Now or Never – Kashmiris’ Freedom Struggle

By Afshain Afzal

In the recent development, the Indian authorities have chalked out a new strategy to de-link freedom struggle of Kashmiris from Pakistan and Islam and shift the movement in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir to mere Azadi. To achieve this objective Indian forces are relying on fake and self-engineered encounters against Kashmiris, in which beside killing innocent locals by dubbing them as terrorists the Indian security forces are also killed to project the operations as real. One wonders how long Kashmiris on the both side of Line of control (LoC) would bear Indian Security Forces’ atrocities. Although, the number of martyred Kashmiri this year, up to the second week of February 2017, has exceeded 31 and all of them were locals belonging to Kupwara, Baramulla, Srinagar and other areas of occupied Jammu and Kashmir but Indian authorities claims that they have only killed 15 Kashmiris in encounters / operations.

Indian authorities, instead of listening to the grievances of local Kashmiris and extending their rights, have further enhanced their coercive measures to silence the Kashmiri masses. On the condition of anonymity, as per the Police officer posted in Jammu and a DCIO, “the Indian agencies have prepared record of locals who either took part in freedom struggle in 1989 – 1990 or belong to such families who promote pro-Islam and pro-Pakistan views.  Such individuals are indulged in fake case to kill them one by one. Nevertheless, with the exception one or two odd Kashmiris none had past record of militancy.” In the latest incident, a joint operation was launched by troops of 1^st Rashtriya Rifles battalion and Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), in which the house of Ashiq Ahmad Reshi son of Abdul Majid Reshi in Frisal area of Kulgam district was stormed with IEDs and explosives. The Army authorities claimed that they killed  Mudasir Ahmed Ahmed Tantray  resident of Redwani Kulgam; Wakil Ahmed Thokar resident of Harigam Kulgam; Farooq Ahmad resident of Chak Dasand and Younis Ahmad Lone resident of Hawara, Kulgam. To give the fake operation a real touch Lance Naik Bhandoria Gopal Singh and Sepoy Raghubir Singh were also shown as killed in a cross fire.

Interestingly, all the martyred had clean record before the martyrdom of freedom fighter Burhan Wani but after the brutal killing they decided to resist Indian occupying forces in held Jammu and Kashmir state. As a reaction of unlawful operations killing innocent Kashmiris, protests erupted to prevent Indian Security Forces from launching fake operations. During the protests to restrict Indian security Forces from carrying out fake operations, 129 young Kashmiris suffered bullet and pellet injuries. However, the Superintendent of Police Kulgam, Shridar Patil claimed that  about 20,000 people attacked the Indian forces from all the sides to allow militants to escape from the site of encounter.” Indian authorities are also carrying out propaganda that Pakistan is behind the unrest in occupied Jammu and Kashmir state but it has never been substantiated by incriminating evidences. So far Indian Police data reflects that only one militant killed in Sopore on 3 January 2017, namely Abu Umar Khitab, belonged to Pakistan but that too could not be confirmed. The unrecognizable body of Abu Umar Khitab can be son of any Kashmiris mother.

Reacting on fake encounter in Kulgam, top Kashmiri-Pakistani leader Syed Ali Geelani paid glorious tributes to martyred Kashmiris of Redwani Kulgam said that the forced occupation is the root cause of all bloodshed in the state. He said, “These youths are sacrificing their precious lives for a sacred cause. It is a cherished and patriotic mission and we are duty bound to carry their mission to its logical end.” Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed deep sorrow over the killings in Kulgam operation saying a severe oppression and refusal to acknowledge and engage with the basic political right and aspiration of the people is pushing our young towards armed resistance. Today, the state of affairs in occupied Jammu and Kashmir has reached to a stage where locals have come to an open revolt against the Indian security forces by raising up at the sight of Indian troops entering their villages, forcing the troops to flee. One wonders how long the UNO as a world organization and civilized nations would ignore Indian security forces to genocide of Kashmiris.

The Afghan Connection of Terrorism in Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat  

Pakistan’s Armed Forces have broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists by the successful military operation Zarb-e-Azb which has also been extended to other provinces of the country. While, Pakistan’s law-enforcing agencies, especially primary intelligence agency, ISI has broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants, while thwarting a number of terror attempts. But, the new wave of terrorism which started in the beginning of this year, having connection in Afghanistan has, again, enveloped Pakistan.

In this regard, at least 88 people were martyred and 343 were injured on February 17, this year when a suicide bomber attacked the crowded Sufi shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan, Sindh province of Pakistan. 

Terrorist organisation, the Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS, ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack.

On February 15, three suicide bombers targeted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the adjoining tribal areas leaving around seven people dead. One of the incidents occurred in Peshawar where a suicide bomber riding a motorbike hit a vehicle carrying civil judges, while two other suicide bombers blew themselves up at separate locations in Mohmand Agency.

At least 13 people were killed on February 13, this year when a suicide bomber struck outside the Punjab Assembly on the Mall Road in the eastern city of Lahore during a peaceful protest of the chemists and pharmacists against a new law.

The affiliated faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat-ur-Ahrar (TTP-JA also known as JuA) took responsibility for the deadly suicide bombing in Lahore.

Terror attack in Lahore coincided with the incident in Quetta-the provincial capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, where at least one policeman was killed and five people were injured on February 13, 2017 in an explosion occurred on Sariab road.

Besides, more than 24 people had been killed in an explosion which ripped through a crowded marketplace in Parachinar Kurram tribal agency on January 21, 2017. Soon after the incident, Afghan-based TTP claimed responsibility for the blast in Parachinar.

At least 65 people were killed when a blast struck at the shrine of the Sufi saint Shah Noorani in Balochistan’s Hub Tehsil on November 12, 2016. ISIL had accepted responsibility for the attack via Amaq, its affiliated news agency.

Earlier, the affiliated group of the TTP, TTP-JA took responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in Quetta, which killed at least 74 people on August 8, 2016 in a assault at the government-run Civil Hospital.

