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My Word
Why Taliban is Winning
by Rajinder Puri
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in
Srinagar urged Pakistan to end terror so that Indo-Pak talks may
commence. That will not happen. Pakistan cannot end terrorism
given even the most sincere efforts by a section of the army
genuinely fighting it.
The New York Times of October 28th quoting senior American and
Pakistani officials reported: “Even as the Pakistani government
plays down the American role in its military operations in
Taliban-controlled areas along the border with Afghanistan , the
United States has quietly rushed hundreds of millions of dollars
in arms, equipment and sophisticated sensors to Pakistani forces
in recent months… President Obama personally intervened at the
request of Pakistan ’s top army general (General Kayani) to
speed the delivery…” Not surprisingly Pakistan ’s assault
against the Taliban is perceived by large sections of its public
as an extension of America ’s war on terror. As a result of this
public disenchantment with the Pakistan government and army
might well equal that entertained for America.
What needs to be done is to stand Dr Manmohan Singh’s Srinagar
statement on its head. Terror cannot be ended to start talks.
Talks must start to end terror. And by talks one does not refer
to the trivial cosmetic proposals bandied about in the composite
dialogue to promote confidence building measures. If talks are
to end terror they must address the core issues: they must
encompass not just Kashmir but also the Pak-Afghan border.
Terrorism is a South Asian problem. It requires a South Asian
solution.
For initiating meaningful talks with
the Taliban the first requirement is to stop demonizing them and
to start appreciating reality. The Taliban are Pashtuns who were
transformed from a warm hearted people to bloodthirsty
terrorists within two decades because they were used as pawns in
the great games played by big powers. They have not had peace
for a single day since the US -- helped by Pakistan and China --
created the Mujahideen to counter Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan. It was America that inducted Osama bin Laden in
Afghanistan. Just as the LTTE and Bhindranwale haunted the
Congress in India, the Taliban are now haunting the US and
Pakistan.
Critics affirm that there is no difference between Al Qaeda and
Taliban. The critics are wrong. The methods followed by both are
the same. The respective goals they pursue are very different.
Al Qaeda seeks global jihad. The Taliban seek non-interference
and self rule. After 9/11 Mullah Omar offered to surrender Osama
bin Laden for trial to any third country but not to America .
The offer was spurned. During Eid this year Mullah Omar said:
“We consider the whole region as a common home against
colonialism and want to play our role in peace and stability of
the region. We assure all countries that the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan, as a responsible force, will not extend its hand to
cause jeopardy to others as it does not allow others to
jeopardize us… Our goal is to gain independence of the country
and establish a just Islamic system there on the basis of the
aspirations of the Muslim nation. We can consider any option
that could lead to the achievement of this goal.” According to
some analysts this indicated that the Taliban could dissociate
from Al-Qaeda.
Why did not America or Pakistan respond to the offer? Why does
not India ignore America ’s failing policy and take the
initiative? All Pashtuns, including the Taliban, are Deobandis.
The headquarters of the Deoband sect is in India. The Indian
clerics of Deoband have unambiguously opposed terrorism and
called it anti-Islamic. Among Pakistan ’s mainstream politicians
Maulana Fazlur Rehman is closest to the Taliban. Some time back
he visited India and called on the Deoband clerics. He held
cordial meetings with RSS and VHP leaders. He told them that
Indo-Pak cooperation would contain America . There are several
Pashtun refugees from Afghanistan happily settled in India .
When they fled Afghanistan they chose India as their desired
sanctuary. Do not these facts provide India justification to
intervene and respond to Mullah Omar’s Eid offer?
Pashto civilians are being bombed
by the Americans in Afghanistan and by the Pakistanis in
Pakistan . In the violence engulfing them to whom will these
victims of bombing turn – to the Punjabis of Pakistan, to the
whites of America, or to their own tribal clansmen fighting
both? On any objective assessment the Taliban operating on their
home terrain have proved themselves as fighters to be second to
none -- including the famed Viet Cong led by General Giap. Their
motivation does not come from Islam. It comes as much from an
unarticulated demand for freedom and self rule as it does for
the Palestinians.
Pashtun frustration is
understandable. They have been artificially divided by the
Durand Line Treaty. For a century they have warded off foreign
rule despite foreign armies attacking them and bombing them. I
have been reiterating for years that a consolidated Pashtun
identity must be given legitimacy through autonomy and soft
Pakistan-Afghanistan borders or they will seize sovereignty.
This view was reinforced by an illuminating article in London ’s
The Guardian of August 7 by Jason Burke who has spent
considerable time in the region. He wrote: “Finally, over the
last three decades something that could be termed the “Deobandi
complex” has emerged in the broad spread of land between the
Indus and the central Afghan highlands. It is not a state but
has virtually every other attribute of statehood short of
printing stamps and money… It is unsurprising that those
marginalized by other relatively unstable and relatively chaotic
political entities such as Pakistan should look to find a home
within Deobandistan or Pashtunistan or whatever name might
eventually be put on its passport stamps.”
The warning signals could not be clearer. Unless policies change
radically Pakistan could implode. Unthinking armchair critics
might welcome the prospect. They should reflect. Who will fill
the power vacuum in a disintegrated Pakistan ? Do they think
India ’s politicians will succeed in filling it? Unless the
governments of India , Pakistan and Afghanistan initiate a
sincere joint exploration of talks with the Taliban the region
might be confronted with a stark choice. If South Asia does not
evolve into a confederating community of sovereign nations, a
sovereign Pashtunistan is likely to emerge. A sovereign
Pashtunistan would break both Pakistan and Afghanistan .
Alternatively the Pashtuns could opt for governance under Kabul
to create a greater Afghanistan by breaking Pakistan . Both
possibilities would plunge the region into chaos and
instability. The three governments most affected should pre-empt
this. The time to act is now.
October 31, 2009
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