ELEVEN YEARS AFTER 9/11 AND PAKISTAN

Almost eleven years ago when United States and its Allies invaded Afghanistan and the renowned war of “crusade” was given the term by former US President George W. Bush in 2001 for this adventure in Afghanistan. The adventure was later on renamed as “operation infinite justice”. But after receiving a lot of criticism on such terminologies from Islamic and Arab countries finally, “operation enduring freedom” had been chosen the name for this adventure in order to maintain Support from Islamic and Arab countries against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. In response to 9/11 attacks, US and allies captured Afghanistan in November 2001. Taliban government was officially ousted from power on 17 November, 2001. In December 2001, Bonn conference born puppet, The Karzai government in Afghanistan was installed. The most important element of this war commonly referred as “war against terror” was gaining international support for US for such a historical military alliance of 50 plus countries against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. It was never seen in Military history of the world before. Even the Arab world, to an extent Iran, China, Russia, and other players of power also supported US either directly or indirectly against the forces of Taliban and Al Qaeda. Pakistan’s role designated as the major Non-NATO ally. Whereas India fully supported the “noble” cause of eliminating so called terrorism from the world. Since the invasion of Afghanistan, US and its allies did everything possible and took all the essential steps to defeat Taliban but all in vein.

Interestingly, AL – Qaeda Chief Osama Bin laden was also killed in Abottabad last year. The fighting also claimed Thousands of Afghanis, Pakistanis and others, with or without any reason and still, everyday casualties is ongoing. There is no any authentic figure of these casualties since 2001, but we can estimate the numbers at least in thousands if not in millions. Almost 50 countries of the world under the ISAF command by US are in the course of war against Taliban but failed to eliminate them from Afghanistan. Taliban’ resistance against the allies has now moved on a decisive stage and the western aggressors are now running back to their homes. They have finalized agreements on their withdrawal by the end of 2014. The reality is that the US and its allies are not winning war in Afghanistan and could not defeat the Taliban militarily. It’s happening third time in the modern history that a world power is being defeated in Afghanistan, Firstly the British in 1880’S, the Soviets in 1980’S and now the Americans in 2010’s. Although the US as super power is still able to conduct military operations in Afghanistan as and where it desires, but Taliban have reached the point where they will eventually takeover in Afghanistan, whenever the western forces leave. Pakistan due to its enormous geopolitical significance can not remain in isolation. Whatever happens in Afghanistan, matters for Pakistan because it shares its longest boundary (approximately 2,640 KM) Durand line with Afghanistan. Durand line has a long history of border skirmishes between Afghanistan and British India before 1947. It is also considered as a sensitive issue Between Afghanistan and Pakistan. If fighting continues in Afghanistan after US Withdrawal like it happened in the case of Soviet Union’s withdrawal than, Pakistan is going to face similar situation which it had faced until Taliban’s rise to power in 1996. Prior to 9/11, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had their "strategic depth" in Afghanistan against Russia, India and Iran. 

Once again similar challenge and opportunity is on its way, but this time Russia, India, Iran and China are also going to chase this “strategic depth" according to their own interests. Pakistan already engaged in military operations in its territory against the Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP,) a group accused of its foreign links. A combination of foreign aggression, like Drone attacks, Air strikes and terrorist attacks by different groups can be threat to Pakistan’s survival. Pakistan’s internal situation is alarming, Balochistan, KPK, FATA, Gilgit - Baltistan, Karachi and different other parts of the country is bleeding. Nearly 1,500 people are killed alone in Karachi in just 8 months of the current year in Target killings. Similarly, KPK,Quetta and Gilgit are also portraying same pictures of law and order situation. Pakistan’s losses on the war on terror is more than US and NATO, as the Major Non- NATO ally Pakistan paid a huge price for American imperialist policies almost eleven years of its national deficit, both in economic and human consequences. The present international state system is equally of new dangers as well as new opportunities. Despite having all its internal threats and problems Pakistan, remains a key player in the endgame of Afghanistan. 2014 is not far away, Pakistan has to maintain the balance of power in the region besides playing an effective role in dealing with both the challenges and opportunities. An earlier attempt to prepare and manage an alternative multi dimensional grand strategy is needed for a multi level application. It may lead to secure Pakistan’s political, economical, and strategic objectives in the wake of Afghan Endgame.

