Think carefully before you challenge brute force of ISI, Dr Shabir Choudhry

Think carefully before you challenge brute force of ISI

Dr Shabir Choudhry     15 May 2016

I read Junaid Qureshi’s new article in Daily Kashmir Images which is published from Srinagar, after my morning prayer at 5am. The title was eye catching, 'The ISI is always right’. I went to sleep at 1am, and was really tired as I didn’t get sufficient sleep, but had to wake up for my obligatory prayer.

After the morning prayer and recitation of Quran, I habitually check my iphone for message and news. Junaid Qureshi’s message with a link to his article was there. I read his new article with great interest.

In my humble opinion, 'The ISI is always right...' is a wonderful and daring written contribution by Junaid Qureshi to pay tribute to Arif Shahid. Some may even say it is more valuable than a small one hour protest outside the Pakistan High Commission.

After reading the article I could sleep. I analysed the article from various perspectives; and got alarmed for safety and security of the writer. The Pakistani establishment and secret agencies, particularly the ISI is not very tolerant organisation. Human life, dignity and honour of people have no value to them.

They have mastered the art of defaming and eliminating those they perceive as enemies or opponents. Their victims include their fellow Pakistanis too. Their victims also include writers, journalists, and political activists. They can do anything and everything; and no one in Pakistan can even question them. They only show respect and demonstrate subservient attitude to officials of CIA, MI6, Saudi Arabia, China and some other big countries.

They can kill, torture, imprison and defame any Pakistani without any remorse. If they can do that to their fellow citizens, one can imagine what they can do to those who are not Pakistani citizens. Suffering and blood of people of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir helps to promote their agenda in many ways; and they masterfully create situations which spill Kashmiri blood and multiply their suffering.

It is because of that they ensure the Kashmir dispute remains unresolved and keeps on boiling at acceptable temperature. Of course for that Kashmiri blood is needed as a fuel. People of State of Jammu and Kashmir have to suffer; and I cannot see an end to their suffering.

People of Jammu and Kashmir know they are occupied by China, Pakistan and India. They know it was Pakistan which violated the Standstill Agreement and attacked Jammu and Kashmir on 22 October 1947. They know this unprovoked attack resulted in death, destruction and rapes; and forced division of our motherland. They know it was Pakistan which refused to withdraw her troops from Jammu and Kashmir as demanded by the UNCIP Resolution of 13 August 1948. They know it was Pakistan which proposed to limit Kashmiri people’s right to independence and substituted it with a right to accession to either India or Pakistan. They know Pakistan illegally gave away around 2000 square miles of Jammu and Kashmiri territory to China in 1963 to win their friendship. They know Pakistan agreed on division of Jammu and Kashmir in 1963. They know Pakistan made the Kashmir dispute bilateral. They know citizens of Jammu and Kashmir are also victims of Pakistani policies; and yet they have to endure all the wrong doings, and still praise Pakistan. In order to be a patriotic Kashmiri they have to condemn only India for their wrong doings; and remain quiet what Pakistan does. If they don’t, they won’t celebrate their next birthday.

Plight of Arif Shahid, Ali Murtaza, Mirwaiz Molana Farooq, Dr Ghulam Qadir Wani, Abdul Ahad Guru, Abdul Ghani Lone, Shahban Wakeel and many others flashed to my mind.

I wish Junaid Qureshi all the best in his ‘jihad’ to expose those who led us to this blind valley of death. While commending him for what he is doing I wish he doesn’t land in hot water like I did while criticising the ISI and the Pakistani role in the Kashmir dispute.

Junaid Qureshi should remember that we live in a global village; and Europe is also part of this village. They can ‘sort out’ anyone anywhere in the world; as they said to my late father when I wrote against upraising of the Mangla Dam.

My father was 82 at that time, and the officer who went to my house (in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir) to warn the old soldier who served in the British army in the Second World War and the Pakistan army afterwards:

‘Tell Shabir to behave like human being or else we can sort him out over there (in London) as well (In Urdu he said: Shabir ko bolo Bandey ka puter baney, warna hum uss ko wahn be theek kar saktey hain, as if I was not a son of human being).

