India having exhausted the chances of extraditing the
key-player, David Coleman Headley in 26/11 made astute diplomatic moves by
agreeing for a conditional pardon and turning the crucial accused into an
informer. Despite severe criticism from various corners, Indian government
having resolved to bring a logical conclusion to the Mumbai attacks officially
went ahead with the investigation process. It is already know that Headley, a
double-agent for the American Intelligence Community and member of LeT
(Laskhar-e-Toiba) who has been in the US judicial custody had already revealed vital
details to the American agencies. The on-going depositions of David Coleman
Headley so far hasn’t evoked tremendous response as most of them more or less
corroborated assertions of Indian intelligence agencies that obviously
underpinned Pakistan’s involvement in Mumbai attacks. Headley’s chances of
extraditing being an US citizen was
almost impossible and hence turning him into an approver was considered a big
leap forward to legally nailing down the Pakistan’s Army, ISI (Inter-Serices Intelligence) an its
allied terrorist operatives. Headley’s stunning revelations about the Ishrat
Jahan on the third day, (today) created ripples in Indian media. He revealed
that Ishrat was a member of LeT’s women’s wing and was killed by India Police
during an important mission in Gujarat. This revelation opened up a Pandora
box. For over a decade media circles milked the fake encounter by viciously
nurturing and propagating lies for larger political gains.
The latest revelations about Ishrat Jahan shattered
deliberately articulated myths. The fake encounter case provided political
mileage to certain vested interests and political outfits. The ground breaking
remarks exposed dubious allegations inflicted by many acclaimed journalists and
human rights activists. The integrity and the fallacy of the journalistic
values expounded by these reputed Indian media honchos now stands busted. The
claims made by the entourage of the relatives of Ishrat, who wailed on the
prime time news channels are now under serious scrutiny. Sadly due to
obfuscation of details and vicious propagation of lies, upholders of peace and
security had to suffer the burden of falsification and burnt of injustice.
Despite the enormity of the truth even now the ruthless political leaders
instead of tendering apologies potentially considering the veracity of the
revelations. Now political rivals are contemplating the issue of contesting the loop holes in the
Indian Penal Code which failed to provide concrete guideline for
plea-bargaining (in other words, the legitimacy of turning the accused into
prosecution witness in cases where maximum sentence is more than seven years).
Revelations which might be calamitous for some political parties are now
questioning the veracity of the remarks. Major political outfits till now had
no serious qualms about Headley’s deposition are now upset by the latest
unsavory truth. They seem to be rattled and started questioning the authenticity
of the revelations. In an attempt to save their career, (votebanks) these
callous politicians are providing enough ammunition to Pakistan to out rightly
reject the depositions and discredit the contents of fresh dossiers India
intends to send Islamabad. It is matter of great concern as how Indian
dispensation could defend their allegations that Ishrat was a college going
girl when LeT mouthpiece Ghawza Times, pronounced that she was a suicide
bomber and member of LeT just two days after the fake counter. Why does the
Indian brigade yearn to defend the indefensible? The political churning of
crucial issues related to national security attest popular perceptions that
India’s enemies are within. Politics aside, isn’t it a matter of infernal shame
as how a powerful lobby of politicians and media could put country’s security
at stake? It is unfortunate that Indian leaders, instead of feeling ashamed for
blatant ineptness in acting against the enemies are crying foul. It may not be
an overstatement, to say that past political dispensation chose to undermine
national interests for meagre political gains.
Beyond the clamor and ruckus of Ishrat Jahan’s fake encounter
case, Headley’s depositions solicits serious reassessment of India’s strategy
towards Pakistan. By and large, Modi’s outreach which included series of
flip-flops and overt U-turns proved to be futile. While commitment of the
leadership is unquestionable and attempts serious, Indian leadership by now
should have assimilated Islamabad’s policy of obfuscation and treachery. The
latest depositions unambiguously confounds New Delhi’s affirmations that
Pakistan Army and Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) masterminded brutal
terrorist attacks in India. As a diplomatic exercise government of India is all
set to handover dossiers to Pakistan to take action against perpetrators of
26/11. But with alleged master-minds of crime already scot-free expecting
Islamabad to bring Zakir-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, Hafeez Saeed to justice would be
ridiculous. In fact Pakistan cannot and will not act against terrorists
patronized, nurtured and trained by its top-notch army officials. During the
recently concluded symposium on counter-terrorism, foreign secretary opined
India should name and shame the nations that have become safe dens of
terrorists.
