Carlotta Gall Bandwagons Christine Fair

Sarah Khan

It needs no justification that Indian intelligence agency RAW has hired few writers of international reputation to defame Pakistan, its armed forces and its intelligence agency by writing and publishing articles based on mere propaganda. Writers working on Indian payroll include ex-CIA official Bruce Reidel, Professor at George Town University Christine Fair and NY Times Correspondent Carlotta Gall. Their writings usually follow same theme which is provided by their RAW masters. Their articles are mostly repetition of same old propaganda and their fake reporting always refers anonymous people. Their irrational writings have affected their reputation as objective neutral analyst.

Recently, Carlotta Gall has published article titled, “Pakistan’s Hand in the Rise of International Jihad” in one of the World’s leading newspaper The NY Times. As expected the theme was immediately picked up by Indian Newspapers and Indians carried out propaganda against Pakistan, continuously for two days time and again quoting Carlotta Gall and NY Times. Even Indian backed media in Pakistan i.e. Express Tribune also published the account of lies by Carlotta Gall on 08 February. As usual, this article is also based on fake reporting and anonymous references without any logical argument. The main argument of Gall in the recent article is role of ISI in creation of ISIS. Here is the truthful account of ISIS creation.

It has been widely published in Western media that CIA has played a key role in creation of ISIS. Probably, Ms. Gall has not read the accounts of so many Western writers on ISIS creation. Seumas Milne, a British journalist and political aide appointed as the Labour Party's Executive Director of Strategy and Communications published an article in The Guardian in June 2015 titled “Now the truth emerges: how the US fuelled the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq”. He stated that reports were cited that MI6 had cooperated with the CIA on a “rat line” of arms transfers from Libyan stockpiles to the Syrian rebels in 2012 after the fall of the Gaddafi regime. A revealing light on how we got here has now been shone by a recently declassified secret US intelligence report, written in August 2012, which uncannily predicts – and effectively welcomes – the prospect of a “Salafist principality” in eastern Syria and an al-Qaida-controlled Islamic state in Syria and Iraq.

The Defense Intelligence Agency document identified al-Qaida in Iraq (which became Isis) and fellow Salafists as the “major forces driving the insurgency in Syria” – and states that “western countries and the Gulf states” were supporting the opposition’s efforts to take control of eastern Syria. Raising the “possibility of establishing a declared or undeclared Salafist principality”, the Pentagon report goes on, “this is exactly what the supporting powers to the opposition want, in order to isolate the Syrian regime. A year into the Syrian rebellion, the US and its allies weren’t only supporting and arming an opposition they knew to be dominated by extreme sectarian groups; they were prepared to countenance the creation of some sort of “Islamic state” – despite the “grave danger” to Iraq’s unity.

Seumas Milne noted that US created ISIS, of course, though some of its Gulf allies certainly played a role in it – as the US vice-president, Joe Biden, acknowledged last year. But there was no al-Qaida in Iraq until the US and Britain invaded. And the US has certainly exploited the existence of ISIS against other forces in the region as part of a wider drive to maintain western control. US and western habit of playing with jihadi groups, which then come back to bite them, goes back at least to the 1980s war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, which fostered the original al-Qaida under CIA tutelage. Creation of ISIS was recalibrated during the occupation of Iraq, when US forces led by General Petraeus sponsored an El Salvador-style dirty war of sectarian death squads to weaken the Iraqi resistance. And it was reprised in 2011 in the Nato-orchestrated war in Libya, where Isis took control of Gaddafi’s home town of Sirte.

The fact that the CIA was actively working to help the Libyan rebels topple Gaddafi was no secret, https://sg.news.yahoo.com/cia-sends-teams-libya-us-considers-rebel-aid-20110331-065759-284.html nor were the airstrikes that Obama ordered against the Libyan government. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/29/world/la-fg-obama-libya-20110329. With the assistance of U.S. and NATO intelligence and air support, the Libyan rebels captured Gaddafi and summarily executed him in the street. Now after Gaddafi was overthrown, the Libyan armories were looted, and massive quantities of weapons were sent by the Libyan rebels to Syria. The weapons, which included anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles were smuggled into Syria through Turkey. The times of London reported on the arrival of the shipment on September 14th, 2012. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article3537770.ece.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh released an article in April of 2014 http://www.lrb.co.uk/v36/n08/seymour-m-hersh/the-red-line-and-the-rat-line which exposed a classified agreement between the CIA, Turkey and the Syrian rebels to create what was referred to as a “rat line”. The “rat line” was covert network used to channel weapons and ammunition from Libya, through southern Turkey and across the Syrian border. The US and its allies were now fully focused on taking down Assad’s government in Syria. As in Libya this regime change was to be framed in terms of human rights, and now overt support began to supplement the backdoor channels. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/world/middleeast/arms-airlift-to-syrian-rebels-expands-with-cia-aid.html?pagewanted=all The growing jihadist presence was swept under the rug and covered up. However as the rebels gained strength, the reports of war crimes and atrocities that they were committing began to create a bit of a public relations problem for Washington. It then became standard policy to insist that US support was only being given to what they referred to as “moderate” rebel forces. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/syria-civil-war-us-will-arm-moderate-rebels-says-barack-obama-confirming-use-of-chemical-weapons-by-president-bashar-alassads-regime-8658368.html

This is the account of creation of ISIS by Western writers. Carlotta Gall’s propaganda theme of Pakistan’s role in creation of ISIS has already been negated by the reports of US intelligence agencies including Defense Intelligence Agency. In reality, US and western policy in the Middle East is in the classic mould of imperial divide-and-rule. American forces bomb one set of rebels while backing another in Syria, and mount what are effectively joint military operations with Iran against ISIS in Iraq while supporting Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.

During interaction with journalists, a US journalist stated that anti-Pakistan writings has become a best seller theme in USA because Indian lobby is very active in US. Carlotta Gall writings are a proof to it. Like her book, The Wrong Enemy, Carlotta Gall’s recent article is a tale of lies provided by RAW. It seems Carlotta Gall is trying to bandwagon Christine Fair who has lost her credibility especially after reports of her links with Baloch dissidents getting arms and finances from RAW to create instability in Balochistan province.

