Now or never !
Rajinder Puri
As Pakistan faces its moment of truth its people remain in a state of denial. This could prove fatal. From former President Pervez Musharraf to the man in the street there is refusal to acknowledge the truth. Pakistan’s role as the launching pad for global terrorism is accepted all over the world expect inside Pakistan. The evidence of the Pakistani hand in the Mumbai terror is irrefutable.
So where do we go from here ?
The US, Russia and Europe are united in criticizing Pakistan. Sooner rather than later joint international action will likely knock out terror camps inside Pakistan. With that the crisis will not end. It will begin. For Pakistanis the real problem is not terrorism. The real problem is Pakistan. It is an artificial state. It was created by imperialist Britain of its global strategic interest.
Along with its creation the Kashmir dispute was created. Thereby the UK ensured that India and Pakistan would apart. There is more than enough circumstantial evidence to indicate this. Books have been written on the subject.
Because Pakistan was an artificial state, democracy could not survive. Genuine democracy could have torn apart. That is why the army took control. That is why the army took control. That is why tension with India was kept alive by the army to perpetuate its hold. That is why Pakistan was forced into dangerous bargains with big powers to survive. That is why Pakistan became the hub of international terrorism. That is why from being created as an artificial state Pakistan might now even disappear as a failed state.
After six decades of independence Pakistan deserves to survive, however. For survival, Pakistan must act. Today the Pakistan Army is committed to helping Nato forces in Afghanistan. But the army has little heart in fighting the war because large sections of it were complicit in creating and sustaining outfits that are being fought.
Pakistan’s dilemma is that the civilian government cannot control the army. And the army cannot fight terrorists for fear of splitting its own ranks. If the army splits, which side will its chief General Kayani back ?
As former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence, as former member of the Special Services Group, which most likely trains terrorists, and as a member of the Janjua community, which has dominated the army since Pakistan’s independence, General Kayani is one man who conceivably could take on the terrorists and yet keep the bulk of the army intact.
The question is, will he ?
( The writer is a veteran journalist and eminent cartoonist)
Source: The Sunday Statesman,Kolkata 14 December 2008.
Why should we read it thrice ?
- For understanding the ground reality of epicentre of Terrorism in Pakistan, rocking the world.
- For understanding the myth of friendship between India and Pakistan.
- For understanding the level of understanding of our Secular Politicians, Human Rightists and the Internationalists in India.
Our thanks to Sri Rajinder Puri and The Sunday Statesman Kolkata.
posted by Sambuddha Gupta.