This is not to suggest that only Pakistan is culprit in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has its faults and wrong policy. India has its faults and wrong policy. The Indian policy has also resulted in deaths, rapes, imprisonment and custodial deaths and we condemn it. Responsibility of every government is to protect life, honour and property of the citizens. India has failed to honour their pledges to the world and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If Pakistan is stirring up problems in Kashmir and sending militants than take these issues with Pakistan; and not punish people of Kashmir.

I end my submission with a quote from Junaid Qureshi’s article:

‘Major-General Sahib was the first one to react. “Sir, with all due respect, but this could backfire. It could create problems for us here and especially in the Valley”.

DG Sahib was not impressed. “He is not being killed by the Indians. A Pakistani bullet is different from an Indian bullet. It always has been. Only Indian bullets produce Shaheeds. Our bullets don’t. Nobody will bother in the Valley.

Did they bother when we killed others like him in the Valley itself? Why would they suddenly bother about someone being killed here? They will assume that he was an Indian agent. They will find justifications for his death. They always do.’

Below is a link to Junaid Qureshi’s article.

http://dailykashmirimages.com/Details/110267/the-isi-is-always-right%E2%80%A6

Writer is a political analyst, TV anchor and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. Email:drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com

Another ‘RAW agent’ released for lack of evidence, court told

Another ‘RAW agent’ released for lack of evidence, court told

ISHAQ TANOLI (Court should use Imran Khan logic - prove that U R not an agent)

KARACHI: The police informed the administrative judge of the antiterrorism courts on Tuesday that they had also released a fourth suspect out of the five allegedly detained for spying for India because of lack of evidence.

The counterterrorism department of police claimed to have arrested five fishermen — Saddam Hussain, Bachal, Nadeem, Zeeshan and Ghulam Sarwar — on April 18.

The CTD detained them under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 for an inquiry for allegedly having ties with and spying for Indian spying agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

However, an official through a report informed the court that they had also released Bachal as no evidence was found against him during the investigation.

It added that Saddam had formally been booked in a case and his remand was obtained from an area magistrate.

Earlier, the CTD had informed the administrative judge that they had released the other three suspects for want of evidence.

Facebook kidnapper sent to prison for life

An antiterrorism court sentenced on Tuesday a man to life in prison for kidnapping his Facebook friend for ransom.

Taimur Alvi was found guilty of abducting 13-year-old Facebook friend Mustafa Dossal in May 2013 outside his school in the Defence Housing Authority and handing him over to his accomplices, who demanded a ransom of Rs50 million from the captive’s family.

ATC-III judge Syed Shakeel Haider also ordered the confiscation of moveable and immoveable property of the convict.

According to the prosecution, Mustafa was studying in a noted private school in Defence Phase-II and he had a 12-year-old Facebook friend, Saad Alvi. But Saad Alvi’s elder brother, Taimur, took over the friendship. On May 24, the suspect picked up the victim outside his school, took him to Lyari to hand him over to four kidnappers and then drove him to a Hub area.

It further said that the police tracked down Taimur a couple of days after the kidnapping and he led a joint team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell and the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee to a hideout in Hub.

Four suspected kidnappers were killed in an exchange of fire and the captive was recovered.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2016

New NRO has to take place to save Pakistan, Dr Shabir Choudhry

New NRO has to take place to save Pakistan

Dr Shabir Choudhry

It is debatable if Pakistan was created to advance the cause of Islam; but the past history proves that certain groups of people are always above the law and it looks Pakistan was created for them.

Pakistan has not only advanced in fields of nuclear technology and missile system; they have also excelled in art of committing and hiding tracks in fields of corruption, nepotism, extremism, terrorism and so on.

Their misdeeds, rampant corruption, regionalism, sectarianism and export of terrorism have, once again, led the country to the verge of collapse. Neighbours of Pakistan, including America, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other friends want Pakistan to survive as a nation state.

However, Pakistani politicians, religious groups and the ruling elite are more interested in saving and advancing their interests at the cost of the interests of Pakistan.