Pakistan’s infamy as a terrorist haven is well-known. Any
amount of rebuke or international condemnation can hardly drive it into
voluntary abdication of terrorism. Moreover, as the depositions emphasized,
Pakistan perceives India as an enemy of Islam. Thus, it would be sheer naivety
to expect Pakistan to act. Ironically, Pakistan imbued with compulsive hatred
towards India and guided by demarcation of good and bad terrorism will never
crack whip on the elements that foster its anti-India agenda. Islamabad having
notoriously mastered the asymmetric warfare will never refrain from its
insidious low cost war that could bleed India with thousand cuts. Despite its
fake promises and claims of being victim of terrorism at international
platforms, it is hardwired to nurture terrorism. Moreover, it would be
ridiculous to anticipate any change in its strategy while it is cynosure of a
reigning super power and an emerging superpower. It is high time that India
should pay back Pakistan in same coin. May be the strategy envisioned by
Defence Minister, though provocative that “kante
se kante nikalna (removing a thorn with a thorn” can be a best antidote for
Islamabad’s pathological vilification. Shyam Saran who was in Pakistan on
Solidarity Day, February 6th referring to Pakistan’s army wrote “hostility
and mistrust of India is embedded in military’s DNA and is unlikely to change
in foreseeable future”.
Evidently so, Pakistan’s policy toward India is unlikely to
change. Despite Modi’s best efforts to reach out to Pakistan with his impromptu
visit to Lahore, his attempts boomeranged. India’s friendly demeanor towards
its neighbor was reciprocated by twin attacks- air base attacked at Pathankot
and Indian consulate at Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan was under siege. Prime
Minister Sharif post-Pathankot attacks assured that he would rein in on JeM,
the outfit responsible for attacks. Reports indicate that Masood Azhar the
master mind of Pathankot is in safe havens of Afghanistan and Pakistan is back
with its old tricks of evasion. In fact emboldened Hafiz Saeed’s is publicly
mocking and threatening India of more terror attacks. Addressing a gathering on
Kashmir Day at Muzaffarabad, he warned India to withdraw troops from Kashmir or
face consequences.
Indeed Pakistan for all its nefarious activities must be
internationally condemned but US for its strategic interests is not only
shielding Islamabad from international sanctions but also generously extending
financial aid. Few days back Obama administration has proposed granting $860
million in aid to Pakistan which includes $265 million worth military hardware. It is inconceivable as how US continues to finance Pakistan even as
Pakistan’s army and intelligence agencies continue to work against US interests
including killing American troops stationed in Afghanistan. As a matter of
fact, US authorities are highly informed than Indian counterparts of the
vicious plans of the extended anti-Indian terror network of Pakistan in greater
detail since Headley made his depositions with US agencies way back in 2010. But
US has even intensified its collaboration with Pakistan by forming
Quadrilateral Consultative Grouping (QCG) to deal with Afghanistan Taliban. QCG
is an exclusive club which includes Pakistan, US, China and Afghanistan and
aims to start a dialogue between Afghanistan and Taliban. Leaders of US,
Afghanistan and Pakistan met along the sidelines of World Economic Forum at
Geneva and instituted the grouping. Logistically, India which had larger stakes
in Afghanistan is deliberately left out. While the Headley’s depositions are
making news in India, the initial consultative discussions between QCG and
Taliban are underway. Recent developments indicate that US, despite the back-stabbings
is keen on aligning with Pakistan to pursue its regional interests.
It would be naïve to anticipate any action from Pakistan
despite obtaining concrete proofs in the form of depositions by Headley
(co-accused). Pakistan would simply quash these depositions and would demand
for concrete evidences. This eternal saga of exchange of dossiers would
continue endlessly. India with its aspirations of emerging as financially
viable economy is averse to the option of a full-fledged war with Pakistan.
However a conventional war with Pakistan may not be a panacea. India so far
waged four battles with Pakistan but no avail. Conventional wisdom suggests
that India should pay back Pakistan its own coin. To drive home message,
Pakistan be inflicted with wounds India has been battling with for decades.
It’s a payback time. But India can’t ignore Pakistan either. Needless to say,
India will continue to engage with Pakistan to diffuse cross-border tensions.
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