Terrorist Taliban Turn Saviour For Pakistan
By Mujahid Hussain, New Age Islam
Jan 10, 2013
The debate that Pakistan should consider having meaningful dialogue with the Taliban and Al Qaida as the last resort following in the footsteps of the US and the NATO has entered its final phase. The victorious Taliban and pleasantly surprised Al Qaida are knocking at the door of a clear victory in the Arab and non-Arab jihadi battle zones. That their victory is very swift and consistent is evident from the fact that they got rid of two dozens of Pakistani security personnel and an equal number of their Shia opponents in Mustong during the last week. Since the rulers of the state have agreed to have a meaningful dialogue with the faithful ‘murderers’, they cannot express any reaction against the loss of life of those fifty persons killed, so that they should not feel embarrassed when they come face to face with the murderers in near future. In this situation, even the use of the word ‘murderer’ gives me an uneasy feeling. So, I will try to avoid the use of this word again. When the able rulers of our state and millions of faithful have repented the use of this word, why should I insist on it? However, I will have to use some other word or name while writing on this topic. The word ‘holy warriors’ will be a befitting name for those standing on the other side of the fence.
Well then, with the sincerest apologies to the kin of thousand of the deceased at the hands of the holy warriors, I would like to inform them that the state of Pakistan has duly surrendered and the holy warriors have emerged victorious. Now there is no option for the state other than moulding itself according to the wishes of the holy warriors. Those killed by the holy warriors have become a thing of the past and the state cannot ask for compensation for them from the holy warriors. Notice is hereby given to all the educational institutions of the state that they should register the education imparted in them with the holy warriors. In the event of non-compliance, not only that your institutions will be bombed, you will also be suitably punished for imparting un-Islamic education.
A similar warning is also being given to all the NGOs who make the downtrodden and the backward section feel alive that they should remember the massacre of Swabi and tread with utmost caution as everyone is aware of the consequences. Now as for the political parties, though they are already treading with utmost caution, it will not suffice but they will have to include the holy warriors in their rank and file. This will ensure everything from better results in elections to safety and security in future.
Lastly, I have no knowledge about what treatment the media are destined to get because it has been the target of the extremists from all sides. It is surprising that the valuable services and publicity the dominant media has rendered to the holy warriors is not recongnised and appreciated in equal measure. The services of the activists of the holy warriors and the apologist electronic intellectuals cannot be ignored in the least bit. The holy warriors and the political bigwigs of Pakistan are expected to soften their stand against the media. Such harshness is not appreciable. Services deserve to be recognised.
On the one hand, the stage is being prepared for the ‘dailogue’ on the national level where like Mullah Nek Muhammad, Hakimullah Mahsood and other hundreds of holy warriors will be garlanded and big promises will be exchanged until the next drone attacks, and on the other hand, spades are being honed to root out the democratic system in Pakistan. The glorious Sheikh al Islam is already seated with his haloed magnificence and the former leader of the revolution Altaf Hussain has jumped on to the bandwagon with his support to him. Shaikh al Islam has also received a pat on the back from the Choudhary clan, the founder of politics of gain and ultimate gain in Pakistan. Imran Khan is in a fix over the possible hijacking of his much publicised tsunami. On the other side, Muslim League (Nawaz) which is trembling at the barrel of the cannon is trying to rope in the support of the communalists in Punjab to escape a hard blow.
All the eyes are on the GHQ which is busy in pointing out the internal threat to the state for the first time. This should have been poined out much earlier. However, better late than never. The army has now put the responsibility on the shoulders of the state, the same state that was not able to utter a single word of condemnation over the brutal assassination of the governor of a state, nor is it so now. It can be said with conviction that those who have been entrusted with this responsibility are not worthy of carrying it out in the least bit.
The central government is not able to adopt a policy akin to that of the ANP who is the main target and has been losing their important men. If there is a ray of hope in this situation then it should be pointed out in the light of which the escape route from the total annihilation of hope can be found out.
No sensible person will oppose any kind of dialogue but the irony is that those who are being invited to the dialogue do not believe in any kind of dialogue themselves in the first place. They have time and again asserted that there was no question of dialogue with kufr (infidelity). They have caused enormous damages to the second party, Pakistan, on all fronts that that they themselves cannot repair. The state can perhaps accept some of their demands and compensate the losses and damages incurred by them to some extent, what can they do except the promise that they will not carry out anti-state activities. And who will give the guarantee? Haven’t we seen the fate of such commitments in the form of Sufi Muhammad? And it is surprising that they do not agree to lay down arms. They will simply rest their arms for the time being.
Mujahid Hussain, the author of nine books including the recently published book ‘Punjabi Taliban’ will write a regular column for New Age Islam. He has been writing for various reputed newspapers as an investigative journalist for the last two decades. His writings cover a wide range of topics related to political and social aspects of Pakistan right from its inception. In recent years, issues relating to terrorism on local, regional and national level and security have been the subject of his study. He has readers in the mature circles in Pakistan and abroad.
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