The Panama leaks have made Pakistan more vulnerable and exposed corruption of nearly all sections of the Pakistani society. Some politicians and media have hyped the Panama gate so much that people want some answers.

Recent revelations prove that in the pool of corruption nearly all are naked. Then question arises, who would carry out strict accountability which will surely result in drowning together. That is something the ruling elite cannot afford.

In view of the above scenario, it is most probable that to save the system and to save each other a new NRO is worked out. Under the new NRO, across the board accountability will take place in such a scientific way that no one will be found guilty.

This will lead to new elections and the system will continue functioning.

Introduction to why Arif Shahid was killed? (The book was banned by the authorities.)

Introduction to why Arif Shahid was killed? (The book was banned by the authorities.)

This book is about Arif Shahid and his struggle. The man is no longer with us because those who did not like his struggle eliminated him; but his struggle must continue not only to pay tribute to martyred leader; but also for the sake of oppressed and enslaved people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Like most people of Azad Kashmir, he also knew that his occupied and forcibly divided country could not provide any opportunities to him and his family. Pakistani establishment ensured that people of Azad Kashmir remains fully depended on Pakistan; and, by and large, they have conditioned their minds that Pakistan is their saviour and without their help people will starve to death. This is not true. We were self sufficient in food before the occupation and forced division of the Princely State. Even now we have ample resources to provide everything to the people, provided we control our resources.

Anyway, most Azad Kashmiri people have no choice but to go to various cities of Pakistan, and work there in hotels, shops or wherever they can get a job; or go to various countries of the world including Europe, America, Middle East, Hong Kong etc. In other words, majority of people of so called Azad Kashmir have to migrate from their homes in search of better life and new opportunities or remain there and face injustice, inequality, denial of fundamental human rights and many other forms of social, economic problems.

Arif Shahid belonged to a brave Sudan tribe. He was born in a village called Koyian near Khai Gala, and which is about 17 kilometres from Rawalakot (Pakistani Administered Kashmir). Like his other fellow countrymen, Arif Shahid also went to Saudi Arabia and worked in Damam for many years. During his stay there, despite problems of employment and restrictions on political activities he motivated his countrymen to organise themselves and play some part in educating people about history and miseries of the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir.

At that time JKLF was the most prominent and active Kashmiri party. He became part of it and helped to organise a branch in Damam; and was elected President. As Arif Shahid was a thinking man he soon realised that everything was not right in the JKLF and the Kashmiri militancy supported and directed by the Pakistani secret agencies.

He soon became convinced that that the JKLF under the leadership of Amanullah Khan was protecting and promoting interests of Pakistan under the guise of Kashmiri nationalism. He wrote a number of letters to Amanullah Khan complaining about different issues and seeking clarifications about dubious activities and links with the secret agencies of Pakistan. Of course he didn’t get satisfactory replies, if anything he was perceived as a trouble maker and a threat to Amanullah Khan’s little kingdom. The JKLF leaders groomed by Amanullah Khan and the agencies treat such people with suspicion and project them as ‘agents’ of enemy.

Soon a vicious campaign ensued against Arif Shahid that he was having contacts with people like Shaukat Kashmiri and Afzal Tahir; and that he wanted to harm the JKLF and the Kashmiri struggle. They conveniently forgot the fact that people like Afzal Tahir made enormous contribution to the JKLF. Arif Shahid was not prepared to take any of this nonsense. He decided to say goodbye to JKLF group of Amanullah Khan; and joined another group of JKLF known as Rauf Kashmiri Group.

However, he soon realised that no matter which JKLF group it was, the politics of JKLF or their struggle was not his cup of tea, as they were all, in one way or the other, aligned with the secret agencies of Pakistan. All of them wanted to liberate parts of Kashmir under India; and only paid a lip service to plight of people living under Pakistani control.

Arif Shahid believed in democratic and liberal society; and despite strong opposition he actively promoted secular ideals. During his time in the JKLF groups he criticised JKLF policies, which he thought were advancing interests of Pakistan. He was also very critical of Pakistan’s Kashmir policy which he thought was hypocritical and causing huge problems to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He tried to correct these policies of JKLF and tried to reason with them; but those at the helm of affairs were not interested in improving the JKLF’s image and formulating such policies that represented true Kashmiri nationalism.

