Terrorism Pakistan supported the world community's efforts to promote international cooperation for the eradication of international terrorism and signed a dozen conventions criminalizing attacks on airliners and ships, taking of hostages, International financing of terrorist organizations. In 1996, it actively participated in discussions fora Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The UN General Assembly sivas stalented on whether the convention would be applicable, also to violence by| self| Wetérthination movements. Most of the hundred and) forty, states that won independence after tfie Second World War considered ‘armed! struggle for freedom legitimate and suppression as {State terrorism. Rise of Terrorism: Almost from the beginhing, religious litigants i) Padkistadl [highhehted doctrinal debates and Seetatian controversies They prevailed on théPatliamentte disqualify non- Muslims from Holi the) offices of President and Prime Minister. The Ahmadis were constitutionally déelared_1i6ndMuslim, Sectarian organizations raised armed giBups -- Jaishes, Lashkars and Sipahs -- which challenged rivals. An even more fateful milestone in the evolutions of terrorism was the consequence of the Afghan jihad and its blowback ‘The quantum leap of terrorism in Pakistan took place after 9/11 as religious militants infuriated by Pakistan’s support for the US war on Afghanistan rose in rebellion against their own state. Osama bin laden directed his followers to launch ‘raids against the Pakistan Amy," Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was formed in 2007 as an umbrella organization to coordinate armed attacks and bombings on military and police headquarters, field posts and convoys, crowded bazaars, schools, mosque, hotels and hospitals, diplomatic missions marriage and funeral processions, and railway and buses by late 2015 the death toll amounted to sixty thousand, including 6,370 military and police personnel and 23,000 civilians. Destruction of public and private assets was estimated at $118 billion. AlQa'eda Al-Qaeda played key role in transforming religious militancy into terrorism, Founded in 1988, in Peshawar by Osama bin laden a millionaire Saudi Arabian rebel, an Egyptian fadical, Aiman( All Zawahiri and a Palestinian fadical, | Abdullah Yusuf Azzam. The Onganizationy \ Comprising mostly Arab militahts, fuelled (hatred against the United States andilits European allies for injustices against Muslim peoples, inspired and trained adical groups, and assisted the Afghan Taliban who allowed it a base from which to ‘organize international terrorism. ‘Afghan Paliban Movement futored 4 Madras |haqgania near Peshawar, the Afghan ‘Taliban from Kandahar region ‘werd, simplé, pious, teachers and prayer leaders, and sought to oppose the infiltration of Westem Culture, Founded by Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Afghan Taliban Movement was initially aimed at establishing good governance in accordance with their interpretation of Sharia. Unlike the Al-Qaeda, they were Afghanistan centered in motivation; hostility to the US was advocated by Osama bin Laden, The Bush House discounted the inherent strength of the Taliban. In a meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Minister two months before 9/11. National Security Director Condoleezza Rice not only fulminated against the Taliban but also inveighed against Pakistan for its support to the Taliban. The US had to pay dearly for the blunder of treating the Taliban as enemies. it realized for too late that the Taliban were insurgents, fiercely tenacious in the defence of 1 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDtheir homeland. For over decade they fought the US superpower and its allies until the latter quit ‘Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) There were lawless groups operating from the Pakistan's Tribal Areas and Pakistani terrorists banded together in 2007 to form the Tehreek- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the umbrella organization with Baitullah Mehsud as their Emir. TTP proclaimed jihad against Pakistan. TTP funded its activities ftou Contributions by sympathizers, holdups’ of ‘banks and businesses and ransom for kidnapped Victinis. Its source of heavy arms)ere mysterious enemies of Pakistan, Thelferrorist were well trained and highly motivated. Iimpressionable adolescents were brainwashed to begome suicide bombers, perpetrating mass killings and colossal destruction. The madrasa culture aided the spread of aflyspidemig dtPiBleiieey TTP groups operated largely tram|hideouts in the Tribal Areas whee Pakistan did mainiain large military presencefilt f60K¢ the/Pakistal Army several years to build, ground facilities for adequate forces. Only after’ the/ravages mounted did public opinion Mvognize that ‘TTP posed an existential thread, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria In 2014, Al-Dawa al-islamiya fil Iraq wal sham was established in parts of Syria and Iraq. Comprising extremist Sunni militants, the organization announced the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate and named Abu Bakr al Baghdadi as the caliph. it became notorious for publicized mass execution of Christians, yezidis, Shia Muslims and Kurds, and destruction of archaeological treasurers and revered Sufi shrines. Tens of thousands Muslim extremists from other countries flocked to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). An unknown number of Afghan and Pakistani terrorists were attracted by the ‘rewards’ that ISIS dangled. Spreading Insurgency: The first major challenge involved the Lal Masjid complex in Islamabad after it became a nest of extremism and militaney’s stockpiled weapons and trained male and female seminarians to enforce their diktat on the residents. Finally in July 2007, the President decided to summon the army to flush out militants. The action was successfulsbut costly in lives on both sides. ‘Maulana| Abdul Aziz’s brother was killed and the chiefiprayemleader was barred from giving sermons at the mosque. Jn 2008, theinilitancy spread to the district of ‘Swat, Sufi Mohamamd’s son-in-law, Mullah Fazalullah led the resistance. The terrorists expelled functionaries of the district ‘administration and closed schools for girls. (NobelfLafitede IMalala Yousufzai was a Student Wo dre | OF these schools.) The go vernfneit then deeided to restore its writ, In April] 2009, (fark two million inhabitants Hwere Evacuated before the army launched an operation, Withia, two months the terrorists Were evigtedy/and the displaced persons returned to their homes. South Waziristan: In October 2009, a combined military operation, Rah-e-Nijat, was launched in the mountainous tribal agency of south Waziristan where TTP terrorists commanded by Baitullah Mehsud, and Uzbek, Chechen and Uighur militants had established hideouts, The Air Force bombed out the shelters and the army reclaimed the lawless territory. Once again many of the terrorist escaped to neighboring areas of North Waziristan and Afghanistan, Karachi: By2013, Karachi Pakistan’s largest metropolis business and industrial hub and a centre of modern media, education and entertainment was infested with political mafias, religious and sectarian militants, terrorists and criminal gangs. Targeted 2 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDkillings, kidnappings, robberies, extortion and intimation, and a dysfunctional politicized administration often shut down the metropolis, at will and intimidated the media to cover its propaganda, Finally, in July 2014, the government called in the Army Rangers to the aid of the police. The force arrested tens of thousands of suspects and eliminated 2,800 criminals, In March 2015, 'Nine Zero,’ the Muttahida Qaumi Movements (MQM) head office was raided, a large cache of unlicensed arms was seized, and walited €BnvieB takéh into custody. Militant violenee was|cut down, by nearly half in nine months nd Taw and order situation in the metropolis improved dramatically. North Waziristan: The Zarb-i-Azb operfition) to clear out North Waziristan Agency with an area of 3000 sq km was delayed. Some political parties pressed for negotiations with ‘good’ Taliban. Hardly had the talks begun when the Tehreek-cTaliban Pakistan) (ITP affiliated carried out terrorist attacks, hwouin, Islamabad and a third on) Karachi jirport that killed 28 persons and endangered the security of the vital international gateway. (In June 2014, the ‘talks’ option Veloséd Fant the government decided to launch a ‘full scale’ air and ground operation. The operation took more than a year 2,800 militants affiliated with TTP, al-Qaeda and East. Turkestan Islamic Movement were killed, thei hideouts were destroyed and arsenals ‘enough for 15 years! terror attacks-were captured. By end- August 2015, the terrorists were hunted out from all major towns. Meanwhile, TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah fled across the border to Afghanistan from where he launched deadly forays across the border. ‘Terrorism's Ravages: As terrorism gathered ‘momentum from 2006, the TTP attacked public buildings and military camps, and bombed cities and towns, crowded bazaars, schools and mosques, and trained suicide bombers for special operations. Suicide bombers targeted important buildings in the national capital and