Pakistan adopted terrorism as a tool of state policy against India in the late eighties of the last century. The first landmark incident was the kidnapping of Rubaiyya Saeed, daughter of the then Home Minister, Mufti Mohammed Saeed and the subsequent release of some hardcore terrorists. The Pak sponsored terrorist attacks on India have been made at will and the country has survived these attacks because of the supreme sacrifices made by our armed and police forces. Also, the country has borne the brunt of terrible loss of life and property of its citizens. Moreover, some attacks almost dented the sovereignty of the country like the attack on the parliament and 26/11 attack on Mumbai. Now Pakistan’s home grown terrorism has directed its gun at Islamabad, almost threatening the disintegration of Pakistan. In retaliation, Pakistan has declared a war against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has declared a war against the state of Pakistan. The US and the UN have supported and defended Pakistan’s decision under the principle of right to defend the state. Pakistan sponsored terrorism has come a full circle.
Terrorism is the child of Pakistan which has been nurtured by the US over the years. The UN and European countries are flagbearer of the USA. In the process, the European countries have suffered a lot from these terrorist attacks as terrorism became a global weapon of war. America suffered the deadliest of terrorist attacks on 9/11. But, America made no course correction as terrorism is a tool to destabilize the world which creates required conditions for the sale of arms and ammunitions, the backbone of the thriving economy of the US.
The TTP has seriously threatened the national integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan. The economy of Pakistan is in shambles and there is a large scale discontent among the people which makes this fight against terrorism difficult as the internecine war would further eat into the vitals of Pakistani economy. Also, the morale of Pakistani army is at its lowest ebb as TTP is constantly reminding them of the humiliating surrender of ninety three thosands Pakistani forces before the Indian army in 1971.The saving grace will be the billions of US dollars in aid in the form of cash, arms and ammunitions. The resultant would be another Afghanistan in making under the supervision of America. Pakistan would be thoroughly devastated in a few years and Uncle Sam would run away without finishing the war against terrorism as it has done in different parts of the world earlier. So far Pakistan is concerned, its army is weak and has never successfully stood the test of time. It has repeatedly lost to the Indian army even though always fighting with advanced US weapons and logistic support. Therefore, Pakistan has to either live with TTP peacefully or live in perpetual mayhem and anarchy in the years to come.
India needs to be on guard as this turmoil in its neighbourhood is dangerous and it has always been on the receiving end of Pak sponsored terrorism. It needs to wait and watch and see the entire development with crossed fingers. And God forbid, if any terrorist attack is made on India, action like the surgical strike of the recent past should be made.
India should let Pakistan bleed from its festering wounds till then. Pakistan is destined to pay the price for using terrorism as a tool of state policy and proxy war against India.
The writer is a noted academician and political commentator. The views expressed in the article are his own.