Articles of the year 2015
Published on Marach 09th 2015
The fast moving events in the ME are focussing the World’s attention to the latest troublespot–Syria. The IS ( Islamic State) being the new kid on the block has quickly established itself as the force to be reckoned with. It has shown it has the required ruthlessness to make the others sit up and pay attention. The current situation has the Saudis who have till now been encouraging and exporting their Wahabi extremism, creating terrorist cells throughout Pakistan. The Osama Bin Laden outfit was the most visible and successful terrorist network that was created ostensibly to destroy the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan. This culminated in the twin tower bombing, the effects of which are still being felt in the US. The Wahabis Madressahs that are a breeding ground for the ‘Suicide Bombers’ and are destroying the once calm countryside that was Pakistan’s peaceful rural hinterland. The Wahabi extremism that has cost Pakistan over 50,000 dead and many more injured. The huge funding by the Saudis (read Wahabis) who are behind the killing of Shias in Baluchistan are undermining the Provincial administration, and with a carefully crafted encouragement by the Indians supporting the insurgent movements of the Baluch. They are fighting a turf war against the Iranians — on Pakistani soil. Creating more than a headache for the Pakistani administration. Pakistan has enough problems grappling with poverty and illetracy without the Wahabi funded terrorist activities. The killing of Shias and the targeting of Shia mosques is not only reprehensible, but anti-Islam. But with the Saudi blessings, the Islamic cover is a given. The danger is to the State of Pakistan, and this threat can destabilze Pakistan itself.
Pakistan is going through an extremely difficult period, with the Political parties riddled with corruption facing charges of rigged elections and an army that is fighting a battle to root out insurgents in the Northern areas. These insurgents have been funded by the same Wahabis, that are now seeking our help, against the IS the new threat, which is assuming International proportions. The IS is managing to attract school children even from Europe. The concerned parents have raised the alarm, and the British and French Governments are scrambling to stem this flow of children heading off to join the IS in Syria. The growing popularity and spread of the IS is spreading from Syria towards Yemen and on towards Saudi Arabia making the already shaky house of Saudi even more nervous. Today the dream of an Islamic State is morphing into a reality, but with the savagery and brutality that comes with war. It is this savagery that has scared the Saudis into rushing to call in their favours from Pakistan. Whilst ignoring the damage they have inflicted upon Pakistan by their reckless funding of Wahabi Madressahs. It is also the fault of our leaders that we have managed to allow the Saudis to spread their nefarious influence and allowed the Madrassahs to indulge in their spread of terrorist activities, for a few pieces of silver.
Before the clearing of the Northern Areas, a cleansing of the Madrassahs should be done. The Madrassahs like the monasteries of old are indeed major contributors to the feeding and shelter of poor children. And as such they are welcome. However when these Madressahs become the nests for training suicide bombers, then they must be severely dealt with. Also the political parties that provide the cover for such Madressahs should be banned. There cannot be two opinions on this. The Government should have kept close watch on their activities, monitoring them from time to time. At any sign of militant behaviour the Madressahs owners should have been shut down and handed over to a peaceful group, of which there are many. The Government of Pakistan should not have ignored the signs of militancy, long before the suicide vests started being manufactured. Was it not obvious that the suiciders were being used to kill and maim innocent Pakistanis? Why have our successive administrators turned a blind eye to the growth of terror schools? A classic case was the Lal Masjid cleric who challenged the writ of the State, and continued to do so while kidnapping the workers of beauty parlours in Islamabad. The Burkha brigade was seen on TV with bamboos guarding the perimeter of the Madrassah, in between patrolling the streets of Islamabad to impose their version of Islamic laws. They challenged the writ of the State, and only a crackdown ordered by the Min. Of Interior brought it to a halt. The cleanup was costly, and many lives were lost. It did serve to bring down the Musharraf Government.
The Pakistanis are a peaceful people, poor but hardworking. They are forced to send their children to Madressahs for boarding lodging and education. Certainly not to be trained as terrorists, and to do the bidding of foreigners, to their own special agenda. The Sunni Shia wars are being fought on our soil. This is unacceptable. When Gen Raheel visited Saudi Arabia it was believed that a message was delivered to the Saudis that the funding to terrorist Madressahs should be stopped. The message now should be stronger. If IS has grown into a monster, it has been created by Saudi funding, and maybe too late. The Monster is turning on its own creator.