the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi, The whole country was gripped by insecurity. Most Western banks and airlines closed operations in Pakistan, According to official statistics over 50,000 people were killed by the end of 2014. they included over five thousand Army and security personnel former prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Punjab Governor Salman Taseety tWosfederal ministers, Punjab Home Minister| and /high ranking officials of the Amy and.civilladministration, Losses due to destruction of public and private assets were estimated at, {8,264 billion rupees (USS102 billion. In December 2014, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron commiserated with Pakistan for having suffered more than any other country. Pakistait Aimyl Operations, ‘ThésTuming |Point: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’ (TTP) terrorists sheltering in the fmouniging in Afghanistan's Kunar province unleashed) a/@eadly attack on an Pakistan Army managed public school in Peshawar on 16 "December “2014. Suicide bombers penetrated the premises and moved down 150 persons, most of them students and staff. The atrocity traumatized the whole nation. Demonstrations and candle carrying vigils took place across the country. An all parties meeting decided on a 20 point National Action Plan of counter terrorism strategy. A ban was enforced on private militias, hate speeches were criminalized and security forces were freed from political interference. The moratorium on execution of convicts was lifted. In January 2015, the parliament expeditiously passed the 21st constitutional amendment to authorize the setting up of military courts for two years to try terrorism cases. Headed by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, conservative, sectarian madrasas posed the principal obstacle to the success of 3 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDthe new resolve Hundreds of persons linked to banned outtits continued to teach at madrasas. In September 2015, the Government ordered registration of seminaries and investigation of terrorist funding. But the order proved difficult to enforce due to the prevalent extremism. By the spring of 2016, the military had recovered almost alll the territory lost to terrorists Terrorists were condemned and loathed by the nation, under hunt for elimination or capture. mo, one spoke any longer for negotiation! with thems) thein recruiting ground | was) constricted, propagandists in fear under wateh, TTP chiefs hhad fled to new hideouts) i A ihanistan, Terrorism was in imevetsible decling, dying bbut not yet dead. Suicide bombers still Ould) attack soft targets and kill innocent children, Another educational institution -- Bacha Khan University was attacked on 20 January 2016, killing twenty students und altedeher, Another attack on 7 March killed seventeen people in Shabgadar. A TTP affiliate perpetrated: still ‘another atrocity in a Lalote park on 27 Marci, killing seventy two people many of then Christians celebrating| Bastet) On the same day, tens of thousand Of Sufi! Barevlis assembled in Lahore and Rawalpindi to pray for the executed security guard tuned assassin of former governor of Punjab Salman Taseer. Islamabad was paralyzed for three days. Shortsighted clerics seemed bent upon carving up Pakistani Muslims into exclusivist sects and sub-sects, Minorities felt fearful discriminated against, and marginalized Counter Terrorism: Meanwhile, militants worldwide were defaming Islam. The ‘Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Al Shabab in Somalia Boko Haram in Nigeria, and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria committed barbarous crimes that outraged humanity, heightened Islam phobia and stigmatized Muslims as targets of hate, suspicion and discrimination, Only men of knowledge realized that religions had been exploited throughout history by extremists in pursuit of criminal aims. The Grand Imam of the prestigious Al Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt attributed terrorism to “bad interpretations’ of the Holy Quran and urged the Muslims community to tackle in our schools and universi accuse Muslims of being unbelievers.” The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia condemned al- Qaeda and ISIS in his Hajj sermon in 2015. this tendency to Terrorism Denounced Paradox: Island is religious of peace but too many off iissfollowers were killing innocents Mainstream Muslims were outraged. All political paffies condemned terrorism, Respected scholars began to challenge the ERremists. The Grand Imam of Egypt's Al- Azhar University Sheikh Ahmed al Tayeb, ascribed origin of terrorism to a ‘historical misteading ofthe Quran’ and “intolerant interpretations | of Islam’ requiring radical Teform_of religion teaching. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke of the malaise in the Musiim world Noting that violence, terror and ‘thassderés, unfortunately, (took) place in the Islantic World, Terrorism was a The right to use force continues to be an exclusive preserve of states for maintenance of peace at home and defence of their right to peacefill coexistence. Islamophobia In the wake of 9/11, hard liners in the United States started hate mongering against Islam and even government agencies began discrimination against. Muslim visitors and their own citizens Evangelical preachers and Zionists joined in whipping up hatred and prejudice. Pastor Terry Jones announced a plan to burn copies of the Quran and did so on 21 March 2011 and again on 28 April 2012. Hostile advertisements in subway stations depicted Jews as ‘civilized and Muslims as 4 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSD“savages.” US Deputy Attorney General Thomas Perez acknowledged that FBI did not accord equal protection against arson attacks ‘on mosques, buming of holy books, refusing building permits for Islamic centers, bullying of Muslim children in schools, and discrimination in the workplace. A video posted on YouTube in September 2012 by hhate mongers in Los Angeles distorted and vilified Islam. President Obama condemned the crude and disgusting video but pleaded that the law of freedonmOF sfBeclifid nét permit ban on blasphemyagainst any religion, Pakistan carried little influence to ‘stem the: tide of hostility. Too many) @rroriin| in the West were reported to have been incited by extremist seminaries or terrorist. groups Pakistan, Although it was the worst victimof terrorism, the state of Pakistan itself was held to blame for the proliferation of terrorism, India was not alone|in pointing an neeusing finger at Pakistani State! institutions for’ encouraging terrorist Organizations The US, ISAF and Afghan government forces meanwhile deployed 100,000 ‘ttogps; US spend $1,070 billion ‘on the War andy $100 billion to build Afghan forces but failed to establish control over the Afghan border region and placed the entire blame for cross border violence on Pakistan, the Haqqani Network and Taliban elements. Trump flaunted $33 billion it gave Pakistan in aid ‘over 15 years but not once acknowledge the costs and sacrifices Pakistan incurred in support of the US. The heavy costs from its ‘own meager budget depleted its treasury of resources desperately needed for economic and social development. Afghanistan 2001-2018 Afghanistan Ethnicity and Politics After 9/11 Pakistan severed relations with the Taliban regime upon its refusal to comply with the UN Security Council resolution. The Taliban abandoned the capital, the rank and file, and melted into the Pakhtun countryside. Mullah Omar and other prominent leaders either went underground or fled to Pakistan. Osama bin Laden escaped to the Tora Bora ‘mountain area and then across the border to Pakistan. The Northern Alliance took control of Kabul Kunduz and Mazar-i-Shariff in December 2001, the United Nations began formation of a new government for Afghanistan] The President of Pakistan repared|_a paper in consultation with the Saudi leadership, recommending that the government to be formed in Afghanistan Should giveya fair representation to all ethnic Gommunities. Pakistan's 42 percent, Tajiks: 27 (percent and Hunzas and Uzbeks: 9 percent ach, It was personally delivered by the Saudi Foreign Minister to the President of the United States, gthepPrime Minister of the United Kingdom, and/ the \Secretary General of the Unitedy Nations, A conference of Afghan elders held imBonn under UN auspices in December, | approved the _ provisional trangements With Hamid Karzai, A Pakhtun, ag the Interim leader, General Qasim Fahim, a former députy of Ahmad Shah Masoud of Panjsher, dominated the new dispensation. A majority of important positions were allotted to the Tajiks. Uzbeks and Hazaras were also rewarded, but the Pakhtuns received short shrift The Pashtuns: Historically a Pashtuns nation with a plurality of 13 million (419%) in a country with 35 million population, the Pashtuns share an ethnic link with Pashtuns in Pakistan which is also resilient and durable to fall prey to the exigency of Islamabad’s improved relations with the establishment in Kabul. Yet, the Afghan Pashtuns feel alienated and fixing this fractured relationship, although deeply rooted in Pashtunwali, would not be easy. Prospects, to say the least are unclear. The Inter Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) and