While the country is battling against the resurging menace of terrorism, few dubious groups are vigorously trying to exploit the ethnic fault-lines. Propaganda mills are running 24/7 on social media platforms because concealing of identity remains an easier affair for ghost keyboard originators in such uncontrollable domains. Poisonous intent is undeniable because ethnic propagandists continuously blaming those state institutions for surging terrorism which are safeguarding the frontiers by sacrificing the precious lives. Discriminating the martyrs and victims of terrorism on the basis of a particular ethnicity is highly condemnable. This tendency is in fact a clear assault on the much needed national unity against all forms of terrorism.
Terrorism in KP and Baluchistan provinces has roots attached to geo-political contestation. Our fire brand critics, wittingly or unwittingly, opt to criticize the national institutes without considering the true complexity of the issue. Let’s first agree to this fact that Pakistan is surrounded with troubled neighborhood. Indian hostile designs need no further elaboration if viewed in the context of unresolved Kashmir issue, Indian irk on CPEC, Pakistan’s valid concerns on RAW sponsored terrorism and New Delhi’s obsession with militarization of disputed territories along LoC and LAC.
Prolonged unrest in Afghanistan has multiple implications for Pakistan and the most pinching one is the presence of banned TTP on Afghan soil. After witnessing the varying degree of wars, foreign invasions and internal turf battles now Afghanistan is under a government which lacks international recognition. IEA’s rule on Afghanistan is nothing but another form of prolonged unrest. County is under international radar for human rights violations, female suppression and presence of terrorist outfits like ISKP, banned TTP with splinter groups scattered along Pakistan’s Western borders. Despite tremendous successes against terrorist groups at internal front, Pakistan continues to suffer because of Afghanistan based terrorists. Unrest in Afghanistan and meaningful hesitant response of IEA on the issue of banned TTP should not be twisted as a failure of national institutions of Pakistan. Such baseless criticism creates disillusion and drifts the debate much away from exploration of solutions. More than three million Afghan refugees are now dependent on Pakistan. Number of daily commuters on border crossing points is in thousands. Afghan warring groups carry varying nature of alignments with regional and global players. Survival, in a polarized and badly governed country like Afghanistan, becomes easier for banned TTP. Elimination of terrorist groups, entrenched across the border, is obviously not an easier task. It merits sensible weighing of all pros and cons with due deliberation on diplomatic options as well. Exploitative twisting of terrorism by ethnic groups needs to be viewed in correct perspective.
Meaningful activism of ethnic groups against state and its institutions is serving the purpose of hostile quarters. Irony with ethnic groups is that most of their so-called leaders usually lose sight of the real issue in desperate quest to gain public applause with baseless demagoguery. Shadowy keyboard supporters are trying to trigger the discord by inciting ethnic hatred to perpetuate the disunity. Accusing the state intuitions for foreign sponsored terrorism is no less than bailing out the terrorists. Nefarious intents of dubious ethnic groups become more obvious once supportive sentiments start pouring in from Afghanistan side from those characters who are known for irrational non-flexible anti-Pakistan stance. Question rightly arises that why the ethnic activists are criticizing those state institutions which have sacrificed precious lives in fight against terrorism. Meaningful synchronization between ethnic and terrorist groups is much evident from multiple terrorist attacks claimed by banned TTP and its splinter groups in KP and Balochistan. Mere criticism and fanning of the ethnic fire to ignite the public sentiments over terrorism under existing environment is enough of the evidence of questionable intents. Those who claim to be the well-wishers of Pushtoons and Balouchs, should come out with concrete solutions to restore the peace. Unfortunately, they seem more inclined to generate chaos and expand their support base with poisonous demagoguery. We haven’t ever seen any of the ethnic leaders either engaging their followers in constructive activities or suggesting cogent corrective measures to improve the situation according to their perceived vision. Directionless hateful campaigning, mostly via social media, is actually serving the purpose of hostile players. Demagogues are infecting the Pushtoon and Baloch youth with the poison of hopelessness, ethnic prejudice and hatred towards the state.
Solution rests in the hands of masses who are the real stakeholders and victims of ethnic gimmickry. Demagogue ethnic activists should be held accountable for their objectionable views. Recently caretaker PM has explicitly presented national concerns on the issue of cross-border terrorism taking place in Pakistan from Afghan soil under Indian sponsorship. While the banned TTP is claiming attacks on state of Pakistan and its citizens, how any so called leader can justify their criticism on the frontline defenders and martyrs in the grab of venomous ethnic activism.