During all this time he had interaction with progressive and like minded people of Azad Kashmir. When he returned from Saudi Arabia he became more active because he wanted to cut out a role for himself that he could promote Kashmiri nationalism and speak for the people deprived of fundamental human rights. He faced a dilemma of either joining one of the existing progressive Kashmiri parties or set up something new.

With help of some friends he formed Jammu Kashmir Republican Party. However, he soon realised that it was difficult to run a new party and that it was better to work as a team with like minded people. After some discussions he established good working relationship with Jammu Kashmir National Liberation Front; and eventually decided to merge his party in the NLF.

Jammu Kashmir National Liberation Front was presided by Shaukat Maqbool Butt, son of martyred Kashmiri leader Maqbool Butt. Arif Shahid was elected Secretary General of the JKNLF; and actively promoted Kashmiri nationalism based on ideals of tolerance and co existence.

He believed people of Azad Kashmir and people of Gilgit Baltistan were deliberately kept apart by the policy makers of Pakistan. This segregation and policy of divide and rule resulted in misunderstandings and lacked sense of belonging. He thought it was absolutely crucial that people of both regions must come closer to each other and work as a team to oppose illegal occupation of Pakistan.

For this purpose, he together with other true nationalists worked hard to establish All Parties National Alliance known as APNA, a platform of Nationalist parties of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Pakistani establishment and pro Pakistan Kashmiri parties, and even those who were wearing a nationalist hat were not happy with activities of APNA. These parties, generally perceived as proxies of Pakistani establishment, on instructions of their political masters started vicious campaign against APNA and leaders like Arif Shahid.

Tried and tested weapon is, so and so is an ‘Indian agent’, American agent, Jew agent, or so and so is a traitor, and ‘anti movement’. Or so and so is anti Islam or in some cases that person is Kaffir, non Muslim. So on instruction from the quarters that did not like activities of APNA and Arif Shahid, a consistent campaign was ensued to discredit Arif Shahid and APNA.

Many thinking people did not give much credence to these allegations as it is in the political culture of Pakistan and Kashmir to accuse political opponents and ideological opponents as ‘agents’ of India, ‘traitors’ and Kaffirs. However, with consistent propaganda the Pakistani establishment corrupted minds of some people who thought maybe there was some truth in this; but all true nationalists highly regarded Arif Shahid and supported his struggle.

Pakistani agents and pro Pakistan Kashmiris created many problems for Arif Shahid, but he continued with his mission. His books were banned by pro Pakistan and subservient Azad Kashmiri government; but that did not deter him and he continued writing articles and books to expose Pakistani designs on Kashmir.

He was also given warnings and put behind the bars many times, but they failed to intimidate Arif Shahid. His name was put on the exit control list that he could not travel abroad to attend meetings, conferences and seminars to expose Pakistan’s illegal occupation and abuses of human rights. Those who occupy this territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and don’t want the world community to know facts about deteriorating human rights situation, forget that in the age of technology people could not be kept ignorant, as information about the ground reality filters out.

Anyhow, despite all the efforts and oppressive tactics the authorities failed to crush his determination and enthusiasm. His messages was not only reaching in various parts of so called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, but also people living on the other side of the Line of Control, especially ethnic minorities were also keen to listen to what he had to say.

Those powers which worked hard for decades to create a rift and spread hatred among different ethnic and religious groups got alarmed, as they wanted splits and intolerance because that helped them to justify division of India on religious lines and maintain the status quo. Tolerance, peace, harmony and coexistence did not suit their agenda; and it is strongly believed that they eliminated Arif Shahid.

Arif Shahid is no longer with us, but his mission must continue, because enslaved and oppressed people are still deprived of fundamental rights. They are still forcibly divided and denied rights they deserve to enjoy. I pray Almighty Allah to grant Arif Shahid a place in Heaven.

