By Sajjad Shaukat On January 20, 2009, in his first address, President Barack Obama had stated: "To the Muslim World, we seek a new way forward, based upon mutual interest and mutual respect." But instead of reversing the anti-Muslim policies of ex-president Bush who had used the term 'crusade', a few days after the 9/11 events, Obama is acting upon a similar policy, though the tactics are different. Although he has decided to end the use of the phrase, "Global War On Terror" replacing it with the "Overseas Contingency Operation," yet in reality anti-Muslim strategy continues.
Notably, despite more cooperation with Pakistan, the main aim of the US including its allies remains to de-nuclearise Pakistan which is the only Islamic country, having nuclear weapons. Besides, its geo-strategic location, Gwadar Port, linking Central and South Asia, Islamabad's close ties with China irk the eyes of the US, India and Israel who are in collusion to destabilise Pakistan for their common interests. However, being an obstacle in their way and being vital for our survival as the first pillar of the country, the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) has become a special target of the external crusade. On March 26, The New York Times accused that Pakistan's ISI is directly assisting militant groups fighting against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. In the recent past, US Admiral Mike Mullen and Defence Secretary Robert Gates blamed the ISI for close connections with the Taliban. All these biased statements have been appearing in wake of the US' new strategy, which has taken Afghanistan and Pakistan's FATA as single theatre of war. And President Obama said that he was determined to dismantle and defeat Al-Qaeda and the safe havens in Pakistan's tribal areas from where a plan to attack the US and Europe could be in the making. On the one hand, US administration has increased the aid of Pakistan, while on the other, drone attacks on the tribal regions continue unabated without bothering for any internal backlash inside our country. Meanwhile, on March 31, Bailtullah Mehsud, chief of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack at the Manawan Police Training Center in Lahore, and threatened to carry out similar operations in various parts of Punjab. As regard Mehsud, reports suggest that the ISI had provided information to the US military commanders about Mehsud's exact location several times, but the CIA-operated predators could not hunt him. He plays a key role in instigating the peace-loving Taliban against Islamabad. With the help of RAW and CIA, like his patrons, while, playing a double game, Mehsud's main purpose is to create unrest in Pakistan. On the other side, the US military and high officials accuse Pakistan's army and ISI of close links with Mehsud. Nevertheless, revival of blame game against ISI is not confined to US war in Afghanistan. On December 15, 2008, US Senator John Kerry, while putting pressure on Islamabad in the aftermath of Mumbai carnage of November 26 remarked that all the gunmen came from Pakistan, and that ISI must be brought under control. Before him, US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher had stressed the need to reform ISI. Under the cover of insurgency, US, India and Israel have intensified their collective covert strategic game by exploiting Pakistan's present multiple crises which they have themselves created through their secret agencies. While acting upon anti-Pakistan plot, they, sometimes, take new turns in their propaganda campaign in tarnishing the image of the ISI. In fact, US-led powers have badly failed in crushing the stiff resistance of Afghan Taliban and Kashmiris who have been fighting against the occupying forces. Hence, senseless accusations against ISI are essential for them to divert the attention of their public from their frustrated misadventure. Just like the sole superpower, it has become a fashion in India to blame the ISI for every mishap in order to conceal RAW-backed Hindu terrorism. In the recent past, concrete evidence surprised the world regarding a number of developments such as murder of Indian Anti-Terrorism Squad Chief Hemant Karkare during the Mumbai terror attacks, involvement of Hindu extremists in the Malegaon blasts, confession of Indian serving Lt Col Purohit in relation to the bombing of Samjhota Express and massacre of Muslims in Gujrat. Inaction by the US-led west over RAW-supported Hindu terrorism undoubtedly indicates that America and major European states have their common interest in India. Therefore, they blindly favour New Delhi's shrewd diplomacy against Islamabad. Their silence over two major terror-events in Lahore in March might also be cited as an example. The misdeeds of anti-ISI agencies are known to everyone. In this context, Ramzi Yousaf who was well-aware of the activities of the American and Israeli secret agencies had stated in the US court in 1997: "You are butchers, liars, and hypocrites. You keep on talking about terrorism to the media, but behind closed doors you support terrorism." There is no doubt that every country has a superior intelligence agency to safeguard its national interest. Just like the other agencies, ISI keeps a vigilant eye on the borders, assesses the nefarious designs of the enemies and anti-Pakistan subversion through various means. Despite its limited resources, it is the most effective secret agency in protecting the national interests of Pakistan. It is a good sign that every Pakistani citizen and politician know the real intentions of foreign elements which are at crusade against ISI. Apart from other leaders, even Nawaz Sharif, the chief of PML-N during his interview with Reuters on April 31 rejected the charges that the ISI has links with Taliban, saying there was "not any room for any suspicion of the ISI" in this respect. The writer is a foreign affairs analyst E-mail: sajjad_lo...@yahoo.com Article Source : http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Opinions/Columns/08-Apr-2009/Crusade-against-ISI
