The US has preferred repressive leaders over popular leaders

Asif Haroon Raja

War on terror in Afghanistan and in Pakistan is raging with full intensity for well over nine years and still there is no light seen at the end of the tunnel. The US which had triggered this war in October 2001 doesn’t know when and how the war would come to an end. Not even a single declared objective set for Afghanistan been accomplished. The US and its strategic allies have kept everyone so hectically busy and under such intense pressure that none had the time to think and see where this war was leading the world to. Everyone was focused on a single thought of defeating terrorism and making the world safe. None realized that terrorism instead of getting curbed was spreading far and wide and the world instead of getting peaceful was becoming more and more turbulent and unsafe. Few odd voices of sanity were haughtily rebuffed by the architects of war on terror.

Now that the US and NATO have got badly stuck in the swamp of Afghanistan and global recession has negatively impacted the economies of war mongers and others, the world at large has begun to see things more clearly. Other than the US and NATO hawks who want continuation of war, others are now realizing that too much of wanton blood has been spilled and that too on fake charges and without a genuine cause. 

It is being recollected that once Afghanistan was captured with the help of Pakistan, Indo-US-Israeli media and think tanks had sprung into action and based upon chalked out themes had started churning out series of concocted stories. To start with, the purpose was to demonize al-Qaeda and Taliban and present terrorism as the biggest threat to US homeland security in particular and world in general. It was drilled into the minds of American and western public as well as US friendly regimes in Muslim world that fighting global war on terror had become absolutely essential to make the world safe from the menace of terrorism.

Pakistan which was made a frontline state was repeatedly convinced that terrorism was an existential threat to its security and hence must be fought relentlessly. Coalition partners too were continuously persuaded that it was in their interest to eliminate terrorism from the face of the earth. In order to present terrorism as something most horrendous, variety of scenarios were circulated. These revolved around untraceable ghost of Osama, al-Qaeda a global threat, good and bad Taliban, safe havens in Pak-Afghan border belt, FATA  the most dangerous place on earth, North Waziristan the hub centre of terrorism, al-Qaeda leadership based in FATA, Mullah Omar led Shura located in Quetta, Pakistan’s linkage with militants, Pak nukes going into the hands of extremists etc.

All these made-up stories were circulated to prolong war on terror and to justify continued stay of a large US-NATO force in two far apart theatres of war. Likewise, fictitious tale of Mumbai style group attacks in western countries was played up. Purpose behind frequent security alarms and fabricated stories was to keep the public of America and the west terrified. Most terrorist attacks in Pakistan, western countries and even in Afghanistan and Iraq are the handiwork of CIA, Mossad, RAW and Blackwater agents. Terrorist groups like Tehrik-e-Pakistan Taliban (TTP), Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) in Swat, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Republican Army in Balochistan (BRA) are entirely funded, equipped and trained by these agencies.

India and Israel have played a key role in destabilizing Afghanistan and Pakistan and in preventing the flames of war from getting extinguished. Since the mercantile objectives and denuclearization and secularization of Pakistan have not been achieved, the evil players playing the macabre game are least interested in restoring peace in the two affected countries. They have extended the date of withdrawal from Afghanistan to 2014 but want to stay beyond that date. Modernization of Kandahar, Kabul, Mazar-e-Saharif and Shindad where their military bases are located is continuing. 

Threat to US homeland at the hands of al-Qaeda is the biggest joke played by US leaders upon their people. They are befooling them and keeping them in dark about the hidden objectives as well as ground situation. Homeland threat had been conceived by Bush Administration to justify colossal expenditure on war on terror as well as on homeland security. Obama led Democrats are also doing the same and taking their public for a ride. As a consequence the game of bloodletting is being ruthlessly played unabatedly without any remorse. The war has taken the lives of over two million people in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan but the initiators of war are in no mood to end the ghoulish game. Life goes on comfortably in USA and western countries while the three affected countries are bathing in human blood.

It is most pathetic that governments of Afghanistan and Iraq have joined hands with alien forces occupying their lands and happily killing their own people. The US handpicked Karzai and Maliki are convinced that whatever the US is saying is correct and in their interest. It was immoral on part of Gen Musharraf to betray a Muslim neighbor to provide assistance to aggressors for destruction of Afghanistan. Nature is punishing Pakistan and its people for the follies of their leaders and now human blood flows into its streets freely.                         

If today Pakistan is being viewed as the hub centre of terrorism and the most dangerous place on earth, a dispassionate study should be carried out as to how it has reached such a stage. In my humble view, India’s aggressive posturing and its refusal to address Kashmir dispute as well as to reconcile with existence of Pakistan had a lot to do with growth of religious extremism in Pakistan. Right from the day one, India has striven to impede Pakistan’s economic growth. Pakistan instead of concentrating on economic uplift had to perforce divert huge resources towards its defence. As a consequence, poverty kept increasing and the class of have-nots became over populated. It was from within the deprived class which gave birth to criminals, Jihadis and suicide bombers. 

Besides India, the US injustices, discriminations and intrusiveness in Pakistan’s internal affairs and use of drones has also contributed towards anti-Americanism and bringing Pakistan to this impasse. The US has a lot to do with keeping Pakistan’s political and economic conditions wobbly by preferring military dictators or corrupt and inept political leaders over people friendly and popular leaders. It has kept the country in the grip of IMF and World Bank to keep Pakistan perpetually dependent upon USA. By making the leaders addicted to aid and burdening the country with huge debt, it has further compromised its sovereignty.

The US has preferred repressive regimes in Pakistan as a result of which democracy in real sense never struck roots. Varieties of systems were experimented but none worked mainly because of US intrusions. The corrupt and unpopular rulers dancing to the tunes of their masters got out of sync with the people. Extremism is a reaction to the immorality and insensitivity of the political class towards have-nots. Since the leaders and the led were always on different frequencies, political stability and integration of the nation could never be achieved.

Consequently, economy never took off and remained in doldrums. Since our politicians propped up by USA get readily enslaved by their patrons, they feel no remorse in compromising sovereignty of the country and the liberty of the people merely to earn the goodwill of their patrons. Servility of our current leaders to Washington has touched new heights. Case of Raymond Davis with shady background involved in murder of two Pakistanis will be another litmus test to gauge the worth of our leaders.