Lastly, something about the book, which Abbas Butt requested me to write? It was his idea and credit should go to him for encouraging me to write on Arif Shahid, a man who I have shared platform many times but did not know him too well. I had to gather information from various individuals, and in this regard Shaukat Kashmir was also very helpful. Abbas Butt said the book should be completed within two months that we can get it printed after Ramdan, as we wanted to take it with us to the next session of the UN Human Rights Council scheduled to take place in early September in Geneva. In order to accomplish this task, I had to put other projects on hold, and give priority to this project. I must acknowledge, it was not an easy task to find time and write, especially because of Ramadan and fasting.

The book is divided in to 11 chapters, each dealing with different titles and sub titles. I thought it would be better to include in the book what other people said on the brutal killing of Arif Shahid. So I have included sentiments expressed by various notable individuals. Also I have included what the BBC and the Asian Human Rights Commission had to say on this sad occasion.

 It was depressing to note that no one from the Indian controlled Kashmir, apart from Hashim Qureshi and KN Pandita, said a single word on the killing of Arif Shahid, who was a prominent national leader on this side of Line of Control. I have included statement of Hashim Qureshi and an article of Pandita Sahib.

I hope readers will appreciate my humble effort to pay tribute to the martyred leader Arif Shahid, and continue to work for unification and independence of the forcibly divided State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Shabir Choudhry, London,   25 July 2014

Pakistan helped US get Osama, insists Hersh, ANWAR IQBAL

Pakistan helped US get Osama, insists Hersh, ANWAR IQBAL 

WASHINGTON: “More than ever,” says legendary US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh when asked if he still believes Pakistan helped the United States get Osama bin Laden (OBL).

When the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist first made this claim in an article published last year, it shook Washington and forced the White House to reject the story as false. Major US media outlets also rejected his claim as incorrect.

But Mr Hersh repeated the claim in his new book, “The Killing of Osama bin Laden,” published this week, insisting that he was right.

In an interview to Dawn on Tuesday, Mr Hersh said that since last year he had seen new evidence that cemented his belief that the official US account of how OBL was found in his compound and killed was deceptive.

He reiterated his claim that Pakistan had detained OBL in 2006 and kept him prisoner with the backing of Saudi Arabia. The United States and Pakistan then struck a deal: The US would raid bin Laden’s compound but make it look as if Pakistan was unaware.

“I learned a lot more than I knew in the beginning,” he said.

“Pakistan is in constant alert because of India. Their radars are watching, their F-16s are up all the time,” said Mr Hersh while arguing that it was not possible for US helicopters to enter Abbottabad without alerting the Pakistanis.

He said the then army and ISI chiefs had made this deal with the Americans, which upset other Pakistani generals.

“The then head of Pakistan’s Air Defence Command was very, very upset. He was ready to go public,” said Mr Hersh, claiming that the disgruntled general was made PIA chairman after his retirement to compensate for his silence.

In an interview to Democracy Now, a network of more than 1,400 radio and television outlets, Mr Hersh said the US and Pakistan had jointly created the ‘myth’ “we discovered” where he was living.

“What I know is … that in August of 2010, a Pakistani a colonel … came into our embassy, went to the then CIA Station Chief Jonathan Bank, and said: ‘We’ve had bin Laden for four years’.”

Mr Hersh told Dawn that the colonel was later moved to the US and was now living somewhere near Washington.

“The Pakistani intelligence picked him (bin Laden) in the Hindu Kush area, built the compound in Abbottabad and put him there,” he said. “Pakistani officials did so because the Saudis asked them to. The Saudis did not want Americans to interrogate OBL.”

According to Mr Hersh, when the CIA asked Pakistani officials to make the May 2, 2011, operation at OBL’s compound in Abbo­ttabad a surprise raid, they agreed “because they had kept OBL in custody without telling us”.

The Americans were already very upset and the Pakistanis did not want to make it worse, he added.

“I wrote the name of the station chief, Jonathan Bank, something you are not supposed to do, but he did not attack me for doing this. He did not contradict my story, although if there is one guy who can end my story, it is him,” Mr Hersh said.