Dual Policy towards Al-Qaeda and ISIS is Extremely Counterproductive

By Sajjad Shaukat

As regards terrorism, Machiavelli advises the rulers to have a lion-like image outwardly, and act upon the traits of goat inwardly. He also suggests them foreign adventures and the use of terror to obtain their goals. In his sense, a good ruler should be a good opportunist and hypocrite. While echoing Machiavelli, Morgenthau points out that sometimes, rulers act upon immoral activities like deceit, fraud, falsehood and even murder to fulfill their selfish aims.

Indicating dual policy, Morgenthau, and Palmer and Perkins opine, “Just as power became the instrument of ambitious nationalism and state’s leaders, it has now become the tool of ideologies. The true nature of the policy is concealed by ideological justifications and rationalization.”

Although in the present world of social media and Internet, such a sinister politics has been replaced by modern trends such as fair-dealings, reconciliation and economic development, yet by following the old strategies, American President Barack Obama and neoconservatives who are in collusion with the Zionist Jews and Israel are still acting upon dual policy towards Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group (Daesh), also known ISIS or ISIL. Even, America’s western allies are also pursuing similar ambivalent strategy.

Everyone knows that Al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban were created by the American CIA to fight against the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

In this regard, former British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook stated, “Throughout the 1980s, he [Bin Laden] was armed by the CIA and funded by the Saudis to wage jihad against the Russian occupation of Afghanistan.”

After fulfilling their interests, Washington had left Afghanistan and Pakistan to face the fallout of a prolonged conflict—terrorism and instability. These Mujahideen who pulled the Russians out of Afghanistan, later become the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, etc. They got the label of terrorists.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, American former President Bush (The Senior) in connivance with his Zionist-advisers took the Islamic fundamentalism as a great threat. Since then, sometimes, Al-Qaeda have continuously been used by the US and some western countries as a scapegoat to malign Pakistan for ‘de-nuclearisation,’ as the latter is the only nuclear country in the Muslim World. Sometimes, they accused Iran of harbouring terrorism, and to propagate against Tehran’s peaceful nuclear progragmme—sometimes to achieve the goals of external policy and sometimes to pacify their public including the opposition. In all cases, the purpose behind has been to safeguard the interests of the Zionists and Israel.

On November 13, 2009, a Reuters report quoting Labeviere’s book “Corridors of Terror” (Released in November 2003) points to negotiations between Bin Laden and CIA, which took place two months prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks-at the American Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when Bin Laden was under a kidney dialysis treatment.

Meanwhile, while making Osama and Al-Qaeda as scapegoats, a number of fake video messages were telecast on various TV channels and websites by some Zionists to obtain Israel’s anti-Muslim goals. For example, during the November 2004 elections in the US, a fake video tape helped the ex-president George W. Bush to get lead over John Kerry.

It is well-known that in a tape released on December 27, 2001, the authenticity of which is not in question, Osama denied any involvement in the September 11 tragedy. However, later, two video tapes appeared to validate his guilt in relation to 9/11, because the main aims of the Bush administration were to provoke American public against the Muslims and to justify global war on terror—the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq to possess energy resources of Central Asia and Iraq, including proxy wars in other Middle Eastern countries. Besides other actions of Bush era such as America’s state-sponsored terrorism in the volatile Islamic countries, persecution of Muslims through torture, detentions and arrests, CIA and FBI-operated facilities, promotion of sectarian violence and divide between Sunnis and Shias in the Islamic World—radicalising the western Christians against the Muslims, while providing a golden chance to Israel and India to accelerate the systematic genocide of the Palestinians and Kashmiries by equating the wars of liberation in the controlled territories of Palestine and Kashmir with terrorism.

It was because of the dual strategy of Bush through war on terror, and on the other side, response of Al-Qaeda militants by clandestine terror attacks, as shown through a number of the past suicidal missions such as on Indonesian resort island of Bali, Saudi Arabia, Spain etc., and a series of bomb attacks on London’s transport network, including those ones in other Afro-Asian countries have clearly pointed out that Al-Qaeda was organized on world level. But, the outfit lost control on its affiliated militant groups. Al-Qaeda’s decimated old guard may no longer be able to mount elaborately detailed plots, executed by other trained terrorists of various new groups which claim their links with Al-Qaeda, but, are not under its direct command. For example, in Somalia—splitting away of a hardliner-faction Al-Shabaab is an offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, though the US defined Al-Shabaab as Al-Qaida allies.

In this connection, about the two bombs which blew the 18-story headquarters of the British-owned HSBC bank and the British consulate in Istanbul in November, 2003, Turkish officials had remarked that these were the work of homegrown extremists.

In March 2004, the former CIA Director, George Tenet said, “Al-Qaeda has become a loose collection of regional networks working autonomously-[they] pick their own targets, they plan their own attacks…in this new phase of franchise terrorism, Al-Qaeda has been described as an idea rather than an organization.”

Notably, President Obama who had stated during his first election, “Bush has made the world the most dangerous place”, and he would rectify the blunders, committed by his predecessor in the name of war on terror—continued the same in their worst form. However, Obama-led Administration went on with various techniques of ruthless terror and extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons through illegitimate drone attacks—assisting undemocratic forces, toppling the elected government in Egypt, and like Iraq, creation of more collapsed states such as Libya, Yemen, Syria etc., and covert assistance to Israel.

If the double game of President Bush (The Senior) and George W. Bush franchised Al-Qaeda on global level, President Obama’s dual policy franchised both Al-Qaeda and ISIS as part of the anti-Muslim campaign and left no stone unturned in advancing the agenda of the Zionists, Israeli lobbies and the neoconservatives in the pretext of global war on terror. Secretly, Obama authorized CIA to create ISIS. His perennial covert support to the Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians, silence over the supply (Smuggling) of oil by ISIS to some European countries whose governments have also not taken action against those companies which are exporting oil from the ISIS-controlled regions of Iraq, CIA-assisted Al-Qaeda (Al-Nusra Front) and ISIS militants, continued sectarian violence and prolonged engagement of its troops (NATO) in Afghanistan might be cited as instance. Moreover, the Middle East was deliberately thrown in worst form of terrorism and civil wars for achieving the goal of a greater Israel.

The terrorist acts of both Al-Qaeda and ISIS have been utilized by Obama in distorting the image of Islam and Jihad so as to pacify American public in wake of multiple internal and external problems like heavy cost of prolonged ‘different war’, financial crisis, demoralization of troops in Afghanistan etc.   

