Daily Times

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement reminding the US that it once supported terror groups which it now considers enemies earned him a lot of praise. On the contrary, the other part of his statement where he spoke about ‘putting our own house in order’ generated criticism especially from elements who often have a problem with how Pakistan’s ‘image’ is portrayed internationally. Many of those lauding the FM for his criticism of the US are the ones who justify having links with banned terror groups. It was indeed bold of the Foreign Minister to remind the US of its flawed policies of the past, but an important point has been largely missing from the debate that followed the FM’s statement. It is important to note that the terror and extremism threat that Pakistan faces today is homegrown. Radicalisation of the society and growing religious intolerance is not something we can blame the Americans for.

A few weeks ago, during his three-nation tour in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s new Afghan policy that singled out Pakistan, accusing it of ‘harbouring’ terror, the Foreign Minister had expressed the need to go after banned terror organisations in the country and admitted the government’s failure to implement the National Action Plan (NAP). The apologists of terror groups criticised the FM’s statements and accused him of adopting an anti-Pakistan stance. Among the critics was the ruling party’s own disgruntled member and former Interior Minister Chahudhry Nisar, who is known to have a soft corner for banned terror groups and had held several meetings with their leaders during his ministership. He had also justified his meetings with the banned sectarian groups saying they should not be equated with terrorist organisations. Criticising the FM’s statement, the former interior minister advised him to be careful while discussing issues of ‘sensitive’ nature. The likes of Chaudhry Nisar represent pretty much everything that is or had been wrong with the country’s security policy.

Until the growing extremist tendencies in the society are not tackled, the world will continue to doubt Pakistan’s sincerity in war against terror. Action against extremist groups should include banned sectarian organisations which the former interior minister so vehemently defends and political parties should stop forming electoral alliance with such groups.

While Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif’s admission of support that exists in the country for banned organisations was commendable, it is ironic that it took an outburst from US President Donald Trump for the government to admit something which civil society activists in Pakistan had been saying for quite some time. The government was reminded time and again by activists and analysts that its policy of tolerance towards banned terror groups will end up affecting the gains made in military operations against terrorism, but no heed was paid. The government had in fact used draconian laws related to blasphemy and treason to clamp down on social media criticism under the garb of protecting national security. Thus, the US president’s accusations against Pakistan can be a blessing in disguise. Perhaps the US’s warnings will finally force the government to do what dissenting voices within the country were demanding all along.

Meanwhile, the fact that extremist groups such as JuD took part in the recent by-elections in NA 120 by operating under a new name of Milli Muslim League is worrying to say the least. What is even more concerning is that their candidate managed to bag quite a few votes and beat Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate in the election. Let’s hope this is not an organised effort by the deep-state to ‘mainstream’ such terror groups to achieve strategic goals. Because if this is the case, the ongoing action against militancy is bound to end in failure.

If groups such as the JuD are patronised in a bid to contain neighbouring countries, they will be the ones bombing our own cities in a few years. We should have learned this lesson by now. By following the policy of appeasement towards terror groups and backing extremist elements with a plan to use them as strategic assets, the state will end up compromising the sacrifices and gains made by the country in war against terror.

If the leadership of the country is serious about eradicating extremism and terrorism, state patronage of all forms of extremist groups at every level must end completely. There is no such thing as a good militant, they are all bad.