Peshawar massacre: Pakistan bleeds

Faysal Namver

Homegrown terrorism backfires and finally the illusion of self-righteousness explodes

Scarred by the Peshawar bloodbath, Pakistan miserably rises to the occasion and tries to redefine the discourse of terrorism on a broader level, while PML-N and several others merely condemn the incident. Simultaneously, the army swings into action and plans an all-encompassing offensive to counter the menace of terrorism, in addition to the ongoing operation in North Waziristan.

The massacre of 133 children at a school in Peshawar by the Taliban is living evidence of the failure of Pakistan as a state. TTP took responsibility for this attack and reiterated that it was enacted in retaliation to Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Pakistan’s inability to eliminate the TTP up till now shows failure on the part of the state and the army. The prime minister termed it a ‘national tragedy’, and pledged the annihilation of terrorism. A three-day public mourning was announced, while several political denunciations and protests sprang up from oblivion. This type of political practice has been in effect ever since the advent of modern terrorism, after 9/11. This cannot go on, as the Pakistani populace refuses to accept political rhetoric now.

This extremist mindset has been bred since the Zia era, the Afghan-Soviet war, the mujahedeen, the proxy wars, American aid to the resistance, and all that followed. After the Soviet war, the Pakistani state continued to use Taliban for maintaining its influence in Afghanistan. Post 9-11, Pervez Musharraf aligned with the United States, and stated that America was acting like a wounded bear so Pakistan should cooperate. This led to a massive campaign against the Afghan Taliban. Mostly, terrorists of Arabic descent were extradited, as their links with al Qaeda had been established. Pakistan maintained a soft spot for local jihadist organisations and the Afghan Taliban, while ensuring its own continued influence within Afghanistan.

PML-N has been associated with extremist organisations for a long time whereas the state created a narrative of good and bad Taliban for its own vested interests

The entire world has seen an escalation of terrorist violence, and the killing spree continues. PML-N has been associated with extremist organisations for a long time whereas the state created a narrative of good and bad Taliban for its own vested interests. But the brutal killing of the Peshawar children cannot go unpunished, as the entire nation has risen up against this atrocity.

The Pakistani state, the establishment, PML-N, the army, and all political parties need to pick their sides cautiously because each one of them stands in deep waters at this crucial juncture in time, because the survival of Pakistan is in jeopardy. PML-N has been rightly accused of cooperating with and supporting the Punjabi Taliban, which is a Punjab-based militant faction. PML-N and other political and religious parties have been continuously accused of harbouring terrorists through overt and covert means, whereas the army was responsible for creating them in the past. Pakistan is infamous around the globe for its state-sponsored activities, but it never learns its lesson.

Another serious predicament is the dissension between organs of the state on matters of national security, and all the political actors that may influence the decision-making process. Parts of the state might still be reluctant to execute an all-offensive strategy for all types of militants because some of them could be still effectively used against neighbouring countries, in respect to Pakistan’s susceptible geostrategic position, and its volatile borders.

Pakistani politicians tend to support various militant groups for their separate purposes. With the exit of American security forces from Afghanistan in the near future, Pakistan is put in a problematic position. The deep state might want to maintain its influence in Afghanistan, while harbouring selective extremist outfits, which may be employed to continue the covert offensive strategies. The development of strategic relations between Afghanistan and India is not favourable for Pakistan, because it weakens its position in the region. Pakistan has been involved in proxy wars all this time, and yet it has refused to discontinue this national security policy despite numerous setbacks. This homegrown terrorism has become an enemy of the self, while external political actors benefit from it.

With the passage of time, the Pakistani nation has been fooled with several narratives pertaining to terrorist groups and their agendas. One narrative insists that terrorist groups are fighting a ‘holy war’

With the passage of time, the Pakistani nation has been fooled with several narratives pertaining to terrorist groups and their agendas. One narrative insists that terrorist groups are fighting a ‘holy war’, which revolves around sectarian violence. Another version states that certain terrorist groups are waging proxy wars against potential enemy states, which is supposedly justified because of the volatility in the region. This promotes a mixed patriotism and support for preferred versions of militancy, but all this has created a certain kind of mysticism pertaining to the identity of terrorist outfits. Some have publicly announced a battle against India, while encouraging the Pakistani population to indulge in jihad, addressing processions in broad daylight. This shows the helplessness or of the state when it comes to eliminating such outfits, who have the audacity to publicly tarnish the image of Pakistan. This leniency forces one to conclude that this outfit must have the Pakistani state’s support otherwise such public instigation is not possible. Such outfits perpetrate sectarian violence, as the survival of their version depends upon sheer domination through overt force and intimidation. Saudi funded madrassas are being run without any sort of check and balance. These madrassas would usually propagate the Wahabi version of Islam, as it struggles to increase its dominance as the preferred narrative. Al Qaeda was established by Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agencies during the Afghan-Soviet war. Saudis have been propagating the Wahabi and Salafi schools of thought in Islam since the 1930s. The Wahabi version opposes the Shia version of Islam, and this is why Saudi-backed prohibited outfits have persecuted this sect. Saudi Arabia has been spending a massive portion of its oil income to finance jihadi training camps. It has been responsible for promoting militancy at a global level.

Pakistan has repeatedly allowed the operations of terrorist organisations on its own soil by maintaining its selective criteria for ‘bad’ Taliban. Now, this has backfired, and is wreaking havoc within Pakistani territory and its surrounding regions. This needs to stop and all political parties must stop harbouring their own versions of extremist organisations, as Pakistan does not have the ability to withstand the growing threat of terrorism.

Hence, the Pakistan needs to retrace its steps and eliminate terrorist groups in one holistic blow, irrespective of their internal or external alliances. The organs of the state should be on the same page otherwise external players might benefit from Pakistan’s internal rifts. The Peshawar massacre must be the last straw to invigorate the consciousness of the Pakistani state because the people demand justice for the innocent lives lost, as a result of decades of terrorism activity.