the CIA supported Hekymatyar with his 5 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDbase in the valley of Kunduz. The CIA also maintained close relations with massoud who ‘was assassinated in Tajikistan on 9 September 2001. The Afghan Establishment will continue to look towards US for support and guidance so long as the aid pipeline is open. The Tajiks: constitute 11 million of the population, The Kabul establishment comprising the bureaucracy, the armed forces and the educated elite has been traditionally dominated by Tajiks, and their share has never been so high as at pfesent! (Uzbeks and. Hazaras each number about 9)peréent). ‘The Afghan youth are increasingly aware (63.7%, under 25) that their future liefinl Kabul or in other major urban centres, Despite! claims regarding national integration. Ministers without any reluctance appoint the entire staff from their ethnic group. None of the appointees, as the current practice. “goes survives the dismissal of the Minister, There seem to be a broad aid more | flexible understanding that Pashtuins ate [good for ‘business rather than (bureautracy, (There is little evidence that the state has adopted it/as policy. As long as they remain in service, Tajik bureaucrats work only for narrow or factional interests. But they do not fade away as non entities. Instead they join a pool of experienced professionals and move from government to trade, education, think-tanks or civil society. This was happening earlier too. What has changed recently is the scale. Even the national Directorate of Security (NDS) and national Police Force are not Immune from this drift ‘The Hazaras: A Shia minority, the Hazaras are an enterprising peaceful people but often victims of sectarian violence. The Afghan government accords them protection as far as possible ‘The Uzbeks: Smaller in numbers, their leader Abdul Rashid Dostum built a strong army with arms and funds from Russia, He fought against Russia’s enemies; the main target was the Taliban in alliance with the Tajiks. The Haqqani Group: The Haggani group is a militant section of Pashto speaking Afghan Taliban of whom a substantial number migrated to the Tribal Areas of Pakistan in the early 1980s. They played an active part in fighting against the Russian and late the American invaders. The main controversy between ePakistan and the United States entered |on the alleged protection. Pakistan gave the Hagdanis for using Pakistan territory 3 a base for operations against the Americans and the Afighdfi state. Their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada who headed the Quetta Shura, the HGqgani Network Hezbi Islami and smaller al- Qaeda groups also joined the insurgency They often launched terrorist attacks on civilian and security targets, They were finally defeated by the Pakistan Army in 2018. Afghari{Paliban Movement Jn 1994-95, Afghanistan dissolved in the total disartay. The) Pashtuns from the Kandahar region who bad Studied at Madrasa Haqania near” Peshawar, “a conservative Deobandi institution, organized a Taliban movement of simple pious teachers and prayer leaders. They disbanded the truck mafia, enforced codes of good moral conduct and hanged criminals. In November 1995, they captured Kandahar. A. Pakistani Federal Minister described the Afghan Taliban as ‘our boys but this was a delusion as the Taliban, like most Afghans, had their own priorities. In 1996, the Taliban tide slept the country conquered Kabul and took control of Mazat-i-Sharif, whose mayor, a Massoud ally, defected to them. The Taliban combined Durrani rural culture and Islamic ethos. When Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto sought to pen the southern Quetta route to Central Asia, she organized a large commercial convoy which was blocked by the truck mafia, The Interior Minister, Naseerullah Khan Babar persuaded the Taliban to clear the 6 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDway. In May 1997, Pakistan recognized the Taliban government after Mazar-i-Sharif aceepted the Taliban government. Saudi Arabia and UAE followed with their recognitions, but the Taliban remained isolated internationally because of their odious human rights record. ‘The ISI, CIA and the White House pursued a practical policy Prince Turki, the Saudi politician came to Kandahar and asked Mullah Omar to hand ovét Oséima bin Ladeh, Bu this angered Mullah Omat so much that he got up and doused his head with) cold)water, before rebuking the Saudi royals. ‘The Influential Karzai and Ahmadzii families declared support for the Taliban. Pakistan tried to prevent the Taliban from occupying it territory by crossing the border but this became a long running, conikoversy as thesUS pressed Pakistan to ‘do more’ and Pakistan needed time and resoureés {9 move fireesiand enforce its writ in the “Tribal Areas. White the US was impatient, Pakistan had its ¢dnstraints, Afighanistan War The Taliban were in no position to defeat the US forces to Afghanistan Mullah Omar and other prominent. Taliban leaders either went underground or fled to Pakistan. The UN convened a conference of two dozen unit- Taliban Afghan influential persons in Bonn in late December 2001, which selected Hamid Karzai a Pashtuns as the interim leader. A majority of important positions in the new government were allotted to Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras as reward for their support to the US invasion. But they could not win Pashtuns acceptance. Even the US and allied forces could not establish the writ so long as they had insufficient troops. In 2003, when the US withdrew a large number of its troops to fight the war in Iraq, the Taliban resurfaced to challenge the US and Afghan forces. The Taliban Insurgency: It began in 2006, afier they regrouped to mount attacks on US- ed International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghans siding with the occupation, The Taliban were grateful to Osama bin Laden for al-Qaeda’s support and assistance in the liberation struggle and believed the US was hostile to Islam. By 2018, the insurgency had spread across rural Afghanistan and they were able to penetrate 60 percent of the country. ‘Mullah Omar fled stern authoritarian regime and imposed lan, extremist interpretation of Sharia lay enforeement of harsh punishments, and Eonfining|women to homes and closing schools for pitlS and converted Afghanistan fiffo a puritanical state. Pakistan did not join the US in its war against the Afghan Taliban nor did it endorse Mullah Omar's domestic or external policies, Pakistan) Afghanistan Relations: The relating beweeh, ISlamabad and Kabul began on an diniGable fiote\PréSident Karzai was friendly and eratéful for Pakistan's opposition to Soviet intervention i Afghanistan and for hospitality t0 millions (6f refugees. But the situation deteriorated as the Tajiks and their Northern Allies took control of the government, ‘The Pashtuns including man of the refiugees in Pakistan felt alienated and excluded from power. Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e-lslami and. the Haqqani Network joined a spreading insurgency, some of them using the adjoining Tribal Areas in Pakistan as base for cross border attacks. President Karzai accused Pakistan of connivance with the dissidents. In actual fact, Islamabad was reluctant to fight any of the old Mujahedeen friends. Mutual Insensitivity: Another factor for the deterioration of relations was Kabul’s lack of sensitivity towards Pakistan's security concerns. It allowed India to open consulates in towns close to Pakistan's border, which were used by the Indian intelligence agency, 7 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDResearch and Analysis Wig to incite subversions and sabotage in the FATA and Baluchistan Province. Islamabad raised this ‘matter again and again with President Karzai but to little avail. As a result relations between Islamabad and Kabul turned acrimonious. In 2011, Kabul compounded the _ bitter relationship by its decisions to sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement with India, The Karzai regime however, welcomed New Delhi's support and assistance which was much greater than Pakistan couldaff@Ri. Islimabia did not however, look /at this development from Kabul ‘s angle. ‘The Taliban Government's Record: 1996-200k During their five year rule, the Taliban eradicated opium cultivation _ prohibited: carrying of arms and established Jay and order in the country. But (their| stem authoritarian rule, extremist interpretation of Sharia law, enforcement of harsh “pitnishments and. confinement of women {6° their homes and closing of schools | for girls, converted Afghanistan in to a puritanical state/In, 2001, Mullah Omar's decision to demolish ancient Buddha statues in Bamiyan provoked universal outrage and condemnation. Particularly suicidal was the decision to allow sanctuary to Osama bin Laden who abused it for planning and perpetrating the 9/1 terrorist attack on the United States. Adamant in pursuit of their agenda, the Taliban paid little heed to Pakistan's suggestions. In dealing with Pakistan, they relied on old madrasa contacts and Pakistani religious parties for support, and tried to export their obscurantist views to promote sectarian extremism in Pakistan. They even refused to extradite proclaimed offenders wanted by Pakistan's judicial authorities for prosecution In June 2001, Pakistan's Foreign Minister visited Washington, He exchanged with Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Deputy Defense Secretary the limited information he had about the Taliban, His meeting with Condoleezza Rice was in contrast a disaster ~ she was rude as. she assumed the FM knew more than he actually did and spoke in an offensive manner not realizing that they United States with vastly more resources than Pakistan was in a better position to influence Kabul. Actually, she was herself informant and did not have a clue about Osama bin Laden’s sinister plans and theMalbaRS Metermination to resist US ‘9ecupation. ‘Terrorism in Pakistan: The Taliban movement in Pakistan vas) a product of policies that encouraged and aided religious extremism and filitancy. People as well as governments of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States and the CIA funneled large sums of money to seminaries ‘that witnesses meteoric expansion, Some of therm provided modem weapons, The Talban were opposed! 