Pakistan’s sovereignty

Drone attacks and air strikes by the US and NATO forces inside Pakistan is not a new phenomenon, it’s their common policy. Once again NATO helicopters raided inside Pakistani territory and killed more than two dozens of Pakistani soldiers at a checkpoint. Interestingly, the checkpoint which was attacked in Salala village in Mohmand Agency was built by the Pakistan army to stop militants holed up in Afghanistan from crossing the border and conducting attacks inside Pakistan. Which means the attack is a "double cross" by the US and NATO against Pakistan. In response or retaliation Pakistan also pursue a common practice of offering weaker condemnation, sometimes lodging strong protests with the US and ISAF over these attacks and sometimes cutting off supplies for US and NATO from Pakistan to Afghanistan. All of these measures taken by Pakistan proved ineffective and such attacks by the US and NATO forces have continued and our soldiers have continued being killed.

Is it not true that Pakistan has lost its supreme and ultimate decision-making and decision-enforcing power i.e., its sovereignty? Unfortunately, Pakistan’s sovereignty, both the territorial and functional has now become a matter of deep concern as the country seems like a regular victim of foreign aggression under the alliance system of US-led so-called war on terror, started after the 9/11. During the last 10 years, regardless of facing so many disastrous events on its soil, Pakistan remained committed to the US-led war within the territorial jurisdiction of Pakistan, due to which Pakistan has lost thousands of soldiers and citizens. Despite having nuclear deterrence, an elected political government, an independent judiciary, hundreds of political and religious parties and their "revolutionary" heroes and a vibrant media, the country is a regular victim of terrorism by the US and NATO forces. All this raises a question as to what can be done. The answer is simple: serve your own interests. Yes, Pakistan needs to serve its own interests in the region. Practically, from Pakistan’s side, there is no any on-ground mechanism to defend its territorial and functional sovereignty from being attacked by the US and NATO. Besides political and administrative means, Pakistan also needs to develop a strong military mechanism to retaliate in case of any such attack in the future.

Four Essential Elements of Pakistan: A Critical Evaluation

Pakistan is the component of certain essential elements which are present in all the independent countries of the present international state system. These elements are:

• The people
• Territory/Land
• Government
• Sovereignty

If a state lacks any one of these elements is called sui-generis or extra constitutional arrangement. An example is Vatican City which is the capital of the catholic world. Vatican is smallest state in the world, having over a hundred and few acres of land belonging to Italian state under the treaty of Lateran of 1929. Another example can be United Nations - which is the subject of international community enjoying rights of a state.


About The people of Pakistan:

The choice and formation of any state depends upon the will of the people. The most important character of the people is to become like minded for the creation of state. Like minded people can become a nation or a nation can be a group of like minded people but, for how long? The answer is unfortunately, just twenty four years in the case of Pakistan.
Pakistan came into being in 1947 as a result of almost 90 years of continued struggle since the disastrous end of the war of freedom in 1857, marked with the begining of formal British rule in the sub continent. In fact, the Muslims of South Asia fought against both the British and the Hindus simultaneously for the creation of Pakistan. But just after 24 years, the same people who had sacrificed and created Pakistan by provoking their will and right of the self determination, once again provoked their right of the self determination in 1971 and created Bangladesh to exercise their will and sovereignty.
East Pakistan had a largest population and the largest economic share but unfortunately, this majority seceded from the minority - unique in the sense. Hence, this has been proved that a nation’s right of the self determination cannot be limited for only once in its history. It is also left undecided in the international law that how many times a nation can provoke its right of the self determination? The answer is simply as many as you can, because it is not an eternal right. Pakistan is the country which has become a victim of this right by their own people so, Pakistan as a state must be careful about the people and their welfare to avoid such a disaster again.


