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Pakistan Army using chemical weapons in Balochistan
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- Hindu Baloch
Date Created
- 23 Jan 2006
Date Edited
- 23 Jan 2006 09:00:17 AM
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<font face="verdana" size="4"><b>Pakistan Army using chemical weapons in
Balochistan, says former Chief Minister Mengal</b></font><br>
<font size="2">Karachi | January 23, 2006 4:27:14 PM IST</font><br>
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Former Chief Minister of Pakistan's Balochistan province, Sardar Akhtar Mengal,
has claimed that Pakistani forces are using chemical weapons in Baluchistan.
<p> </p>
<p>Mengal, who addressed the media at the Karachi Press Club, backed his claim
by showing pictures of Baluch civilians who he said had been hit by chemical
weapons.</p>
<p>Further backing his claim of use of chemical weapons Mengal pointed to the
pictures and said that " you will note the blood coming out of people's
mouth without any injury to their bodies...what does this show...it shows that
poisonous gases have been used in the military operation ".</p>
<p>Demanding the presence of international mediators to ensure a fair resolution
of the dispute between the tribal-dominated province and Islamabad, Mengal, who
is presently the President of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), said that
the Balochis are not ready to negotiate with either President General Pervez
Musharraf or his hand-picked government.</p>
<p>"Chemical weapons are being used (to resolve the crisis), and a large
number of women and children have died as a result," Mengal claimed in an
interaction with the media here.</p>
<p>"The parliamentary committee on Balochistan has failed to assert itself
and the Baloch leadership has decided that we would not engage in any sort of
dialogue with the military leadership or its representative committees. We can
only talk in the presence of an international mediator," Mengal said, while
appealing to all countries, "which claim to be an exponent of humanity and
peace, to intervene immediately."</p>
<p>Mengal's lament was completely endorsed and supported by the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which categorically rejected repeated claims by
authorities in Islamabad that regular armed forces were not being used to
crackdown on people in Balochistan in the wake of a string of rocket attacks by
tribal militants last month.</p>
<p>The HRCP claimed that it had concrete evidence that action by the armed
forces had led to the deaths and injuries among civilians" and that
"populations had also been subjected to indiscriminate bombing".</p>
<p>"I challenge, I challenge the (Pakistan) government on their statement
that there was no bombardment, number one. There was; and local people have
confirmed that, or have alleged that. There were credible reports of that.Number
two, they say nobody has died because of the conflict there. This is amazing,
because if you go there and you find out people have given names and sadly, most
of them were children and women," HRCP chairperson Asma Jahangir told
reporters at a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday.</p>
<p>According to a HRCP report, up to 85 percent of the 22,000 to 26,000-strong
population in Balochistan's Dera Bugti town has fled from their homes after they
were repeatedly hit by paramilitary shelling.</p>
<p>The report described the situation in Balochistan as "a war-like
situation, militarisation and politico-economic conflict in Balochistan,"
and by denying this government was only confusing the issue and "making it
more intractable."</p>
<p>Demanding an immediate cease-fire in the province, the HRCP said Pakistan's
Parliament must meet in a special session to ensure that negotiations and
dialogue is sustained.</p>
<p>Jehangir pleaded with the military-backed government to halt army action in
Balochistan, warning that if this was not done, the negative repurcussions on
the future of this smallest of Pakistan's four provinces would be enormous and
of long-term duration, which could have a delibitating impact across the
country.</p>
<p>Rebutting the government's claim as regards end of military action in
Balochistan, Jehangir said the military operation" was still on in various
parts of the province.</p>
<p>"Four brigades regular army, 35,000 Frontier Corps, 12,000 Coast Guards,
8,700 policemen and 2,000 marine forces are engaged in the operation. About 12
gunship helicopters and nine jets are also operating," she claimed.</p>
<p>Also, the former Baluch Chief Minister Akhter mengal rejected the
government's claim that Baloch insurgents had links to Indian intelligence
agencies saying they were not Balochis who had the external support, but it was
the Pakistan army, which with the help of external forces, had been crushing the
resistance for Baloch national cause.</p>
<p>An emotional Mengal came down hard on the army, saying it was responsible for