However, the suicide bombing at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is the worst single attack since the TTP militants massacred about 150 students at an army school in Peshawar in December 2014. Pakistan’s military and civil high officials strongly condemned the attack and recent terror attacks by pointing out their connection in Afghanistan.

In this respect, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that senior Afghan diplomats were summoned to the General Headquarters (Of army) over the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Pakistan and asked to ensure that immediate action was taken against the Pakistani terrorists living in safe havens in their country.

The army, which took the lead in dealing with Afghanistan over the terrorist sanctuaries there, had soon after the Sehwan shrine attack announced closure of the border crossings with Afghanistan citing security reasons.

According to the statement of the DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor, on February 17, 2017, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa appealed to the nation to stay calm by saying, “our security forces shall not allow hostile powers to succeed…each drop of nation’s blood shall be revenged, and revenged immediately…no more restraint for anyone.”

Gen. Javed Bajwa had called Gen John Nicholson, commander of the US’s Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan through telephone to protest continued acts of terrorism in Pakistan perpetrated from Afghanistan, saying that they were testing Pakistan’s policy of cross-border restraint.

Gen. Bajwa told Gen. Nicholson that recent incidents of terrorism in Pakistan had been claimed by terrorist organisations whose leadership is hiding in Afghanistan, and asked him to play his role in “disconnecting this planning, direction, coordination and financial support”.

In a terse message, during the conversation with Nicholson, Gen. Bajwa also informed him of the list of 76 “most wanted” terrorists handed over to Afghan authorities earlier—operating from Afghan territory or hand them over to Pakistan for trying them over their involvement in terrorism.

Taking note of the terror assault in Sehwan, including the recent ones, Pakistan Army targeted a training camp of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and militant hideouts located close to the Pak-Afghan border in areas adjacent to Mohmand and Khyber agencies.

In a similar message to Kabul, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz called Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar to call for strong action against JuA and terrorist’s sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Office of Pakistan said that Afghanistan had been asked to address concerns about presence of terrorist groups on its soil, which are behind the latest wave of terrorism in the country.

It is notable that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, while addressing a press conference on February 17, this year claimed that the suspects involved in planning and carrying out the Feb 13 suicide bombing on a protest at Lahore’s Charing Cross (Mall Road) belonged to Afghanistan. Sharif also announced the arrest of the facilitator of the attacker, Anwar-ul-Haq who he said belonged to Fata’s Bajaur Agency which neighbours Afghanistan. The suspect’s confessional statement was aired during the briefing. The suspect stated, “I was associated with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and they trained me”, adding that he has visited Afghanistan around 15 to 20 times.

The police officers involved in the investigation into the incident of Mall Road, Lahore revealed that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is an offshoot of the Tehreek-i-Taliban.

Nevertheless, Pakistan has been hit by a series of terrorist attacks since Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) announced its ‘Operation Ghazi’. The Afghanistan-based JuA had in the announcement also hinted at unification of TTP splinter groups.

As regards the terror assault on the Police Training College in Quetta, IG FC Major General Sher Afgun had informed the press that the attackers acted on directions from Afghanistan and the initial investigation suggested that the terrorists were affiliated with the outlawed Lashkar-e- Jhangvi Al Almi militant group. He elaborated, “We came to know from the communication intercepts that there were three militants who were getting instructions from Afghanistan.”

Notably, as part of the dual strategy, CIA, RAW and Mossad are in connivance with the Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and other terrorist groups. With latest capture of six NDS supported terrorists in Balochistan, the number of NDS backed terrorists arrested and killed by Pakistani intelligence agencies has crossed over 126. These external secret agencies are particularly supporting the TTP which is hiding in Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan. Reportedly, Mullah Fazlullah led TTP was being prepared to carry out a fresh wave of terror activities inside Pakistan, as the latter has become center of the Great Game owing to the ideal location of Balochistan.

Located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, Balochistan’s Gwadar seaport is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil passes every day. Its location among South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and oil and gas-resourced Central Asia has further increased its strategic significance. Besides, Balochistan’s abundant mineral resources irritate the eyes of the US, India and Israel which intend to weaken Pakistan for their collective aims, as the latter is also the only nuclear country in the Islamic World.

In case of Balochistan, every Pakistani knows that the militant outfits like ISIS and separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliated groups, including Jundollah (God’s soldiers) and Lashkar-i-Janghvi which have been creating unrest in the Balochistan get logistic support from RAW and Mossad with the tactical assistance of CIA. In the recent years, these terrorist outfits massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. These externally-supported insurgent groups had kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan including Iranian diplomats. They have claimed responsibility for a number of terror assaults, including those on Shias in Balochsitan and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan.

As a matter of fact, like Syrian war, as part of the dual strategy of their countries, CIA, RAW and Mossad are especially using ISIS terrorists who are behind the latest blasts in Balochistan to obtain the covert aims of their countries against Pakistan, China and Iran.

It is of particular attention that arrest of the Indian spy Kulbushan Yadav in Balochistan has exposed Indian undeclared war against Pakistan. While addressing a joint press conference with the then Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rasheeda and former Director General of ISPR Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said on March 29, 2016, “Kulbushan Yadav’s arrest is a rare case that does not happen very often.” He disclosed that Yadav was an active officer of the Indian Navy prior to his joining RAW. He also served as a scrap dealer and had a jewelry business in Chahbahar, Iran, after he joined RAW in 2013.

A video was also shown during the press conference in which Yadav confessed that he spied for India. Yadav admitted that he was assigned with the task to create unrest in Karachi and Balolchitan by stating, “I supported the individuals who worked to destabilize Pakistan…I promoted the criminal mindset that was there in Balochistan.” Another task assigned to him was to target the Gwadar Port. Yadav also confessed—funding Baloch separatists along with other terrorists. During investigation, RAW agent Yadav admitted that during his stay, he contacted various Baloch separatist leaders and insurgents, including Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, to execute the task to damage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s security agencies uncovered another ring of Indian spies in the country, working as under covert agents, found involved in subversive activities to destabilize Pakistan. In this connection, on November 2, last year, Islamabad disclosed that five Indian diplomats who were serving at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad found to be part of the RAW spy network and were involved in subversive activities by facilitating and funding terrorism. They were declared as persona non grata and expelled from the country. 