10 Pakistan's alliance with the United ‘States and Saudi Arabia and turned theit gunS of thé Pakistani state, army and yen (eiviliansy In 2007, a virtual war began between TehtikiTahiban Pakistan (TTP) and the Pakistan Aémy.iThe TTP unleashed attacks on Pakistan and Swat was the first battlefield opened by Sufi Mohammad and his son-in- law, Fazlullah, The terrorists were defeated but relocated to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) region where they established base facilities built arsenals and training grounds for attacks across the country. Over 7 years the Pakistan Army deployed 90000 soldiers and mounted several operations in south Waziristan, Bajaur and Kurrum agencies to establish its writ, More than 75000 people died across the country. Material losses ‘were estimated at $123 billion. US Fatigue with Wars: In 2009 the new Obama administration came to office in Washington, with a record of 2,323. US fatalities in Afghanistan, and declared a policy of ending the long wards to Iraq and 8 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDAfighanistan, Vice President Joseph biden was skeptical of whether the United States could build ‘a legitimate Afghan government’ President Obama concluded that the vision of building a modern democratic. Afghanistan was too costly to accomplish. In December 2011, he told the joint Chiefs of Staff, “The difference we made (in Afghanistan) is unlikely to be lasting...it was a war without ‘winners’ Obama announced an exit strategy that aimed at ending the US combat role, leaving the war to the laff AfghanfSecurity for assisted by continues US air Support. To meet afghan demands he agreedjhoweyer, to sign a Security Pack to provide paper’ assurance to Kabul. ‘The Karzai Era: 2001-2014: ‘The Hamid Karzai era was remarkable for the transformation of Afghanistan from a \waF ravaged, internationally isOlated) bihéFy fo A developing democracypsupported by the| US: led alliance of Wétem Countries In “the eventful thirteen years lint/Karzah wa at thé helm. Afghanistan got a eonstitution ensiorsed by the traditional Loya Tires, Vhéld Wo presidential and patlignifentafy eleetions, received $100 billion in aid for reconstruction. ‘of economy and administration, raised a national security force opened schools for 8 million children, brought women in to polities and administration and broadened the power structure to include all ethnic communities. His many achievements were eclipsed, unfortunately for his place in history, by rampant corruption narcoties proliferation and, fatally, by Karzai’s lack of faith in the system he inducted. All the elections held under his watch were marred by fraud, rigging, and ballot stuffing. In the latter years of his rule Karzai became mercurial and intemperate and offensive towards the United States. He also ignored the sacrifices Pakistan had made for Afghanistan and accused. “Pakistani power players of trying to control his country’s foreign policy.” Afghan Presidential Election ~ 2014: In the 2014 elections, Dr. Ashraf Ghani emerged with the largest votes in the one to one contest with Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, The announcement was challenged and a threat of division of the country loomed. The United States and NATO allies intervened. President Obama warned that failure to agree to a compromise would ‘cost Afghanistan the financial and security support of the United States and the international community.” ScGitat YORS taf, John Kerry rushed to Kabul ‘twice and in the\final of his thirty telephone calls told the als, “If you do not come to agreement now. today, the possibilities for Afhanistangwill become very difficult. If not dangerous... The United States will not be able {0 support Afghanistan.” On 21 September 2014, the two rivals signed a US brokered agreement providing for Ashraf Ghani to! Be"deelated President and Abdullah Abdulligh) 19 [take a new post as Chief ‘Bxecutive Ofticet investing in him powers that effectively ifade!fim an executive prime ‘minister, The President would head the cabinet Of miinisters| while [the CEO would preside vera new council Of ministers to implement the executive affairs of the government. Another clause calls for ‘parity in selection of personnel between the President and the CEO at the level of head of key security and economic institutions and independent directorates.” They took path of office on 29 September 2014, The extra constitutional agreement marked the first time for modern men to rise to power in a country historically dominated by Pashtuns dynasts. Both leaders are well educated and brought wide experience of administration to their high offices. President Ashraf Ghani, a Phd. was a World Bank economist. Dr. Abdullah an ophthalmologist, son of a Pashtuns rather and Tajik mother, was an associate of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the legendary Lion of Punisher and a well spoken 9 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDforeign minister in the ‘government of President Rabbani, Mujahedeen Ashraf Ghani’s Passing Gesture: President Ashraf Ghani’s touching gestures during his priority visit to Islamabad in November 2015 won hearts and minds of the Pakistani people. He laid a wreath at the Shuhada (martyrs) Monument demonstrating appreciation for Pakistan's sacrifices in the struggle against terrorism, and made the memorable statements ‘Alone we can strive but togetherewe can thrive” and “We will ndt permit the past to destroy the future.” Afler his meeting with: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif he armounced. We have overcome obstacles of 13 fjears in 3 days.’ But the dream remained \irealized. The peace process in Afghanistan made {litte progress. A peace process scheduled for 3 July 2014 was detailed Mullah Omar had died in 2013, Afghan Insurgents in'Pakistan: The leader and senior commanders 8 the ‘Taliban insurgents operating inside Afhdlhistait (Compromising the Shura, the top | consultative | body) maintained an office in Quétta. \FgF yedts, Kabul and Washington’ Hild dbjectedl) more: vociferously to the presence of elements of the Haqqani network of insurgents on Pakistan territory from where they allegedly mounted cross border attacks. Pakistan did not approve of their activities, but it was averse to fighting Afghans on its soil, as many of them were jends it had helped in the liberation war. Also, they had sympathizers in the tribal areas. Besides, the Pakistan Army was preoccupied operations against terrorists. Further, the better armed US and NATO forces and the large Afghan national security forces held responsibility for sealing the border from the Afghan side. Eventually the Pakistan Army's Zarb-e-Azb operation targeted all terrorists The Haqqani fighters were forced to relocate to the Afghan side of the mountainous border. Incredulous hardliners in the US Congress, however, called for cutting off aid to Pakistan, alleging it ‘allowed’ the Haqqani Network to carry on cross border attacks. Taliban Offensive: The Taliban mounted deadly attacks in July and August 2015. Hundreds of people were killed in Kabul and dozens of soldiers in Kunduz, President Ashraf Ghani blamed Islamabad declaring: “We hoped for peace, but was is declared against us from Pakistan territory... itis time for Pakistan to prove through action that the enemies poly Afghanistan were enemies of Pokistan” Islamabad condemned the attacks against | the| elected government as inadmissible, ‘Associations that the attacks were launched by in surgeons sheltering in Pakistan| wete iimenable as the Zarb-c-Azb Afmy operation had destroyed the fnfiastructure of all terrorist groups in the Tribal Areas. ‘ThelPaGqafit n&twrk elements relocated fiom fortherm Pakistan and integrated with the ‘Talia gofamaha structure. Peace and Reconeiliation: In 2015, Pakistan used whaieverfevefage it had with the Taliban to persuade them to enter into dialogue with the representatives of the Afghan government for peace and cooperation. The United States and China co-sponsored and joined a formal meeting as observers. A second meeting was scheduled for 31 July, but the process was derailed by Kabul’s disclosure that Mullah Omar had died in Karachi in 2013. The Taliban, having sought to keep that fact secret, had to deal with the fallout. Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour was declared the new Amir, but the Taliban splintered, Mullah Mansour refused to send any representative to attend talks with the Afghan government. Holding him responsible for attacks on US forces in Afghanistan, President Obama authorized a drone attack that killed Mansour on 22 May 2016. ‘The Taliban Shura elected Maulvi Habatuallh Akhundzada as the new 10 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDAmir. He vowed to continue the policy of non- participation in dialogue. The Friends of Afghanistan supported efforts for peace and reconciliation. A Heart of Asia forum meeting of twenty two countries in Islamabad on 8 December 2015 emphasized the urgeney of an end to civil war in Afghanistan, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States tried to revive the peace talks, Islamabad ever threatened to expel the Quetta Shura if they didenot agreebut the Taliban made participation, conditional on. withdrawal of all foreign forges, which was exactly the opposite of what Kabul wanted President Obama announeed)thiat hill keep about 8,400 US troops throngh to thé end of his term in January 2017 an that his succBSS0R can determine the next move. President Trump has warned against a hasty withdrawal’ from Afghanistan, saying that “conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, Will guide our: strategy from now on,* Despite Islamabad’s intéteesSious, thé Taliba refuused to join the peace and reconciliation process as long as forgign forbes fendained in Afghanistan, Te stance evidened’, oneejagain, that they were not anyone’s proxy. Now, like Afghan warlords and governors, they raised resources by narcotics trafficking. I collapse of the peace and reconciliation process shifted the limelight to the abuse of Pakistan territory by the Taliban and Haqqani Network leaders for cross border attacks. This problem was not new. The mujahidin had used bases in the Pakistani tribal areas during the war against Soviet occupation. The Haqqani network was a legacy. It continued to operate during civil strife in Afghanistan in the 1990s and the Taliban insurgency against foreign forces. Meanwhile, Paki across the border from which they launched attacks on targets in Pakistan, Both countries needed to seal the border against trouble makers, but both delayed action. Perhaps the ini terrorists also established hideouts problem did not seem urgent. Both knew the main forces of insurgents and_ terrorists operated from within their countries. The Pakistan military launched a _ massive operation that drove outlaws out of North Waziristan in 2014-16. The Haqqani Network elements were also forced out. Border fencing was commenced in earnest to inhibit illicit traffic international law requires states to prevent abuse of their territory for cross border attacks, New ‘Talibah \Aiir: In July 2015, Mullah Omar's longtime deputy Mullah Akhtar Muhammad) Mansour was elected as the new ‘Amit. A’few Taliban criticized the succession and the peace policy. The chief of the Taliban political office in Doha, Tayeb Agha who was ‘not invited to the Murree meeting, refused to pledBe (@lleGiaritet§ the new Amir calling Mullah Mansouit proxy for Pakistan’s ISI Kabul pulled out of peace talks. The Afghan ‘Talib al80 afthouliced on 22 September 2015 that the feconcifiation process with the Kabul administration Would not be resumed as long. ag foreign troops remained in Afghanistan and the government did not revoke its security pacts with other countries.” Mullah Mansour consolidated unity inside Taliban ranks Sirajudin Haqqani was appointed a deputy. The decion making body Rabbani Shura comprising 21 members included a Tajik and an Uzbek. Its meetings were held at homes of ‘Shura members in Afghanistan, Terrorist Attacks: In August 2015, as if stung by the charge, the new Taliban leadership launched deadly attacks in Kabul that killed so, people. President Ashraf Ghani blamed Pakistan, Washington urged Islamabad to do more to stop the Haqqani network from using Pakistan tervitory for Afghanistan, Islamabad explained that the Army operation Zarb-i-Azb had largely destroyed the infrastructure of all terrorist groups in the Tribal Areas. Belatedly, Pakistan uw attacks inside OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDrealized the globally isolated Afghan Talban were a liability and asked those in Pakistan to leave the country. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Mullah Fazlullah hiding in Afghan territory carried out a deadly attack on the Pakistan air force’s Khalid Base at Badaber near Peshawar killing 16 Pakistan air force (PAF) personnel. It was evident that the Afghan security force either did not exercise control over the territory or decided not tosion@Mullab Fazlullah, He was killed by @ US! drone in June 2018, Border fence: neither the USsnor the Kabul government cooperated with Pakistan in building a fence on the Pakistan Afghan, border. In order to prevent movement of terrorists. Smuggling and narcoties trafficking, Pakistan decided in 2018 to build the fenee-its ‘own cost. Of the totalf@F}2{600 Kin} bit{900 km, by January 2019Qhe remainder 200, ki, in Khyber PakhtunlhWa ahd 1400, kit ih Baluchistan was expect®d 16 be/conpleted inl years time, US War Costs: Over|a periodgof seventeen years, up until 2018, the US had spent USS 1,070 billion on the war in Afghanistan, It placed the entire blame for failure on cross border violence carried out by the Haqqani Network and the Taliban elements. In 2018. Trump flaunted $33 billion it gave Pakistan in aid over 15 years - $2.2 billion a year. But unlike friends and sympathizers : China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Russia ~ the US did not once acknowledge the burden and sacrifices that Pakistan had incurred in the war on terror. Britain The US Intemational Security Assistance Force (InSAF), a NATO led security mission in Afghanistan and the Afghan government meanwhile deployed forces of 100,000 troops, the Us spent $1,070 billion on the war and $100 billion to build the Afghan forces but failed to establish control over the Afghan border region, and placed the entire blame for cross border violence on Pakistan, the Haqqani network and Talban elements. US Economic Aid to Kabul: The US provided $104 billion for the reconstruction of Afghanistan surpassing the inflation adjusted figure of $103.4 billion US gave to 16 counters of Europe under Marshall Plan after the Second World War. But a staggering portion of the money was mismanaged and stoletes Afghanistan remained dependent on external assistance for over 90 percent of its GDP of $15,7 Billion. The US and other allies \Werd committed 16 provide $5.1 billion a year for the amy ahd police and $3 billion a year for économie development in addition to the {ifispent $17 billion in US appropriations. In 2018, President Donald Trump flaunted $33 billion the US gave Pakistan over 15 years. He did fou fetitiGn the staggering human nd material, fosses| Pakistan suffered: $123 billion lin Westruction and 75,000 dead. Nor sintilly PeGenaBer (92018 he acknowledged Pakistan(had Suffered in the war on terrorism, Afehianistan china Relations: President Ashraf Ghani's choiée oF china for his first. visit abroad signified recognition of the importance of China in peace, stability, and economic development of Afghanistan and as a source of investment. Already China had signed an agreement to invest 3 billion dollars and shown interest in natural gas and other mineral resources. Mutual cooperation was needed to prevent militants from China’s Xinjiang, province from abusing Afghan territory as a base for training by the Taliban Chapter 21 Pakistan India Relations 1986-2018 ‘The Brass-tacks Crisis 1987 2 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDA false crisis erupted when India decided to hold the largest combined military exercise in South Asian history, code naed Brass-tacks, in the winter of 1986-87. Planned by a “flamboyant” Indian army chief, Gen. Krishnaswamy Sundarji, the exercise was comparable in scale to the biggest exercises by NATO or the Warsaw Pact. It envisaged the concentration of nine army Divisions, five independent armored Brigades, and 1,300 tanks in Western Rajasthan, at places hardly 50 kilometers from the Pakistan(bordé® giving the assembled forces the eapability to launch a. piercing strike to cut off notthern Pakistan from the south, Contrary, to an existing understanding, the Indian army did not inform Pakistan of the location sohedule and scale Of the exercise, Specific requests to this effeet by the Pakistani GHQ on the ‘hot line’ and By: diplomats in New Delhi were rebuffed. In November 1986 ‘ebriesined | sbout the situation. Prime MinfStér Mohammad) Kha Junejo took up the matter with Rajiv Gandhi in a meeting in Bangalotel Hellas iven 10 understand that the exerdise/would be scaled down, They also agreed (9 immediatg talks, at the level of Foreign Secretaries, Alexander Gonzalvez and Abdul Sattar agreed on hdrawal of forces to peacetime locations. Foreign minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi personally intervened in negotiations to ensure a positive ‘outcome. Rajiv Gandhi gave one of his official planes for Abdul Sattar to return to