“Of course not, I have a great deal of sources here,” said Mr Hersh when asked if he based his story entirely on Pakistani intelligence source.

“I was going to take a chance that Bank would not succumb to pressure. I knew a lot about him. He’s a Harvard grad, very bright guy, very competent. And I just didn’t think he would be trotted out by the CIA to say, ‘What? What’s Hersh writing about? I don’t know anything about a walk-in,” Mr Hersh told Democracy Now.

“I did have more contact with people in the ISI after I wrote. I learned much more, that gave me much more flesh on the skimpy bones I guess I had,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2016

http://www.dawn.com/news/1254693/pakistan-helped-us-get-osama-insists-hersh

What good is Zarb e Azb and NAP if Hafiz Saeed is giving lectures at UET, Hamza Baloch

What good is Zarb e Azb and NAP if Hafiz Saeed is giving lectures at UET, Hamza Baloch      April 23, 2016,

How can we fight the terrorist ideology with this selective approach?

Last year Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) was barred from organising an event on Balochistan and missing persons. The LUMS initially invited Mama Qadeer and Ustad Mir Muhammad Talpur to speak at a session and  to interact with students there and with the youth of Lahore. LEAs pressurized the LUMS administration to cancel the event, 'Unsilencing Balochistan'.

And yet today it's not really surprising to see LeT/JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed, a globally declared terrorist, addressing students of the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.

It seems that we have learned nothing from our bloodied past and are inclined towards making the same mistakes again and again.

Or may be Mama Qadeer is a bigger threat for the petty ideological state of Pakistan than this globally recognized terrorist Hafiz Saeed.

Pakistan is still a venomous breeding ground for terrorists and jihadists. It may sound sad, but let's not forget this is a bitter truth as well.

Hafiz Saeed is just a puppet on the front, the real masterminds of this venomous ideology of jihadism are those elements who had backed the so-called Afghan jihad and also declared the mass murderers as their "strategic assets".

The problem of radicalization is not as shallow as it seems. When we thought that madrassas were the real problem we were shocked by Saad Aziz of IBA following the number of similar radical militants and their supporters and financiers from SZABIST to CAMS.

It was shocking for many fellow Pakistanis to see the elitist brainwashed terrorists from the prestigious private educational institutes, but it wasn't shocking nor surprising for me being a student of a public sector university. 

Those who are studying in Karachi University (KU) and Punjab University (PU) are well aware of the presence of radical preachers not only teaching in these universities but also brainwashing and recruiting the youth for their jihadist missions.

Putting aside the debate of breeding terrorists in madrassas and universities, we need to ponder upon the hypocrisy of our state.

This venomous ideology of jihad is deeply rooted in to the state institutions. Hatred for India is based on the anti-Hindu narrative which is against the very principle of coexistence. At its peak the very same ideology of conquering New Delhi is much more lethal than the dreams of defeating the Soviets in the past.

How can we fight the terrorist ideology with this selective approach?

If we do not consider Afghan Taliban to be the mass murderers of Afghan people we have no right to mourn the APS children. 

If we only consider the attackers of Mehran Base, Quaid-e-Azam International Airport and Lahore blasts terrorists but keep a soft corner and praise the attackers of Mumbai attacks as heroes of the nation, we can't play victim.

Zarb-e-Azab and NAP won't fool the masses with these inhumane policies.

One day Pakistani universities might replace the likes of Professor Shakil Auj and Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy with many Hafiz Saeeds producing many Saad Azizs in future.

It's high time for state to realise that we cannot prosper with the terrorists like Hafiz Saeed lecturing the students of UET. We'll only prosper with the intellectuals and physicists like Dr Pervaiz Hoodbhoy educating our children about the science and technology. 

We need to stop here and think whether the academic discussions with the culture of dissent is good for us or if fascist tactics are the only option left for us.

Is Mama Qadeer more dangerous and lethal for the mighty Pakistan or if it's a globally recognised terrorist Hafiz Saeed who is the real threat for our national security and future generations?