President Obama’s deliberate contradictory approach could also be judged from the fact that on February 3, this year, during his first visit to a US mosque, he condemned inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans, and said, “So often, Muslim Americans are targeted and blamed for the acts of a few.”

In the recent past, some developments like Russian successful airstrikes on the ISIS targets in the northern Syria—its coalition with Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon-based Hezbollah in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, retreat of the CIA-supported rebels and mercenaries after their failure to topple his government, proving links of Al-Qaeda and ISIS with America and Israeli, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s clear-cut statement, indicating the Zionist regime in the US and  Israel for their “fake war on ISIL”, and remarking, “NWO (New World Order) agents and Satan worshipers simply have no clothes,” including the first Vienna meeting on Syrian crisis, where the US Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to keep the Syrian president in power (Contrary to previous demand of regime change), for a unified state of Syria, not to allow ISIL militant group to reign in Syria, and America’s decision of  sending 50 special forces to Syria to help in taking down ISIS terrorists have clearly exposed hidden aims of the US global war on terror which is based upon dual policy towards ISIS.

In these circumstances, as part of the Zionist conspiracy against the West, Muslims and the patriot Americans, Israeli Secret agency Mossad utilized the services of ISIS terrorists in arranging the November 13 terror attacks in Paris. In the post-Paris attacks, by producing anti-Muslim phenomena like the propaganda of the so-called threat of Islamophobia, persecution of the Muslims in the US, Europe and some other western countries, Israel-led America also got the assistance of its western allies (NATO) against Russia. Now, as part of their ambivalent approach, American jet fighters and those of its western coalition are targeting the ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria.

Besides, in wake of the presidential election-campaign, ordinary Americans are focusing on internal problems which are the result of prolonged war on terror. Patriot Americans are openly criticizing the Zionist-protected policies of the US. Taking cognizance, Obama has asked Turkey to withdraw its forces from Iraq’s territories. In the recent past, John Kerry gave ultimatum to the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to agree for the two-state solution of the Palestinian dispute.  

Meanwhile, some recent developments have further exposed the dual strategy of the US-led west.    The Russia-led coalition which have successfully been achieving its objectives have broken the backbone of the ISIS terrorists, Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front and the rebels who have vacated most of the areas of Syria and Iraq. On February 3, this year, Syrian troops backed by Russian warplanes cut the last supply route, linking rebels and ISIS militants in Aleppo city. Aleppo is near the Turkish border from where with the backing of the US-led west (Especially, UK and France), Turkey has also been supporting the rebels and ISIS terrorists, while Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf countries like Qatar are funding them to oust the Assad’s regime.

It is of particular attention that the representatives of the rebels had refused to participate in the recently-held Geneva peace talks (Held on February 1) by demanding that first Russia should stop airstrikes. When John Kerry insisted them to “seize the opportunity” to participate in UN-backed peace talks on Syria, they agreed to participate. It has clearly exposed America’s dual strategy.

Taking note of the weak position of the ISIS militants and rebels who received a greater blow, their representatives in Geneva who first time participated in talks, demanded that Russia-led coalition should stop siege of Aleppo city for the success of negotiations. The UN has suspended peace talks, and now would resume on February 25.

As part of the double game, America and its allies, particularly France have held Russia and Syrian President Assad responsible for the suspension of Geneva peace talks.

It is worth-mentioning that CIA-Mossad-backed ISIS commanders who are fleeing Iraq and Syria are taking shelter in Libya. In this context, on February 3, 2016, BBC pointed out, “Senior commanders from so-called Islamic State (IS) have moved to Libya from Iraq and Syria recently.”

On the one side, on February 4, this year, a donor conference held in London where the world’s rich countries, particularly Germany, Britain, the US and EU pledged billions of dollars to help Syrian refugees, scattered around the world, and especially those who have taken shelter in Europe, while on the other, they are still backing the rebels and ISIS terrorists, and are also targeting them through areal strikes.

Now, taking cognizance of the weak leverage of bargaining of the US-led western countries on Syrian question, some countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israeli are encouraging the ISIS militants to continue terror attacks on the Shias and in Syria. Besides previous similar assaults in Syria, ISIS claimed responsibility for a triple bombing which killed 45 people near a Shia shrine in Damascus, on January 31, 2015.

As regards manipulation of the Syrian crisis, notably, on February 1, this year, the Russian Defense Ministry has presented video evidence which shows Turkish military shelling on the Syrian territory.

While, in case of Afghanistan, there are several groups of Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban like the Afghan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Some of them are being used by secret agencies like CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW to obtain the collective and individual designs of their countries against Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries. India and Israel which want to prolong the stay of the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan which have become the center of covert activities, are exploiting their dual policy, particularly of America against Pakistan, China and Iran. Terrorists of TTP and ISIS which are strategic assets of the CIA have claimed responsibility for several terror attacks inside Pakistan, including at Charsadda’s university of Pakistan and recent ones in Afghanistan.

By utilizing the vicious circle of terrorism and the dual policy of America, some western countries, Israel and India, Al-Qaeda, ISIS and TTP also employ double game. Besides working for CIA, Mossad and RAW, these militant outfits also motivate the common Muslims for suicide attacks and terror-related activities as part of Jihad. Otherwise, Jihad does not permit suicide attacks. Like other religions, Islam is a religion of peace and prohibits any sort of terrorism.

Iraq-based ISIS which itself broke away from Al-Qaeda, proclaimed a worldwide caliphate by its leader Abu Baker al-Baghdadi, on 29 June 2014. ISIS’s criminal actions had widely been criticized in the world, with many Islamic communities judging the group to be unrepresentative of Islam. One of ISIS’s goals has been to establish a radical Sunni Islamic state in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine etc. (Levant region). It has been used by the US and Israel for distorting the image of Islam and for inciting the feelings of western Christians and Kurds against Muslims. For the purpose, like Al-Qaeda, it is widely known for its violent acts and propaganda which includes Internet videos of beheadings etc. However, besides some Islamic countries, a majority of the religious extremists (Muslims) from the western world joined the ISIS. In this context, oblivion on the part of the west about ISIS recruits from their countries is questionable.

Saudi Arabian rulers who have already been funding the ISIS against Iran and Syria, have been fighting for survival of their kingship. In accordance with Israel-led American secret strategy, Saudi Arabia has chosen the path of leading unrest in the Middle East by promoting sectarian violence. Notably, the US decided to revive the phony war on terror through Saudi Arabia. American President Obama knew that much resentment is found in the Muslim countries against the US and Israel. Therefore, he directed Saudi Arabia to form an alliance of the Sunni countries to wage a war against the ISIS. On December 15, 2015, Riyadh which also wanted to protect its monarchy in the pretext of fighting the ISIS terrorists, announced a 34-state Sunni-based military alliance. Washington immediately welcomed the alliance.