Islamabad from a celebratory press conference at midnight,. ‘A war’ was averted! In December 1986, as a precautionary measure, the Chief of Staff General K.M. Arif, decided to move an Armored division north of the Sutlej River opposite Fazilka and a Brigade west of the Ravi to Sialkot district. Indian defence officials termed the Pakistani pincer posture “menacing,” Kargil Crisis-1999 In May 1999, a grave crisis erupted following the intrusion of armed personnel from Pakistan into the Kargil heights in Kashmir Islamabad denied the facts and attributed them to the fighting to Kashmiri freedom fighters, recalling that after promising, at the Lahore Summit, to intensifying efforts to resolve all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian leaders in their statements on their return to Delhi had portrayed insincerity and absence of serious intent. It recalled further, thabthe JON Surity Council’s call in its Tesolution of June! 1998 for the resumption of diglogue tojferno¥e the root causes of tensions, incliding Kashmir, was not followed up, and that Indiany Home Minister Lal Krishna ‘Advani fiad émibarked on a ‘proactive’ policy, fmensified repression in Indian held Kashmir resorted to recurrent violations of the Line of Control foreing the closure of the Neetum Valley roadyingAzad Kashmir and subjected the VillageSto figree artillery bombardment. Few ‘foreign countries credited Pakistan's disclaimer, howeyer) Statements issued by the Group of Eight (G8) countries the US Britain and Germany impli¢itly blamed Pakistan for the fintruderst¥in \Kargil. As Pakistan armed men penetrated the Kargil-Dras sector and seized high ground, threatening the Srignagar- Leh road, an artery in the summer months for stockpiling supplies for Indian garrisons. in Ladakh and Siachen-India denounced the operation as a violation of the Shimla Agreement and retaliated with a massive air and army operation to dislodge the guerrillas. Describing them as Islamic militants. Taliban and regular army personnel, India accused Pakistan of aggression. Indian bombardment targeted not only the Kargil Heights on the Indian side of the Line of Control but also the alleged supply bases on the Pakistan side. ‘Also, duels raged elsewhere along the Line of Control. In an attempt to defuse the situation, the Pakistani Foreign Minister was sent to New Delhi on 12 June for diplomatic efforts and for de-escalation and dialogue. He was 3B OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDaccorded a frigid and hostile reception. India took a rigid no-negotiation stance, insisting on Pakistani withdrawal of personnel from Kargil before discussion on any other issue. Briefing the press after the meeting, the Indian Foreign Minister used the word demand three times in ‘one minute. Meanwhile concer mounted internationally that the fighting in Kargil might escalate and lead to a general war between Pakistan and India, now declared nuclean states, The, Group of Bight (industrialized eountties), considered, ‘infiltration armed | “inuders as: ‘irresponsible’ The Furopean Union called for the immediate withdrawal of infiltrators” Washington asked Pakistan to withdraw ‘its forces’ and ‘restore: status quo ante’, Only the OIC backed the Pakistani position by asking for de-escalatin and dialogue, China did HotMerititighilPakistali and called on both Undigy and Pakistah| 10 “respect the Line of Control’, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sued fof th€\US \President’s intercession to defuse the crisis. Clinton received Sharif for an emergency mneéting on Sunday, 4 July 1999- US thdeplendénce Day, He discussed the situation with Prime Minister Vajpayee over the phone and persuaded Sharif’ to agree to a joint statement which provided for immediate cessation of hostilities concrete steps fo be taken for the restoration of the Line of control in accordance with the Shimla Agreement and resumption of a Pakistan-India dialogue as begun in Lahore in February 1999 for resolving all issued dividing India and Pakistan including Kashmir. President Clinton promised to take a personal interest in encouraging an expeditious resumption and intensification of the bilateral efforts, ‘once the sanctity of the Line of Control has been fully restored.” Military officers of Pakistan and India later agreed on steps for disengagement. The Pakistani personnel withdrew from Kargil by 16 July. Reading into the Washington joint statement a US. pledge of effort to promote settlement of the Kashmir question was not only a spin aimed at misleading public opinion but a self deception. From authoritative clarification given by US. administration officials it became clear that all that the president had promised, after careful prior clearance with new Delhi, was personal interest in promoting the ‘Lahore process.” A US official compared Nawaz Sharif’ dash to Washington to Yahya Khan's request for USshelp jinsthe face of a rapidly deteriorating situation] in the 11971 India Pakistan war Henry Kissingemhad then remarked that the US was asked to)be in at the crash landing whem it was n6f im one the take-off! If Pakistan ‘Was mercifully Spared that biting sarcasm this, fife, it was partly because all that it asked was the proverbial fig leaf to cover retreat from an impulsive adventure undertaken without forethought, Most, Yeothmehtators blamed the Pakistan governinedt FoF losing sight of strategy in a tdictieall bid toTawaken international attention to the festering Kashmir dispute. Given the power disparity, 4 military solution was Obviously out,or qdestion. A war that could escalate to the nuclear level was considered inconceivable. One eminent journalist castigated the government saving,’...the original political blunder of approving a strategically flawed and unsustainable plan of guerrilla action was compounded first by diplomatic and domestic mishandling and then bya sudden and inadequately explained policy voice face.’ A provident policy had to steer clear of extremes of bravado and should destroying capitulating Prime Minister Nawaz. Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf were held ‘responsible for approving this misconceived operation.’ While some described the operation as ‘tactically brilliant” others considered it ‘a complete fiasco,” A spokesman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference of Jammu and Kashmir described 4 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDthe Pakistan government's policy as. ‘unpredictable.’ Another APHC leader said, “First, we were excluded, then betrayed.” Inconsistent and contradictory statements undermined —Pakistan’s credibility. Its spokesmen disclaimed knowledge of the Mujahedeen operation in Kargil one day and accepted responsibility for their withdrawal the next day. Shallow thinking was manifest also in pendulum swings from naive bus diplomacy to the Kargil gamble from glorifying bilateral negotiations, th@ML ahof& declaration to self deceiving elainns oF success. in inducting American |interest jin \résolving Kashmir. Politics of éoruption and) crass calculation of immediate political advantage was diagnosed as the main reason for the shallow and myopic politics of the ruling families, along with the absence of long {term thinking and institutional decision making Autopsies of the Kargil erisisyby pPakistani commentators underlined agonizing ilenimas that Pakistan faced in repard tothe Kashmir issue. If it did not act dndiasclaimedsto have achieved a final solution; IF it did, it incurred the rest of war. Similatly placed were the Kashmiri people; if they did not striggle for freedom, they were “considered ‘to have acquiesced in India's illegal annexation, if they did, they were subjected to savage repression, killings, torture and other excess no human being should have to suffer in a civilized world. Misconceived policies and actions not only isolated Pakistan internationally, they also gravely damaged the heroic freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people. Focus shifted from indigenous agitation for self determination to Indian allegations of its Pakistani sponsorship from inhuman Indian excesses in Kashmir to restraint in limiting response to its side of the Line of Control from brutality of Indian forces against the Kashmir people to bravery on the Kargil heights. If the Kargil episode exposed Pakistan to international censure, it also opened a breach between the prime minister and the Army hierarchy. Nawaz Sharif was reported to have blamed the army for keeping him ignorant of the plan for the Kargil operation, A few months later Sharif dismissed Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf while Musharraf was on his way back from a visit to Sri Lanka and ordered refusal of landing facilities to the PIA airliner on which Musharraf was a passenger. Musharraf however refused to be diverted to another destination and the Karachi corps commander intGEVEREANG sAVe the passengers and crew as, the plane ran low'6n fuel. On return, the chief Of staf WOK Byer the government in a bloodless coup, ‘Agra Summit 2001 On New Year's Day 2001, Prime Minister Ataly Bihari, Vajpayee wrote an atticle hizitighting the need for India to address two outstanding issued, namely, Kashmir and the Babi Mosque’ in Ayodhya, Regarding Kashmirghe wentlonto suggest a meeting with the Pakistani /President. After a deadly of nearly four ‘months, evidently a result of internal debate, he Sent an invitation for the two leaders to meet at Agra on 15 and 16 July. The two leaders held several exclusive meetings. They recognized the need to transform the fifly year old confrontation into good neighborly cooperation, To that end, President Musharraf urged earnest efforts to resolve the Kashmir dispute, Around noon on 16 July they called in the foreign ministers and informed them of the understanding they had reached to resume dialogue which should be the basis of a declaration to be issued after that day. Working on the draft already prepared by the foreign secretaries, the two ministers agreed on a declaration text tobe recommended to the leaders. President Pervez Musharraf approved it promptly. On the Indian side, the draft was considered in the cabinet committee on political affairs. The meeting lasted over two house after which 15 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDExtemal Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh sought a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart at 6pm to discuss an amendment to the one line paragraph on Kashmir. After a short and amicable discussion, the foreign ministers agreed to the substance of the amendment desired by the Indian cabinet committee with a slight modification. The apparent hitch thus removed, the Indian Conference services officials started making arrangements for the signing ceremony as the Indian minister hoped tof@btaifiifortiial irl approval in “five minuies*, Onee [again the. cabinet committee held a longhimeeting. At about 9 p.m, the Pakistan side was informed’ that the agreement would not be signed, The Summit, which was held in a blad@fof global multimedia coverage ended on jah anticlimactie note to the surprise of the media people and the disappointment and, frustration of the Pakistan's delegation. Before departing from Agra for Islamabad, thé | Pakistani President was told Wby ‘the Indian | Prime Minister that it had nof beet poSsiblé 18 reach agreement in the cabinet committee. He did not explain what the disagreement was about, adding only that the tite ‘Was! Hot fiVorable and that he would visit Pakistan later to finalize the proposed agreement. The prospect of another summit helped contain disappointment. Both sides tried to relieve the gloom. President | Musharraf declared ‘I came back empty handed but the Summit was not a failure.” Prime Minister Vajpayee also underlined the progress. that was made two wards bridging the two approaches in a draft joint declaration. “In the same vein, External Affairs Minister Jaswant ingh said, ‘I do not characterize [the summit] as a failure. I do term it as yet another step in ‘our march towards finding lasting peace, amity and cooperation between the two countries, adding, ‘We will pick up threads from the visit of the President of Pakistan.” The Pakistani Foreign Minister gave a similarity positive appraisal: “The Agra Summit was ‘natamam not nakam’ (conclusive, not a failure).” The optimism did not last long, however. The India side soon started backtracking on the agreed draft. A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said, “No agreement was reached. There was no closure of an agreement and no subscription by signature.” A week later, Vajpayee said in the parliament. ‘ObyiouslyeIndia’s concerns in vital areas — Such as ross order terrorism — will have to find placesinpany document that future niggotiations endeavor to conclude.’ Actually, this point wa8) alteady covered in the draft declaration. Meanwhile, observers on both sides speculated about what had prevented agreement at the summit, Some identified Presidefity Musfiarfaf) breakfast meeting with Indian thedia fuiminaries on 1 July as having offendéd the’ Indian leaders. The videotape of the [question answer meeting telecast by an Indian {commercial channel projected ‘Musharraf persuasive views on the need to address the Kashmir dispute to a spellbound audience in both countries. The Indian side was said to be angry that he had stolen a march over the Indian prime minister. Actually, there was little new in what he said. He had expressed the same view many times previously. Hours after the telecast, the Indian si id the issue with the Pakistan side, and even agreed to finalize the draft of the declaration, le had not rai As for the Pakistani President's conference to Kashmir as the principal obstacle to normalization of Pakistan India relations. That ‘was no more than a statement of the obvious. Quite apart from the experience of Pakistan and India, normalization fas seldom taken place between pairs of countries with serious disputes and differences. Recent examples of the casual Tink include the Portugal and Indonesia over East Timor, Japan and Russia 16 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDover the Norther islands, and USA and Cuba over ideological differences. Another explanation was later given by Prime Minister Vajpayee in a statement in parliament on 24 July, saying. “Eventually, however we had to abandon the quest for a joint document because of Pakistan’s insistence on the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue as pre-condition for the normalization of relations. ‘This was factually incorrect, as the text of the draft declaration confirms, At no point in the negotiations did) Pakistan present, any ‘pre-condition’, Similarly unfounded was} the allegation that Pakistan's approach was ‘univocal.’ The draft providellffor didlogue on all issues of concern to both Sides, iiteluding, terrorism. More interesting was the question as to who in the Indian cabinet committee had objected %e the draft, Not until (iin) laf flid fa lug appear in the Indianpress, A/ usually Well informed journal atifibuted ‘Responsibility’ for obstructing agreement/f, the Deputy Primé Minister, LK. Advani dubbing “him the saboteur of Agra.” Wheén| Vajpayee) was asked fata press conference to|lgorfintent gon the report. He did not give a directly reply. Four years later, President Musharraf publicly blamed Advani for the failure of the summit Seven years later, Advani admitted he had torpedoed the summit now giving a new explanation, namely that in a breakfast meeting with Indian editors, the Pakistani leader, had blasted India’s position on cross border terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir.” Even this after thought is hardly convincing, General Musharraf had only made out a case for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, which most guests appeared to find logical Perhaps this made Advani unhappy. Otherwise both Kashmir and terrorism were included among subjects for sustained dialogue at the political level in paragraph 3 of the agreed draft Considering that Vajpayee had conceived and canvassed the mutative for dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir, he was probably disappointed by the outcome and it can be assumed that he was sincere in his intention to visit Pakistan at a more favourable time to finalize the agreement. In retrospect it would have been better for the fulfillment of his ambition to improve relations with Pakistan had be asserted leadership to persuade the one or more members of the cabinet committee WOW theMeclaration Another oppottinity to change the course of Pakistan India telations was missed as one more agteeméit failed becoming a victim to {internal political battles. Three months later, thE 9/11 terrorists attacks in New York and Washington transformed the global situation. Back Chartne! Diplomacy ‘The Whdidw (Prine Minister, Atal Bihari Naibayee!/Sai@\\in/¥n Interview reported in Statesman of20 May 2004, ‘We have an Obligation. t@ Solve the Kashmir problem. Short of secession Short of redrawing borders the Indian establishment can live with anything.’ General Pervez Musharraf made a moderate suggestion on 25 October 2004 for settlement of the Kashmir dispute by dividing the state in autonomous regions. The people of Pakistan and Kashmir were stunned by his departure from Pakistan's principled position based on UN Security Council resolutions. The two leaders agreed, however, to establish a “back channel to discuss major bilateral disputes. The channel remained active for three years. The exchanges remained secret but progress was said to have been made and understanding searched forwards resolution of Kashmir and even settlement of some of the other disputes. The Indian Prime Minister was expected to visit Pakistan to sign agreements on Siachen and Rann of Kutch in 2006 ” OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDHowever the visit did not take place due to political instability in both countries. After resignation in 2008, President Musharraf, claimed progress had been archived but nothing concrete was “finalized and inked.” Two years later former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri wrote that a draft on Kashmir ‘involved gradual demilitarization as the situation improved, self government and a joint mechanism involving Kashmiris from both sides as well as the presence of Pakistaii) (@ind )\Indiah representatives.” In 2008, following elections.) the) PPP government reiterated Pakisdin’s)rincipled position on Kashmir Speaking in the UN General Assembly President Asif Ali Zafdati reiterated Pakistan's