"Either
you are with us, or you are with the terrorists"[1]
Said the former American President George
Walker Bush on 20th September 2001, while addressing a joint session
of congress, shortly after the 9/11 bombings, moreover a resolution was passed
by UN to prohibit nations from rendering any support to alleged terrorist
organizations. As there was no option of neutrality, most nations were dragged
into this war, unwillingly. Among such countries was the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan.
Pakistan joined the American coalition during the regime of the dictator
Pervaiz Musharraf and had such an important role to play in this war that it
was termed the Front-line state.
Regardless, it has been criticized for using Taliban groups to protect its own
interests and for misusing billions of dollars of funds sent to finance the war
against terrorism, specifically. As it happens Pakistan has its own concerns
regarding some US operations like drone attacks, spying key Pakistani figures
and other unauthorized covert strikes. In this atmosphere of mutual distrust, the
Pak-US relations have never been consistent. In spite of the fact that it has
been assailed for not doing enough, and under the chants of “do more” Pakistan
continues to serve this cause till now.
· Strategic
Importance of Pakistan:
Apart
from being a neighbor of the trouble struck Afghanistan, Pakistan has immense
strategic value because of the neighboring Central Asian States. Pakistan
provides the shortest sea route to these mineral rich yet landlocked countries.
These states have oil and gas resources in abundance which could only be
distributed across the world by means of pipelines running through Pakistan to
the Arabian Sea. Moreover establishing an alliance with Pakistan would enable
keeping an eye on growing global powers like China and India as well as the
strong anti-US state of Iran and the oil rich Arab states.
· Historical
Background:
Pakistan
acted as an “incubator”[2] for
Mujahedeen in cooperation with US, to free Afghanistan of its soviet occupiers.
After the USSR had departed (1989) so went the Americans and with them went
their aid, military and economic. Hence, anarchy spread all over Afghanistan
destabilizing neighboring countries as well. All this inspired a proxy war
among Pakistan and India, the two power contenders of the region, which ended
in Pakistan installing a Taliban government in Kabul which ruled until the
American invasion of Afghanistan (1996-2001).
· Why
did Pakistan join the war:
1. Impartiality
was not an option so Pakistan could either side with the Taliban and be labeled a
terrorist state and a danger to civilized world, or with the Americans and turn
on its own Ally, Pakistan choose the seemingly safer option of joining “the
American War on terrorism.”
2. Pakistan
was already suffering from internal terrorism in which the groups involved had
their roots in Afghanistan, the Pakistani think tank saw this as an opportunity
of forming an alliance against a common foe.
3. Pakistan
was globally considered a failed state and the analysts said that the country
would not make another decade, Pakistan wanted to improve its image as well as
it wanted to prove these predictions wrong.
4. America
while leaving Afghanistan in a lurch had also imposed some sanctions on
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Joining America in united offence would have meant an
end to or, relaxation in these sanctions.
5. In
case Pakistan had refused this American demand, not only Pakistan would have
been internationally isolated but its worst enemy India would have taken its
place as an American Ally, tightening its grasp on the region.
6. Apart
from killings based on fundamentalism, radicalism, sectarianism the political
forces were also involved in a war of their own, a war against terrorism gave a
perfect cover to Musharraf, the then ruler of Pakistan, to get rid of this
nuisance as well.
· Steps
taken to diminish terrorism
§ Military
Operations:
Pakistani military has carried out many operations to rid the nation of
the menace of terrorism namely Operation Rah-e-Rast, Rah-e-nijaat, Black
thunder storm and the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb.
§ Madrassa
reforms:
Madrassas in the west are considered
nurseries that nurture fundamentalists and radical extremists thus, under
external pressure and under the influence of foreign aid Pakistan sought to
modernize madrassa education, particularly in Musharraf’s reign. However this
project did not yield much result as only a small proportion of madrassas could
even be registered.
§ Eliminating
Terrorist Leadership: “The
initial lead that eventually helped trace bin Laden, according to President
Obama, was provided by Pakistani security officials”[3]
Among
all the nations facing terrorism Pakistan has neutralized the most terrorist
leaders including Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the 9/11 mastermind and hundreds are
still behind bars in Pakistan’s or in American custody.