the tragedy of East Pakistan. " If army's role in national politics is not
eliminated, it may lead to another tragedy like East Pakistan. And if it
happens, army will solely be responsible for that", he contended.</p>
<p>The Pakistani military launched a major crackdown against militants in
Balochistan after a rocket attack on December 14 during a visit by President
Pervez Musharraf to the town of Kohlu.</p>
<p>Baloch nationalists say almost 200 people have been killed. The government
has not commented on casualties but analysts say the militants' figure could be
exaggerated.</p>
<p>Balochistan is home to Pakistan's main gas fields and local militants are
battling for more autonomy and control of these resources and greater autonomy.</p>
<p>The crackdown has coincided with the announcement of plans to privatise two
gas distribution firms operating in Balochistan. (ANI)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<font size="3"><b><a name="113802380072207461"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Balochis
demonstrate in London against cultural genocide</font></a></b></font>
<div class="post-body">
<br>
<a href="http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/2006/01/balochis-demonstrate-in-london-against.html">http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/2006/01/balochis-demonstrate-in-london-against.html</a>
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<img src="http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/images/baloch-demo1.jpg" align="right" width="300" height="200">Scores
of Baloch people held a large demonstration against ongoing military
operations in Balochistan–Pakistan on Sunday opposite the official
residence of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.<br>
<br>
The demonstration was called by the Balochistan Action Committee in
association with the Balochistan Rights Movement, <a href="http://www.worldsindhicongress.org/">World
Sindhi Congress</a> and the <a href="http://www.sindhibaloch.org/">Sindhi
Baloch Forum</a>. Balochistan straddles the Iran-Pakistan border. Balochis
from both Iran and Pakistan and their British supporters were present on the
demonstration to show their solidarity with those Balochis suffering state
violence in Pakistan.<br>
<br>
Spokesmen conducted interviews with Geo TV, ANI TV and other media at the
demonstration. They vigorously condemned the atrocities of Pakistani Army in
Balochistan. They condemned the killing of 12 innocent Baloch in custody by
Frontier Constabulary as well as killing of Baloch children and women and the
use of phosphorus bombs as genocidal. Demonstrators also called for an
immediate end to the Kala-Bagh Dam project.<br>
<br>
<img src="http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/images/baloch-demo2.jpg" align="right" width="300" height="200">The
demonstrators called on Prime Minister Blair and other world leaders for their
intervention to stop Pakistan's military from committing genocide in
Balochistan and urged them to send a fact-finding mission to war-torn regions
of Balochistan. They also demanded the immediate release of over 4,000
extra-judicially detained or missing Baloch, an end to all military operations
in Balochistan and a recognition of Baloch rights. The demonstrators gave
their unequivocal support to the people of Balochistan and the victims of
military action in Balochistan and Sindh. A petition letter was handed in to
10 Downing Street by a number of demonstrators.<br>
<br>
Iranian Balochi groups such as the <a href="http://www.ostomaan.org/">Balochistan
Peoples Party</a> (BPP) have formed an alliance with the <a href="http://www.alahwaz.info/">Democratic
Solidarity Party of Ahwaz</a> (DSPA) to push for minority rights and
devolution of power through the <a href="http://http://www.federalcongress.org/">Congress
of Nationalities for a Federal Iran </a>(CNFI). CNFI also includes Kurds,
Azeris and Turkmen, who are working together in a spirit of mutual solidarity.
Iranian and Pakistani Balochis and Iran's Ahwazi Arab population share a
common struggle for recognition of minority rights, an end to persecution and
economic marginalisation and devolution of power. Both the BPP and the DSPA
support non-violent means to empower minorities and are urging the
international community to prevent attacks on innocent civilians in both Iran
and Pakistan.
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<font face="verdana" size="4"><b>Deteriorating internal situation in Pakistan
cause for concern</b></font><br>
<font size="2">New Delhi | January 23, 2006 2:39:06 PM IST</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=228127&cat=India">http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=228127&cat=India</a>
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Speaking to a Dubai daily last week, Senator and senior Baloch politician
Sanaullah Baloch alleged that Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf was
using poison gas to kill innocent civilians in Balochistan.
