Terrorism And Internal Security Threats/by T H Shah

TERRORISM AND INTERNAL SECURITY THREATS By T H Shah Introduction •

The principal concern of Pakistan's national life is security, both internal and external i.e. country's defense from inimical forces from within and without. It is fact that Pakistan is a peaceful country. Pakistan actively seeks a peaceful international order and strongly adheres to the terms of the UN Charter and UN Declaration of human rights. Pakistan holds the standpoint that any territorial acquisition by force is totally unacceptable, and it has always sought and advocated peaceful settlement of regional and international disputes. Despite this policy of peace which is hallmark of Pakistan's ideology and orientation, the fact is that in the first quarter of its existence the country has been the victim of aggression three times i.e. war of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

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Pakistan has always framed its foreign policy keeping in view the factors like Indian threat, Occupied Kashmir, strategic relations with USA and China, economic security both at internal and external, and its relations with the Muslim world. But subsequent to the end of cold war, crumbling down of USSR and proclaiming itself as nuclear state and the tragedy of 9/11, the course of its foreign policy has changed. It had to reorient its foreign policy in the light of terrorism, the propaganda widely trumpeted by the Western countries of the world. Pakistan wants normalization of relations with India, but Indian hostility, intentions and attitudes, and enhanced military preparations have direct imprints on Pakistan's national security.

At present, apart from above stated factors, Pakistan’s security centers round following main factors: • • • • • •

Defense and terrorism. Extermination of Jehadi culture from the country. Sectarian strife and killings. Infiltration of foreign terrorist groups in the Tribal Areas of the country. Eliminating smuggling, and Klashnikov culture from the country. Strengthening the federal character of the state.

Terrorism & Pakistan Pakistan is quite opponent to terrorism in whatsoever form and manifestation it is committed. Pakistan is in opposition to religious extremists who wish to stigmatize Islam under the cloak of religion. It discourages any act of sectarianism committed on the part of any section of society or religion. It is part of international campaign against terrorism.

The government of Pakistan is quite vigilant to the menace of terrorism, which can be a security threat to its integrity and solidarity. It is pleased to say that Pakistan has signed 11 of the 12 international conventions and protocols relating to terrorism and is a party to 10. Subsequent to 9/11 tragedy, the Government of Pakistan has taken many laudable steps to counter the threats of terrorism. They include, •

It became most important partners in the global coalition against terrorism.

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Pakistan continued operations in the autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas, capturing and killing a number of terrorist operatives.

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Pakistan’s military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies are cooperating closely with the United States and the other nations to identify and eliminate both within Pakistan and abroad.

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The Pakistani Government has also banned several militant and sectarians groups.

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Pursuant to its obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions 1267, 1333, 1390, and 1455, Pakistan continues to work with the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee to freeze the assets of individuals and groups identified as terrorist entities linked to al-Qaida or the Taliban.

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Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Courts continue to respond to both international and domestic cases of terrorism. In April 2003, an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi convicted four defendants charged with organizing the bombing of the US Consulate in June 2002 in Karachi and, in June 2003, convicted three men charged with the bombing in May 2002 that killed 11 French naval technicians. In November 2003, the same court handed down death sentences for three members of the banned extremist groups Lashkar-i-Jhangvi for planning and committing sectarian murders.

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US-Pakistan joint counter-terrorism efforts have been extensive. They include cooperative efforts in border security and criminal investigations. In 2002, the United States and Pakistan established the Working Group on Counter-terrorism and Law-Enforcement Cooperation. The meetings provide a forum for discussing ongoing US-Pakistani efforts, as well as a means for improving capabilities and cooperation. Pakistan provides significant assistance in the investigation of international terrorism.

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Pakistan and Afghanistan have also made significant progress in sharing information and coordinating their efforts to improve security along the border so as to fight the menace of Al-Qaida’s infiltrators into Pakistan, because Al-Qaida regards Afghanistan as an important base of operations and continues its armed opposition to US presence. Al-Qaida fighters remain along the rough eastern border between Afghanistan and Pakistan’s tribal areas.

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Pakistan has handed over as many as 550 Al-Qaeda operatives into US custody including some high value targets in the Al-Qaeda leadership; consequently the ‘Most Wanted’ list is growing shorter. Pakistan is committed towards fighting terrorism at domestic as well as international level and has been very actively pursuing the elements connected to the Al-Qaeda networks both within Pakistan and facilitating efforts of international coalition outside Pakistan.

Reforms in Religious Madrassas •

Deeni Madaris viewed by the western decision makers as “breeding factories of terrorism”, has some reality as almost all the terrorists arrested had been studying in the Madrassa established in Pakistan. It has serious repercussions on two accounts: firstly, most of the Madaris focused on purification of faith for the purposes of knowledge therefore, branding all the schools involved in violent jihad, maligned the good name of Deeni Madaris.

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Secondly, few odd Madaris involved in violent jihad, have tarnished Pakistan’s sincere efforts to fight the menace of terrorism. In order to avoid the onslaught of western decision makers, a strong need is felt to evaluate the efficacy of our Deeni Madaris.

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In order to reduce extremism, attempts been made to modernize the religious seminaries, which constitute the Religious Training System (RTS) in the country, under the Madrassa Reforms Programme at the cost of 185.6 billion rupees. The program aims at bringing the religious seminaries into the main stream of educational culture of the country through teachers training and provision of textbooks and equipment. Some 8000 Madaris would be regularized as normal educational institutions of primary, middle and intermediate level. Students of these essentially religious institutions would get the opportunity to learn modern subjects like English, Economics and Computer Sciences. This is indeed a great step forward for the cause of literacy in the country as well as for religious seminaries for earning social and international acceptance.

Terrorism & economic development •

Fighting terrorism is in the interest of Pakistan it because it encourages sectarianism and was a destabilizing factor in the country. There can be neither development nor local or foreign investment without stability and peace in the region, and terrorism cannot be condoned under any circumstances. Extremist in any society are in a minority but Pakistan in general and Islamic world in particular is facing a formidable challenge on all fronts. It should be understood that concept of Enlightened Moderation as presented by Ex President Musharaf in his address to OIC summit in Malaysia, is not a new phenomenon in Islam as Islam is itself a religion of peace, brotherhood, liberality and tolerance in all spheres of life. The need and challenge before all the Muslim countries is how to interpret the modern civic and sociological trends within the universal teaching of

Islam. (The writer is associated with the PFP as Director Research. He could be contacted at:[email protected])