India And Pakistan’s Involvement and Terrorism

It is also true that, for the first time, the US has spoken of "Kashmir terrorists''. This has little credibility when it seeks the help of Pakistan which is the fountainhead of terrorist activity in India. Ironic that, in its search for political and military support for action against terrorist camps in Afghanistan, the US has turned to a country which itself has an irrefutable record of involvement in cross-border terrorism as Pakistan themselves have many Taliban training camps. Furthermore about 20% of Pakistan supports taliban. Also Pakistan does itself supply the Taliban with money and the military has, in the past supported them. Based upon a recent survey when over 1000 people living in Pakistan were asked whether they believe Pakistan should help the US, over 90% gave a definate no answer.

Pakistan will decide to intervene in Kashmir if things go smoothly knowing that with the US in its corner India would probably not retaliate or take any kind of action. The other nations around Afghanistan that have decided to support the US, have done so only because political leaders in these countries depend upon the US for their continued survival.

The fact of the matter is that India also want to tackle international terrorism but there can be no convenient definition of `global terrorism'. How does the US define it? Does it include terrorism by Pakistan? Or does it become terrorism only when it affects the US? And what is its moral argument against global terrorism? After all, Osama bin Laden has been trained by the CIA. Also does a war on terrorism mean that the US will stop supplying Ireland with arms so that the IRA can no longer bomb England. This is also an example of terrorism and so it questions why England have decided to get involved and help the US.

However, this situation can lead to many positives for India as well as many negatives which turn out to be positives for Pakistan. It is important to realise that anything which strengthens Pakistan, simultaneously weakens India. It is clear that the US are after Bin Laden and if they do capture him and destroy the Taliban regime then terrorism will come to a grinding hault in Jammu and Kashmir. If the US do exactly what they have proposed to do then it is certain that they will also crush all the Taliban training camps in Pakistan. This would be an advantage for India as terrorism will stop in Kashmir and Jammu. Since the atrocities that occurred on 11th September, terrorism in that state has already declined which proves that the Taliban have supplied arms and troops to Pakistan. This is because Bin Laden has to retreat to Afghanistan and his troops stationed in Kashmir have to also retreat to Afghanistan for the Jihad (Holy war).

If the US do ask Pakistan to deploy their forces against Afghanistan then because Pakistan is not a secular state (an Islamic state), there will be civil unrest. With Bin Laden having so much widespread support in Pakistan, if Pakistan do attack Afghanistan then it will be deemed as an unislamic action and a coup d'état is likely to arise. Hence, no support for the US means the Pakistan and US ally dies out. The US will have no choice but to go to India for help which will build a relationship. In the long term, India may be able to regain Kashmir if these assumptions take place.

The concept of terrorism, as you know, is not new to India and is not going to go unless it is fought against. For example, in 1993 in Bombay the Stock Exchange building, a five star hotel and the Air India HQ were blown up. Indian intelligence found out that it was planted by Pakistanis. Although upon appealing to the UN, nothing was done. Another example which is the most recent assault, was two years ago when an Indian Airline Jet was hijacked by Pakistanis and they took it to Afghanistan, Kandahar. Two people were killed and the rest of the hostages were freed. So it is cleart that if America do totally eliminate the Taliban regime, then India will generally be free of terrorism and will be able to make important progress as far as sensitive issues such as Kashmir go.

It is really a blessing in disguise that Pakistan has extended all support to the US and has denied India the opportunity to ally with the US in its Afghanistan adventure. India as a result of this now finds itself in a happy position where Pakistan and Afghanistan have to - between themselves - do the dirty work and clear up terrorist networks.

However, as the US is only interested in ''furthering its own strategic interests'' and assuming that the Taliban is not completely destroyed, India ''will have to bear the consequence of the war long after the Americans have fought and gone''. Pakistan at present have not made any wrong moves and are to become empowered to a certain degree as their sanctions have been lifted which means more to Pakistan as they will get continuous loans where as India will just get short term financial boosts. The Pakistani CID will be pumped in with money so that they can monitor terrorism and anything emanating from Afghanistan. Hence, Pakistan can use their CID against India for purposes such as Kashmir. The worst long term effect on India, assuming Pakistan don't go wrong, is that the US will be a long term ally with Pakistan. So when a feud occurs between Pakistan and India, the US will be more sympathetic towards Pakistan and most probably help them.

India have been raising this issue for decades, providing the US with proof of Pakistani involvement. But it did not initiate any action against terrorism until it visited them on home grounds. Had it taken terrorism as seriously as it is doing now, the attacks on the twin towers may not have taken place. But even now, the US has not spared any thought for the cross-border terrorism that affects India and so the effects may or may not benefit India.