Faizan Haider

Whose war is this?

(Pakistans role in the war on terror. Should we continue?)
The war on terror, i.e. the military conflict between the United States and its allies against the militant insurgency in Afghanistan, by the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist political movement, has had a huge impact on global affairs, predominantly on Pakistan. Since its initiation in October 2001, as a result of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, USA, by Al-Qaeda, Pakistan has been a key US ally in this war. However, there have been criticisms over Pakistans involvement in this war, with notions such as this war being Americas war and Pakistan having suffered tremendously. I for one, accept the war on terror as Pakistans war. The first and foremost reason is that Pakistan created the Taliban. It began with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, to place a pro-Communist leader there. The locals were powerless to resist the Soviets. Pakistan was under the military dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq. The USA, realising the Communist expansion, offered Pakistan unconditional economic and military aid, for its support in fighting the Soviets, by training the local Afghans in guerrilla warfare; thus, the birth of the mujahideen. Pakistan and allies, by running a proxy war, were successful in making the Soviets retreat from Afghanistan by 1988-89. However, most of the mujahideen groups were not disarmed by them; rather, they were used by Pakistan for its interests in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Taliban became Pakistans proxy agents during the 1990s, as acclaimed by the countrys leadership. President Asif Ali Zardari admitted this: Let us be truthful to ourselves and make a candid admission of the realities. The terrorists of today were the heroes of yesteryears until 9/11 occurred and they began to haunt us as well. They were deliberately created and nurtured as a policy to achieve some short-term tactical objectives." (President Zardaris interview to CNN and IBN) When the Taliban, who had begun ruling Afghanistan since 1996, refused to hand over the Al-Qaeda leaders to the USA, for their involvement in the 9/11 attack, it invaded Afghanistan, toppled the Taliban and sought Pakistans help. The Taliban had become dangerous to Pakistan and the world. Therefore, fighting this war means correcting our past mistakes. Secondly, the Taliban are challenging the writ of the State of Pakistan. Political science informs us that a state is a body that has a monopoly over the legitimate use of force in an area, meaning that nobody can use violence or coercion, expect for the state. Anyone else, who does so, is a criminal. The Taliban have not only exercised violence within Pakistans borders, but have tried to create their own very state within Pakistan, Whose war is this? Page 1

Faizan Haider
thus challenging the countrys sovereignty and authority. The Taliban occupation of the Swat Valley is a clear example of this point. In October 2007, the Taliban under Maulana Fazlullah, seized the Swat district to establish the Islamic Sharia, disregarding Pakistans own law. The countrys armed forces launched an offensive against the insurgents, code named Operation Rah-e-Haq and Black Thunderstorm, to reclaim the territories. The Taliban, therefore, are interested in establishing their own country, at the expense of our own. We cannot let that happen. My third point is that extremism in the country has risen due to these terrorists. They hold radical interpretations of Islam. To them, western norms and ideas are a sin; such as our judicial system, which they want to replace with their own Sharia. If the Taliban ideology is compared with the Pakistani culture and history, huge differences are evident. For example, the Taliban are against music but we have our folk and national songs. Their idea of women being shut in the house, deprived of education seems demented as well, considering the role of women in the Pakistan National Movement. Thousands of madrassas around the country preach this ideology, and have become a base for militant activities e.g. the Lal Masjid event in Islamabad 2007. Perhaps the greatest threat we face from them on the ideological front, is the ensuing of sectarian violence. Pakistans population comprises of 78% Sunni Muslims, 20% Shia Muslims and the rest are minorities. Shia processions during Muharram have been a common target for the terrorists, the latest being a suicide bomb blast in DI Khan on 24 November 2012, killing 8 people. According to Dawn.com, since 2003, 11500 civilians have been killed by terrorists, around 30% of which are a result of sectarian violence. To the founder of this country, it didnt depend what your religion is. You are free to go to your places of worship The Taliban are however, completely against what was envisioned by the late Quaid, against our ideology of peace. My opponents say that the enormous casualties support their point, of us dropping this war, but that would mean accepting the Taliban ideology and conceding defeat. Pakistan needs to fight this war to make the terrorists pay for their acts. Instances, like the attack on Malala Yusufzai, show the determination of our people to stand up to these terrorists. We cannot let the efforts of the slain minister Bashir Bilour go to waste. Terrorist organisations receive training in Pakistan, and our hesitation to fight them affects the global community as well. We have a face to protect, but more important than that, we have to save our religion from being tarnished by these brutes, who in the name of Islam, wage a (un)holy war to claim lives of the innocent. If we do not stand up to defend the essence of what our faith really is, then the whole world is going to label us as terrorists as well. Therefore, in order to correct our past mistakes, defend our sovereignty from this insurgency, protect our ideology, our lives and faith, and hold these terrorists accountable, Pakistan very much should take this war as its own. Whose war is this? Page 2