Pakistan Shall Rise!
Pakistan shall rise phoenix like from the national tragedy of Peshawar School children massacre. The Nation stands united in grief and solidly behind the heroic and brave Pakistan Army. The national battle cry is ‘Destroy the enemies of Pakistan’.
The political system is becoming increasingly marginalized. People of Pakistan abhor petty politics of bickering politicians. To be sure people are not interested in another bout of Martial Law. Rather the Pakistani Nation demands national security against all foes of Pakistan. Besides a galvanized economy, would add potency in the war against internal / external enemies, and bring some solace to the masses.
The inhuman atrocity and brutal depravity of Peshawar School children mass murder may be more than meets the eye. Revenge for Operation Zarb-e-Azb or the next level of terrorism may be a simplistic answer. Yet Zarb-e-Azb started six months ago. If it was only linked to Zarb-e-Azb, such a terrible crime would have been undertaken within weeks of its commencement. If it was the next level of terrorism, why would other factions of militants, terrorists, even Al Qaeeda sub group condemn it and distance themselves. It appears that there were other aims besides vengeance for the great success of Zarb-e-Azb. The heart and mind of Pakistan was targeted to force change or at least dilute Pakistan’s ‘Afghanistan Policy’ and Pakistan’s ‘Kashmir Policy’.
In TV talk shows of Pakistan and one with an Indian panel on Indian TV channel this scribe repeated – Who is the State Actor behind the Non State Actor terrorists attacking Pakistan? A holistic picture of the terrorist threat is quite visible even to the uninitiated, in this so called asymmetrical terror plus warfare.
Renowned TV Anchor Dr. Aamir Liaquat has been defamed by ex Indian RAW Chief Vikram Sood in his article, ‘Pakistan’s Faustian Bargain’ for referring to Indian involvement in Peshawar School terrorism. The Pakistan Army has been demonized in the same article leaving little doubt who is Pakistan’s eternal enemy.
In fact the terrorists:
- Base of Maneuver – within Pakistan (to strike targets)
- Base of Operations – within Afghanistan (especially after Zarb-e-Azb has cleared North Waziristan)
- Base of Logistics and strategic command / control – abroad
Obviously a response should include all elements of Pakistani National Power besides support of friendly State Actors. The soldiers, civil society and media have to synchronize in this war against all enemies of Pakistan.
India is desperate as it is clearly losing the next chapter of the ‘New Great Game’. Post 9\11 India helped shift the battle space from Kashmir to Pakistan’s Western Boarder. Now with the American exit strategy underway, Delhi is apprehensive of losing both ‘The Battle for Afghanistan’ and ‘The Battle for Kashmir’. At least India’s global ambitions stand checkmated.
‘There are key real limits to Indian ability to protect its interests in Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . If India cannot effectively secure its interests in Afghanistan, how can India demonstrate that it has what it takes to be a power of any consequence outside South Asia, much less globally!!’
C-Christine Fair‘Under the shrinking US security umbrella: India’s end game in Afghanistan’ (From the book, Geopolitik Pakistan by Nadir Mir)
From January 2015, US/NATO have ended offensive combat operations against Afghan Taliban. This is an unacceptable to Delhi and an indicator of the coming collapse of India’s Afghan Policy. Before the Peshawar School carnage reports of Indian plans for a big terrorist strike had emerged. In addition, India had given clear threats after Kashmir LOC working boundary clashes with Pakistan and after math of freedom fighters raid on an Indian Military Base. Indian BJPs effort to capture Jammu and Kashmir politically through fraud is also part of the story.
Attempts to isolate Pakistan Army from people of Pakistan and the world have been an old Indian ploy. Now terrorists are attempting to implement the Indian Policy. The attack on Peshawar APS, rumors of threat to kidnap Army children is to project a ‘Grudge War’. Pakistan Army enjoys full national support and should declare war against all enemies of Pakistan. Terrorists in Peshawar may have religious, in Karachi ethnic, in Gwadar so called sub nationalist narratives, but all have to be dealt with.
After every mayhem, a very mini foreign sponsored pro-India lobby tries to confuse. A handful of pro- Indian liberals and some religious extremists on either end of society are responsible for consternation in this land. A new breed of Pakistani leaders, nationalistic in outlook, supportive of the Army and with fervor of the National Cause will emerge.
The atrocity of Peshawar School has been termed as more than 9/11. The USA established homeland security (which prevented further attacks) and waged war against its enemies. Pakistan can do no less.
Failed State Scenario
India and other hostile forces want to project the failed state (Pakistan) scenario. In this scenario, Pakistan is at war in itself and a greater civil war is brewing. Pakistan is to be forced to face and wage perpetual war towards its north west, embroiled with Afghanistan. Foreign sponsored Baluchistan separatists are to be supported from abroad even while Karachi boils from within. Insurgency has to be created in Sindh and Pakistan’s nukes are to be shown as dangerous. India is to be projected as a global power while Pakistan is to be projected as hell on earth.
Geopolitical War Scenario
While dealing with terrorists, extremists at home as well as other major issues, Pakistan should respond Geopolitically and forcefully. War has been declared where internal and external enemies of Pakistan have united. Pakistan must resort to escalation domination. As hostile Non State Actors and hostile State Actors both have to be dealt with.
Firstly, ‘One War Concept’ has to be established. Kashmir, Afghanistan and Pakistan are all one war. Pakistan’s real problem is not Afghanistan but Indians in Afghanistan. De induction of Indians from Afghanistan would lead to peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Even an anti Pakistan article ‘Pakistan the Land of the Pure’ by Isaac Chotiner, published in Wall Street Journal concedes ‘The Groups that the Pakistani State has long nurtured, now rely on funding and recruits from outside of Pakistan’.
Until the foreign component of terrorism in Pakistan is tackled, the problem cannot be solved in entirety. Obviously only the resolution of Kashmir dispute can bring peace between Pakistan and India. Besides securing itself Pakistan will have to take the asymmetrical war out of Pakistan: 2015 onwards the war must be fought outside Pakistan’s soil. Statements like Pakistan will not launch operation against terrorists in Afghanistan nor blame India are counterproductive.
Kasprov the Russian Chess Grand Master, famously said, ‘never lose sight of the bigger picture’.
The bigger Geopolitical picture shows Pakistan as a winner.
- US exit strategy of Afghanistan should also lead to Indian exit from Afghanistan.
- China – Pakistan’s building connectivity at Gwader is a game changer.
- Pakistan – Russia amity will help maintain balance of power.
- Modi’s BJP extremist policy is dividing India on many fronts.
- Kashmir activism will help shift battle space to pre 9/11location – northern India instead of north western Pakistan.
The monstrous crime at Peshawar School against innocent children is a climatic. This turning point is ‘never forgive nor forget the enemies of Pakistan’. The Army Chief General Raheel Sharif is revered for his boldness and brilliance. The soldiers and people of Pakistan are united and determined to win every war. It can be no longer business as usual nor politics as usual and the political system will have to reform itself. The Pakistan Nation demands that enemies of Pakistan be dealt with not only at home but abroad.
Pakistan is destined to rise as a Great Nation!
Brigadier Nadir Mir (R), Soldier – Scholar – Reformer
Author of the books “Gwadar on the Global Chessboard” and ‘Geopolitik Pakistan’
He is working as National Reformer
This article orginally appeared in Pakistan and Geopolitics Blog