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Paknews.com, Updated on 2002-06-02 04:52:27
Al-Qaida & India –
Strange Bed Partners
In response to the unprecedented attack on September 11 on
American soil, U.S. entered Afghanistan with gun blazing last
October, the end of Taliban and their ‘guest’, the
criminal terrorist organization Al-Qaida was imminent. Al-Qaida
immediately went into hiding in the mountains, US. Led
anti-terror coalition followed them leaving no place for them to
run.
Those who tried to run into mountains areas near Pakistan were
met with U.S. forces and heavy Pakistani border patrol. Pakistan,
the frontline state in global war on terrorism, relaxed border
rules allowing U.S. forces to pursue running Al-Qaida across its
border.
The first setback to anti-terrorism coalition was letting go of
tens and thousands of Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters by the
‘Northern Alliance’, the pro-India group of warlords
the coalition relied on to topple Taliban. The Taliban quickly
dispersed themselves making it impossible to distinguish them
from Northern Alliance or ordinary Afghans. However, the small
band of hard core Al-Qaida vowed to continue fighting.
The ruthlessness of Al-Qaida is evident from the fact that a band
of captured Al-Qaida members over powered and killed 42 Pakistan
Army men who were hauling them away after their capture. Pakistan
has lost many more of its soldiers in helping fight back Al-Qaida
than all the other members of global anti-terrorism coalition.
Taliban and Al-Qaida is no friends of United States or Pakistan,
although both helped establish Taliban as a unifying and
stabilizing force in Afghanistan after the Russian departure.
The plans of Taliban and Al-Qaida for Pakistan were no different
than the Indian plans. That is to destabilize and take over
Pakistan. India found Al-Qaida a helpful ally in this regard. The
increasing number of religiously motivated incidents &
killings among others were already taking place in the entire
Pakistan long before September 11 terrorist attack on the United
States. The Pakistan Government was scrambling with controlling
this menace. It was evident that a small developing country
constraint with resources will have a difficult time in its
efforts to curb terrorism. Hence, it was not a surprise when
Pakistan welcomed the coalition to fight against a mutual enemy.
However, when by December 2001 it appeared that Al-Qaida had no
place to hide and no place to run, help to Al-Qaida came from a
strange corner – India. Rushing its forces to Pakistan
border after a foiled attack on its parliament. India was not
able to provide any evidence although was quick to blame it on
Pakistan. India knew its actions would impede Pakistan’s
ability to help fight terrorism as well as throw the whole region
into nuclear war threat. This Indian created distraction provided
vital time for Al-Qaida to regroup.
Pakistan stood fast and refused to move its forces away from
Afghanistan border. India continued to build pressure on Pakistan
to a point where she was shelling Pakistan’s towns and
village along the border and killing civilians daily. After two
weeks of consecutive cross border shelling and severe threats to
its sovereignty Pakistan has finally decided to move it forces
away from Afghan border bringing a halt in pursuit of Al-Qaida.
However, this is exactly in accordance with the Indian plans.
Moving forces from the border is likely to provide opportunity to
the fleeing Al-Qaida to infiltrate into Pakistan and continue
with its plans to destabilize Pakistan.
In its zest to destroy Pakistan, India has embarked on a very
dangerous road of supporting and helping Al-Qaida, a known
terrorist organization. Next time there is a terrorism attack on
US by Al-Qaida, India for one will be directly responsible for it
and must be ready to bear the consequences.