US policies and war against terrorism

The POST, Sun, August,27, 2006.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

Despite Pakistan’s massive efforts and its acknowledged successes to curb terrorism, the western media appears to be obsessed to link all acts of terrorism with Pakistan in one form or the other. The western media‘s negative projection of recent discovery of a plot aimed to blow transatlantic flights with the crucial help of Pakistan is a good example of biased and twisted reporting. Almost all the major network opted to use phrases like Pakistan linked, Pakistan origin, British of Pakistani ancestry, British born Pakistanis. Although leaders like Bush and Blair acknowledged Pakistani contributions, but the media in their countries largely seemed to have opted to underplay it or project the development in such way that it denies the deserving credit to Pakistan.

Such biased attitudes do not help. On the contrary it further complicates the situations and tends to generate wrong and undesired vibes. Many hardliners in target countries employ such reporting for supporting their arguments about western determination to vilify the Muslim world. For obvious reason they thrive on ignorance and easily make inroads using western devised images of the Muslims. To further strengthen their arguments they use ignominious treatment accorded at Abu Gharib and Guantanamo Bay prisons.

It appears that US and its close allies are still far from being effective in their approaches to adequately and satisfactorily deal with the menace of terrorism. A recent report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) once again trying to lead the American decision makers on relatively less significant path and completely ignoring what can result in successes in war against terrorism. The CRS is highlighting that American support to regimes in Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Russia and Jordan is allowing terrorist groups to win sympathies of the people.        

Like the western media such reports from think tanks and research organizations are not really helping at all. After all the US history is filled with examples of support extended to authoritarian regimes of their own choice since the end of the Second World War which was justified by the media and research organizations on the grounds that it appropriately fitted into its global strategy against the perceived expansion of Communism during the entire period of the Cold War.

On the contrary such reports often influence and manage to put many ill informed legislators on a wrong path. Focusing on the likely emergence of groups that may sympathize with the terrorists and even support their activities is also going to shift their attentions from the real issues involved. The report also mentioned that Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia among countries where radical Islamic groups are joining the political process. In this connection Hamas’s and Hizbullah achievements are mentioned in order to strengthen the argument advanced in the report. Doesn’t it seem strange that on one hand they are engaged in promoting democratic ideals yet on the other they appear to be critical of specific groups joining the political processes?

As stated above such arguments invariably shift the focus from the real issue and indirectly contribute towards the perpetuation of real issue. Among the many causes that have given birth to terrorism and sustaining its perpetuation perhaps the most important and indeed the major cause is injustice perpetrated against an individual, or a group or a state. On the other hand a state, an organized group and an individual could also commit acts of terrorism. Many people feel that varied forms of injustice committed in Kashmir, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, and Lebanon is promoting and fanning terrorism rather effectively. Apart from the Chechenian struggle against the Russia, in almost all other cases the American are either directly or indirectly involved.

Undoubtedly the real issues revolve around the ongoing age old Kashmir and Palestine disputes along with the invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq and Lebanon. Undoubtedly the judicious resolutions of these disputes and could pull the rug under the feet of probable terrorists. To make things more complex many westerns promoted the war against terrorism as a war against Islam and Islamic world. The western media still continues to project Islam as a religion of violence despite the concerted efforts of many Islamic scholars, both in the western world as well as in Islamic countries, to clarify inadvertent misgivings and misinterpretations. It appears that there are many in the west that is not very comfortable with a respectable and the deserving image of Islam.

Deliberately contrived misinterpretation of Islamic concept of Jihad has further provided fuel. Islam is a peaceful religion. It strictly prohibits the killing of innocents. Its projected radicalization in some countries is the product of carefully contrived policies of certain individuals and in some cases of some countries policy pursuits. Jihad merely implies fight against injustice. Again the rise and increased popularity of certain radical groups is the product of unjust policy pursuits of certain countries. 

In many ways the incumbent international political system which is based on nation state system along with the notion of national interests could be construed as a contributing factor. Admittedly if one judges American policies objectively in the above mentioned cases (Kashmir, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon), a large portion of blame has to be shared by the Americans. For instance American and Indian strategic partnership has effectively colored American vision of a judicious resolution of the Kashmir dispute just as it had already done with regard to the plight of the Palestinians. It buys without question all Indian interpretations of the dispute.

While projecting itself as the champion of human rights all over the world, it does not bother about the Kashmiri rights. Similarly being heavily influenced by the Jewish lobbies and regarding Israel as its outpost, it does not care about the Palestinians’ rights. The killing of so many civilians in Lebanon in the recent Israel invasion and the role played in preventing an early ceasefire clearly reflects the unjust policy pursuits. What is happening in Iraq or Afghanistan do not augur well for future either. Not much pressure has been exerted by the Americans in order to convince the Russian to judiciously seek the resolution of Chechenian issue.

The US policies may seem justified under the pretext of what is called the ‘dictates of national interests’. What the American need to comprehend is that they should focus more and make concerted efforts to resolve those disputes. Both Kashmir and Palestine issue can be resolved with a little bit of concerted US efforts. Once these are judiciously resolved, the breeding grounds for terrorism would radically shrink. If a Palestine state is established and the Kashmiri exercise their right of self determination as was promised to them by the UN resolutions, there is no doubt in my mind that it would have electrifying impact.

Focusing on imposing a desired system and undertaking regime change is unlikely to check the march of terrorism. All disputes could be resolved through negotiations if the intentions are honest and desire for a peaceful world is genuine. If policies are going to be unjust and self interest orientated in order to retain domestic, regional and global support, the elimination of terrorism would continue to remain an illusive commodity.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy Research Institute.