Defeating Terrorism in Pakistan:
An ongoing project to be updated periodically
Different societies have dealt with terror differently. Let us look at the ways in which countries have dealt with the issues.
America beset with fear imposed the “Patriot Acts”, reduced freedoms and waged full scale war against what it considers are the perpetuators of the crime. The wrong victims or those not intended to be harmed are simply collateral damage.
India sent more than 800,000 soldiers to contain the insurgency on its Western borders in Kashmir, and more than 50,000 soldiers to the insurgency on it’s Eastern borders in the seven sister states. 89 insurgencies are being battled in various ways. The Naxalites have control of over a thousand district where the writ of the government is not accepted.
Israel has built a war to keep the violence outside its sovereign territory. It has also imposed draconian measures on an occupied population. It indulges in targeting killing of those who threaten its existence. From Munic to Hamas, its intelligence services marks the opponents and then eliminates thme.
South Africa held a “Truth and Reconciliation” commission, brought all parties to heal the wounds of apartheid and forgave the perpetuators of horrendous crimes.
Bangladesh took its enemies labeled them “stranded Pakistanis” and placed them in a concentration camp where they have been living for decades. Attempts by successive Pakistani governments to repatriate them have not been successful.
In the Orwellian world of “1984″, Big Brother watches everything and everyone is considered an enemy.
In the futuristic movie “Brazil” humans in the future learned to live with terror and bombings. There is a scene in which a bomb blows up in a restaurant, but does not disrupt the frolicking or the dinner plans of the guests. A water and an ambulance quickly cleans up the place and life goes on.
Pakistan faced bombs and threats of annihilation during the cold war and also during the First war in Afghanistan when the entire free world was fighting the USSR in Afghanistan. Pakistan faced the retaliation. Northern Alliance, Khad, RAW and KGB (old names) bombs would burn buildings and civilians. Many of their bombs blew up mosques or “imam baras” setting up ethnic strife.
Pakistan coped with that KGB inspired, Khad directed and RAW instigated violence during the 90s. At least during the Talibaan years, there was no violence and Pakistanis were able to contain the “Klashnikov culture” and bury it along with the cold war.
External events, 911 had heated up the “Great Game” again. Old measures and new facts on the ground dictate new solutions.
Now the scrooge of terror on Pakistani soil has resurfaced in Pakistan with new weapons and new dimensions of carnage. Raw, Khad, the KGB and their masters are at it again. Their goal is to destabilize and “Lebanonize” Pakistan, so that it is unable to progress forward and unable to influence events in Afghanistan and Kashmir
Defeating terrorism in Pakistan is a complex issue. Let us analyze a strategy on how this can be done. When we heard of suicide bombings we always wanted to talk about the root causes of terror.
1) Warding off foreign intervention from across the border. Much of the violence is sponsored from the Indian Embassies in Afghanistan or its proxies. Pakistan must insist on isolating these and monitoring all their activities. Pressure must be placed on Afghanistan to shut down these dens of inequity. A “come to Jesus meeting with Mr. Karzia” is in order. A heart to heart talk with the current resident of the White House is in order. Let China and the Russians send a clear message to New Delhi that the game is up. Government of National Unity representatives comprising the PPP-PML(Q)-PML(N)JI-JUI-ANP etc can send a forceful message to those who meddle in Pakistani affairs.
OBL or no OBL Pakistan’s particiaption in the Global War on terror (GWOT) cannot be mistaken as an open ended blank check to spill Pakistani blood and drown the Pasuhtuns and Baluchs in perpetual mimitic bloody fratricidal wars of attrition.
- a. Americans must be convinced that there is no military solution to fighting terror.
- b. A new aid package has to be negotiated with the Americans and the rest of the world to help complete many of the infrastructure needs of Pakistan.
- c. Pakistani lobbying firms have failed.
- d. If Pakistan is to succeed in changing the paradigm, and chaning world public opinion, the budget of the lobbying firms has to increase from $50,000 per month to $500,000 per month. The OIC also has to develop a strategy and implement it.
- e. Turkish help in imaging Pakistan like Turkey has to be a high priority.
- f. Neocon propaganda on American TV and anti-Pakistan venom on American media has to be thwarted in an organized manner.
2) We need to address the root causes of terror and address the issues of “shariat” and who represents Islam etc.
- a. Alienated sections of the population must be included into the process.
3) Reconciliation with the PML and the Thrik e Insaaf must be consummated. The PML has a loud decibel and Imran Khan has a nuisance value which increases the temperature in the country.
- a. A reconciliation with the disgruntled and pro-Indian Bugti and Indian influenced Marri tribes has to be completed very quickly.
- b. A reconciliation with the Mehsud tribe in WANA has to be completed on an emergency basis.
- c. Baitullah Masud has to be neutralized through negotiations not arms.
- d. Some sort of “hudna” has to be considered with remnants of Al-Qaida so that their energies are not wasted on fighting fellow Muslims.
- e. The armed BLA and their sponsors must be hunted down and eliminated.
- f. All military action against Pakistani citizens must be halted immediately.
- g. The good services of religious parties in Pakistan as well as Arab money should be used to stop the violence.