§ Supportive
role:
Apart from handing over terrorist detainees and valuable intelligence
Pakistan has forwarded its unconditional support by letting US and NATO use its
airfields for logistics, reconnaissance and even drone attacks which have even
been conducted inside its territory. The major supply line of the Allied-Forces
is also through Pakistan
§ Afghan
peace process:
Pakistan
has also shown keen interest in playing its role in Afghan peace process which
would provide peace and stability to the entire region.
· Pakistan’s
stance towards:
§ USA:
Pakistan
was given the status of an Ally in war against terrorism, but the relations
between the two nations have been good as well as bad at times. American aid
worth billions of dollars to Pakistan is accompanied by “DO MORE” lectures, drone strikes and covert activities. On the
other hand America has blamed Pakistan of harboring Taliban leaders, using
insurgent groups for its own gain etc. In this atmosphere of mutual Pakistan
has been cautious in its demeanor towards America.
§ Local/Domestic
Insurgent groups:
Pakistan
and India have been at daggers drawn since the Kashmir dispute first arose,
that is why Pakistan has been backing up various groups involved in Jihad or
Insurgency in Occupied Kashmir namely Hizbul-Mujahideen, Harkatul Mujahideen,
Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Muhammad, moreover Pakistan is reluctant to
operate against groups that do not concern it, a wise and cautious approach.
Whereas
Pakistan has not shown leniency to other extremists, challenging its
sovereignty, many operations have taken place in North-West Pakistan to wipe
them out of existence, like Sipah-e-Sahaba, Laskkar-e-Jhangvi,
Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Jafriya, Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, Tehreek-e-Talibaan
Pakistan (TTP).
§ International
Terrorist Organizations:
Infamous terrorist forces like Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban and their
Allies have been repeatedly targeted by the Allied-forces including Pakistan.
Pakistan has provided logistic support to the Allies and has given them
precious information, helpful in identifying and eliminating key terrorist targets.
Pakistan has been accused of providing hidden support to these Groups
and has been declared a safe haven for Al-Qaeeda and Taliban leaders, Al-Qaeeda
leader Osama Bin Laden has been allegedly killed in his “safe house” in
Pakistan.
· Implications
of Pakistan’s role in this war:
v Public
Resentment
v Heavy
financial and resource loss
v Heavy
loss of lives
v Political
Instability
v Loss
to International image
· Timeline
of Pakistan’s role in War against Terrorism
Ø 1979-1989:
US
and Pakistan cooperate to create a generation of mujahideen to successfully
oust the USSR from Afghanistan.
Ø 1990s:
Pakistan supports Taliban to install a government which is a faction of
mujahedeen involved in anti-Soviet activities. Musharraf takes office. Some of
the mujahedeen factions return to Pakistan to start an internal Shia-Sunni
conflict, the worst sectarian devastation the country has seen.
Ø 2001-2003:
Pakistan
joins the Global war on terrorism. Musharraf forms anti-terrorism policy
increasing cooperation with the US. Talibanization increases.
Ø 2004-2005:
US
abort a mission to capture important Al-Qaeda members in Pakistani territory to
protect rekations with the country.
Ø 2006-2008:
Musharraf
conducts Lal-Masjid and Baluchistan operations killing Maulana Abdur Rasheed
and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in both places respectively. 2008 sees the
resignation of Musharraf under pressure by US and other local pressure groups.
Ø 2009-2011:
Democratic government leads offences
against terrorists based in Swat. Extremists are on the run following a series
of military operations.
Ø 2012-2013:
Following
a sequence of events, (the American attack on Pakistani Salalah chechpost,
killing of Osama Bib Laden in Pakistani territory and the gas-pipeline deal
with Iran) Pakistani relations with US heat up so high that Pakistan threatens
to leave the alliance. According to many analysts the Pak-US alliance is
effectively over.
Ø 2014:
Pakistan
clears its intentions by commencing another anti-terrorist operation named
Zarb-e-Azb.
[1] http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html
[2] Zalman,
Amy. “Terrorism Timeline: Pakistan and the Global War on Terror Pakistan Plays
Friend and Foe to U.S.”
[3] • Ahmad, Ishtiaq. “Pakistan and the
Fight against Terrorism”. Asia-Pacific Foundation and George C. Marshall
European Center For Security Studies London, 5th October, 2011, page 2
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