<p>Comparing the Pakistani President and Army Chief with former Iraqi supremo
Saddam Hussein, the fiery Baloch leader rhetorically asked, " Who is Pervez
Musharraf? He is not a constitutionally elected President. He took over the
reins in a military coup and has no business to speak about the Balochis who are
suffering at the hands of the Pakistan armed forces and the Inter Service
Intelligence (ISI)." This is a serious allegation by any yardstick and will
be noted with grave concern both within Pakistan and by Pakistan watchers the
world over. It is important to note that this allegation is being made by a
senior Baloch and Pakistani politician and will no doubt be investigated further
by the feisty Pakistani print-media which has put the Musharraf regime in the
dock for its recent handling of the unrest in Baluchistan.
<p>The poison gas charge is indicative of the nature of the internal discord and
turbulence that has been brewing in the region for over a year. It may be
recalled that in January 2005, a Pakistani lady doctor Shazia Khalid was raped
in the premises of the Sui gas refinery by a Pakistani army officer and, instead
of punishing the accused, the Pakistani establishment chose to hush up the case
and threaten the victim--so much so that she had to flee the country.
<p>The local Baloch people protested and this was put down with a heavy hand by
the Pak 'fauj' leading to a pattern of escalating violence in which hundreds of
Balochis have been killed and injured.
<p>The Pakistani military presence has increased in the region and this has
further exacerbated an already explosive situation leading to the current charge
of the use of poison gas by the Pak military against their own citizens.
<p>Comparisons are being made--within Pakistan--with the sequence of events that
led to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971 and, while this may be exaggerated, there
is little doubt that the internal situation in Pakistan is deteriorating in an
undesirable manner--and this is of relevance to Delhi and the on-going Indo-Pak
composite dialogue process that saw the two Foreign Secretaries meeting in Delhi
on January 18.
<p>The last week witnessed further unrest in Pakistan when, on January 13, in an
air-strike purported to have been carried out by pilot-less CIA planes, missiles
were fired at a house in the village of Damadola in the Bajaur Agency along the
Pak-Afghan border. The target ostensibly was the Al Quaida number two Aiman Al
Zawahiri but he appears not to have been present at the site (thereby suggesting
faulty intelligence) and the net result was the killing of between 18 to 29
innocent local people--many belonging to one family.
<p>This incident caused widespread anger in Pakistan and a nationwide protest on
January 15 saw thousands taking to the streets in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore,
Peshawar and other parts of the country with the crowds chanting anti-Musharraf
and anti US slogans.
<p>This anti-American sentiment within the country compelled Gen Musharraf to
assert to visiting US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns on January 21 that
Islamabad would not allow such incidents to be repeated and that a recurrence
could adversely affect the cooperation with the US in the war against the al
Quaida.
<p>Paradoxically, many in Pakistan believe that the relative success of the
peace process with India has allowed the Pakistani military to re-assign its
troops from the Indian border to deal with growing unrest within the country and
that the image of stability that the Pakistani President is trying to project is
misleading.
<p>This is aptly reflected in an editorial comment in the Daily Times of January
16 that notes: "We have come to a point where 'security' is apparently held
to be incompatible with 'politics.' The government is bogged down in Waziristan,
Dera Bugti and Kohlu, and there is a growing threat from the grand opposition of
the country of uniting and marching against Islamabad. If the PM and the
President thought they could rely on Punjab, they should take another look at
the growing opposition to the image the government is projecting of
itself." The situation within Pakistan is further compounded by events in
troubled Afghanistan next door and the resurgence of the Taliban has become very
bloody in recent days. On January 15, a senior Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry was
killed near Kandahar in a car bomb blast with the Taliban claiming
responsibility. Later on January 16 a suicide bomber killed 21 people watching a
wrestling match and this has been described as the deadliest attack since the
US-led forces removed the Taliban from power in late 2001.
<p>Consequently, there have been widespread protests in Afghanistan with more
than 5,000 people in the Spinboldak region alone giving vent to their anger
against Pakistan for sponsoring such violence.
<p>Afghan President Hamid Karzai has in the past accused Pakistan's ISI of
nurturing the Taliban and not allowing the fledgling Afghan Parliament to settle
down to the more serious task of reconstruction of a war-ravaged country and
clearly the Pak-Afghan relationship is under strain.