4) Massive development projects in FATA and Northern Areas and Baluchistan. Americans Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) are moving at a snail place. It has already been two years since President Bush fielded tennis balls on a cricket pitch at the US Embassy in Islamabad on his way back from a great tour of India. Much should have happened which has not happened. The USA now has agreed on considering all the border areas of Baluchistan and Sarhad as ROZ. This definition of ROZ should be extended to the bordering provinces, Baluchistan, Sarhad, and FATA.
5) Pakistan should be given free access in textiles to the USA and to the EU. $ 6 Billion is paid as subsidies to the Cotton farmers in the Jesse Helms territories. This $6 Billion is being kept away from poor Pakistan farmers who could do a lot with this much money flowing into Pakistan. The poor farmers could send their kids to real schools and then to the USA for higher education, creating entrepreneurs.
6) Better seeds, combine harvesters, and refrigeration for the horticulture and food industry supply chain cycle can greatly enhance the agrarian economy. Massing American aid and technology should flow to the agriculture sector so that the Feudal land owners can get a stake in agri-business and horticulture.
7) Changing the lifestyle. Americans have gotten used to lines at the airports and redirected traffic away from Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. Many Federal buildings now do not allow vehicles to get near the façade which usually has huge concrete columns to keep away the unwanted
8) Neighborhood watch. During the lawless days of Benazir Bhutto neighborhoods in Karachi had cordoned off streets with drums full of mud or sand, so that unwanted cars and drive by shootings would not be possible
9) Investor Dollars must be insured by a government of Pakistan insurance policies that provides protection to foreign investments as well as investors.
A combination of all these efforts and others brainstormed by parliament and implemented by all sections of the society will enable Pakistan to march ahead.
ARTICLES ABOUT FATIMA AND BILAWAL BHUTTO
Fatima Bhutto the niece writes a farewell letter to Aunt Benazir Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto and Bilawal Bhutto…a couple made in heaven
Criticism of Benazir Bhutto’s 5E Campaign program
Criticism of Benazir Bhutto. Pre-Assassination
Who killed Liaqat Ali Khan?
On deconstructing the wrong paradigm of the USA media
Rebutting Cohen
Pakistanis are immune to another prophecy of doom
Pakistanis want to hear “Thank You” from the ingrate Americans. Nothing is good enough!
Pakistanis to USA: We want “Friends Not Masters”
Say Thank You
Pakistan US Relations should be normal not transactional
Response to Congressman Hoyer on Pakistan”
On inadequate US Aid to Pakistan
Where is Osama Bin Laden
Where are the Pakistani nukes?
Open Letter to Mr. 10% Asif Zardari. Show some leadership
Open Letter to Mr. Bilawal Bhutto
The CIA connection—Benazir Bhutto assassination was pre-planned, the Zia model with a twist
The 4th Bhutto assassination is a message to the USA. Hands Off Pakistan
Here we go again! Another Indian prophecy of doom. The first one was in 1947
We would like to refer our readers to the an article on “Toppling the US military” that is worth its weight in gold. Search for it on this site. See: “Kissinger threatened Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto”
Also of interest may be an article on “Who assassinated Liaqat Ali Khan”?
Pakistani infrastructure needs> Build Pakistan up as a bulwark against American enemies”
About the inane discussion of taking out Pakistan’s Nuclear weapons.”
Taking out Pakistani Nuclear weapons.”
Wish List from Pakistan to Santa America”
Perpetual Mimetic warfare
The Worst Islamphobes
Where are the Pakistani nukes?
On Liaqat Ali Khan: Who killed him?
On deconstructing the wrong paradigm. Why the US Think Tank industry is wrong!
Rebutting Cohen. He is an Indian agent!
Another prophecy of doom for Pakistan. Blah Blah Blah!
Pakistanis want to hear “Thank You” for the US
Pakistanis to USA: We want “Friends Not Masters”
America: Say Thank You”
Pakistan US Relations should be normal not transactional”
Response to Congressman Hoyer on Pakistan”
On inadequate US Aid to Pakistan”
….Pakistanis are not stupid and have their nukes hidden”
Where in the world is Osama Bin Laden
Criticism of Benazir Bhutto’s 5E Campaign program
Criticism of Benazir Bhutto. Pre-Assassination
Who killed Liaqat Ali Khan?
On deconstructing the wrong paradigm of the USA media
Rebutting Cohen
Pakistanis are immune to another prophecy of doom
Pakistanis want to hear “Thank You” from the ingrate Americans. Nothing is good enough!
Pakistanis to USA: We want “Friends Not Masters”
Say Thank You
Pakistan US Relations should be normal not transactional
Response to Congressman Hoyer on Pakistan”
On inadequate US Aid to Pakistan
Where is Osama Bin Laden
Where are the Pakistani nukes?
Open Letter to Mr. 10% Asif Zardari. Show some leadership
Open Letter to Mr. Bilawal Bhutto
The CIA connection—Benazir Bhutto assassination was pre-planned, the Zia model with a twist
The 4th Bhutto assassination is a message to the USA. Hands Off Pakistan
Here we go again! Another Indian prophecy of doom. The first one was in 1947
We would like to refer our readers to the an article on “Toppling the US military” that is worth its weight in gold. Search for it on this site. See: “Kissinger threatened Zulifiqar Ali Bhutto”
