Brutal face of Terrorism

17 December 2014

This is the FM Gold channel of AIR, In the Program News Analysis now we bring you an dialogue on Brutal face of Terrorism. The participants are Arun Bhagat former IB chief and Rahul jalali, senior journalist.

Pakistan is in mourning, and the entire world mourns with Pakistan. So, do we in India, all our school today observed too many silent in responds to the call given by Indian PM Narendra Modi. Even the Parliament paid its homage to those who were been killed or brutally murder in peshwar by tehreek-e-taliban. This is one of the heinous crimes which that were taking place, unfortunate they did in Pakistan, the country which is undergoing shroud of self-assessment. There is a huge section of civil society also the polity in Pakistan which is trying for a total race assessment of their policy and a halt to their terrorist activities on their soil. Mr. Bhagat what do you think, would be the future from here?

Well, it is difficult to say, because of the ingrained attitude or rather the mindset which the Pakistan experiencing such a long time. This is not the first instants of course, perhaps a worst instant of Terror in Pakistan, but most happened regularly attacks, churches have been attacked, Funeral procession and marriage procession had been attacked, and School had been attacked – more than 400-500 schools have been closed by the Taliban, particularly those of the women children(girls). But Pakistan is just not been willing to shed its Terrorist card, they have been using the card... not only against India but also against their own concept of Strategic debt of their foreign policies that they export their Foreign Policy through terrorism to the neighboring countries Afghan as well as  India. But I think there is seems to be a need of serious re-assessment in Pakistan today because all parties have joint together, in fact the PM Nawaz Sharif gave a statement seating with every political party almost, where they virtually took a pledge to completely wipe out terrorism form Pakistan, In fact Nawaz Sharif talk about also the kind of deal they were having with Afghanistan to wipe out Terrorism. What was missing? Was a reference to Lashkar-e-taliban and also India? There are voices with in Pakistan which of course coming cross in television as well as the print media where the huge opinion in Pakistan today wants, every terrorist to be looked together. Not to talk of one terrorist being beneficial to Pakistan interest and other not. So, do you believe this particular incident mark a turning point in Pakistan?

Especially one sincerely hope so, but given the past history, I do not thing how they going to accomplish this, that is going to be the big difficult, that is the big obstacle they going to face. I haven’t heard any statement made by other parties at all; it is only very briefly that he mentioned. He mentioned that we will see that this is removed from Afghanistan and Pakistan. He did mention, you very briefly, one hopes that, you see because this is a self-inflicted frankly, one wouldn’t like to say it, but it is a self-inflicted boons which they are striking at themselves. Because they have to, now after this incident, the realization may be stronger; the realization is in there, but they are refusing to act on, what intellect and what their mind tell them. When it doesn’t require a visionary to see where it is leading, all these group all over the world, they are bent on distraction, what peace they have given, what sacred they given to their people whether it Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Ethiopia or name these countries Nigeria, Kenya,.. I mean all these countries are in fire why?

I know… I know what you are referring at exact particular ideology…

It is not an Ideology, I think… if we call it an Ideology… we are giving a

It means they seem to be why was mentioning Pakistan in this context. Because Pakistan, till now whatever countries you mentioned... Pakistan has been the epicenter of all these groups. They are the one from where… all these groups or terrorist outfits get sustenance... They are blossoming…

Exactly… Exactly… but they are not blossoming… but worsening, lot of organization. The Pakistani army, especially the ISI has played a mid-wife in creating many of these outfits. Like Lakshar-e-Taiba for instants.

But yesterday I found one mass change as you mentioned, they has been descend within Pakistan, that descend against terrorism was very muted. Yesterday it was in mass level, if you see the Pakistani television, which has been shown quite widely in India, on a mass level there was condemnation on what the terrorist have done and the feeling the Pakistan need to fight them to get out of it. And in fact many of the Pakistani commentators did talk about the Hafez Syed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. And also the Government seems to be wearing to it. No I would not say the government; sections of political entities in Pakistan seem to be wearing to it, someone not who haven’t clarified yet? Army is the Question mark? Do you think this public opinion that seems to exist in Pakistan have... will have any say, in what the Army does?

You see changing your mindset, changing your something which you have been brought up with virtually.  You see because since Zia ul Haq, the Pakistan Army has been oriented in such a manner. One of course target is India and then Islamizes the Asian which has been taken place, brought in radical elements within the army. Now I would hope so, there will be change of mindset because they see that their country is burning, they see that their country being divided in to.  Course of distraction… So it will their implosion is nearly there, I hope they did do see, first action they have to take is against groups like L-e-T, whether they have guts to do against Hafez Syed, I don’t know. ..