<p>To further stoke the kind of radical fervour that incites such terrorist
violence, the Al Quaida supremo Osama bin Laden (OBL) released an audio tape
through Al Jazeera (Jan 19). It dwelt on the US-led military operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan with an offer of truce and a warning to Washington that more
attacks would follow if the truce was rejected (which the Bush administration
promptly did) and a rallying call to his supporters in the Muslim world. The
impact of this message will probably be known in the near future but it may be
inferred that such communication will seek to convince the 'true OBL believer'
to intensify the distorted 'jihad' that is being waged in the regions where this
virus has spread in a virulent manner.
<p>The theory of the psychology of terrorism accords considerable import to such
motivational group dynamics and this manifests itself in a non-linear fashion as
the world has tragically witnessed in the last two years from Madrid and London
to Delhi.
<p>The complex linkages of the above events would suggest that while Pakistan
and Afghanistan will continue to be caught in the grip of increasing sectarian
and religious radicalism, the anti-American sentiment in the Pakistani street
will be the dominant strand in the popular perception. Gen Musharraf is
perceived to be capitulating to the hated western Satan and the Damadola
incident will generate deep reverberations among the religious right-wing
constituency. In an unintended way, India is no longer the enemy Number One in
the Pakistani psyche and the inauguration of the Amritsar-Lahore bus service
(Jan 20) and the Munnabao-Khokrapar train link (Jan 30) are representative of
the bonhomie at the people-to-people level in the two countries.
<p>Gen Musharraf is in an unenviable position but he remains India's principal
interlocutor at a time when the composite dialogue has made some encouraging
progress. The much hoped for transition to true and credible civilian rule and
democracy in Pakistan by 2007 is a gauntlet that the Pakistani people will have
to pick up. In the interim, the Pakistani military remains the power behind the
throne and long term stability both within Pakistan and its neighbourhood will
be predicated on the perspicacity that the GHQ in Rawalpindi brings to the
table-in dealing with Baluchistan, Waziristan and with Afghanistan and India.
<p>(Cmde C Uday Bhaskar is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Defence
Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. The views expressed here are personal.) UNI XC
NK DS1356</font>
<p> </p>
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<font face="verdana" size="4"><b>Pakistan Army using chemical weapons in
Balochistan, says former Chief Minister Mengal</b></font><br>
<font size="2">Karachi | January 23, 2006 4:27:14 PM IST</font><br>
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Former Chief Minister of Pakistan's Balochistan province, Sardar Akhtar Mengal,
has claimed that Pakistani forces are using chemical weapons in Baluchistan.
<p> </p>
<p>Mengal, who addressed the media at the Karachi Press Club, backed his claim
by showing pictures of Baluch civilians who he said had been hit by chemical
weapons.</p>
<p>Further backing his claim of use of chemical weapons Mengal pointed to the
pictures and said that " you will note the blood coming out of people's
mouth without any injury to their bodies...what does this show...it shows that
poisonous gases have been used in the military operation ".</p>
<p>Demanding the presence of international mediators to ensure a fair resolution
of the dispute between the tribal-dominated province and Islamabad, Mengal, who
is presently the President of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), said that
the Balochis are not ready to negotiate with either President General Pervez
Musharraf or his hand-picked government.</p>
<p>"Chemical weapons are being used (to resolve the crisis), and a large
number of women and children have died as a result," Mengal claimed in an
interaction with the media here.</p>
<p>"The parliamentary committee on Balochistan has failed to assert itself
and the Baloch leadership has decided that we would not engage in any sort of
dialogue with the military leadership or its representative committees. We can
only talk in the presence of an international mediator," Mengal said, while
appealing to all countries, "which claim to be an exponent of humanity and
peace, to intervene immediately."</p>
<p>Mengal's lament was completely endorsed and supported by the Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which categorically rejected repeated claims by
authorities in Islamabad that regular armed forces were not being used to
crackdown on people in Balochistan in the wake of a string of rocket attacks by
tribal militants last month.</p>
<p>The HRCP claimed that it had concrete evidence that action by the armed
forces had led to the deaths and injuries among civilians" and that
"populations had also been subjected to indiscriminate bombing".</p>
<p>"I challenge, I challenge the (Pakistan) government on their statement
that there was no bombardment, number one. There was; and local people have
confirmed that, or have alleged that. There were credible reports of that.Number
two, they say nobody has died because of the conflict there. This is amazing,
because if you go there and you find out people have given names and sadly, most
of them were children and women," HRCP chairperson Asma Jahangir told
reporters at a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday.</p>
<p>According to a HRCP report, up to 85 percent of the 22,000 to 26,000-strong
