Daily Times

It is the opinion of Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior that the continued stay of Afghan refugees in this country is a threat to security.Many of these refugees have been found to be involved in numerous crimes, including offenses of moral turpitude. However, attempts by the government of Pakistan to send the Afghan refugees homes have been met with great resistance by the Afghan government.

There are many who believe that the Afghan government’s request to extend the Afghan refugees’ stay in Pakistan has been at the behest of India. Our eastern neighbour looks more culpable as a consequence of the propaganda campaign being run by the Indian media, which seems to be aimed at spreading unrest in this country’s Pashtun community.

When their country was invaded by Soviet forces in 1979, Afghan refugees headed for Pakistan in millions. Pakistani Pashtuns, rekindling the spirit of the Ansar of Medina, welcomed the Afghan refugees with open arms.

Hence it is unfortunate, that abetted by India, Afghanistan is trying to keep the Durand Line issue alive and is refusing to let Pakistan fence the Pak-Afghan border. In the same realm, Afghan leadership, in a bid to mislead the Pakistani Pashtun community, is claiming that Afghans have offered help to the Pakistani Pashtuns. The Afghan refugees would be better served if the Afghan government endeavoured to make serious and concerted efforts to facilitate the return of its refugees in a dignified manner.

Following the slaying of NaqeebullahMehsud in an alleged police encounter, the Indian propaganda machinery jumped into action. The extra judicial killing was widely condemned in Pakistan, and the Chief Justice of Pakistan issued orders to apprehend the killers and bring them to book. Indian machinations to denigrate Pakistan are giving the NaqeebullahMehsud murder case an ethnic colour, and labelling it as an effort to target the Pashtun community. The odious scheme of vested interests projecting the issue out of proportion and the Kabul and New Delhi sponsored propaganda is misleading the people.

Meanwhile, India has also been harassing the Pakistani diplomats accredited to New Delhi. Pakistan has been forced to withdraw its High Commissioner to India and has declared that the High Commissioner will not return to his post until the Indian Foreign Office takes steps to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani diplomats in India.

It is unfortunate, that abetted by India, Afghanistan is trying to keep the Durand Line issue alive and is refusing to let Pakistan fence the Pak-Afghan border. In the same realm, Afghan leadership, in a bid to mislead the Pakistani Pashtun community, is claiming that Afghans have offered help to the Pakistani Pashtuns

In the same vein, it may be noted that a leaflet, press release of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), Mumbai is circulating on social media. The document contains directions to impose a ban on Pakistani artists and technicians from working in Indian producer’s film and TV serials. The decision has been termed a sign of solidarity with the Indian army and hate against Pakistan.

The ban placed by the film industry workers’ union in Mumbai comes from a unanimous vote and prohibits Pakistani artists from performing in films as well as TV serials produced by Indian producers in any language.The association cites a ‘war-like situation unleashed by Pakistan’ as a reason for the ban, alleging that numerous Indian soldiers and civilians have been killed because of it.

The ban notice has been forwarded to all affiliates and producers’ associations and bears the signatures of President Shri. BirendraNath Tiwari and Honorary General Secretary Shri Ashok Dubey.

The subject press release is a blatant example of hate against Pakistan propagated by Hindu extremists. Thus far, there has been no response to this move from our side. Pakistani advertisers continue to hire Indian artistes to promote their commercials. Screening of Indian movies in Pakistani cinemas adds to the revenue of Indian film producers.

At the same time, 503 religious pilgrims desirous of participating in the Urs of a Sufi Saint Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) at Ajmer Sharif have been refused entry visas. The visit was to take place under the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines and is a regular annual feature. Earlier, 192 Pakistani pilgrims could not participate in the Urs of Hazrat Khawaja NizamuddinAulia (RA) in Delhi from January 1-8 2018, due to the non-issuance of visas by India.

It seems like creating conflict with Pakistan is a big priority for the incumbent Indian government. This has made reconciliation between India and Pakistan harder to achieve. Meanwhile, our relationship with our western neighbour Afghanistan has also been compromised.

The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host, who has authored six books on current affairs, including three on China

Published in Daily Times, March 24^th 2018.