Saturday, February 7, 2015

Pakistan’s double standards on terrorism









By Jagriti Kumari 

Pakistan, the breeding ground of terrorists, faced one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s history on December 16, 2014. Over 140 people including students and teachers were massacred when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) stormed Army Public School in Peshawar.
Following the Peshawar attack, Pakistan initiated action against militant organisations without making a distinction between the good Taliban and the bad Taliban. However, its effort seems a futile one.
On the behest of America, Pakistan reportedly banned Hafiz Saeed led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the Haqqani network ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to India.
JuD is a sister organisation of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant outfit blamed for masterminding the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai. Hafiz Saeed is known for his anti-India tirade.
There are dozens of jihadi organizations: Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, al-Qaida and Jalaluddin and Siraj Haqqani’s network have been operating from the soil of Pakistan.
Apart from Haqqani network and JuD, Pakistan also banned Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami, Harkat-ul-Mujahidin, Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation, Ummah Tameer-i-Nau, Haji Khairullah Hajji Sattar Money Exchange, Rahat Limited, Roshan Money Exchange, Al Akhtar Trust, Al Rashid Trust.
Ahead of Obama’s visit to India in January, the US has asked Pakistan to ensure that there is no cross-border terror incident during the trip and subtly warned of “consequences” if any such attack is traced back to the country.
The Mumbai attacks was not only left Indian suffered but many from other countries including America lost their lives in attacks.
On February 5 Jamaat Ud-Dawah (JuD) took out rallies across Pakistan to mark Kashmir Day with its chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Pakistan, who has reportedly banned JuD in January is yet to take action against its chief, instead it keeps blaming India for derailing the peace talk.
This has been reported in Hindustan Times.
Kashmir Day is observed in Pakistan to show country’s support and unity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, their ongoing freedom struggle, and to pay homage to Kashmiri martyrs who lost their lives fighting for Kashmir’s freedom.
Pakistan has always followed a dual policy on terrorism one for India and another to please western countries and organisations to get the aid.
US President Barack Obama has proposed over $1 billion in civilian and military aid to “strategically important” Pakistan for fighting terror, economic development, safety of nuclear installations and improving ties with India among other objectives, reported Times of India.
But, it seems instead of using aid to fight against terrorism, Pakistan uses it to ignite terrorism against India.
In August last year, India called off a scheduled secretary level peace talk scheduled to be held in Islamabad after Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit met separatist leader Shabir Shah. India’s decision sent out a “clear and unambiguous message” that its envoy’s engagement with Kashmiri separatist leaders was unacceptable.
Keeping aside all the difference, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of those whose wards and members were killed in the brutal attack in Peshawar School.
Even after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack on the army school, former president Pervez Musharraf blamed India for the deadly attack.
TTP claimed the attack was in retaliation to the military operations in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal agency.
Inviting Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony in May, Prime Minister Modi sent out a clear signal of his intention to have good relations with Pakistan. But Pakistan is yet to initiate a cordial relationship with India to resolve the dispute with India instead it continued ceasefire violation on Line of Control (LoC).

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