Undoubtedly, almost all the terrorists or terrorist groups and insurgency in Pakistan, especially have their connection in Afghanistan. The porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is frequently used by human and drug traffickers, criminals and terrorists. Their easy access through unguarded porous border provides opportunity to miscreants to cause havoc inside Pakistan and Afghanistan. For effective counter terrorism measures strong border, control management is vital at Pak-Afghan border. But, Afghan rulers are using delaying tactics in this respect.

Taking cognizance of the anti-Pakistan intruders, Pakistan’s army had decided to build a fence along the border, and to control the border crossings. The strategic project of 1,100-kilometre-long trench with the cost of Rs14 billion which was initiated along Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan by Frontier Corps in 2013 has been completed last year. In the next phase, the project will be extended to the entire long border with Afghanistan which had opposed this plan.

While, from time to time, controversy arises between Afghanistan and Pakistan when Afghan officials refused to recognize the Durand Line which is the 2640 kilometer long and porous border, situated between both the countries.

The issue again came to the limelight on June 12, 2016 when Afghan security forces started unprovoked firing at Torkham border crossing, resulting in injuries to more than 16 Pakistani citizens, including the martyrdom of some Pakistani security personnel. The aim was to stop Pakistan from construction of a gate. 

Durand Line has not been drawn by Pakistan, but it was declared border line by British representative Sir Durand and Afghan Ameer Ghazi Amanullah Khan in 1919. People of Pakistan’s province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA (Tribal Areas) opted to join Pakistan in 1947. So, it is a declared border line and Afghan government has no right to object on any construction along with the Durand line.

There is no doubt that escalation of tension at Pak- Afghan border is deliberately engineered by the elements opposed to peace talks and improvement of bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

Pakistan is committed to tackle the problem of terrorism mainly emanating from Afghanistan. Therefore, the effective border management becomes imperative to control all the terrorism-related infiltrations, drug smuggling etc.  Moreover, effective border management will also facilitate both countries to come out of blame game, as it would offer a strict check on both sides to counter the free movement of terrorists and drug mafia lords, who are the important factors of deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its obvious backlash on Pakistan.

Besides, Afghan peace and reconciliation process is a reality despite of its slow pace and continual interruptions. The positive trajectory of constructive relations between Islamabad and Kabul raised alarm-bells amongst the US-led adversaries who are attempting to affect the progressive Pak-Afghan relations through smear and sinister scheming.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have previously suggested many initiatives to resolve their differences. However, as fast as these solutions had emerged, they have disappeared due to lack of follow-up. Afghanistan and Pakistan have no other option, but to cooperate and resolve their differences through political and diplomatic dialogue. And there is a huge lack of trust between the both sides. Hence, it is imperative for both the countries to develop a framework for strategic dialogue, focused on short, medium and long term solutions. As a trust building initiative, an effective border management mechanism will be beneficial for the two countries. Such an establishment will also plug in many loop holes, being manipulated by the terrorist outfits to conduct cross border terrorism. 

We may conclude that besides the previous terror-events, the recent incidents of terrorism in Pakistan have connection in Afghanistan.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

Samjhota Express Incident Revisited

By Sajjad Shaukat

                                                    

On the midnight of 18-19 February 2007, India-Pakistan Samjhota Express train was bombed in which 68 Pakistani nationals were killed. A Hindu extremist leader Swami Aseemanand, a leader of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has confessed that he was involved in several bombings incidents. He also claimed to have been a part of the incident.

In fact, ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) prevails in every field at the cost of other minority groups. It is even supported by Indian defense forces secretly. This could be judged from the incident, when on April 6, 2008 in the house of Bajrang Dal fundamentalists in Nanded, a bomb went off. The investigation proved that these militants were found in the bomb-making and attack on a mosque in Parbhani in 2003. Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra arrested a serving Lt. Col. Srikant Purohit along with other army officials, indicating that they were helping in training the Hindu terrorists, providing them with the military-grade explosive RDX, used in the Malegaon bombings and terrorist attacks in other Indian cities. ATS further disclosed that Lt. Col. Purohit confessed that in 2007, he was involved in bombing of Samjhota express, which burnt alive 70 Pakistanis.

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) was convinced that Sadhu Swami Aseemanand, a Hindu right-wing leader was directly involved in the Samjhota Express blast. Sources in NIA further pointed out that besides Lt. Col. Purohit, other Indian army officials were also behind that train-bombing. In this regard, a court in Panchkula, Haryana has recorded Aseemanand’s statement which confirmed the NIA inquiry. 

Aseemanand’s statement in the Samjhota Express blast case was recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code before a magistrate. His earlier admission was recorded in the Mecca Masjid case, which was being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Sadhu Aseemanand stuck to his confession that Hindutva radicals were behind the bomb attack on the Samjhota Express. Aseemanand, Aka Naba and Kumar Sarkar, named absconding Hindutva militants—Ramji Kaisangra and Sandeep Dange as the key plotters in that terror attack.

Sources of the NIA also disclosed that the confession in connection with the Samjhota Express blast practically rules out the involvement of other groups.

In the Samjhota Express case, the probe team has found that the bomb used in the train waskept in a suitcase that was bought from a shop of Indore’s Kothari Market. The suitcase had cloth covers stitched by an Indian local tailor. The NIA was now trying to get details of those who bought the suitcase and covers.

It is notable that Dr. J C Batra, who is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India, was asked to give opinion on Aseemanand’s confession. He appeared very defensive and as usual started accusing Pakistan’s its primary intelligence agency ISI—its so-called history for such activities, alleging that even this could be an ISI plot. He further said that Swami’s statement does not have much legal value as circumstantial evidence is also needed, while adding that RSS is being wrongly implicated and there could be others involved who are not being exposed. In this regard, a Pakistani parliamentarian, Mr. Mian Abdul Sattar, parliamentary secretary for planning and development, who was accompanying him, later stated that that he was told by Mr JC Batra that the Indian Army was involved in this case and there “are efforts to shield it from getting exposed”.