In 1980s only madrassas were radicalized in the name of Afghan Jihad under the banner of defeating communism, and we are still paying a heavy price for that. But today our state is deliberately radicalizing the entire society and pushing our youth towards the militant jihadism under the umbrella of Pakistani nationalism ignoring the horrible future consequences of its war mongering policies.

http://nation.com.pk/blogs/23-Apr-2016/what-good-is-zarb-e-azb-and-the-nap-if-hafiz-saeed-is-giving-lectures-at-uet-lahore

Corruption and terrorism, by Farrukh Saleem

Corruption and terrorism, by Farrukh Saleem

First things first. On April 21, General Raheel Sharif broke the status quo on corruption. On March 11 2015, General Raheel Sharif broke the status quo on Karachi. On June 15 2014, General Raheel Sharif broke the status quo on North Waziristan. Imagine, a victorious general with no lust for power and a squeaky clean reputation has now thrown down the gauntlet. On April 22, the PM, walking on thin ice, responded: One, no one can give me lessons on morality. Two, accountability should begin from 1947. Three, the masses should hold Imran Khan liable. Four, the army is also culpable. Five, the media is being nonchalant.

Now the topic of the day. Corruption and terrorism are interlinked. According to the secretary-general of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), “corruption….facilitates terrorism” and “corruption hampers countries’ ability to fight terrorism”.

On April 14, Admiral (r) John Kirby, spokesperson of the US Department of State, was asked: “Sir, the political parties in Pakistan have launched a campaign against PM Sharif to resign after the accusations of corruption in [the] Panama Papers....will the US support the democratic elected PM of Pakistan, or [do] you want to see the corrupt leader go home?” Reply: “The secretary has been very clear about the dangers of corruption...and what that does to fuel extremism and to increase economic instability…. So corruption is something we obviously take very seriously……”

On April 19, General Raheel Sharif said, there “cannot be…enduring peace and stability unless the menace of corruption is not uprooted. Therefore, across-the-board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan.”

According to Ashraf Rifi, minister of justice of Lebanon and president of the Arab network for strengthening the integrity and the fight against corruption, “Terrorists benefit from corruption and promote it in order to finance their activities….. Terrorism and corruption are feeding each other.”

According to the secretary-general of the OECD, “Identifying connections between corruption and terrorism and the means to break them is crucial to fighting terrorism.” The secretary-general continues that there are four connections between corruption and terrorism. One, corruption helps terrorist funding. Two, corruption facilitates terrorist attacks. Three, corruption and terrorism financing share methods to hide money. Four, corruption and poor governance undermine the fight against terrorism.

The OECD, in its analysis on offshore companies, says: “Traffickers, corrupt politicians, and terrorists need ways to raise, move, conceal and spend money. One of their main means is the use of anonymous ‘shell companies’. Security experts and law enforcement officials all agree that shell companies, or other forms of legal entities like trusts, pose a threat to national security... and can be ideal vehicles for terrorist financing.”

How does corruption hamper a country’s ability to fight terrorism? According to the OECD, “State institutions weakened by engrained and deep-seated corruption are not only less effective in fighting terrorism but are also vulnerable to exploitation by terrorist groups. Corruption in institutions such as the army, the police and the judiciary and in the defense sector is of great concern...”

How does corruption facilitate terrorism? According to the OECD, “Terrorist groups may seek funding through crimes out of financial necessity or because the potential profits associated with the criminal activity are too attractive to ignore. Terrorist may also be involved in some forms of criminal activities not only as a source of financing but also for logistics purposes in the context of terrorist attacks.”

How does corruption contribute to terrorist financing? According to the OECD, “Although awareness of corruption, organized crime and terrorist financing has been growing in recent years, the linkages and resonances between these three forms of behaviour may not be sufficiently acknowledged.”

The secretary-general concludes: One, corruption is a national security threat. Two, criminals and terrorists use similar tactics to reach their separate operational objectives. Three, the fact is that like criminal organisations, terrorists also engage in a range of activities that are greatly facilitated by corruption. Four, corruption is the ‘enabling technology’ that makes many terrorist crimes possible.

The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com

Twitter: @saleemfarrukh

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/114903-Corruption-and-terrorism