Let’s fight out old rivalries By Afshain Afzal

The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ruling Congress party are under immense pressure from opposition parties, not to discontinue existing tense relations with its traditional rival Pakistan especially that built up after Mumbai attacks of November 2008.
In the past, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its partners in National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Samajwadi Party and other leftist parties in India had seriously criticized the joint statement as a result of talks between Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt. The joint statement, in fact de-links action on terror from the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan. The opposition parties were also aggrieved on inclusion of Balochistan in the bilateral document. The Indian politicians have in fact not even a slightest idea that they don’t have access to Top Secret documents and briefings, which Indian Prime Minister has. Indian Prime Minister has been briefed several times during his last tenure as well as during last month by Indian Ministry of External Affairs in which top Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Indian Military Intelligence (MI) and G Branch of Border Security Force (BSF) officials participated. The briefing focused on security situation in Pakistan’s North Western and Western province and highlighted role of Indian media and several Non-Governmental Organizations in aggravating the situation in troubled areas. In the same meeting, officials of Indian intelligence agencies submitted detailed recommendations and use of Afghan and US cards to win the ‘Great Game’ in favour of India. An Indian intelligence DCIO disclosed that India and US have chalked out a plan to accommodate displaced persons from Pakistani Frontier region and Balochistan for own advantage. He added that US Reconstruction Zones in NWFP and Balochistan are in fact aimed to slice off portion of area up to 100 kilometers from these provinces to form more or less an independent region. The DCIO without furnishing the details disclosed that Indian Ministry of External Affairs runs a separate desk for Balochistan and Tribal Areas to support insurgency in these areas. Intercepts of Pakistani troops are analyzed in this desk and shared with western countries and terrorists. On the part of Pakistan, it provided solid evidences that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) holed up in western countries, Middle East and Afghanistan are being aided by Indian RAW cum foreign intelligence agencies through International humanitarian agencies in which Afghan agencies are also assisting India. Pakistan, in the same regard, has already shared ground evidences in the shape of communication intercepts and confession by agents with foreign intelligence agencies and Joint War Group (JWG). It has now become an open secret that India and US are openly providing training to disgruntle elements from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka and Nepal etc in India, Afghanistan, US, Tajikistan and other countries. With the support of foreign elements, Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) has emerged as active organization which accused the Pakistani government of using India to divert attention from the real issues in Balochistan. The fact cannot be denied that the Baloch have genuine grievances which must be addressed on priority. Baloch are loyal, patriotic and time tested citizens of Pakistan, associating them with India would not be fair. However, it is true that agencies live RAW, CIA, Mossad etc often exploit aggrieved people wittingly or unwittingly. This is usually without their consent as this is done through third party, a friend or co-aggrieved. Labelling sons and relatives of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti as Indian agents or pawn in the hand of India would be highly exaggerated and objectionable. I do not mean here that India does not have any role in Balochistan as it is an established fact that Indian agents are carrying out adverse activities in Balochistan since decades through Iran and Afghanistan. Indian Council General in Zaedan has become a hub of anti-Pakistan activities. In Afghanistan, India has established a number of intelligence operated dens along the Pak-Afghan border. Indian Border Road Organization (BRO) is carrying out suspicious activities since 2002 and today it has grown up into one of the main Indian cover outfit in Afghanistan, Iran and Dubai. Cover-officers from Indian intelligence agencies including RAW, MI, IB and BSF (G) often hold meeting with disgruntle Pakistani elements in India, Afghanistan, Iran, Dubai and US. There is no doubt that today Dubai has become main meeting place between agents and their operators. It is too early to predict with confidence, which side the camel will sit but the fact cannot be denied that the Balochistan issue is a double edge weapon as where Pakistan will get a chance to prove Indian connection in Balochistan, India will also get an opportunity to carryout black propaganda at international level regarding Balochistan’s problems including military operation in which Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed. Although, Indian Prime Minister has accepted Indian involvement in Balochistan at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt and brought it on the joint agenda of both countries but Pakistan must not exploit this issue as India has done this as a good gesture. It is very encouraging that Foreign Secretaries of both India and Pakistan have been authorized in the joint statement to meet as many times as they feel to sort out matters but the pressure groups in India, Pakistan and western soil seem not interested to see both countries settle their differences. It is interesting to note that when talks between Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan were scheduled after their Foreign Ministers meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at New York, for the reason best known to Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave assurance by disclosing before Indian media and television channels in New Delhi that both India and Pakistan would discuss Kashmir, as well as Balochistan, if Pakistani Prime Minister insists. One wonders why India and Pakistan would require Washington’s assurances on our bi-lateral relations. It is even not too late that both India and Pakistan should behave mature and end blame game as it would not lead anywhere. Regarding the outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, they must not be solved of the basis of status of quo, rather principles and justice should prevail. Tit for tat policy, which has been strategy of intelligence agencies of both the countries, must be put to an end. ndia and Pakistan must take a new start and help each other is resolving outstanding issues, not only between themselves but with the neighbouring countries. De-linking of terror from the composite dialogue process, as agreed at Sharm-el-Sheikh was the right step in removing suspicion between both the countries. Once an atmosphere of mutual trust is achieved, there would be no hindrance in resolving all outstanding issues and turning this region into an instrument of peace and tranquillity.

Comments