Part 2: Terror Links of Rohingyas

Rohingya issue has elicited varied responses from different countries. China which has vital stakes in Myanmar stayed short of criticizing its actions. China along with Russia blocked a resolution at UNSC condemning actions of Myanmar government at earlier occasions. Myanmar is once again rallying both countries to veto any resolution at UNSC. On September 8^th Muslim-majority countries during the World Parliamentary Forum on Sustainable Development adopted Bali Declaration condemning violence in Rakhine state. India stayed away from Bali Declaration. The West came down heavily on the Myanmar urging it to exercise maximum restraint. UN, UNHCR, Amnesty International referred this offensive as “cruel military operation”. UK has suspended training support for the Myanmar military, because of its treatment to Rohingyas.

Rights activists report that Rohingyas are poorly equipped to defend themselves against the scorched-earth policy adopted by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military). But in reality, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) unlike other armed insurgents have a different strategy. Unlike resistance armies of other ethnic groups in Myanmar, Rohingyas are not dressed in military outfit pinned with labelled batches. They freely mingle with villagers and after every low-grade attack, they simply retreat into the border regions of Bangladesh. Like Naxals in India, they launch guerilla attacks and mobilize villagers to attacks the security forces. While observers opine that actual number of ARSA fighters may be less, they painstakingly created an extensive propaganda-machinery. In a statement on Sep 14^th, ARSA said that it has no links with Al-Qaeda, ISIS or the Laskhar E Toiba and impressed that it is ready to work with security forces to drive away terrorists from Rakhine. Experts noted that it might be one of diversionary tactics of ARSA, as in its earlier avatar HaY forged nefarious connections with radical Islamic groups.

Indeed, renaming of HaY was an attempt by the Rohingya insurgents to stay away from religious connotations. But the origins and foundation of the group is deeply entrenched in radical Islam. ARSA’s mentor Abdus Qadoos Burmi, a Pakistani descent has strong link with LeT whose ideology is solely rooted in jihad. Qadoos has close links with Hafiz Saeed. ARSA’s hierarchy is replete of Rohingyas of Pakistani and Bangladeshi descent. Young men recruited by ARSA were trained along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, Aceh in northern Sumatra by older war veterans of Afghan war. Reports indicate that ARSA has foreign fighters which include people from Indonesia, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Malaysia. Observers strongly object to claims of ARSA being a poorly-equipped or ill trained group considering the kind of attacks they launched on Myanmar security officials and local Buddhist monks on August 25^th.  

Other than, ARSA, little known, Rohingya militant group, headed by Abdus Qadoos Burmi, AMM (Aqa Mul Mujahideen) responsible for attacks in October 2016 was found to have strong Pakistan links. AMM is now known to have emerged from the HuJI-A (Harkat-ul-Jihadi Arakan). Its Pakistan links were firmly established with investigation reports finding huge similarity between IED used for attacks on Buthidaung Township May 4^th and Pakistani devices. The hub of AMM’s militant activities is Chittagong area and Mae Sot, Tak province of Thailand and supported by Pakistan deep state. Omar Faruk, who engineered attacks on Bangladesh ANSAR camp extended support to Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO). Pakistan has been instrumental in formation of groups like Jamaat-ul-Arakan and Difa-e-Arakan. Bangladeshi outfit Jamaat-ul-Islam, a branch of Pakistan group passed a resolution in Senate against Myanmar condemning Rohingya genocide. For decades, India has been cautioning world of Pakistan as the “mothership of terrorism”. But the World chose to ignore India’s warnings. Emboldened by West’s silence & China’s support which have varied strategic and economic interests, Pakistan relentlessly pursued its nefarious activities. As a result, the deep state which had uninterrupted flow of finances and weapons at its behest, extensively spread venomous roots in the region. Pakistani terror outfits which continues to threaten the stability and security of countries like Afghanistan and India has a vast terror network in Bangladesh. Irrefutable evidences now indicate that various Rohingya insurgent terror groups receive financial, ideological, and logistical support from Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups.