historical position calling for a Kashmir settlement in conformity with the aspirations of the people of the, state as pledged to them (in [Security| | Council resolutions. Similarly, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated the traditional stance after he took office in 2013, The) *umklérstanding reached in the back channel Werejfeduced tg 4 footnote in history as were the, dtafts at the Agra Summit in 2001 ¥en though théSe wes agreed by Foreign Ministers, Mumbai Terrorist Attack — 2008 The Sensational terrorist attacks in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, in which more than 160 persons were killed, precipitated grave tension between Pakistan and India, New Delhi attributed the outrage to Lashkar-e-Tayba (LeT). Upon receipt of official report from India Pakistan authorities detained prominent office bearers of Jamat-ul-Dawa, the successor of the banned LeT, and asked India for more details to facilitate their prosecution. ‘The information India provided was found inadmissible by the Lahore High Court, In 2015, the chief accused, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was granted bail. In the absence of necessary cooperation between the legal authorities of the two countries, prosecution proved frustrating. India protested even though its legal system proved unable to convict the perpetrators of a terrorist attack on the Pakistan bound Samjohota Express train in 2007 in which 68 persons were killed, 42 of them Muslims. In 2014, the Indian court granted bail to Naa Kumar Sarkar alias Swami ‘Aseeman and, officially described as Hindu extremists. ‘The controversy over the Mumbai attacks Obsttucted thé dislodge, process until 2011, When the Indian Prime Minister invited the Pakistani Prinié Minister to witness a Pakistan India crigket hatch. A composite dialogue was fumed but made little progress. After elections in 2014, Prime minister Narendra ‘Modi appeared open to dialogue but made the ‘Mumbai, attack settlement an insuperable precondition rade Between 2008 apd 2012, major policy changes tok place jin elation to Pakistan India trade. Islamabad reduced the number of items not importable from India from 1209 to 936 and opened the Wagah route while New Delhi cut its negative list by thirty percent. In January 2014, negotiations envisaged -—_ further relaxation but the understanding could not be finalized. India’s exports to Pakistan expanded from USSS45 million in 2005 to US$ 2.2 billion in 2014 and Pakistan’s exports to India increased from US$250 million to USS46 million in the same period. Indian exports to Pakistan further increased in 2017, averaging. Indian Rupees 3.66 billion a month and reaching an all time high of 24.51 billion Indian Rupees in December 2017, Pakistan's exports were meanwhile stagnant internationally. Expert analyses further found that India applied its. multiple non tariff 18 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDregulations ranging from stringent licensing and certification requirements to port clearance delays in a discriminatory manner to imports from Pakistan. Still they were of the opinion that more liberal trade with India with the much bigger market could yield greater benefit as costs and freight would be lower. The Chambers of Commerce and Industry were said to be generally agreeable, Their reservations related to trade in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and automobile spare parts. “We will leverage all ounfresbufees dnd people to play a greater role on/the intétnational high table.” Indian analysts noted thatModiywas building tensions with Pakistan and stroking “Hindu: rage and shame...at what he calls more than. thousand years of slavery under Muslims and British rule. Such RSS propaganda “was ‘bound to inflame HindulfMushini feibighs!) Modi’s first meeting With the Prithe Minister of Pakistan in 2014\.8t Modi’ syoath |taking function was promising Bat mote iiiicative of the new Indian poliey was External Affairs Minister Sushma Swataj’s retharks; :the talks can be effective and sugcesSfil Sly if terrorist activities stop.” The history of the Kashmir dispute is a tragic tale of violation of the principle of the Portion by Prime Minister Nehru and betrayal of ‘friend’ Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and Indian nationalist Kashmiri politicians and a hypocritical pledge by Nehru to a plebise under UN auspices to determine the question of the accession of the state to India or Pakistan, or widening power disparity between the two countries, of desire by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a peace settlement with Pakistan based on maximum autonomy for Occupied Kashmir and lack of a popular mandate for General Pervez Musharraf to negotiate a practical settlement, and a cynical disregard of international law and human rights. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unleashed a reign of terror in the state, Syed Ali Shah Gamelan informed a visiting group of Indians for peace of the reality of the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. At Burhan Wani’s funeral, over a hundred thousand people joined the procession, Mirwaiz Omer Farooq told the gathering that the fourth generation of Kashmiris are ‘imbued with hate’ for India. The Valley was moving towards anarchy. The Hurriyat leadership had agreed to a dialogue buf] Maimolian Singh and Home Minister , Chidambaram had “let us down’, Action on the groundyjwasiineeded to enlarge the scope for politigal dialogue. If the ‘iron fist and Amilitary might’ replaced political action, the Kastimir! issue would get completely ‘Islam Griven’, especially as these forces gained in Girect proportion to the rise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Hindutva and Yai Adityanath, Shabbicr\Shahy, @ |Murriyat leader asked what ate pellets and (gun used against us here?” AIndia’s freedom fighters saw one Jallianwalah Bagh, we have seen dozens.’ Mehbooba Mufti Of the Peoples. |Democratic Party (PDP), was, Appdinted by New Delhi as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and hardly and influence. she was unceremoniously removed by New Delhi later in 2018. The Srinagar Chamber of Commerce advocated talks with Pakistan within the framework of the twin assurances that Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee made, stating that the "sky is limit for autonomy and that the negotiations should not be confined within the framework of the present Constitution but expanded to ‘insaniyat (humanity), Jamhuriyat (democracy) and kashmiriyat, the traditional Kashmiri ethos)’, The deadliest year 2018: According to human rights groups Indian forces have killed close to 100,000 Kashmiris since 1989. The toll in 2018 was close to 500, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq appealed 10 humanity against India’s. 19 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDrepression and killing in Kashmir. Quoting Dr. Siddiq Wahid, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Technology in Srinagar, a PhD from Harvard University, the NYT correspondent reported: 'Every Kashmiri is resisting today, in different ways.’ The latest are children and grandmothers. When violent protests erupt, the Indian security services blast live ammunition into the crowds killing or blinding people, including school children who are simply bystanders, despite cries from human rights groups. in In December 2018, Forei efor Minister and ous leader, Jaswant Sinha sai 5 India was suppressing BY the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir 7 use of brute force. According to Kad Media Service, Sinha said he had discussions Mettemich, and that quell_any rebellion.’ Nepalese hate India, us more.’ Sinha addi government only belie nor democracy, nor insaniyat but sheer use of brutal force to kill as many as you can’ Pulwama Attack - 2019: On 14 February 2019, a school dropout Adil Ahmad Dar from Occupied Kashmir rammed an_ explosives laden SUV in to an In to an Indian para military convoy near Srinagar killing 44 soldiers, Within half an hour New Delhi blamed Pakistan for complicity. Islamabad offered to collaborate in Investigations. New Delhi did not provide a report on Pulwama to Islamabad until 28 February; Islamabad said the report contained nothing actionable. Near War: On 26 February 2019, Indian Air Force (IAF) planes crossed in to Pakistan airspace dropping bombs on Balakot, claiming it had killed 320 militants, then admitting it had not. IAF warplanes attacked again on 28 February. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) ‘Thunderbird fighters shot down two Indian fighter jets. The Indian pilot, Wing. Commander Abinandan Varthaman was captured but Pakistan freed him two days later as a ‘peace gesture’ on 1 March 2019. Islamabad was commended by objective commentators but tensions remained high. Efforts may by the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Jordan, Turkey and UAE played an important part in de-escalation. Kashmiris in ir to ruin, At the time i anxiety about Mr. Modi's 20 OSLZLYPZESO - NYSSVH UNMIA WIS A SELLON SSDo Wi iiDeDF™ This document was created with the Win2PDF “print to PDF" printer available at http:/www.win2pdf.com This version of Win2PDF 10 is for evaluation and non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. JIwww.win2pdf.com/purchase!