Territory/Land:

A nation’s territory is a piece of land on which its people are living. Territory is the geographical limit in which a nation exercises its sovereignty. The question is How much land/territory is required to establish a state? The answer is that there is no limit of land for a nation in the international law, the formula is very simple i.e. how much you need and how much you can get?
Geographically, Pakistan emerged on two wings in the political map of the world. The Western wing or west Pakistan comprising province of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, and the North-West Frontier Province (present day Khyber-Pakhtoonnkhwa) and the Eastern wing or East Pakistan(Now Bangladesh) with the province of East Bengal. These two wings were separated from each other by a distance over 1,000 miles. Pakistan’s history From 1947-1971 reveals that due to the combination of internal political, economical, administrative negligence and weaknesses, with the external exploitation and aggression by India, the eastern wing became independent and the Bangladesh was created in 1971. Therefore, the land was divided and the western wing remained as the successor of the “two nation theory” based on which Pakistan was created.

Map Source: CIA- the world fact book available on: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world fact book/maps/maptemplate_pk.html

Naturally, the territory of Pakistan is consists of all the essential geographical elements which play vital role in the development of a nation. Strategically, the country is situated in a position between the important regions of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Due to its geographical location, Pakistan has a great geostrategic importance for the Asia and Europe. Historically, Pakistan is the birthplace of the great Indus valley civilization. Still, the Indus River valley and an arc shaped by the cities of Faisalabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Peshawar, is heavily populated area in Pakistan.


Government:

This is a term generally refers to the political executive or the institution which forms the constitutional order or binding rules and regulations in a given territory at a given time. The government institutionalizes the process through which the internal and external aspects of state sovereignty are exercised. It is the government which acts and exercises the will of its people over its territory and its external relations with the world. Government is the most powerful mechanism for social control yet devised by human being in the history. The basis of government is the idea of having legitimacy from its people, but several experiments were made with Pakistan to produce a form of government. Throughout its history,the political system and form of government in Pakistan mostly remained controversial and corrupt after the Martyrdom of Quaid -e-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951.
We have seen different forms of the government in Pakistan. since its creation,Pakistan has experienced four military governments, three constitutions and till now eighteen amendments to the constitution. We also have seen several “types of democracy” under the different Military regimes and civil governments. We had a “controlled democracy” in fifties, then a “basic democracy” in sixties, then a “socialist democracy” in seventies, then a “guided democracy” in eighties, then an “impure democracy” in nineties. Unfortunately, the end of the twentieth century once again marked with the military rule in Pakistan followed by an army built corrupt democratic form of government functioning since the early decade of 21st century. The present government is also a product of Pervez Musharraf’s National Reconciliation Order 2007.


Sovereignty:

It is the supreme and ultimate Decision - Making and Decision - Enforcing power possessed by a state to impose its will upon its people, associations and institutions within its jurisdiction. Freedom of the individual state from external control to make independent decisions is an essential element of sovereignty. Pakistan’s sovereignty, both the territorial and functional has mostly remained compromised or surrendered. In May 1998, Pakistan rightly exercised its sovereignty in its self defence by conducting nuclear explosion and became the seventh nuclear power in the world. Now, Sovereignty has become a matter of deep concern as the country has become a victim of foreign aggression under the alliance system of American led so called War on Terrorism, started after the 9/11. Pakistan had joined this war to fight against terrorists belonging to Al Qaeda and Taliban. In fact, America invaded Afghanistan in 2001 with the help of Pakistan.
During last 10 years Pakistan has faced many tragedies, disasters, national and international challenges. Among them some important events are:

• In 2002 a possible Indian attack was stopped due to Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent.
• Pakistan faced a major Earthquake in 2005.
• Military operation in Balochistan and,Akbar Bugti’s Murder in 2006.
• 12th may violence in Karachi, Lal Masjid operation and Benazir Bhutto assassination in 2007.
• General Elections of 2008.
• Restoration of the Judiciary by Long March in 2009.
• Armed conflicts with Al -Qaeda and Taliban militants in Waziristan and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. Military operations against Al -Qaeda and Taliban since 2004.
• The deadliest flood of its history in 2010
• American military operation in Abottabad in 2011.