It is noteworthy that like the drastic aftermath of 9/11 tragedy, rulers and politicians of the US-led western countries, especially of Europe are again misguiding their general public by creating chauvinism against the Muslim World by exploiting the critical situation, after the Paris disaster and the shooting at San Bernardino, California. In fact, fault cannot be laid on the ordinary citizens who are swayed by stereotypes and prejudices created by the political leaders who keep on manipulating any crisis for their own self-interests with the sole aim of getting their sympathies to increase their vote bank. There are equal strong pressures from religious and nationalist forces in wake of global war on terror which are dividing the world on religious lines.

As regards the anti-Muslim policy, on January 18, 2015, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that Muslim women who fail to learn English to a high enough standard could face deportation from Britain. He also suggested that poor English skills can leave people “more susceptible to the messages of groups like Islamic State (IS).”

Cameroon was quickly criticized by Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, Sayeeda Warsi, the Tory peer and former party co-chairman for singling out Muslim women as the main group. They said, “His clumsy approach to challenging extremism is unfairly stigmatising a whole community...evidence suggests [Racial] gang culture, Islamophobia, [and] responses to foreign policy are greater drivers of radicalisation” than failure to learn English.”

Earlier, Donald Trump, the leading contender to become the Republican Party’s nominee for US presidential candidate had called for a ban on Muslims, entering the United States in response to the San Bernardino shooting.

In the past few days, tensions over Europe’s migrant crisis led to violence in Sweden and the UK, with a masked mob calling for attacks on foreigners in Stockholm, and nearly 100 men gathered on January 29, resulted into clashes between pro-and anti-migrant demonstrators in the British town of Dover.

And under the threat of ISIS, especially European governments and EU have been expelling the immigrants from their countries, while discouraging more Syrian refugees. On the other side, they are also trying to resolve the Syrian crisis. However, it shows contradictory policy.

On January 25, 2016, The EU’s law enforcement agency Europol revealed that ISIS have set up special forces style training camps in Europe, as they plot mass casualty civilian strikes on the continent.

Nevertheless, it is due to the dual policy of the US-led western world that ISIS which is most dangerous terrorist group than Al-Qaeda is rapidly spreading its tentacles to all over the world. On January 14, 2015, multiple blasts and gunfire killed seven people and jolted the Indonesian capital Jakarta. The ISIS claimed responsibility. The Indonesian investigative agency disclosed that the ISIS carried out the attacks with the help of home-grown terrorists. On October 4, 2015, ISIS-affiliated militant outfit Boko Haram claims responsibility for Nigeria’s deadly suicide bombings which killed 18 people on October 4.

Despite widespread protests across the country in recent days, the French government confirmed on February 3 that it would seek a three-month extension of the state of emergency it declared after the Paris attacks. It indicates that if ISIS conducts more terror attacks in France and other European countries, they would move towards autocracy.

Nonetheless, either Muslims are being massacred by terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq and Pakistan or Christians in Nigeria or anywhere—or they are targeted by racialists, all these acts are strongly condemnable, as they are all human beings. Hence, instead of pursuing dual strategy about ISIS which is proving extremely counterproductive, the US and its allies must better agree for an international coalition to fight this militant outfit and Al-Qaeda.

In this regard, President Putin has said on January 11, 2015, “The West of exacerbating international crises that had contributed to it...we are faced with common threats, and we still want all countries, both in Europe and the whole world, to join their efforts to combat these threats.”

If dual policy towards Al-Qaeda and especially ISIS continues by the US-led western countries, it will create chaos in the Middle East, enveloping the entire world, and may culminate into “Clash of Civilizations.” Any major war or such a clash will take the US and Europe to the era—from 1511 to 1648 when Europe witnessed a prolonged arena of barbarism, religious bigotry and intolerance, resulting into beastly violence.  

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

Courtesy: The Veterans Today

Maqbool Bhat: The Pioneer of the Kashmir’s Struggle

By Sajjad Shaukat

The 11th of February is being celebrated as the martyrdom anniversary of Maqbool Bhat who was hanged by the then Indian regime on February 11, 1984 in Tihar Jail as the reprisal expressed by New Delhi. He was hanged to take the revenge of the killing of an Indian Diplomat by some unknown organization claiming to be Kashmiri. It was an act of shame for a country called India, as even after his death, his body was not handed over to his family and people, rather buried in Tihar Jail complex.

People and civil society of Jammu and Kashmir do respect him for his legendary struggle for the restoration of freedom in Kashmir. He is now a hero and pioneer of the Kashmiri nation.

In order to pay tribute to Maqbool Bhat, People of Srinagar have already built and reserve a grave for him in Martyrs Grave Yard of Eidgah, Srinagar. However, his formal burial is still awaited.

Maqbool Bhat, also known as Maqbool Butt was a Kashmiri freedom fighter and co-founder of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front. He was a leading voice of the struggle for freedom among the Kashmiris. In the year of 1962, Maqbool Bhat formed a movement called Kashmir Independence Committee (KIC). This group was later merged into the newly formed Jammu Kashmir Mahaz-Rayee-Shumari (Plebiscite Front) in Azad Kashmir, which was a crusade for complete independence from India. He was sentenced to death for murder by the Delhi High Court and hanged on 11 February 1984.

Prior to the publication of ‘Shaoor e Farda’ (the vision of tomorrow) by Saeed Asad and Safeer e Hurriyat ( the ambassador of liberation) by Khawaja Rafiq, there was little known about the events which shaped Maqbool Bhat’s life, struggle and Political thoughts. It appears from his letters written from various Pakistani and Indian prisons and interviews with various journalists at different times that life became a struggle from the age when children needed to be carefree and playing with their peers and toys. 

His politics came into conflict with the state machinery of the Indian occupied Kashmir when he led several agitations for the political rights of the people of Kashmir. Subsequently, as it appears from his interviews and Rafiq’s narration confirmed by some his colleagues, he went underground and then in 1958 crossed over to Pakistan along with his uncle.