Swami Aseemanand also confessed in the court that several RSS preachers and Sang activists were directly involved in planning, financing and executing Malegaon, Samjhauta Express, Ajmer and Mecca Masjid blasts. He stated that various leaders of Hindu communal organizations including Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Abhinav Bharat, Jai Vande Matram and Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram were also behind these blasts.

It is mentionable that in various tapes, LT. Col Purohit said, “We are all on the same plane, Hindu Rashtra (Nation)”. He even claimed that Gen. J J Singh is “with us”. (Former Singh was Army Chief till Sept. 2007). Significantly, Purohit mentioned that “one of our own captain had visited Israel”, and demanded “continuous supply of arms, training, an office with a saffron flag in Tel Aviv, political asylum and support for our cause of a Hindu Nation in the UN.” The Israelis, he added, gave “a very positive response.” 

In this context, exposing the nexus between Bhartia Janta Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the then Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde disclosed on January 20, 2013 that organized training camps run by the fundamentalist parties, RSS and BJP were promoting Hindu Terrorism. He also explained that these extremist parties were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts. He added, “We will have to think about it (Saffron terrorism) seriously…Hindu extremist parties BJP and RSS were involved many times in Hindu Muslim violence in India, especially Gujarat and Babri masjid incident.”

The then India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid endorsed Shinde’s statement, saying that it was based on facts. Meanwhile, Indian Home Secretary R K Singh revealed that during investigation the government had found ten names of the Hindu extremists, associated with RSS, who were involved in these terror attacks including Ajmer Sharif.

Similarly on July 19, 2013, the Indian ex-investigating officer Satish Verma disclosed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws.

While, India has always accused Pakistan’s ISI of these acts of terrorism, but it is quite silent over Hindutva-terror which has obtained a new face, under the fundamentalist Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Indian RAW, country’s high officials and fundamentalist parties have co-relationship.

Nevertheless, despite the confessions of Swami Aseemanand, instead of taking action against the culprits of the Samjhota Express explosion, the Supreme Court of India accepted the bail of Swami Aseemanand after the covert interference of the Modi-led authorities who changed the investigations in this respect in order to weaken the case.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

دہشت گردابو بکرالبغدادی اور داعش کے خلافت کےغیر شرعی دعوٰے کی ناکامی اور رسوائی

(افتحار حسین)

دہشت گردوں  کے خلاف مسلح افواج کی کامیابیوں کے سبب پاکستان میں دہشتگردوں کو نا کامی اور مایوسی کا سامنا ہے جسکی وجہ سے وہ اپنے لیے نئی پناہ گاہوں اور سر پرستوں کی تلاش میں ہیں۔یہی وہ پسِ منظر ہے جو تحریکِ طالبان کے داعش کے  ساتھ بڑھتے ہوئے روابط کا باعث بن رہا ہے۔ داعش اور ابو بکر البغدادی کے مالی اثاثوں کی جھوٹی سچی خبروں نے حوس پروردہ دہشت گردوں کی  آنکھیں چندھیادی ہیں لہذا وہ ابو بکر البغدادی کی خوشنودی کے حصول میں لگے ہوئے ہیں۔ اس دوڑ میں وہ القاعدہ اور افغان طالبان کی بھی کوئی پرواہ نہیں کر رہے جن کے زیرِ سایہ انھوں نے جہاد کے نام پر دہشت گردی کا آغاز کیا تھا۔ درحقیقت القاعدہ کے عرب دہشتگردوں  کی بھری ہوئی تجوریوں کی کشش نے ہی تحریکِ طالبان کو  ان کی حمایت اور پشت پناہی پر آمادہ کیا تھا مگر یہ تجوریاں بھی اب خالی ہوتی جارہی ہیں۔ اسی لئے تحریکِ طالبان کی القاعدہ کے جہاد سے دلچسپی ماند پڑگئی ہے لہذا جہاں داعش اور القاعدہ ایک دوسرے  کو نیچا دکھانے میں لگے ہوئے ہیں وہیں تحریکِ طالبان کے رہنما بھی اپنے مالی مفادات کو مدِّ نظر رکھتے ہوئے اپنی پرانی وابستگیوں  اور وفاداریوں کو ترک کر رہے ہیں۔نیز داعش دبق اور رومیہ جیسے میگزینوں کے ذریعے سے بداخلاقی ،بدکرداری،جرائم اور انتہا پسندانہ تشدد کی تشہیر کر رہی ہے جو پاکستانی دہشت گردوں کے خود غرضانہ مفادات سے مطابقت رکھتا ہے ۔چنانچہ وہ بغدادی سے تعلقات استوار کرنے کی کوشش میں لگے ہوئے ہیں۔

ابو بکرالبغدادی کو خلافت کا جھوٹا دعوٰی کیے ہوئے دو سال سے زائد کا عرصہ گزرچکا ہے اور ناکامی اور نامرادی اس کا مقدر بن چکی ہے۔دنیا بھر پر قبضے اور حکومت کے خود ساختہ دعوٰے کرنے والا بغدادی اب عراق اور شام میں بھی  بری طرح سے پِٹ چکا ہے خلافت کا بے بنیاد دعوٰی کرنے کے بعد وہ دوبارہ  کبھی لوگوں کو اپنی شکل نہیں دکھا سکا ۔یقیناً اس ناکامی کا سبب اس کی  بد نیتی اور نفرت انگیز کردار ہے۔بغدادی کی ناکامی کا یہ عالم ہے کہ کسی ایک  انتہا پسند گروہ نے بھی اس کے دعوٰے کی تصدیق نہیں کی سبھی دہشت گرد گروہوں نے بھی اُس کے    خلافت کے دعوٰے کو رد کردیا۔عالم اسلام کے کسی بھی ایک جید عالم،مفتی  یا امام نے اُسے  خلیفہ تسلیم نہیں کیا۔ وہ محض عراق تک محدود ایک چھوٹے سے گروہ کا رہنما ہے اور عراق کے ایک شہر پر بھی اس کا مکمل قبضہ نہیں ہے۔یہی سبب ہے کہ ناکامی، رسوائی اور نامرادی بغدادی کا مقدر بن چکے ہیں ۔یہاں  یہ امر بھی دلچسپی سے خالی نہیں ہے کہ فضل اللہ اور تحریک طالبان  خود ابو بکر البغدادی کے خلافت کے دعوٰے  کے رد میں مئی 2015 میں ایک کتابچہ لکھ چکے ہیں۔ان کے داعش سے بڑھتے ہوئے روابط ان کے اپنے ماضی  کے فتاوٰی کی نفی ہے۔ہم یہاں بغدادی کے پسِ منظر کردار اور اس کی کارگزاریوں کا تازہ ترین حقائق کی روشنی میں جائزہ لیتے ہیں تا کہ قارئین پر اس کا گھناؤنا ایجنڈا اور بھی واضح ہوجائے۔