Well, Coming to Indian Responds. It has been pretty mature and very sensitive to the manner in which India has dealt or responded to what is happened in Pakistan, especially the PM who talked in Telephone with Pakistani PM. And also one of the first to twit and send a message expressing sympathy. And we also have not in way press reporting, we have express sympathy and PM told the schools in country to maintain silence, and see the responds of the children in the nation, the sympathy being offered, the emotion support being offered to the children in Pakistan by the children of India. Do you think, it might mean a new chapter in Indo-Pak relationship?

Well, I think it might strike a cards, I should have responds from fraternity that we naturally have with Pakistan. I am sure that this will have some effect no doubt about it. May be we cannot measure it, in their heart they could realize. We tried, we sympathized with them and we felt as hurt as possibly any Pakistani could, so that I think is shows the maturity of our country, our country men, and our leadership which I am sure even the most critical Pakistani who is critical of India cannot help but appreciate.

Well I am amazed at the sensitivity shown by the children in our country and the kind messages that they have given across to the children in Pakistan, expressing their support and sympathies, obviously that they are with them in the hour of need.

Do you think, it is also the time when a greater participation of people of India and Pakistan can take place? At least some will lead to people-to-people dialogue.

Well, that you see, as far as India is concern the efforts are continuously there. You see on the cultural side we have exchanges of music and musician coming in, singers, jazz groups have been coming, painting exhibition. I don’t think it is lacking in as far as India is concern. But I don’t think the conditions there, would allow them. After all even in sports, they do not have, cannot hold even the international cricket matches. Because all the teams are afraid, similarly it is with the other sports. So, as far as India is concern, I think that there is no hesitation, but yes you are quiet right, this can lead to larger cooperation in many more areas.

You have talked about larger cooperation. Pakistan has talked about, the PM Nawaz Sharif have talked, today about how they build their relationship with Afghanistan to fight terrorism. Do you ever envisaged the day when India & Pakistan would be also talking on the same page as far or we on same page as far as counter terrorism measures are concerned.

I think if Nawaz Sharif just sits and contemplate, he will realize that when he says we have all cooperation against terrorism with Afghanistan he will realize that by allowing groups which are inimical to India and which have terrorist charter within his own country may be major contradiction in what he hopes to achieve with Afghanistan. So, I think this realization will come, he will see at least for some time, the groups like L-e-T and Hafez Syed will tone down their military.

While toning down is one thing, but their president abundantly cleared that Pakistan will not be able to combat Terrorism in totter unless specific Indian help, and pre-requisite for seeking Indian help would be what do they do with LeT and Hafez Syed? What do you think about it?

I think that is very important, but Hafez Syed also has got a constituency of his own. As evidence by the number train and number of people he had gathered. So I do not know, we also know that both Nawaz and his Brother have helped Hafez Syed’s Institution or organization in many ways. And they have been budget provision which has been made for his organization Jamat-ud-Dau JuD. So, the point would be the relationships are not shallow, how much Nawaz Sharif is and how much is this Muslim league in related to this groups, I do not know. But the point is there is relationship, there are some bonds which tie them together.

Yes it is not only the question of Nawaz Sharif; I mean when you also have Imran Khan who has been talking about Good Taliban and Bad Taliban. And In fact he argued that they should be talking to Tehreek-e-taliban in Pakistan. You have other elements in Pakistan polity who would like to be soft on Terrorism or they were. Because today it seems that most of them put up a Joint front and promised to Pakistani people, that they will combat terrorism. But the fact remain is that this is stumbling virtually towards the massive public pressure. Do you think this public pressure in Pakistan which is calling for their leadership to fight terror? Will it have sustained effort on the Pakistani leadership?

Well, if we go back to past history, public opinion is never than the one to sort out or determine Pakistan’s policy. The Leadership is in the Army, it is in the ISI, or the political leadership and they have given the popular demands of more radicalization or more Islamiazation or whether it is the introduction of Sharia or banning certain sectarian groups within Islam who consider themselves to be totally following Islam. So, if they had public in mind, they would have changed lanes long ago.

Well, I hope they change the lanes but not less. The message from India is loud and clear, that in their hour of need & misery we stand by them. I hope that the leadership in Pakistan is listening and tries to turn the tap of Terrorism that directed towards India.

You are listening to a dialogue on Brutal face of Terrorism. The participants are Arun Bhagat former IB chief and Rahul jalali, senior journalist. This came to you in the program News Analysis produced & presented by News services division on All India Radio.