Maqbool Bhat got admission in Peshawar University to do Urdu Literature and joined a local newspaper ‘Anjaam’ to earn living. At Peshawar University, he met such people as Ahmed Fraaz, one of the big legends of romantic and radical or commonly called progressive Urdu poetry.  

However, Maqbool Bhat formed Jammu Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF) on August 13, 1965. Maqbool Bhat, Aurangzeb, Major Amaan Ulla and Kala Khan crossed the division line to the Indian-held Kashmr in June 1966. The purpose was to explore the feelings of Kashmiris there with the possibilities of forming some ‘cells’ there. It appears from the writings of such activists as F. Rehman who was among those contacted during the three-month tour of NLF guerrillas in different towns and cities that they managed to convince some people for national liberation type of armed struggle as the only way to liberate Kashmir.  

Most of the Kashmiri record on the history of NLF and Maqbool Bhat shows that on their way back, they were intercepted by the Indian intelligence agencies and in a clash with one of the security teams Aurangzeb, who was from Gilgit, and the CID inspector Amar Chand was left dead. Maqbool Bhat and Kala Khan were arrested on September 14, September 1966. 

Two First Information Reports were registered against Maqbool Bhat. The first one lodged at Police Station Sopore, Kashmir (F.I.R. 84/66) alleged that he crossed the ceasefire line without a valid legal permit with an illegal purpose to overthrow the lawfully established government of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The second F.I.R. filed at Police Station Panzala, Kashmir (F.I.R. 38/66) charged Maqbool Bhat with the murder of Amar Chand. It alleged that Bhat and accomplices first took cash; ornaments and other documents from C.I.D. Inspector Amar Chand’s house then abducted and killed Amar. He was also charged with the enemy agent.

In his defence Maqbool Bhat denied all charges except that he had without a valid legal permit crossed the ceasefire line in June 1966. He said that he did not think it necessary to obtain a permit for moving around in his own country.

The biased Indian court found him guilty and passed death sentenced on him, while others were given the life sentence. It is also reported that upon announcement of the death sentence by Judge Neil Kant Ganjo Maqbool Bhat said, “The Rope has not yet been made that can hang Maqbool Bhat...if Indian authorities of occupation think that by hanging me, they can crush the Kashmir struggle. They are mistaken. The struggle actually will start after my hanging.”  

Nevertheless, Bhat’s execution further contributed to the sense of alienation among most Kashmiris, and he continues to be a major source of inspiration for the Kahmiri freedom fighters. Bhat, like Afzal, was buried inside Tihar Jail. Kashmiri activists continue to demand Maqbool Bhat’s remains, and in fact, a grave is kept vacant in Srinagar’s martyrs’ graveyard for his mortal remains. He was the first Kashmiri to be judicially murdered on Indian soil-making him the first authentic martyr of the Kashmiri independence movement. His execution day is celebrated as Martyr Day every year.

By sacrificing his life, Maqbool Bhat played a key role in the struggle of Kashmiris, which has continued unabated, despite Indian state terrorism. He infused a new spirit into their movement. His martyrdom anniversary provides an opportunity to ponder over the fact that various countries of the world got independence by sacrificing their precious lives. On this vary day, the best way to pay homage to the pioneer of Kashmir’s struggle, Maqbool Bhat is that all the Kashmiris must renew their pledge to take the war of liberation to its logical end.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Afzal Guru: The Hero of Kashmir Movement

By Sajjad Shaukat

The 9th of February 9 is being celebrated as the martyrdom anniversary of Muhammad Afzal Guru whom India secretly hanged and buried inside the Tihar jail complex on February 9, 2013. It triggered protests in Kashmir and widespread condemnations from various political and human rights organisations. Afzal Guru was convicted in 2001 Parliament attack case and awarded death sentence. Afzal had always denied plotting the attack, which left 14 dead, including five militants.

Last year, during his martyrdom anniversary, a complete shutdown was observed in the Indian occupied Kashmir and protest demonstrations were held to demand the return of mortal remains of Afzal Guru.

Call for the strike had been given by pro-freedom leaders and organizations to mark the anniversary of Muhammad Afzal. Indian authorities had arrested Kashmiri leaders, Yasin Malik, Shoukat Bakhshi, Muhammad Yousuf Naqash and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza along with several other Hurriyet activists and lodged them in different police stations and jails. The authorities also placed Hurriyet leaders, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Ayaz Akbar under house arrest.

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, in a statement had denounced the arrests and vowed that the Kashmiris were struggling for their basic right and would succeed in their mission at the end of the day.

In their statements and meetings, all the leaders of the freedom movement of Kashmir paid glowing tributes to the martyr Muhammad Afzal Guru who sacrificed his live for the Kashmir cause.

Even, the Sikh organization, Dal Khalsa President H S Dhami, while paying tributes to Muhammad Afzal Guru on the eve of his second martyrdom anniversary, in a statement in Amritsar criticized India for failing to hand over his mortal remains to his wife.

In fact, the very tragedy of Kashmiris had started after 1947 when they were denied their genuine right of self-determination. They organized themselves against the injustices of India and launched a war of liberation which New Delhi tried to crush through various forms of brutalities.

It is notable that since 1947, in order to maintain its illegal control, India has continued its repressive regime in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) through various machinations. 

However, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris, especially since 1989. It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews, illegal detentions, massacre, targeted killings, sieges, burning the houses, torture, disappearances, rape, breaking the legs, molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounter.

According to a report on human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, since 1989, there have been deaths of 1,00000 innocent Kashmiris, 7,023 custodial killings, 1,22,771 arrests, 1,05,996 destruction of houses or buildings, 22,776 women widowed, 1,07,466 children orphaned and 10,086 women gang-raped/molested. Indian brutal securities forces have continue these atrocities. 

As a matter of fact, Indian forces have employed various draconian laws like the Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act and Public Safety Act in killing the Kashmiri people, and for the arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period. 

Besides Human Rights Watch, in its various reports, Amnesty International has also pointed out grave human rights violations in the Indian controlled Kashmir, indicating, “The Muslim majority population in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces. 

In its report on July 2, 2015, the Amnesty International has highlighted extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons at the hands of Indian security forces in the Indian Held Kashmir. The report points out, “Tens of thousands of security forces are deployed in Indian-administered Kashmir…the Armed Forces Special Powers Act allows troops to shoot to kill suspected militants or arrest them without a warrant…not a single member of the armed forces has been tried in a civilian court for violating human rights in Kashmir…this lack of accountability has in turn facilitated other serious abuses…India has martyred one 100,000 people. More than 8,000 disappeared (while) in the custody of army and state police.”

