GHQ attack & intelligence agencies

M Ashraf Mirza

Saturday’s attack by the militants on an outer check post of the GHQ in Rawalpindi, sister city of the country’s capital Islamabad, is a subtle message that terrorism and militancy remains a potent threat to the world in general and Pakistan in particular. It’s a manifestation of their persistence with the terrorist agenda despite elimination of their leader Beitullah Mehsud and routing of Maulana Fazlullah’s followers in Swat. The attack may also be an act of vengeance against Pak military’s past and planned operations against the terrorists in Swat and South Waziristan respectively. The way the Pak Army’s commandos responded to the terrorists’ blitz, however, deserves approbation and praise. Their sacrifice and success to get the hostages taken by the militants released without major collateral damage is certainly a matter of satisfaction. COAS Gen Pervez Kayani has been felicitated by President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani for the feat.

DG ISPR Maj Gen Ather Abbas has said that the motive of the terrorists’ attack was to take some high military officials hostage to seek release of certain militant leaders and commanders. Nine out of the ten terrorists, who launched the attack, however, perished in the Pak army’s response. The tenth Aqeel alias Dr Usman the alleged mastermind of the attack was taken in custody in injured condition. He is also stated to be involved in the attacks on Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Lahore and killing of Lt Gen Mushtaq, chief of Pak Army’s health services in Rawalpindi in addition to rocket attack on former President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s aircraft. As many as six security personnel including a Brigadier and a Lt. Col., also fell to the terrorists’ assault on the checkpoint. Two commandos embraced martyrdom later during the rescue operation launched for the release of the hostages taken by the militants. 39 hostages were rescued unharmed. Three hostages were, however, killed in the shootout. Police raided a house in the residential locality near the GHQ where the militants resided for the about three months before launching the attack and recovered military uniforms and badges besides maps of the GHQ and other military facilities. The owner of the house and the property dealer, who rented out the house to the militants, have since been taken into custody.

The assault on the GHQ has certainly exposed lack of coordination among the nation’s intelligence outfits, which could neither detect that so many young men were living in the house without any female or children nor could smell the foul play about their activities over the period of about three months. That the militants were able to stay in the area without any hassle in close proximity the GHQ for such a long period speaks volumes about the glaring intelligence failure of the country’s civil and military spy agencies even after the reported warning of possible militants’ attack. Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, therefore, owe an explanation to the nation for the security lapse. They, however, need to gird up their lions, keep their eyes and ears open and remain alert to sniff what’s going on around them in order to counter acts of terrorism and militancy. Let them be mindful of the fact that Islamabad has more foes than friends in the given situation. They ought to, therefore, tighten their belts to succeed against odds. Urgent steps must be taken with civil-military bipartisan measures to promote greater coordination among them. Pakistan has to be extra watchful on all fronts to defeat the forces of darkness that are pitted against its security, stability and sovereignty. There is no room for failure against terrorism. The country has to emerge triumphant out of the present ordeal.

The attack has also made it abundantly clear once again that the fight against terrorism is not only a long drawn war to be pursued with patience and perseverance by all stakeholders including Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States, but also demands unity of thought and action for success. A special responsibility devolves on Washington to keep its focus strictly on the anti-terror war. It ought to refrain from any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s institutional sovereignty and cohesion by taking advantage of an ugly situation Islamabad finds itself in at present because of its own follies.

The Kerry-Lugar bill is the classic example of an outrageous blunder on this count. While Pakistan is waging war against terrorists and militants, a seemingly deliberate attempt has been made through the bill to pit Pakistan’s state organs against each other to create upheaval in the country, which is certainly detrimental to its own interests as well. The authors of the bill have regrettably ignored the fact that Pakistan’s ability to fight the anti-terror war will be jeopardized through such tactics, which is in the interest of none since Islamabad is offering sacrifices of men and material for peace not for itself alone, but also for the world at large. It’s rather pertinent that India should also shun its over smartness and recognize the bitter truth that if Pakistan is destabilized, it too will not escape the music of terrorism and militancy in its true form and manifestation.

It needs to eschew its tendency of ‘interfering’ in the internal affairs of Pakistan by pumping funds and weapons into Balochistan through the so-called consulates that it has unjustly established in the Afghan cities and towns bordering Pakistan. It’s deplorable that the international community especially the United States has failed to take cognizance of Islamabad’s persistent complaints about Indian involvement in the creation of unrest in Balochistan over the years. Former President Pervez Musharraf had provided solid proof of Indian interference to former US President George W. Bush.

Prime Minister Yusuf Reza Gilani handed over evidence to this effect to his Indian counterpart during their recent meeting at Sherm-el-Sheikh. Interior Minister Rehman Malik is crying hoarse about Indian involvement in the ongoing insurgency like situation in Balochistan day in and day out. The Inspector General of Police, Balochistan has also pronounced with no ambiguity whatsoever that he had proof of Indian interference. Former Balochistan Governor Owais Ghani is also on record on this count. Yet the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has the audacity to deny RAW’s unabated mischief against Pakistan. It’s time to pause and ponder for all concerned and take remedial measures for peace and security before it’s too late.

Source: pakobserver.net