population in Balochistan's Dera Bugti town has fled from their homes after they
were repeatedly hit by paramilitary shelling.</p>
<p>The report described the situation in Balochistan as "a war-like
situation, militarisation and politico-economic conflict in Balochistan,"
and by denying this government was only confusing the issue and "making it
more intractable."</p>
<p>Demanding an immediate cease-fire in the province, the HRCP said Pakistan's
Parliament must meet in a special session to ensure that negotiations and
dialogue is sustained.</p>
<p>Jehangir pleaded with the military-backed government to halt army action in
Balochistan, warning that if this was not done, the negative repurcussions on
the future of this smallest of Pakistan's four provinces would be enormous and
of long-term duration, which could have a delibitating impact across the
country.</p>
<p>Rebutting the government's claim as regards end of military action in
Balochistan, Jehangir said the military operation" was still on in various
parts of the province.</p>
<p>"Four brigades regular army, 35,000 Frontier Corps, 12,000 Coast Guards,
8,700 policemen and 2,000 marine forces are engaged in the operation. About 12
gunship helicopters and nine jets are also operating," she claimed.</p>
<p>Also, the former Baluch Chief Minister Akhter mengal rejected the
government's claim that Baloch insurgents had links to Indian intelligence
agencies saying they were not Balochis who had the external support, but it was
the Pakistan army, which with the help of external forces, had been crushing the
resistance for Baloch national cause.</p>
<p>An emotional Mengal came down hard on the army, saying it was responsible for
the tragedy of East Pakistan. " If army's role in national politics is not
eliminated, it may lead to another tragedy like East Pakistan. And if it
happens, army will solely be responsible for that", he contended.</p>
<p>The Pakistani military launched a major crackdown against militants in
Balochistan after a rocket attack on December 14 during a visit by President
Pervez Musharraf to the town of Kohlu.</p>
<p>Baloch nationalists say almost 200 people have been killed. The government
has not commented on casualties but analysts say the militants' figure could be
exaggerated.</p>
<p>Balochistan is home to Pakistan's main gas fields and local militants are
battling for more autonomy and control of these resources and greater autonomy.</p>
<p>The crackdown has coincided with the announcement of plans to privatise two
gas distribution firms operating in Balochistan. (ANI)</p>
</font>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<font size="3"><b><a name="113802380072207461"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Balochis
demonstrate in London against cultural genocide</font></a></b></font>
<div class="post-body">
<br>
<a href="http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/2006/01/balochis-demonstrate-in-london-against.html">http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/2006/01/balochis-demonstrate-in-london-against.html</a>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
<div style="CLEAR: both">
</div>
<img src="http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/images/baloch-demo1.jpg" align="right" width="300" height="200">Scores
of Baloch people held a large demonstration against ongoing military
operations in Balochistan–Pakistan on Sunday opposite the official
residence of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.<br>
<br>
The demonstration was called by the Balochistan Action Committee in
association with the Balochistan Rights Movement, <a href="http://www.worldsindhicongress.org/">World
Sindhi Congress</a> and the <a href="http://www.sindhibaloch.org/">Sindhi
Baloch Forum</a>. Balochistan straddles the Iran-Pakistan border. Balochis
from both Iran and Pakistan and their British supporters were present on the
demonstration to show their solidarity with those Balochis suffering state
violence in Pakistan.<br>
<br>
Spokesmen conducted interviews with Geo TV, ANI TV and other media at the
demonstration. They vigorously condemned the atrocities of Pakistani Army in
Balochistan. They condemned the killing of 12 innocent Baloch in custody by
Frontier Constabulary as well as killing of Baloch children and women and the
use of phosphorus bombs as genocidal. Demonstrators also called for an
immediate end to the Kala-Bagh Dam project.<br>
<br>
<img src="http://www.ahwaz.org.uk/images/baloch-demo2.jpg" align="right" width="300" height="200">The
demonstrators called on Prime Minister Blair and other world leaders for their
intervention to stop Pakistan's military from committing genocide in
Balochistan and urged them to send a fact-finding mission to war-torn regions
of Balochistan. They also demanded the immediate release of over 4,000
extra-judicially detained or missing Baloch, an end to all military operations
in Balochistan and a recognition of Baloch rights. The demonstrators gave
their unequivocal support to the people of Balochistan and the victims of
military action in Balochistan and Sindh. A petition letter was handed in to
10 Downing Street by a number of demonstrators.<br>
<br>
Iranian Balochi groups such as the <a href="http://www.ostomaan.org/">Balochistan
Peoples Party</a> (BPP) have formed an alliance with the <a href="http://www.alahwaz.info/">Democratic
Solidarity Party of Ahwaz</a> (DSPA) to push for minority rights and
devolution of power through the <a href="http://http://www.federalcongress.org/">Congress
of Nationalities for a Federal Iran </a>(CNFI). CNFI also includes Kurds,
Azeris and Turkmen, who are working together in a spirit of mutual solidarity.