In this respect, European Union has passed a resolution about human rights abuses committed by Indian forces in the Indian held Kashmir.

It is of particular attention that in 2008, a rights group reported unmarked graves in 55 villages across the northern regions of the Indian-held Kashmir. Then researchers and other groups reported finding thousands of mass graves without markers. In this respect, in August, 2011, Indian Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission officially acknowledged in its report that innocent civilians killed in the two-decade conflict have been buried in unmarked graves. 

Notably, foreign sources and human rights organisations have revealed that unnamed graves include those innocent persons, killed by the Indian military and paramilitary troops in the fake encounters including those who were tortured to death by the Indian secret agency RAW.

And, as part of anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan approach, leader of the BJP and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi who is giving impetus to Hindu chauvinism not only accelerated unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir including Working Boundary in Sialkot, but also suspended the Secretary level talks with Islamabad. Now, he has been raising baseless issue like Pathonkot terror attack, (which was orchestrated by India), Mumbai mayhem and terrorism as pre-conditions to advance the Pak-Indian dialogue. But, he ignored the fact that 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.

It is noteworthy that Modi regime hurriedly decided to forcibly annex disputed territory of the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), uncovering its intentions to wrap up the article 370 of the Indian constitution which ensures a special status to J&K. Therefore, United Nations Military Observer Group India and Pakistan in New Delhi was asked to vacate official accommodation. In fact, BJP government‘s long term strategy is to affect demographic changes in the Indian occupied Kashmir by composition of the region—predominately with Hindu population.

During one year of People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP alliance government in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, BJP in aid of RSS has furthered its agenda of complete integration of Kashmir into India. Though legal experts of India and IOK High Court have clarified the permanent status of Article 370 of Indian Constitution, BJP’s agenda of trifurcations is still on table. In this regard, BJP is in hot pursuit of Mission 44+in IOK Assembly elections 2020. However, short of that, BJP and RSS are busy in changing religious identity of the State. For example, special concessions were given to expand the horizon of Amarnath Yatra to project that Hindus have greater stakes in IOK than Muslims.

Special efforts are being made for demographic engineering in the State. For instance, West Pakistan Refugees have been recruited in the Indian Armed Forces from IOK quota. Allocation of lands for separate cities for repatriating Hindu Pundits and allocation of INR 2 million for rehabilitation of each Pundit family in the Valley are aimed at creating Hindu constituencies in a thorough Muslim region of Valley through delimitations.

On the other hand, the sectors of health, education, local infrastructure, social support and rural development are being controlled by BJP MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly). Major projects of the State are being announced and are implemented in Hindu dominant-BJP constituencies to give a message that only BJP’s voters are entitled to a standard living. Through these tactics, BJP is longing for Mission 44+ in next IOK Assembly elections.

Kashmiri Hurriyat leadership has been suppressed by the PDP-BJP government by not allowing them to organize rallies for demanding freedom and expressing love for Pakistan. Their leaders were detained in Police Stations or kept under house arrests during all important events. Detention of Masarat Alam, even after acceptance of bail by IOK High Court, exhibits coercive mechanics of Indian forces/police in the State.

Indian malicious intent is evident from the blame game against Pakistan for every internal security issue, merely to avoid serious dialogue on bilateral issues as well as the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir. Pakistan is committed to the just and democratic solution of the Kashmir issue, which is plebiscite, however, India has never been serious in resolution of the dispute, neither through bilateral dialogue nor involving third party mediation nor by abiding by the UN Resolutions.

In the wake of changing regional and global dynamics, resolution of the issue has become a top most priority, but unsensitized international community is perhaps waiting for emergence of a regional crises out of Kashmir dispute. As global players do not find any interest in resolution of the dispute, it has become a humanitarian issue in the region.

Nevertheless, Indian authorities are not willing to talk with Kashmiri people on political grounds. New Delhi reached to a conclusion that only bullet is the right way of dealing with Kashmiris, demanding their right of self-determination. Surprisingly, Indian successive governments are trying to ignore the dynamics of the freedom movement of Kashmiris for the sake of their alien rule. 

But, New Delhi is still showing its intransigence in order to resolve Kashmir dispute with Pakistan by neglecting the fact that Kashmir remains a nuclear flashpoint between both the neighbouring countries. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s serious and sincere effort at the annual session of the United Nations in December 2015—the speech of Pakistan’s prime minister and his meeting with the American president, highlighting the Kashmir dispute and demanding its solution has infused a new spirit among the Kashmiri people. 

Nonetheless, the martyrdom of Muhammad Afzal Guru infused a new spirit into the movement of Jammu Kashmir. His martyrdom anniversary provides an opportunity to ponder over the fact that various countries of the world got independence by sacrificing their precious lives. On this vary day, the best way to pay homage to the hero of Kashmir movement, Muhammad Afzal Guru is that all the Kashmiris must renew their pledge to take the war of liberation to its logical end.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Isn’t it too early to be over the moon?

 BY Sohail Parwaz

Completing the national agenda

Most probably it was 1977 when I came across General Raheel Sharif for the first time. I don’t remember exactly the station and occasion, however, to the best of my memory it was some TEWT (tactical exercise without troops) or some formation gathering, where I was introduced to this calm and composed second lieutenant Piffer from a FF regiment, as the younger brother of my ideal my hero, Major Shabbir Sharif Shaheed, Nishan-e-Haider aka ‘Fateh-e-Saboona’ (the conqueror of Saboona). I was a happy go lucky young jovial captain, years senior to him, who would love to be in like-minded company but somehow the other developed an enormous respect for the youngster; perhaps he was my hero’s younger brother, that’s why? Ever since then, I never heard about him nor met him again. While serving in ISPR I said farewell to arms in 1994 and that was it. I even forgot the name until in 2013, after a tumble of almost 36 years, I heard this name again when he was appointed as the fifteenth army chief. The only relation I had with him was of khaki; nevertheless, having knowledge of his lineage, his appointment gave me immense pleasure.

