26/XI Ghost Haunts Pakistani Punjab

Brigadier Dr Vijay Sagar Dheman

On 26 Nov 2008, world had witnessed the worst kind of carnage at Mumbai perpetrated by the ISI sponsored Pakistani terrorists. It was a well-thought out astute operation executed to perfection. As usual, Pakistan was in denial about the involvement of deep state. Mumbai suffered the worst of terror attack at three spots simultaneously signalling a very advanced level of planning and execution done from sea front. The operation was master minded by Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the powerful military chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba with his HQ in Pakistan province of Punjab. The operation was supported by the Pakistani deep state ISI.

2. The event would have passed off in routine in the clutter of blames, claims and counter claims, had Indian security forces not captured Ajmal Kasab alive. It was done by ASI Tuka Ram Omble by sacrificing his life -a feat unparalleled in the history of terror attacks. In the ensuing investigation, it was apparent that the mastermind of the terror attack was from Pakistan province of Punjab. Pakistan rejoiced overtly and covertly depending on the position of the respective individual /organisation. The nationality of Ajmal Kasab was denied till the world conclusively realised that he was a Pakistani and indeed the terror attack originated from Pakistani soil (Punjab).
3. Pakistani Punjab, traditionally, has been hosting the fundamentalist overtures of Wahabis and Brailvis amongst others. David Coleman Headly and Tahawwar Rana jointly conducted terror attacks on Danish Daily in 2005. The daily was alleged to have published cartoons of Prophet Mohammed. The terror organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba (LeT), Jamaat-e-Islami, Ahl-e-Hadith, Tehrik-e-Labbiak of Pakistan (TLP) and many others are supported by fanatics in different sects of Islam like Wahabis and Brailvis amongst others. These organisations are fuelling the terror factory against India under the patronisation of Pakistan deep state controlled by ISI.
4. The state sponsored terror organizations in Punjab showed its true colour in 2016 when Mumtaz Qadri was executed for killing the Governor Salman Taseer. He was the body-guard of the governor and he killed him for his support to Asiya Bibi, who was killed for blasphemy. It is said that the funeral of Mumtaz Qadri was attended by more than 100,000 people in Islamabad (Punjab). The execution followed a series of rioting, arson and other terror activities all over Punjab to protest against execution of a known terrorist.
   The movement was masterminded by Khadim Hussain Rizvi of TLP who emerged as fundamentalist cleric with gigantic influence with the population under the shelter of ISI.
5. Similar credentials were exhibited by Khadim Hussain Rizvi of TLP recently when the French President Samuel Macron reacted against Islamic terrorists in France after the murder of a school teacher Samuel Patty. Khadim Hussain Rizvi led the protests in Pakistani Punjab literally bringing the major towns including Islamabad to its knees.
   He demanded expulsion of French embassy from Pakistan.
   He relented only once Imran Khan, much to dismay towards Pakistani military interests, agreed to concede the demand after passing this motion in Pakistani Parliament in three months time-frame. The growing influence of Khadim Hussain Rizvi was too serious to be ignored by the establishment comprising of Bajwa and Imran. They too realised the dirty side of radicalisation of Pakistani masses. Finally, a decision was taken to eliminate this TLP fundamentalist, radicalised to the core. However, his funeral, as well, brought Pakistani Punjab to halt.
   Situation today has brought the Punjab to a level where fundamentalist Jehadis are in the driver seat, Imran Khan is marginalised and Bajwa the real power centre is worried. Sending Hafeez Saeed to jail for 10 years jail term has added fuel to fire. His sending to jail has added only one bullet point to Pakistan’s presentation to FATF in Feb 2021. Pakistan may survive in grey list due to efforts of China and Turkey but Imran – Bajwa nexus has enough on its hands to look for survival in this Jehadi terror environment which is the creation of Pakistan deep state.
6. The recent creation of National Intelligence Coordination Committee. (NICC) has been formed by amalgamating all the available intelligence committees in Pakistan under command of DG ISI.
   The ISI of Pakistan has got a shot in the arm to boost its activities against India and the political activists as well as rebels within its provinces of Sindh, Blauchistan and Kheber Pakhtunkhwa. It will further escalate the activities of terrorists in Punjab as majority of Pakistani Army Officers are from Punjab province of Pakistan. The blasts in Mumbai 12 years back, the scenes of killings of innocents and the unwarranted destruction to the public property is reverberating in Islamabad and all over Punjab.
   (The author is former Additional Director General NCC and VC GK University Bhatinda)