Four years after the Operation King Dragon, launched by Tatmadaw the local jihadists who have fled to Bangladesh formed the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) in Cox’s Bazar. RSO received finances from Rohingya Diaspora. It soon established contacts with Al-Qaeda network in Pakistan and Afghanistan for weaponry support to its armed unit, Rohingya National Army (RNA). RNA launched its most successful attacks on Myanmar forces crossing the Naaf river in 1994. Later it simply dissolved and the leaders of RSO soon acquired properties with the funds raised for RNA. With increasing Pakistani influence, Rohingya movement soon acquired dimensions of a typical Jihadi war. Fundamentalist Islamic force became the guiding force of Rohingya insurgent groups.

Condemning violence against Rohingyas Masood Azhar leader of JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) in his organization’s weekly magazine Al-Qalam, gave a stirring call to Muslims across the World. He wrote, “It is because of the sacrifices of the Myanmar Muslims that the ummah is waking up and we are seeing new awakening among the Muslims of the world. All the Muslims of the World should unite for this cause. We have to do something. And do it urgently. Myanmar’s soil is earnestly waiting for the thumping sound of the footsteps of the conquerors”. Responding to this call thousands of people took to streets of Pakistan condemning the violence against Rohingya. Azhar brazenly whipped up emotions of Rohingya by lashing out at the Buddhist extremist leader, Ashin Wirathu. The article clearly demonstrates that jihadists are using the Rohingya issue to expand purview of their operations. Expressing their solidarity to Rohingyas, Indonesia’s militant group Islamic Defenders Fund (PFI) urged its volunteers to wage jihadi war alongside Rohingyas. Soon, Shakyh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif, leaders of a IS offshoot in Bangladesh expressed their willingness to assist and support Rohingya insurgents. Ironically, Muslim scholars from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bangladesh, and India supported the opinions of most of these outfits. Interestingly, while the militant groups were successful in mobilizing relief supplies from various countries to Rohingya refugee camps, Muslim countries with business interests in Myanmar offered a little condemnation to Rohingya crisis.

The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, (OIC) of Muslim countries convened an urgent session to discuss Rohingya issue last week. OIC expressed “grave concern” over exodus of Rohingya but didn’t pressurize Myanmar to take tougher action immediately. Saudi Arabia is now competing with Russia to export oil to China. The crucial oil pipeline which carries Arab countries oil to landlocked province of Yunnan runs through the Rakhine state. Saudi Arabia needs support of Myanmar in protecting the oil line. Myanmar is potential trade partner of Indonesia. Similarly, Iran, Azerbaijan which has vital trade interests with Myanmar refrained from issuing a strong condemnation. While Pakistan militant outfits are reaching out to Muslims across the World to join Rohingya, Islamabad adopted a soft stance since Myanmar is about to purchase 16 JF-17 Thunder aircrafts co-developed by Pakistan and China. To claim moral-high ground, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iran, Azerbaijan have pledged aid to Rohingya refugees.

The plight of Rohingya has now become a classic example of brutal military crackdown of the Myanmar army and the rampant penetration of Wahhabi ideology into this part of the region.  Arakan is slowly but certainly turning into a breeding ground for Islamic radicalization. The clandestine jihadi ideology has till now wreaked havoc in South Asia is now entering the South East Asian region. Philippines is battling to eliminate militant outfits who swore allegiance to ISIS since May. Reports of growing religious intolerance and glorification of radical ideology are emanating from Indonesia. Radicalized youth who fought along IS cadres are now slowly returning to Malaysia. Sporadic bomb blasts are raising concerns over presence of active militant groups in Thailand. ISIS having suffered worst losses is now eyeing South East Asia.  Together, escalation of militant activities can have threatening consequences on the region. This might have dangerous repercussion on the security of North-East and in the Bay of Bengal region. Global community must redress the situation at once, else the region might become a potential hub for Islamic insurgency. Evidently, unless nations collectively crackdown on the large jihadi network, Rohingya issue would tend to escalate periodically.

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