Sajjad Shaukat
Without showing any solid evidence to Pakistan, since November 26, 2008, while manipulating the Mumbai tragedy and concealing Hindu terrorists, behind it, India has been blaming Pakistan’s banned Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jamaatud Dawa for alleged links with the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) in one way or the other in that connection. It is of particular attention that recently, Indian Minority Affairs Minister Abdul Rahman Antulay who changed his statement afterwards due to an unending pressure of Hindu fundamentalist parties, BJP, Shiv Sena and RSS, had stated in the Lok Sabha that the killing of Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare in Mumbai during terror attacks was a conspiracy—indicating, “he was shot due to his leading role in the investigation against Hindus regarding the 2006 Malegaon bombings”. In the Indian Mail Today, Narayan Rane, an Indian-Hindu leader of the Congress also disclosed on December 16, 2008 that Hindu politicians provided logistical and financial support to Hindutva terrorists for killing Karkare. While Maharashtra’s former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmuch said on December 2, last year that Pakistan has no links with Mumbai carnage. But, instead of showing any proof, Indian leadership and media have coined a number of fictitious stories, based upon contradictions about the arrested gunman, Ajmal Kasab to prove the involvement of Pakistan, Lashkar-i-Taiba and even ISI which is the first defence line of our country in thwarting the conspiracy of foreign enemies. Our interior ministry clarified that Ajmal Kasab is not national of Pakistan.
However, revival of blame game against ISI is not confined to India, on December 15, 2008, US Senator John Kerry, while putting pressure on Islamabad, remarked that the Mumbai gunmen came from Pakistan. He further remarked that ISI must be brought under control. Before him, US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher had said on September 15, 2008 that ISI needed to be reformed. Nevertheless, intermittently, US high officials, media and so-called thinktanks have been accusing Pakistan’s army and our superior spy agency of cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan and the Indian-held Kashmir. For example, in July and August, 2008, The New York Times claimed presumed ties between Pakistan’s ISI and the Taliban of Afghanistan, accusing this agency for the bombing of Indian embassy in Kabul. In that context, Indian National Security Advisor M. K Narayanan had pointed out; “The ISI needs to be destroyed”.
Question arises in the mind of every patriot Pakistani that as to why US-led India and some countries have been targeting our superior spy agency? We cannot see their vile propaganda against ISI in isolation as there are a number of nefarious designs which are part of the international plot against Pakistan which is the only Islamic country, possessing nuclear weapons. ISI is also being defamed because it not only counters the threat of foreign intelligence agencies against the integrity of Pakistan but also protects the nuclear weapons and atomic installations of our country. America, India and Israel are exaggerating through western media that safety of the atomic weapons is doubtful as these can go in the hands of Al Qaeda operatives who are likely to use them inside the US and Europe. The purpose behind is to convince Washington to continue air strikes on Pakistan’s tribal areas, and even to invade the settled areas of FATA. Without any doubt sporadic attacks by American drones are the worse example of cross-border terrorism.
Being vital for our survival as the first pillar of our country, ISI has become target of the external intrigue. Under the cover of Mumbai carnage, US, India, Afghanistan and Israel have intensified their collective covert strategic game by exploiting Pakistan’s present multiple crises which they have themselves created through their secret agencies, CIA, RAW, Khad and Mossad respectively. While acting upon anti-Pakistan conspiracy, they, sometimes, take new turns in their continued campaign in tarnishing the image of our Inter-Services Intelligence Agency. In fact, they have badly failed in crushing the stiff resistance of Afghan Taliban and Kashmiris who have been fighting against the occupying forces. In this respect, senseless accusations against ISI are essential for these countries to divert the attention of their publics from their frustrated misadventure in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Just like the sole super power, it has become fashion in India to blame ISI for every mishap to conceal RAW-backed Hindu terrorism. In the recent past, concrete evidence has surprised the international community about Hindu terrorism. On April 6, 2008 in the secret office of Bajrang Dal extremists in Nanded, a bomb exploded. The investigation proved that the militants of Bajrang Dal were engaged in bomb-making and were involved in the bomb attack on a mosque in 2003 and in other cities in 2004. In this context, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a serving Lt. Col. Srikant Purohit and a retired army Major Samir Kulkarniand, having close ties with prominent politicians of BJP, VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal, who are pressurizing Indian government to release the arrested persons. Inquiry revealed that these army officers helped train the Hindu terrorists, supplying them military-grade explosive RDX, used in the Malegaon bombings and recent terrorist attacks. ATS also indicated that Lt. Col. Purohit confessed that in 2007, he was involved in bombing of Samjhota express, which burnt alive 68 Pakistanis, traveling in that train.
Before these proofs, Indian leaders were accusing Pakistan’s ISI in connection with the bombings of these cities and Samjhota express. Besides, under the cover of blame game against ISI, New Delhi also wants to distract the attention of the west from her own atrocities, being perpetrated on the innocent Kashmiris. Since 1989, Indian military troops which massacred more than 20000 innocent people have been using barbaric methods of ethnic cleansing to disturb the majority population of Kashmiris. It is well-established fact that CIA-led RAW and Mossad have been creating unrest in our country on massive scale. Penetration of foreign agents along with sophisticated weaponry in FATA and Balochistan has become a routine matter. In this respect, Afghanistan where India already set up terrorist training camps has also started building new cantonment areas as she announced to increase her troops up to 150,000. Besides, causing lawlessness in our country, another aim behind is also to get a strategic depth to encircle Pakistan with the tactical support of the US. As regards Indo-Israeli nexus against Pakistan, during Mumbai devastation, attack on the Jewish Center (Nariman House) surprised the Indians as they never knew about it and clandestine presence of Israeli commandos there.
There is no doubt that every country has a superior intelligence agency to protect the national interest of the state. American CIA, Russian KJB, British MI-6 etc. might be cited as an instance. Just like the other spy agencies, ISI keeps a vigilant eye on the borders, assesses the nefarious designs of the enemies and counters anti-Pakistan subversion through various means. Despite its limited resources, ISI is the most professional and effective intelligence agency in safeguarding the national interests of Pakistan. On a number of occasions, this agency has castigated various conspiracies against our country. In this connection, in the Zia regime, New Delhi had made a secret plan to suddenly attack Pakistan through operation, Brosstac, under the pretext of military exercises.
And it also prepared a joint plan with the help of Israel to destroy Kahuta nuclear plant through a surgical strike. Nevertheless, all these external schemes were failed due to the pre-information of ISI. Some other deeds like capturing foreign spies, fake currency notes etc. inside Pakistan might also be cited as an example. While, at present, our country is facing multi-faceted threats, no doubt, ISI is vital for our survival.
