Pakistan's security situation, for the last three
decades, has been worst. Some factors, which played a vital role in
deteriorating security situation and internal unrest, have been identified as under:
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- Russian invasion of Afghanistan in late 70s. It resulted in mass migration of Afghan refugees to Pakistan. Pakistan sided with USA and decided to provide physical, financial, and material aid to Afghans. USA, through the assistance of Islamic clerics, declared the war against Russia as Holy War or Jehad. The outcome of Pakistan’s support and physical involvement in “Afghan Jehad” resulted in explosion of bombs and introduction of Kalashnikov culture in Pakistani Society.
- Revolution in Iran was backed by Shia clergy. This raised alarm in neighbouring Wahabi based Arab countries’ governments like KSA, UAE, and Kuwait etc. Iranian revolutionary regime also put sanctions and boycotted USA so USA openly sided with Arab countries and went into mutual defence pact in case of any invasion of KSA by any foreign countries. These forces initially engaged Iran in Gulf War when Iraq attacked Iranian territory by the blessing and backing of KSA and USA. After the war when the strategic objectives could not be achieved, a proxy war started in Pakistan. KSA funded and supported Deobandi Hanafi madrassahs in the garb of supporting Afghan Jehad. Iran on the other hand started funding Shia madrassahs. This caused increase of hateful feelings amongst different sects of Islam in Pakistan and murders of leaders, doctors, lawyers and common people from both sides worsened the security situation.
- India; the neighbour on Eastern front, after having 3 armed conflicts, decided to intrude in the internal affairs covertly and her intelligence agency RAW started covert activities especially in Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. In Sindh, it assisted MQM; having soft corner for India, on the one hand and Sindhi Nationalist parties on the other who demanded liberation of Sindh. In Balochistan, RAW supported and funded separatist nationalist Balochis and they started armed struggle against the government and armed forces of Pakistan.
- Creation of Taliban by the politico-religious parties and their unconditional support led to add oil on the burning fire. Parties like Jamat e Islami, Jamiat Ulema e Pakistan (JUI), and other likeminded parties had deep roots in people and they not only brain washed the youth to participate in Afghan war against USA but also funded Taliban by collecting heavy funds from common people.
- Incident of 9/11 in the US and its consequences to curb Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan added further diminishing impact on national security of Pakistan. Those Jehadis who were fighting in Afghanistan siding Pakistan and USA revolted and started fighting against both Pakistan and US. This seriously damaged the security environment in the country and Pakistan faced brutal attacks on religious places of worships, killings of doctors, engineers, lawyers, and professionals at a mass scale and a series of suicide bombing took place in all corners of the country.
- Due to unchecked and unhindered speeches, printing of hateful books and material against other sects as a result of Iran-Saudia proxy war in Pakistan, hateful resentment increased and spread even to local neighbourhood of masses. This resulted in split of society and widened the gap between different sects of Islam.
- In Urban areas of Sind, especially in Karachi, MQM was backed by intelligence agencies of Pakistan to make them a powerful group against Pakistan Peoples’ Party and Jamat e Islami, who were two major political parties in Karachi and Hyderabad since long. MQM introduced armed wing for political gains and killed her opponents in Karachi and Hyderabad on a mass scale. This led to unrest in Karachi - once called the city of lights. This encouraged other political forces to raise their militant arms in their parties for survival and to keep the balance of power in Karachi. All these militant groups not only pressurised political opponents but also got engaged in negative activities like murders, kidnapping for ransom, vehicle snatching, tax collection from business community, and other street crimes. These crimes were mostly done without the knowledge of senior leadership of the political parties but there have been incidents that these crimes and unlawful acts were not only in the knowledge but were planned and executed under the direct supervision of top leadership.
- Due to governmental support and religious sentiments of common people, Taliban fighting in Afghanistan gained overwhelming support in Pakistan. This led to creation of different religious militant organizations like Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Harkat ul Mujahideen, Khilafat Movement and many others who demanded enforcement of Shariah in Pakistan but the Shariah of their liking and under their rule. They rejected to accept the constitution of Pakistan, writ of the government, system of justice and federal courts, and announced to rebel and fight against anyone who did not follow their faction of Shariah.
- As a result of proxy war between Iran and KSA being fought in Pakistan, the affairs did not limit to religious debates and propaganda through books and pamphlets. Foreign funding led to creation of extremist militant groups on both sides like Sipah e Sahaba, Lashker e Jhangvi on Deobandi and Wahabi side vis-a-vis Siapah e Muhammad etc on Shia side. These militants also played their role in killings and worsening the law and order situation in the country.
- After upheaval of Kashmiris in 1988, which rose against the illegal occupation and aggression of India in the occupied and disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a number of Jehadi Organizations (most funded by the government) started enrolling young fighter to participate in Kashmir Jehad against India. This resulted in increase of private militia in Pakistan. Some of these groups actually participated in Kashmir Jehad but most engaged themselves in proxy war of Iran and KSA and started killing people from opposite sects living inside Pakistan.
Due
to the unrest and political indecisiveness by the governments, Pakistan has
suffered in the last 20 years on all fronts. Economically the country is
doomed. It is facing power and energy crises, most of the industry at private
sector has moved out to Bangladesh, Malaysia, and other countries. Foreign
exchange is almost at the bare minimum level, nation is overburdened under
heavy foreign debts and common man is facing problems like unemployment, low
wages, and lack of basic facilities. Unfortunately political governments did
not have the capacity, capability, human wisdom, and will to address the
security issues of the country which was the root-cause of all the social ills.
Pakistan, that was once about to get the status of “Asian Tiger” has gone below
the standards of a sovereign nation due to political incompetency and
appointment of nincompoop persons as ministers to make the decisions at
national level.
Pakistan
Army, however, as per its commitment for national integrity and sovereignty has
once again taken the affairs in its hand. General Raheel Shareef, Chief of the
Army Staff has taken stern decisions to address all the issues detrimental to
national security. His decision to start a comprehensive destruction operation
against terrorists, impartial operation to restore law and order in Karachi
without taking any pressures from any group, strategic decision and diplomatic
visits to USA, Afghanistan, China and Russia have started bearing fruit. As
2015 has started, Pakistan has seen much better security situation. Less of
suicidal attacks in the country and almost none of target killing, vehicle
snatching, and kidnapping for ransom has been reported in Karachi ever since
Sindh Rangers raided MQM HQ at 90 and arrested criminals from the premises.