        خلافت اسلام کی بہت ہی مقدس ذمہ داری ہے  اور بغدادی میں کوئی ایک بھی وصف ایسانہیں پایا جاتا جس کی بنا پر اس کے دعوٰے کو مسلمان سنجیدگی سے لیتے۔اس جیسا ظالم اور دہشت گرد  شخص اس منصب کا کسی بھی طور پر اہل بھی نہیں ہو سکتا۔خلفائے راشدین محبت اور شفقت کی جیتی جاگتی تصویر تھے۔حضرت عمر ؓفرمایا کرتے تھے کہ اگردریائے فرات کے کنارے ایک کتا بھی بھوکا مر گیا تو میں اس کے لیے جوابدہ ہوں گالیکن بغدادی  اور داعش تو عراق اور شام میں مسلمانوں سے جانوروں سے بھی بد ترسلو  ک کررہے ہیں ۔عراق اور شا م کے مسلمانوں کی خون ریزی اور انھیں بھوک اور افلاس کا شکار کردینا داعش کے بدترین کارنامے ہیں۔اسی طرح    حضرت ابو بکرؓ، حضرت عمرؓ، حضرت عثمانؓ اور حضرت علیؓ اپنے بےداغ کردار اور تقوٰی کی بنیاد پرمسلمانوں کی خلافت کےمستحق ٹھہرے تھے ۔مگربغدادی اور داعش کے دوسرے رہنما،کردار اور تقوٰی کے بجائے دہشت گردی اور خون ریزی سے خود کو مسلمانوں پر مسلط کرنے کی کوشش میں لگے ہوئے ہیں۔نیز خلفائے راشدین اسلام کےسچے پیروکاراور  معزز و معروف اشخاص تھے اور انھیں ہر کوئی خلافت کے منصب پر فائز ہونے سے پہلے بھی دل سے عزیز رکھتا تھامگر بغدادی کی زندگی کا بیشتر حصہ ایک گمنام فردکی طرح تھا اور اس مشتبہ شخص کے بارے میں چند مفروضوں کے علاوہ کچھ نہیں پتا۔ہم گھر میں ملازم رکھتے ہوئے بھی اس کے ماضی سے مکمل آگاہی چاہتے ہیں تو بھلا ایک گمنام ماضی رکھنے والے بغدادی کو کیونکر اپنا رہنما تسلیم کریں۔

        علماء کا کہنا کہ ابو بکر البغدادی کے خلافت کے دعوٰے کے رد کے لیے اس بات کا ثابت ہو جانا ہی کافی ہے کہ بغدادی نےاسلامی علوم کی کوئی بڑی سند حاصل نہیں کر رکھی ۔لہذا  اس کے خلافت کے دعوٰے پر یہیں بہت بڑا سوالیہ نشان لگ جاتا ہےبھلا جب امت ِمسلمہ میں جید علماء ،مفسر ،محدث ،مفتی اور امام موجود ہیں تو بغدادی جیسے کم علم شخص کی کیا حیثیت ہے کہ وہ امت کی اطاعت و فرمانبرداری کا مکلف ہویہی سبب  ہے کہ اسے ہر طرف سے دھتکارا جا چکا ہے ۔اس کے علاوہ عراق کے کچھ ایسے اشخاص کی شہادتیں بھی منظرِعام پر آچکی ہیں جو ماضی میں بغدادی کے پڑوسی ہونے کا دعوٰی کرتے ہیں۔ان کے مطابق بغدادی ماضی میں مذہبی رجحانات بالکل بھی نہیں رکھتا تھا۔یقیناً یہ انکشافات اس کے اسلام اور جہاد کے نا م میں خود پرستانہ پروپیگنڈے کی حقیقت کو روزِ روشن کی طرح عیاں کردیتے ہیں۔

        جہاں بغدادی کی اپنی ذات کی خامیاں اسے اسلامی خلافت جیسی مقدس ذمہ داری کے لیے نا اہل بنا دیتی ہے وہیں اس کی     تنظیم ،ساتھیوں ،حماتیوں اور اہلکاروں کی کارگزاری قرآن و سنت کی روح سے نا قابلِ قبول ہیں ۔ہم جانتے ہیں کہ داعش،القاعدہ میں پھوٹ ڈال کر وجود میں آئی تھی اس عمل میں داعش نے ہزاروں صلافی ،وہابی جہادیوں کو ہلاک کردیا ۔یہ لڑائی ابھی بھی شام اور عراق میں جاری ہےاور ابو بکر البغدادی اور داعش کی تنگ نظری اور نفرت کی عکاس ہےبھلا جو شخص اور تنظیم اپنے ہی فرقے کے لوگوں کے قتل کے جنون میں مبتلا ہے وہ مسلمانوں کے دیگر فرقوں کو کیونکر رحم اور شفقت کی نظر سے دیکھے گا۔نیزوہابی /صلافی فرقے سے تعلق رکھنے والے مسلمانوں کی تعداد دنیا بھر کے مسلمانوں کی آبادی کا دس فیصد حصے سے بھی کم ہے۔پھر ہم اسے کس بنیاد پر سبھی مسلمانوں کا عالم گیر رہنما تسلیم کرسکتے ہیں۔