Iranian and Pakistani Balochis and Iran's Ahwazi Arab population share a
common struggle for recognition of minority rights, an end to persecution and
economic marginalisation and devolution of power. Both the BPP and the DSPA
support non-violent means to empower minorities and are urging the
international community to prevent attacks on innocent civilians in both Iran
and Pakistan.
<div style="CLEAR: both; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.25em">
</div>
<br>
</font>
</div>
<font face="verdana" size="4"><b>Deteriorating internal situation in Pakistan
cause for concern</b></font><br>
<font size="2">New Delhi | January 23, 2006 2:39:06 PM IST</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial" size="2"><a href="http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=228127&cat=India">http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=228127&cat=India</a>
</font>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2"></p>
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Speaking to a Dubai daily last week, Senator and senior Baloch politician
Sanaullah Baloch alleged that Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf was
using poison gas to kill innocent civilians in Balochistan.
<p>Comparing the Pakistani President and Army Chief with former Iraqi supremo
Saddam Hussein, the fiery Baloch leader rhetorically asked, " Who is Pervez
Musharraf? He is not a constitutionally elected President. He took over the
reins in a military coup and has no business to speak about the Balochis who are
suffering at the hands of the Pakistan armed forces and the Inter Service
Intelligence (ISI)." This is a serious allegation by any yardstick and will
be noted with grave concern both within Pakistan and by Pakistan watchers the
world over. It is important to note that this allegation is being made by a
senior Baloch and Pakistani politician and will no doubt be investigated further
by the feisty Pakistani print-media which has put the Musharraf regime in the
dock for its recent handling of the unrest in Baluchistan.
<p>The poison gas charge is indicative of the nature of the internal discord and
turbulence that has been brewing in the region for over a year. It may be
recalled that in January 2005, a Pakistani lady doctor Shazia Khalid was raped
in the premises of the Sui gas refinery by a Pakistani army officer and, instead
of punishing the accused, the Pakistani establishment chose to hush up the case
and threaten the victim--so much so that she had to flee the country.
<p>The local Baloch people protested and this was put down with a heavy hand by
the Pak 'fauj' leading to a pattern of escalating violence in which hundreds of
Balochis have been killed and injured.
<p>The Pakistani military presence has increased in the region and this has
further exacerbated an already explosive situation leading to the current charge
of the use of poison gas by the Pak military against their own citizens.
<p>Comparisons are being made--within Pakistan--with the sequence of events that
led to the birth of Bangladesh in 1971 and, while this may be exaggerated, there
is little doubt that the internal situation in Pakistan is deteriorating in an
undesirable manner--and this is of relevance to Delhi and the on-going Indo-Pak
composite dialogue process that saw the two Foreign Secretaries meeting in Delhi
on January 18.
<p>The last week witnessed further unrest in Pakistan when, on January 13, in an
air-strike purported to have been carried out by pilot-less CIA planes, missiles
were fired at a house in the village of Damadola in the Bajaur Agency along the
Pak-Afghan border. The target ostensibly was the Al Quaida number two Aiman Al
Zawahiri but he appears not to have been present at the site (thereby suggesting
faulty intelligence) and the net result was the killing of between 18 to 29
innocent local people--many belonging to one family.