Regardless of all these events, Pakistan remained committed on the American led war in Afghanistan and within the territorial jurisdiction of Pakistan, due to which, Pakistan lost thousands of lives and has become a victim of this war by all aspects including politically, economically and militarily. Some major outcomes of this war for Pakistan are:

• Drone Attacks / Air Strikes by U.S and NATO Forces inside Pakistan.
• Suicide/Terrorist attacks By the Militants inside Pakistan.
• Poor law and order situation in the country particularly in Karachi, the gateway of Pakistan.

It can be said that Militarily, Pakistan has lost its sovereignty by serving the American interests at the cost of its own national interests in the region. After the Abottabad operation, the American led War has also raised the possibilities of becoming a continuous but limited war zone within Pakistan.


The Present State:

All the institutions of Pakistan principally, the Judiciary could not deliver as to the expectation and necessity of the people of Pakistan. Judiciary also has certain limitations. Regardless of being positive or negative, Media in Pakistan has emerged as the most influential platform and playing an important role in the politics. Government is lenient to defend the basic element of Pakistan- the nation’s sovereignty. Leadership, who is running the Government, is apparently corrupt and “Reconciliation” is the art of its corruption. Therefore, Government is unable to run and regulate the basic functions of the state.
Political and religious parties are the cause of divided and antagonistic mandate, they may not even be aware of the actual character of policies and their outcomes they pursue and support. Therefore, there is no consensus among the people on the major issues of Pakistan.
Despite having a nuclear power, an elected government, an independent judiciary, hundreds of political and religious parties and a vibrant media, all the corrupt practices are going on throughout the country.

In view of a Muslim’s complain to God, the great philosopher Allama Iqbal in his Shikwa, asked to God:

Rahmaten Hai Teri Aghyar Ke kaashano Par
Barq Girti Hai To Be Chare Musalmano Par

Then God’s reply to it in his Jawab –e- Shikwa, Allama rightly said:

Koi Qabil Ho To Hum Shan kai Dete Hai
Dhundhne Walon Ko Dunya Bhi Nayi Dete Hai


States belong to the nations and a nation is a physical outcome of nationalism. When nationalism and nation bond with the land, it gives birth to patriotism which is a mystic concept. but In the case of Pakistan, nationalism -remained the biggest problem. Pakistani nationalism is subdivided into ethnicity therefore; People are divided and lethargic to over through the status quo.


Conclusion:

As a matter of fact, Pakistan came into being through the dynamic force of religion. More than six decades have been passed but the objective of Pakistan not yet been achieved. Today, Pakistan is facing the challenge of its identity. The country is not the land of Islam as envisioned by Allama Iqbal. Its people are not the nation envisaged by the Quid-e- Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Unfortunately, certain essential elements of Pakistan – The People, Territory, Government and Sovereignty are in a state of chaos in general, leading towards insecurity and vulnerability of Pakistan. Therefore, Preparation of a balance sheet of Pakistan in order to evaluate the national gains and losses for an early recovery is inevitable.


Recommendation:

The next step is the preparation of a Grand National Strategy (GNS) for Pakistan which should be based on the following priorities:

• Rebuilding Pakistan’s:

a) Nationalism
b) National Character
c) National Morale

• Redefining Pakistan’s National Interests and objectives.
• Realignment Accordingly

The Final step is the implementation of the Pakistan’s GNS, to reorganize its four essential elements People,Territory,Government and sovereignty. This will help pakistan to get Political, Social, Economical and Military development compatible with the contemporary world at the individual and state level, firmly and consistently.