بغدادی اور اس کی تنظیم کی چارہ دستیوں کا نشانہ صرف صلافی جہادی خود ہی نہیں بن رہے ہیں بلکہ ان کے بیوی بچوں کو بھی معاف نہیں کیا جارہاہے۔داعش کے اہلکار عورتوں کی تجارت اور جنسی کاروبار میں بھی ملوث ہیں جس کی بہت ساری خبریں اورویڈیوز منظرِعام پر آچکی ہیں۔اپنے گناہوں سے توبہ کرنے کی بجائے بے محل دلیلوں سےاپنے اعمال کو "دبق" اور "رومیہ " جیسے آن لائن میگزینوں میں جائز قرار دینے کے لیے یہ گروہ قرآن و سنت کے نا  م پر جھوٹا پروپیگنڈا کررہا ہے۔زندہ مسلمانوں کے جان و مال کی حرمت کا لحاظ تو درکنار داعش مقدس ہستیوں کے مزاروں کو بھی دھماکوں سےتباہ کرتی رہی  ہے حضرت زینب بنت علی اور خالد بن ولید جیسی عظیم شخصیتوں کے مزاروں پر حملے کیے گئے ۔نبی شیس اور حضرت یونس تو مسلمانوں کے ساتھ ساتھ  عیسائیوں  اوریہودیوں کے لیے بھی مقدس ہیں مگر بغدادی اور داعش نے عراق میں ان کے مزاروں کو بھی تباہی کا نشانہ بنایا۔

        جن دہشت گردوں کا اثاثہ اور پہچان ایسی سرگرمیاں ہوں انھیں اسلام اور مسلمانوں کا خیر خواہ تسلیم کرنا نادانی اور گمراہی کے سوا کچھ نہیں ۔ہم یقین کرتے ہیں کہ اس مضمون میں پیش کردہ حقائق نے قارئین کو ابوبکر البغدادی اور داعش کی اصل حقیقت سے مزید اچھی طرح سے آگاہ کردیا ہوگا۔لہذا ان کے حق میں جاری سرگرمیوں سے متاثر ہونا گمراہی اور شر کے سوا کچھ اور نہیں اور ہمیں  ابو بکر البغدادی اور داعش کے ساتھ ساتھ ہر اس دہشت گرد  گروہ کو بھی رد کر دینا چاہیے جو پاکستان میں ان کی حمایت کا اعلان کرے۔ ہمیں اپنے عزیزواقرباء،دوستوں اور معاشرے کے دیگر افراد کو ان دہشت گردوں کے چنگل سے بچانے میں اپنا کردار ادا کرنا چاہیے۔

Pakistan: Who is Behind Lahore Terror Attack?

By Sajjad Shaukat

At least 13 people were killed and 85 injured on February 13, this year when a suicide bomber struck outside the Punjab Assembly on the Mall Road in the eastern city of Lahore, Pakistan during a peaceful protest of the chemists and pharmacists against a new law.

Seven police officials, including two senior officers—SSP Operations Zahid Gondal of Punjab Police and DIG Traffic Lahore Capt (retd) Ahmad Mobin were among those killed in the attack.

The affiliated faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat-ur-Ahrar (TTP-JA) took responsibility for the deadly suicide bombing in Lahore.

Terror attack in Lahore coincided with the incident in Quetta-the provincial capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, where at least one policeman was killed and five people were injured on February 13, 2017 in an explosion occurred on Sariab road.

It is mentionable that the final cricket match of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), being played in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) was to be held in just a few weeks’ time at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium—nearly six kilometers away from the blast site. The return of cricket to Pakistan was being touted as a successful demonstration of the PSL final in Lahore—a move which could have presented the country as a safe nation to the world.

PSL chairman Najam Sethi, on many occasions, had said that foreign players participating in the league have signed contracts which abide them to play the final in Lahore; however, they have always quoted security as an issue. Hopefully Sethi and the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar Khan and the Pakistani players were helping to convince the foreign ones to come to Pakistan for the PSL final match. Hence, apart from other sinister aims, especially India is behind the latest explosion in Lahore to sabotage the final cricket match.

Besides, at least 24 people had been killed and over 50 injured in a powerful explosion that ripped through a crowded marketplace in Parachinar Kurram tribal agency on January 21, this year. Soon after the incident, Afghan-based TTP claimed responsibility for the blast in Parachinar.

At least 65 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured when a blast struck at the shrine of the Sufi saint Shah Noorani in Balochistan’s Hub Tehsil on November 12, 2016.

The Middle East-based movement of the Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS, ISIL) had accepted responsibility for the attack via Amaq, its affiliated news agency. ISIS had also claimed responsibility for a terror assault on the Police Training College in Quetta, which left at least 60 individuals dead on October 24, 2016.

Earlier, the affiliated faction of the TTP, TTP-JA took responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing in Quetta, which killed at least 74 people on August 8, 2016 in an attack at the government-run Civil Hospital.

In fact, the armed forces of Pakistan have broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists by the successful military operation Zarb-e-Azb which has also been extended to other parts of the country, including Balochistan. And Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency, ISI has broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants, while thwarting a number of terror attempts.

Since the government of the Balochistan province announced general pardon and protection to the Baloch militants as part of reconciliation process, many insurgents and their leaders have surrendered their arms and decided to work for the development of Pakistan and the province, peace has been restored in Balochistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, FATA (Tribal Areas) and Karachi. But, it is due to lack of effective management mechanism at the Pak-Afghan border that as part of the double game, the US-led India and Israel have again started acts of sabotage in Pakistan to destabilize the latter. They are also trying to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

It was part of ploy that two terrorist groups accepted responsibility for the terror assault at the Police Training College in Quetta to divert the attention from the US-led India and Israel.

