Pakistan on edge

The increasing presence of Al-Qaeda networks in Pakistan is a cause of concern...

The increasing presence of Al-Qaeda networks in Pakistan is a cause of concern not only for the ordinary citizens of that country who aspire for democracy, peace and stability but also for the South Asian region. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, a day after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai pledged to wipe out terrorist attacks by Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants, points to the increasing influence of Al Qaeda in Pakistan.

It was shocking to notice during my visit to Pakistan on the day Bhutto was assassinated that the entire population was agitated over the threat of growing terrorism in the country. Religious extremism and terrorism endanger the day-to-day lives of common Pakistanis, and Islamic terrorism has now become the prime agenda of public discussion in the country. While Indians are still hesitant to openly use the term 8216;Islamic terrorism8217;, the entire Pakistani media, academia and common man make frequent use of it. Every time a bomb rocks Pakistan, the general perception is that country8217;s own 8216;agencies8217; ignited the fuse. The nature of military rule in Pakistan has been such that people cannot fix the responsibility on anyone else. The actual culprits use the unpopularity of the military regime as a shield. Though no one in Pakistan would admit it, the fact remains that Al-Qaeda has been successfully trying to base its operations in Pakistan ever since the military has taken over the reigns of the country.

Al-Qaeda8217;s DNA

Renowned Pakistani journalist Najam Sethi expresses great concern over the thriving Al-Qaeda networks in the country. He observes that Al-Qaeda is trying to strike roots in Pakistan8217;s tribal areas as part of its global strategy after Iraq to reclaim Afghanistan and make Pakistan a base area for Islamic revolution. He notes that the Al-Qaeda network in Pakistan also includes Pakistanis, who are Pathans, Punjabis and possibly Urdu speakers. Therefore, Al-Qaeda is now as much a Pakistani phenomenon as it is an Arab or Afghan phenomenon. Intelligence agencies in Pakistan have always sought the assistance of Al-Qaeda networks for its covert operatives against other countries, especially Afghanistan. Today, even the ISI is astonished to see the same networks attacking its vehicles and killing its officials. Al-Qaeda networks are penetrating into every nook and corner of the country. Reports suggest that Taliban and Al-Qaeda outfits have established bases in the tribal areas of South Waziristan with strong networks across the country.

Taliban outfits

Taliban groups in the North West Frontier Province prey on women who do not cover their heads with a burqa. Institutions that impart education to Muslim girls are repeatedly attacked. Strategic analysts in Pakistan shockingly observe that the attacks on the lives of President Musharraf and his ministers wouldn8217;t have been possible without the support of Al-Qaeda sympathisers within the army. Bhutto vociferously advocated freedom, democracy, modernisation and the rights of Pakistani women. However, these words do not figure in the dictionary of religious extremists and anyone speaking this language is their enemy. Therefore, everyone pledges to fight the 8216;war on terrorism8217; and what are considered to be the 8216;precious American assets8217; would obviously be Al-Qaeda targets.

The writer is a Congress MP in Rajya Sabha