A Ravian, who graduated from Pakistan Military Academy and after commanding the fighting formations at all levels, reached the helm. In next to no time the general, through his professionalism and love for Pakistan, earned great reverence from every nook and corner of the country and soon the ruling political elite was found stressed out and nervous. Mian Nawaz Sharif having an old tendency of locking horns with every army chief of his every term, tried to trap him, too, during PTI’s famous ‘Dharna’ days. However, it was level headed Raheel Sharif who, without making it an ego issue, very tactfully thinned-out the army from the ‘Abetting Dharna’ controversy.

General Raheel Sharif has led every combat mission from the front. At every occasion thejawans found him amongst them. On joyful occasions like Eid or Independence Day when the political class would spend days with their friends and families, the public read about his spending nights at the forward locations with the troops. At many critical junctures he emerged as a polished diplomat; more of a national leader than an army chief. During his innumerable visits abroad he was given more respect and protocol by the respective states and their heads than given to any Pakistani politician. Lately, his contribution towards toning down the escalated tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran will always be remembered.

Such events were bringing Raheel Sharif more and more into the limelight and his popularity graph was on the rise. Certainly it was worrisome for the anti-state elements who were feeling the heat of the army operations against terrorism of all kinds; militancy as well as economic terrorism. There were a few political sections also who were feeling uneasy, hence planned to draw another campaign against the upright general and entangle him in controversies. A circuitous gossip was initiated at diverging forums and levels in media, public and at social hangouts, about his intentions to seek the extension in service. The beauty of the campaign was that these “Well Wishers” were holding both the ends; suggesting and supporting the idea of extension in term and then criticising and countering it strongly as well. They ultimately brought the issue to a level where the military quarters had to clarify in unambiguous terms. Hence DG ISPR Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa had to keep this clarification atop his list; ‘things to do during the week’ and started his Monday with a statement quoting the COAS General Raheel Sharif as saying that the Pakistan army is a great institution and he did not believe in an extension and would retire on the due date.

The most irksome and thought provoking point is that even if the general was not interested, why did he feel the obligation to elucidate this baseless political ‘Lunger-Gup’ (gossip)? I doffed khaki at a rank where the tactical plans are taught and practiced, however, General Raheel excelled beyond that and has studied, planned and practiced the strategic designs and plans. Its beyond any distrust that after graduating from the Command and Staff College Quetta and attending prestigious Institutions like Bundeswehr University of Munich, Command and Staff College of the Canadian Army and the Royal College of Defence Studies, he would have disregarded the significance of element of surprise while approving the statement. There is a famous saying that ‘For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible’. The nation, the armed forces and diehard patriots knew what General Raheel’s intentions were and hence needed no proof.

Everyone has keenly observed how jubilant and excited every single clown of the ‘Political Circus’ is and how childishly they all are behaving. Isn’t it time to ask them that the extension in term or tenure is not applicable to the armed forces only? What about those ‘leeches’ who are sticking to the nation for tenure after tenure? Is the trait ‘moral courage’ meant for the army chief only? Why former president and co-chairman PPP, Asif Ali Zardari, before lauding army chief’s decision about not to take an extension in his tenure, forgot that once he gave one to the current chief’s predecessor? Why others who are dancing and beating the drum have not thought about practicing the same in their own political parties? A soldier knows very well that the change of command in the middle of a campaign means debacle, hence either the command remains unchanged until the mission is accomplished or time and space are reworked to achieve it within the available period.

I read it somewhere long ago and can’t resist from quoting it:

“Surprise, when it happens to a government, is likely to be a complicated, diffused, bureaucratic thing. Surprise and deception are not only integral, enduring elements of diplomacy and warfare. They are also a basic and recurring part of everyday life: we constantly fail to anticipate events; frequently, we spring traps; more often, we fall into them. And always we promise to learn from experience and do better next time”.

I am personally very strongly in favour of the general’s decision about not taking extension. That’s what a soldier is expected to do. Nevertheless, I sturdily differ with his choice of time to pronounce it. He volunteered to sail ‘The Ship’ and can’t leave the sinking titanic merely because it’s time to call it a day. As far as the political gurus are concerned, I dare remind them an old saying that, “If the situation is crystal clear, and everything you see fits your expectations, hopes and plans, you are probably being deceived”. It’s time for them to concentrate on completing the national agenda instead of showing jubilance over the class teacher’s departing.

Another Anti-Pakistan Agent Detected

By Sajjad Shaukat

Because of its ideal strategic location, and being the lonely nuclear country in the Islamic World, Pakistan has become special target of the US, India and Israel whose secret agencies have been destabilizing it through various kinds of terror attacks. These hostile elements are also using propaganda in maligning Pakistan. For the purpose, they have also hired the services of those Pakistanis who are vulnerable and can work against the national interest of their own country. In this regard, Mrs. Farahnaz Ispahani, the wife of the former ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani has also proved herself as another anti-Pakistan agent like her husband.

On January 13, 2016, Farahnaz Ispahani, ex-Member of Pakistan’s Parliament was invited by Observer Research Foundation (ORF)-Indian secret agency, RAW affiliated think tank in New Delhi to launch her newly written book titled ‘Purifying the Land of the Pure – Pakistan’s Religious Minorities’. The launch ceremony was moderated by Ashok Malik, senior fellow at ORF/ journalist with leaning towards the ruling party BJP’s, Shankar Ayer ex-Minister/Indian National Congress, Vevik Katju, ex-Ambassador/highly anti-Pakistan writer and Sushaini Haider, leading Indian anchor, journalist of ‘The Hindu’. A good number of Indian foreign analysts, diplomats, retired defence and intelligence officers attended the event. Ashok Malik highlighted the plight of minorities in Pakistan, terming it against the concepts of Pakistan’s founding father. Indian participants mainly focused on Pakistan’s identity and argued that most suitable national identity for Pakistan was not Islam, but their being part of Indian civilization was more realistic and sustainable.

During presentation Mrs. Farahnaz said that the basic ideology of Pakistan i.e. to make a nation on the basis of religion is fundamentally wrong. Pakistan has most dangerous anti-blasphemy laws in the world that has made the life of minorities in Pakistan extremely difficult. Since minorities in Pakistan have gone down from 23% (on partition) to the present 3%, the main target now is Shias and Ahmedies—recent acts by Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif  and the political parties to show attention towards Hindus and Christians in merely tokenism.

She elaborated that the former President of Pakistan, Gen. Zia-ul-Haq-the military dictator was the main author of the plight of minorities in Pakistan. Pakistan Army also persecuted Bengalis as a separate ethnic group which was considered more close to the Hindu Bengalis due to similar language and culture. Pakistan created Al-Shams and Al-Badar groups to target Bengalis.