Based in Afghanistan, operatives of CIA, Mossad and RAW which are well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like ISIS, TTP and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their terrorists to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities.

As regards the terror assault on the Police Training College in Quetta, IG FC Major General Sher Afgun had informed the press that the attackers acted on directions from Afghanistan and the initial investigation suggested that the terrorists were affiliated with the outlawed Lashkar-e- Jhangvi Al Almi militant group. He elaborated, “We came to know from the communication intercepts that there were three militants who were getting instructions from Afghanistan.”

Notably, as part of the dual strategy, CIA, RAW and Mossad are in connivance with the Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and other terrorist groups. With latest capture of six NDS supported terrorists in Balochistan, the number of NDS backed terrorists arrested and killed by Pakistani Intelligence agencies has crossed over 126. These external secret agencies are particularly supporting the TTP which is hiding in Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan. Reportedly, Mullah Fazlullah led TTP was being prepared to carry out a fresh wave of terror activities inside Pakistan, as the latter has become center of the Great Game owing to the ideal location of Balochistan.

Located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, Balochistan’s Gwadar seaport is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil passes every day. Its location among South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and oil and gas-resourced Central Asia has further increased its strategic significance. Besides, Balochistan’s abundant mineral resources irritate the eyes of the US, India and Israel which intend to weaken Pakistan for their collective aims, as the latter is also the only nuclear country in the Islamic World.

As regards Balochistan, every Pakistani knows that the militant outfits like ISIS and separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliated groups, including Jundollah (God’s soldiers) and Lashkar-i-Janghvi which have been creating unrest in the Balochistan get logistic support from RAW and Mossad with the tactical assistance of CIA. In the recent years, these terrorist outfits massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. These externally-supported insurgent groups had kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan including Iranian diplomats. They have claimed responsibility for a number of terror assaults, including those on Shias in Balochsitan and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan.

As a matter of fact, like Syrian war, as part of the dual strategy of their countries, CIA, RAW and Mossad are especially using ISIS terrorists who are behind the latest blasts in Balochistan to obtain the covert aims of their countries against Pakistan, China and Iran.

It is of particular attention that arrest of the Indian spy Kulbushan Yadav in Balochistan has exposed Indian undeclared war against Pakistan. While addressing a joint press conference with Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rasheed, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said on March 29, 2016, “Kulbushan Yadav’s arrest is a rare case that does not happen very often.” He disclosed that Yadav was an active officer of the Indian Navy prior to his joining RAW. He also served as a scrap dealer and had a jewelry business in Chahbahar, Iran, after he joined RAW in 2013.

A video was also shown during the press conference in which Yadav confessed that he spied for India. Yadav admitted that he was assigned with the task to create unrest in Karachi and Balolchitan by stating, “I supported the individuals who worked to destabilize Pakistan…I promoted the criminal mindset that was there in Balochistan.” Another task assigned to him was to target the Gwadar Port. Yadav also confessed—funding Baloch separatists along with other terrorists. During investigation, RAW agent Yadav admitted that during his stay, he contacted various Baloch separatist leaders and insurgents, including Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, to execute the task to damage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s secret agencies uncovered another ring of Indian spies in the country, working as under covert agents, found involved in subversive activities to destabilize Pakistan. In this connection, on November 2, last year, Islamabad disclosed that five Indian diplomats who were serving at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad found to be part of the RAW spy network and were involved in subversive activities by facilitating and funding terrorism. They were declared as persona non grata and expelled from the country. 

Undoubtedly, almost all the terrorists or terrorist groups and insurgency in Pakistan, especially have their connections in Afghanistan. The porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is frequently used by human and drug traffickers, criminals and terrorists. Their easy access through unguarded porous border provides opportunity to miscreants to cause havoc inside Pakistan and Afghanistan. For effective counter terrorism measures strong border, control management is vital at Pak-Afghan border. But, Afghan rulers are using delaying tactics in this respect.

Taking note of the anti-Pakistan intruders, Pakistan’s army had decided to build a fence along the border, and to control the border crossings. The strategic project of 1,100-kilometre-long trench with the cost of Rs14 billion which was initiated along Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan by Frontier Corps in 2013 has been completed last year. In the next phase, the project will be extended to the entire long border with Afghanistan which had opposed this plan.

While, from time to time, controversy arises between Afghanistan and Pakistan when Afghan officials refused to recognize the Durand Line which is the 2640 kilometer long and porous border, situated between both the countries.

The issue again came to the limelight on June 12, 2016 when Afghan security forces started unprovoked firing at Torkham border crossing, resulting in injuries to more than 16 Pakistani citizens, including the martyrdom of some Pakistani security personnel. The aim was to stop Pakistan from construction of a gate.  

Durand Line has not been drawn by Pakistan, but it was declared border line by British representative Sir Durand and Afghan Ameer Ghazi Amanullah Khan in 1919. People of Pakistan’s province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA (Tribal Areas) opted to join Pakistan in 1947. So, it is a declared border line and Afghan government has no right to object on any construction along with the Durand line.

There is no doubt that escalation of tension at Pak- Afghan border is deliberately engineered by the elements opposed to peace talks and improvement of bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

Pakistan is committed to tackle the problem of terrorism mainly emanating from Afghanistan. Therefore, the effective border management becomes imperative to control all the terrorism-related infiltrations, drug smuggling etc.  Moreover, effective border management will also facilitate both countries to come out of blame game, as it would offer a strict check on both sides to counter the free movement of terrorists and drug mafia lords, who are the important factors of deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its obvious backlash on Pakistan.

Besides, Afghan peace and reconciliation process is a reality despite of its slow pace and continual interruptions. The positive trajectory of constructive relations between Islamabad and Kabul raised alarm-bells amongst the US-led adversaries who are attempting to affect the progressive Pak-Afghan relations through smear and sinister scheming.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have previously suggested many initiatives to resolve their differences. However, as fast as these solutions had emerged, they have disappeared due to lack of follow-up. Afghanistan and Pakistan have no other option, but to cooperate and resolve their differences through political and diplomatic dialogue. And there is a huge lack of trust between the both sides. Hence, it is imperative for both the countries to develop a framework for strategic dialogue, focused on short, medium and long term solutions. As a trust building initiative, an effective border management mechanism will be beneficial for the two countries. Such an establishment will also plug in many loop holes, being manipulated by the terrorist outfits to conduct cross border terrorism. 

