On January 21, 2014, twenty-eight Shia pilgrims of Hazara origin were killed, and dozens more injured, when a powerful explosion ripped through a bus in Balochistan’s district of Mastung. As usual, the media were reluctant to utter the word Shia even when the banned militant organization, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), claimed responsibility for the explosion and warned of more such attacks.

Similar to last year, the Hazara community staged a sit-in with coffins brought from Mastung. They refused to bury the dead. At the time of writing [January 23], solidarity sit-in protests are being staged all over the country.

Hazaras made global headlines last year when, from January 10-13, 2013,   they braved Quetta’s harsh cold to stage a similar sit-in, agitating over the state’s singular failure to provide them security.  In the meantime another military offensive in Mir Ali dominated the headlines. Though described as a tit-for-tat by Federal Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanvir Hussain, after the Taliban attack on military targets in Rawalpindi’s R. A Bazar and Bannu Cantonment, a debate on fresh Mir Ali military operations was triggered.

Opinion in Pakistan is rapidly swaying in support of a military operation to eliminate Taliban militancy. Even Taliban apologists like Imran Khan are beginning to voice support for the military operation.

Is a military operation a solution?

The answer is yes, but only partially and temporarily. A military operation is not the ‘final solution’ as some sections believe.  Unless the root of the problem is addressed, military operations will not yield sustainable results.

Paradoxically, the military itself is the root of Taliban militancy. In the first place, it fanatically refuses to acknowledge the bond between Taliban [of all hue], al-Qaida, Islamist freemasonry [Jama’at-e-Islami and JUI to Tableeghi Jama’at], Sipah-e-Sahab offshoots, and Jihad-e-Kashmir enterprises [LeT and Jaish-e-Muhammad et al].

Secondly, military mavericks refuse to relinquish the patronage of militants they believe they still need in Kashmir/India and Baluchistan/Sindh. It is not a coincidence that the Hazara community has become a target in recent years. To undermine the Baloch national struggle, our strategists have brought beards to dissociate Baloch youth from nationalist struggle. Of late, huge madrassa networks, mass Tableeghi congregations, Wahabi charities, and Saudified mosques have begun to dot the Balochistan landscape. The Takfiri Islam is definitely winning people over. It will for sure pose a serious challenge to Baloch nationalist struggle unless nationalist forces effectively counter it ideologically and otherwise. By allowing fanaticism a foothold in Balochistan’s otherwise secularist polity, the deep state exhibits shallowness. The Hazara massacre is the first ill omen about the times to come.

Thirdly, the military refuses to acknowledge the simple lesson that Frankensteins always go out of control. You cannot overrule history, no matter how clever you are. A pity when one, not even clever, attempts the impossible.

Fourthly, military solution should imply dismantling of Jihadi infrastructure; it should not be restricted to FATA where poor Pashtuns have become a usual military target while terror factories remain in Karachi and Punjab.

We believe Taliban militancy cannot be brought to an end by way of ‘talks’. However in the absence of a radical break with Jihadification and radicalization, military actions at a state level will only prolong Pakistan’s misery.

The Pakistan military cannot continue to:

1.      Shelter Afghan Taliban while fighting their Pakistani cousins

2.      Patronize Jihadi outfits such as Let, Jaish-e-Muhammad and LeJ while sorting out TTP& Co.

3.      Islamify official discourses while battling suicide attacks.

The time to change course has already long past. Further delay in de-Wahabifying the state and society will only prolong the ongoing bloodshed.

In our view, military operations against Taliban will bear fruit only when accompanied by a comprehensive policy of

1.       disengagement from Afghanistan and Indian Held Kashmir

2.      dismantling of Jihadi infrastructure including madrassa-and-charity networks.

3.      separation of religion from state

4.      ending discrimination on a confessional basis

5.      respect for Baloch, Sindhi, Seraiki, and Pashtoon national right

6.    a semblance of social welfare state, to begin with.

For a foreseeable future, option for Pakistan is either Taliban barbarism or secularism. There is no third way!

References:

1.      Dawn: http://www.dawn.com/news/1082200/mastung-attack-mwm-calls-for-countrywide-strike

Source :

http://www.viewpointonline.net/2014/01/vp185/mastung-to-mir-ali

Comments

comments