<p>This incident caused widespread anger in Pakistan and a nationwide protest on
January 15 saw thousands taking to the streets in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore,
Peshawar and other parts of the country with the crowds chanting anti-Musharraf
and anti US slogans.
<p>This anti-American sentiment within the country compelled Gen Musharraf to
assert to visiting US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns on January 21 that
Islamabad would not allow such incidents to be repeated and that a recurrence
could adversely affect the cooperation with the US in the war against the al
Quaida.
<p>Paradoxically, many in Pakistan believe that the relative success of the
peace process with India has allowed the Pakistani military to re-assign its
troops from the Indian border to deal with growing unrest within the country and
that the image of stability that the Pakistani President is trying to project is
misleading.
<p>This is aptly reflected in an editorial comment in the Daily Times of January
16 that notes: "We have come to a point where 'security' is apparently held
to be incompatible with 'politics.' The government is bogged down in Waziristan,
Dera Bugti and Kohlu, and there is a growing threat from the grand opposition of
the country of uniting and marching against Islamabad. If the PM and the
President thought they could rely on Punjab, they should take another look at
the growing opposition to the image the government is projecting of
itself." The situation within Pakistan is further compounded by events in
troubled Afghanistan next door and the resurgence of the Taliban has become very
bloody in recent days. On January 15, a senior Canadian diplomat Glyn Berry was
killed near Kandahar in a car bomb blast with the Taliban claiming
responsibility. Later on January 16 a suicide bomber killed 21 people watching a
wrestling match and this has been described as the deadliest attack since the
US-led forces removed the Taliban from power in late 2001.
<p>Consequently, there have been widespread protests in Afghanistan with more
than 5,000 people in the Spinboldak region alone giving vent to their anger
against Pakistan for sponsoring such violence.
<p>Afghan President Hamid Karzai has in the past accused Pakistan's ISI of
nurturing the Taliban and not allowing the fledgling Afghan Parliament to settle
down to the more serious task of reconstruction of a war-ravaged country and
clearly the Pak-Afghan relationship is under strain.
<p>To further stoke the kind of radical fervour that incites such terrorist
violence, the Al Quaida supremo Osama bin Laden (OBL) released an audio tape
through Al Jazeera (Jan 19). It dwelt on the US-led military operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan with an offer of truce and a warning to Washington that more
attacks would follow if the truce was rejected (which the Bush administration
promptly did) and a rallying call to his supporters in the Muslim world. The
impact of this message will probably be known in the near future but it may be
inferred that such communication will seek to convince the 'true OBL believer'
to intensify the distorted 'jihad' that is being waged in the regions where this
virus has spread in a virulent manner.
<p>The theory of the psychology of terrorism accords considerable import to such
motivational group dynamics and this manifests itself in a non-linear fashion as
the world has tragically witnessed in the last two years from Madrid and London
to Delhi.
<p>The complex linkages of the above events would suggest that while Pakistan
and Afghanistan will continue to be caught in the grip of increasing sectarian
and religious radicalism, the anti-American sentiment in the Pakistani street
will be the dominant strand in the popular perception. Gen Musharraf is
perceived to be capitulating to the hated western Satan and the Damadola
incident will generate deep reverberations among the religious right-wing
constituency. In an unintended way, India is no longer the enemy Number One in
the Pakistani psyche and the inauguration of the Amritsar-Lahore bus service
(Jan 20) and the Munnabao-Khokrapar train link (Jan 30) are representative of
the bonhomie at the people-to-people level in the two countries.
<p>Gen Musharraf is in an unenviable position but he remains India's principal
interlocutor at a time when the composite dialogue has made some encouraging
progress. The much hoped for transition to true and credible civilian rule and
democracy in Pakistan by 2007 is a gauntlet that the Pakistani people will have
to pick up. In the interim, the Pakistani military remains the power behind the
throne and long term stability both within Pakistan and its neighbourhood will
be predicated on the perspicacity that the GHQ in Rawalpindi brings to the
table-in dealing with Baluchistan, Waziristan and with Afghanistan and India.
<p>(Cmde C Uday Bhaskar is the Deputy Director of the Institute for Defence
Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. The views expressed here are personal.) UNI XC
NK DS1356</font>
<p> </p>
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