Returning to our earlier discussion, with the assistance of CIA and Mossad, particularly Indian RAW is behind the terror attack in Lahore.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

Why India is Reviving Baloch Militancy?PART - III

By Tariq Rizwan

            The strength of missing persons from other parts of the country is much higher than Balochistan; 400 cases were registered in KP against 194 in Balochistan. In KP and FATA, the so called Islamists played havoc with the general masses, government infrastructure and lives of LEAs in war on terror ever since their escape from Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11. Indeed, the media focused on Baloch Missing Persons whose ratio was quite low but received a tremendous focus. According to the analysts, India is tactfully exploiting its contacts in Indian, Pakistani as well as international media to project the issue of Baloching Missing Persons. Some notorious Baloch criminals and dacoits were lured in to come to Afghanistan where they were provided with free boarding, lodging and financial support. Their cases were vigorously pursued in the Commission for Missing Persons. Wadood Raesani is one of the prominent cases. He along with his girl-friend Naila Qadri nick name Naila Baloch etcetra managed to escape to Afghanistan. He was involved in several cases of murder and robberies. Naila Qadri is a settler of Quetta city. She was working as a teacher and was married to some Raesani. She went to Afghanistan with Wadood and left behind her husband and her daughters in Quetta. Both Wadood and Naila lived in Qandhar, Afghanistan and now in India under RAW-NDS arrangements and remained in forefront in propaganda against Pakistan.

            Indian sponsored groups including Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VFBMP) led by Nasrullah Baloch, Baloch Republican Party led by Brahmdagh Bugti from abroad, Baloch National Movement of late Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, Human Rights groups, Bloch Student Organizations and some nationalist media persons in the area presented an alarming situation of the Baloch missing persons.

According to dawn news, the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) was seized with 1,265 cases as of Dec 31, 2014. But the Defence of Human Rights (DHR) claims that the total number of cases of missing persons is 5,149 and 252 of them surfaced in 2014 alone. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan report, submitted in Peshawar High Court in April, 2015 says that 400 missing persons have been registered with various Police Stations only in KP province.  

            However, the appointment of a Commission headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge exposed all the baseless claims of BSNs and their foreign sponsors. These groups were insisting on figures of 19,000 so called missing Baloch political activists. They claimed that their activists have been subjected to enforced disappearances for decades. One Asghar Baloch was reportedly killed by Hazara protestors in reaction to a suicide attack in Liaqat Bazar, Quetta in 2003-4 but Asghar’s cousin Nasrulla Baloch along with family refused to identify the dead body and accept the Police investigation. Instead, they pursued the case in the Commission for unknown reasons.

            While the search for Balochistan’s missing persons continues, their cases are complicated by the discrepancies between the records of those involved. The Commission directed all the Police Stations to register the cases and put up the report before the Commission after due consideration and consultation in Provincial Task Force. The Provincial Task Force discussed each report in detail and the findings were presented in the Commission. 

            According to Akbar Durrani, ex Secretary Home & Tribal Affair, Balochistan, total 194 cases were registered with the Provincial Police across Balochistan. Some missing persons have, reportedly, come back home while some were confirmed living in Afghanistan at their will like Wadood Raesani. Some human rights organisations are still propagating the figures of 8,000 Baloch Missing Persons.

            Mama Qadir, Vice President VFBMP is playing in the hands of foreign powers. His son Jalil Rekki was reportedly, operational commander of BRA and was involved in killing of hundreds of non-Baloch. More than 1000 innocent non-Baloch  were killed by these ruthless BSNs. Jalil Rekki was at odd with Dr Nazar group and reportedly was picked and killed by BLF. The raid was reportedly similar to that of kidnapping of Jhon Soleki, US National and head of UNHCR who was later recovered after of paying ransom. Only Majid Lango, who was killed in an encounter with FC, had reportedly killed more than 120 settlers in cold blood. Likewise Jalil Rekki was a killer who was expelled from Bank service due to his corrupt attitude and nationalist approach.

            Mama Qadeer says his organization has submitted a detailed report to the United Nations with evidence regarding missing persons. Contrary to the details revealed by investigations, he claims that “more than 19,000 people are still missing who were picked by the intelligence agencies and were being subjected to inhuman tactics. None of them have been recovered yet. The government has done nothing, except to release those who were detained for a brief period”, he told The Express Tribune. The rights groups when asked about the details of missing persons, could provide only 989 names.

            In Balochistan, the provincial government has already set up a special cell on the directives of the interior ministry and has published these 989 names in various newspapers, requesting the relatives of these missing persons to submit further details but no further details of these persons have been received. Only 194 applicants came forward with additional data. Most of them were cleared after investigation and only 71 cases are still pending with the Commission.

            According to local media, as many as 612 dead bodies have been recovered from across Balochistan from 2010-2013, according to the Home Department. Out of it, 373 were identified as Baloch, 95 Pashtun, 73 Hazaras, Punjabi settlers and Afghan nationals while 71 remained un-identifiable. All these bodies were found in the insurgency affected areas and were dumped in isolated spaces in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kalat, Mekran, Naseerabad and Sibi. The VFBMP has not agreed with these figures and held the secret agencies responsible.  But all such claims are based on hearsay with mala fide intentions. Some people like Mama Qadeer and Nasrullah Baloch have personal grudge due to missing and killing of their near and dear. The foreign hostile powers in the cover of media and NGOs are exploiting their grudge to malign Pakistan in the comity of nations.

At this crucial stage when developmental work on CPEC is in full swing, the issue of missing persons has become a challenge for the government of Pakistan and the superior courts to pursue the cases vigorously and recover the missing near and dear ones, bring them to the book if involved, so that the negative propaganda comes to an end.   

            The writer is a freelance journalist