Farahnaz further said that use of jihadis for strategic objectives by Pak Army with Saudi and US funding is the latest cause of growing persecution of minorities in Pakistan—Pakistani leadership is responsible for hardening of public attitude towards minorities in Pakistan.

However, while following the foreign agenda against Pakistan, Farahnaz Ispahani has totally ignored the plight of religious minorities in India. She did not pay attention to the fact that since the leader of the ruling party BJP Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, various developments like unprecedented rise of Hindu extremism, persecution of minorities, forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus, ban on beef and cow slaughter, inclusion of Hindu religious books in curriculum etc. clearly show that encouraged by the fundamentalist rulers, Hindu extremist outfits such as BJP, RSS VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena including other similar parties have been promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism in India by propagating ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). The extremist Hindus have particularly accelerated assaults on Muslims and Christians, including their places of worship. In this context, event western media have highlighted the plight of minorities in India.

She must realize that radicalization of India by Hindu fanatic groups could be judged from some other developments. On May 28, 2014, Rashtriya Hindu Andolan, a Mangalore-based Hindutva outfit and activists from various right wing groups organized a protest in Mangalore in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner by demanding the authorities to ban the morning Muslim call to prayer (Azan) across the country. Besides, forcing the Muslim employee in a Parliament Canteen by BJP leader to break his fast by stuffing piece of bread in his mouth, statement of Deputy Chief of Goa, declaring India as a Hindu state and opposition to declaration of Sania Mirza as Ambassador of Indian state by calling her daughter-in-law of Pakistan, including previous events such as the planned destruction of the Babri Masjid (mosque) in 1992 and genocide of the 2500 Muslims in 2002 in the then BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat where Modi was Chief Minister—and participants of the Indian high officials in the events also need her attention.

Although Farahnaz Ispahani is and educated lady, yet she also neglected facts in relation to propaganda of India and Bagladesh regarding the events, leading to separation of East Pakistan.

In this respect, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid and her ruling party Awami League have continuously been pursuing Indian directions by conducting anti-Pakistan campaign. In connivance with New Delhi, Bangladesh government and Awami League have launched a massive media campaign in order to spread venom against Pakistan and its armed forces and against all those Bangladeshi nationals who were loyal to the state during 1971 crisis. They exaggerate the figures of Bengalis’ deaths by Pak Army.  

The dismemberment of Pakistan was aimed at creating a compliant country through Indian trained and financed terrorists (Mukti Bahini) who had killed thousands of Pakistanis in cold blooded activities. In this connection, while addressing a ceremony during his Bangladesh tour, Indian Prime Minister Modi openly stated on June 7, 2015 that Indian forces helped Mukti Bahini to turn East Pakistan into Bangladesh. He elaborated that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had played an active role in separating Bangladesh from Pakistan, and he had also come to Delhi in 1971 to participate in the Satyagraha Movement, launched by Jana Sangh as a volunteer to garner support for the Mukti Bahini members.

A regards the so-called genocide of the Bengali people, a famous Bengali journalist Sarmila Bose authored a book, “Dead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War” after thorough investigation. She terms the number, a gigantic rumor, while Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report considers even 26,000 as an exaggerated figure. Richard Sisson and Leo E. Rose in book titled “War and Secession: Pakistan, India and the Creation of Bangladesh” and Gary Bass in his book “The Blood Telegram” clearly admit that figures about so-called genocide were Indian purported.

Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman was already in collusion with India for separation of East Pakistan. In this context, Farahnaz should also read the book of Asoka Raina, ‘Inside RAW: The Story of India’s Secret Service’, which discloses, “Indian intelligence agencies were involved in erstwhile East Pakistan…its operatives were in touch with Sheikh Mujib as the possible ‘Father’ of a new nation-Bangladesh, who went to Agartala in 1965. The famous Agartala case was unearthed in 1967. In fact, the main purpose of raising RAW in 1968 was to organise covert operations in Bangladesh. Indian army officers and RAW officials used Bengali refugees to set up Mukti Bahini. Using this outfit as a cover, Indian military sneaked deep into East Pakistan…the story of Mukti Bahini and RAW’s role in its creation and training is now well-known.” 

It is notable that there is no difference between Farahnaz and her husband Hssain Haqqani who also leaves no stone unturned in distorting the image of Pakistan and it armed forces, while showing the country a fundamentalist state in order to please their external masters. As regards Husain Haqqani, while serving as Pakistani ambassador, he was protecting American interests. He had issued visas to many CIA agents like Ramond Davis to weaken Pakistan. Besides, working at various American institutes, Husain Haqqani developed secret liasons with Indo-Israeli lobbies and became covert element of anti-Pakistan campaign. Particularly, this could be judged from his book, titled, ‘Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military.’ In this book, Husain Haqqani targeted both military and Islamic ideology. While pointing out relationship of the Pak Army and its primary intelligence agency, ISI with the Islamic militants, Haqqani allegedly wrote, “since September 11, 2001, the selective cooperation of Pakistan’s military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf—sharing intelligence with the United States and apprehending Al Qaeda members—have led to the assumption that Pakistan might be ready to give up its long-standing ties with radical Islam.” He advised America, “Washington should no longer condone the Pakistani military’s support for Islamic militants.”

American famous writers and authors exaggeratedly praised the book of Husain Haqqani.as it was in accordance with the hidden agenda and blame game of the US high officials and media which still continue against Pakistan and its security agencies. Especially, Stephen P. Cohen, author of the book, ‘The Idea of Pakistan and The Pakistan Army’ allegedly wrote, “We are in Husain Haqqani’s debt for providing the authoritative account of the linkages between Pakistan’s powerful Islamists and its professional army.”

Moreover, Hussain Haqqani also escaped to America to avoid judicial inquiry of the famous memogate issue, which proved his disloyalty to Pakistan.

It is mentionable that during his briefing to the National Assembly, on January 19, this year, while confirming anti-Pakistan lobbies in the US, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif revealed, “Pakistan is trying to acquire eight F-16 fighter jets from the US on lease, but Husain Haqqani, the former ambassador to the US is campaigning along with India to malign Pakistan and to block delivery of F-16 fighter jets.”

Nevertheless, we can claim that like her husband, Farahnaz Ispahani is also anti-Pakistan agent.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com