Terrorism in Pakistan is at the verge of collapse. Credit should be given to the army and government efforts. Indeed people are anti-terrorism and believe in true democracy. Terrorists are defeated and so are their handlers. International news and reports are in Pakistan’s favour and they laud Pakistani anti-terrorism efforts.
As a result, Pakistan tops the list of countries that effectively defeated terrorism on its soil. The US State Department Congressionally mandated Country Report on Terrorism 2014 released on 19 June indicates that terrorist activities and incidents have gone down.
Globally, Pakistan’s image has improved. The report lauded the operation Zarb-e-Azb. In addressing terrorism, the appreciation by the United States is a joyful moment for Pakistan. The military launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb in June last against all terrorist groups on non-discriminatory basis. The ‘do more’ rhetoric has pour water on Pakistani efforts. The US acknowledgement is understandable and it is a big achievement for Pakistan.
On the other hand, there is lot of propaganda engineered by India about Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist activities inside India since 9/11. India’s own policies easily itself convert it into a safe haven for terrorists. These are India’s own policies toward minorities and political groups. India, however, find an easy solution: putting all accusations on Pakistan. This will not help end India’s terrorist activities.
The US reports says that around 203 attacks were launched by Maoists and Communist Party of India that killed 193 people in 2013. The placement of India’s group is just after the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram. Maoists and Communist Party of India are not backed by Pakistan. This is India’s own ‘indigenous sin’.
The report, however, does not elaborate on Indian terrorist groups and organisations, a tilt, which the United States always shows toward India. This questions the legitimacy of the report toward other groups and organisations. With a selective terrorist report, eliminating counter-terrorism across the board is not possible. India’s educational institutions are also the highest in terrorist attacks after Pakistan, the report says. How could India accuse Pakistan? It is shameful on part of India’s policy-makers.
Indians always baselessly accuse Pakistan. Their latest baseless accusation was in the United Nation on 24 June when China blocked an Indian resolution seeking clarification from Pakistan on the release of Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi of the defunct Lasker-e-Taiyba commander from the Lahore High Court’s verdict on 9 April by the whom India alleged responsible for masterminding the Mumbai attacks on 29 November 2008. The LHC found Lakhvi’s detention illegal and ordered his release.
India filed the case against Pakistan in the UNSC under 1267 resolution dealing with designated entities and individuals. Possible sanctions included: freezing of bank accounts, fundraising, international travel ban, and arms embargo, at least. India designed to impose UN sanctions against Pakistan by violating UN efforts against terrorism.
China found that India has not given substantial evidence to the UNSC to go ahead on this matter. China found the move ‘politically motivated’ and ‘technically and factually incorrect’. China appreciates and cooperates with Pakistan in tackling terrorism. Within a short span of time, this is second China’s blow received by India.
Earlier, China slammed India’s objection against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Beijing summoned the Indian Ambassador and conveyed its displeasure about his government remarks on the CPEC. India intends to malign Pakistan on Mumbai attacks.
The Chinese rebuff is a considerable reaction on India’s anti-Pakistan propaganda. China wants to improve relations with India but not at Pakistan’s cost, its time-tested friend. China’s action is also indicative of Pakistan’s highly responsible role against terrorism discussed at this global forum.
China prevented India from misusing UN power against individuals. India is the largest democracy and it should respect the rule of law in other countries and human rights of individuals in other democratic countries. The Security Council ensures protection of human rights, including the fundamental human rights of sanctioned individuals such as protection from arbitrary detention.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office also called the Indian action as the “most unfortunate and misleading, and an attempt to politicise a purely technical issue at the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee”.
India has been further isolating with Pakistan on tackling terrorism and this has been proved in the international forum too. India’s policy has also been deriving it in isolation with China. This is harmful for the region grappled in terrorism for the past decade. A close coordination is needed to overcome this menace. United States, Western countries, and Japan need to review their anti-terrorism cooperation toward India.
India wants to become a permanent UNSC member. India’s policies toward its own region are not based upon harmony and good neighbourly relations. India will exercise its power to malign and take unilateral action against Pakistan if it becomes a permanent member of the UNSC.
China’s action to block the Indian move in the UNSC upset Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Chinese action disapproves India’s bid to become a permanent member. India needs to revise its stand on terrorism and need to develop a close affinity with China on this matter as was discussed between the two countries when Modi paid a visit to China in May.
China and Pakistan have developed a common counter-terrorism stance. They have a harmony of views on terrorism to weed out terrorism in Pakistan and western China particularly to root out the so-called foreign-funded East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). India differed with China on tackling terrorism. The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama is being viewed by China as a secessionist while India protects him since 1959.
Pakistan needs to take up a number of issues in the UN recently disclosed and confessed by Indian leaders including the 1971 tragedy, and sending terrorists to Pakistan as well as RAW’s funding and terrorist training to MQM workers in North East India and Dehradun. The Modi Sarkar is under fire regionally and globally since taking oath last year.