Editorial Saying ‘no’ to militancy Last month, the US Treasury Department imposed strict sanctions on a founding member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and has banned the currency exchange business he owns. Now the media reports pouring in here suggest that the US is taking action against individuals and networks linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, declaring the two organizations as terrorists that train militants and support extremist groups, including al Qaeda. Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen comes under fire for allegedly maintaining training camps in eastern Afghanistan and Lashkar-e-Taiba is being targeted for its alleged involvement in the 2008 attacks in Mumbai. Agree or not the fact remains that these organizations were used by the Americans against the Russian invasion and thereafter left unattended thus they created their own utility and adopted their ways and means for survival. In a changing political scenario in the region, the shift in the Washingtons policy on Afghanistan was inevitable. The Americans are cultivating new allies in region to hold their ground in Afghanistana country where they have invested trillions of dollars. They have succeeded in installing new regime of their liking in Afghanistan yielding much desired security pact with the US that will become effective after the drawdown of the US and NATO forces by the turn of the year 2014; and to make it success, the Americans are banking on regional forcethe India–for policing the region to strengthen American hands after the drawdown. Thus the US action against these bodies, aiming at appeasing New Delhi and newly installed government in Kabul, hardly comes as a surprise rather it was well anticipated policy shift. Now the question arises that where does Pakistan stand? Like it or not, today Pakistan stands isolated in the region though it has suffered a huge loss of men and material in the Afghan war against the Russians and in the war on terror the country had paid a massive price sans any gain. Perceiving the US policy shift as a wake-up call, the Pakistan government should immediately revisit its internal and external policies. Succumbing to the external pressure, Pakistan declared the militant groups as outlawed organizations but it never managed to cease their operations. Rather the fact is that these groups strongly make their presence felt at their will. In fact the successive governments have failed to prove themselves as socially responsible hence it left a huge gap that had been filled by the private sector groups and organization to exploit the situation. Apart from the banned groups, a number of organizations, actively collecting the funding in the name charity from the masses for social services, and in the absence of tough accountability apparatus, are misusing the same for their own vested interest. First of all, Pakistan needs to strengthen its social security system, leaving hardly any room for misuse of the charity money. Secondly, it should come down hard on all so-called social welfare organizations working under any umbrella to stem the use of money unaccounted for. The KPK Government has taken steps to stop collection of hides of sacrificial animals on Eid by the banned outfits. The move is surely a step in right direction yet it warrants effective implementation, particularly on organizations that have changed their names or the umbrellas. The same should also be applied in the rest of the country if Pakistan ever wishes to become neat, clean and peaceful state having no room for terrorism and militancy. The entire nation must say no to all sorts of militancy. Any more loss of life is not permissible come what may.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 05:50:39 +0000