue is a conflict of interest. 

For example, quoting United States administration post 9/11 – You are either with us or with the Terrorists was the US political ultimatum to allies and enemies alike defining the criteria on relations beginning with security that enables free flow of economic, social and cultural ties directly dependent on transparent crackdown and containment of terror and other obstructive agenda. 

Now, here is the poignant question to Pakistan’s army, ISI and the civilian government on their oversight. 

Is Pakistan a safe country for its own citizens? 

The response is commonly known worldwide. The citizens in Pakistan are conditioned to accept terrorism as part of their life with scores of incidents that has claimed members not only in general society but also in politics. The several terror attacks and the significant one being Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) massacre in Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014 killing 132 students and 9 staff members with ISI protected Taliban producing militants photos involved in the grizzly attack daring Pakistan government to take any action against them for that reprehensible slaughter. Similarly when a suicide bomber tried to blow up the school with 2000 students on the premise, the brave high school student Aitzaz Hasan Bangash, a Shia Muslim from Hangu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa thwarted the terrible attempt with his own life. 

The intolerance to Shia in Pakistan, the plight of Baloch in Balochistan, the Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Sindhis in Sindh province, the economically and politically deprived citizens in Pakistan Occupied Azad Kashmir not to mention the diverse ethnic minorities including women in rural and tribal areas are all extremely marginalized and disenfranchised to a large extent. Pakistan electorate receive bullets in return for ballots with the civilian government run by military and intelligence agency exerting hardline policy predominantly disposed to combat position over conciliatory approach yielding setbacks on Pakistan’s desperately required peace and economic development. 

These facts should enlighten not only the obstructionists to Pakistan’s evolution towards viable and sustainable democracy but also the misled and misguided radicalized youths deployed as Jihadis in the Indian State of Jammu & Kashmir ruining their own lives as well as the inhabitants in the region. They squander their future in becoming the firing squad for those who care less about these recruits for ill-conceived aspirations. The decision to represent fanaticism is irrational as they are nothing more than convenient resources used against humanity. They also bear the burden of sins in killing innocent people and destroying the prospects of a positive trend that guarantees progress and prosperity for all those written off as irrelevant in society.

Pakistan authorities prioritizing their duty and responsibility to deliver safety and security in eliminating terror, insurgency and militancy together with allowing a functional democracy via government of the people, by the people and for the people would exemplify transition from destructive to constructive course that would then appeal to anyone they seek normal dealings with moving forward.  Until then there is no point in citing others as scapegoat for self-created paradoxical situation. 

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com

 

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