Integrity Score 240
No Records Found
No Records Found
Chapter 3 continues…
It is this network of Jihadis with the army at several levels of ranks, and later with ISI’s support, that has become a serious threat for India today, and a source of various assassination terrorist bids on Indian soil. One cannot be anymore certain that a future coup d’etat by the Army would not enthrone a Jihadi as the new dictator of Pakistan. The Army-Jihadi-ISI network would then become official, and formidable. This would be a most serious threat to India’s national security, since Pakistan is already a nuclear weapons capable state. It is this looming threat that India needs to ponder and formulate a counter-strategy and a well-thought out contingency plan. India needs allies in this endeavour.
The Islamization of the Pakistani army had gained vigour and speed under General Zia who came to power in a military coup in 1977. The situation in neighbouring Afghanistan created by a foolish invasion by USSR two years later provided the catalyst for Islamic radicalization of Pakistan polity. Zia provided the Army with the motto of Iman (Faith), Taqwa (piety) and Jihad e-Sabilliliah (struggle in the service of Allah!). The Army thus got the image as the bulwark of Islam, as the crusading Army of Allah. Zia wore the mantle of a saviour and one who would enforce Ummah. However, the adverse impact this approach had on the Army high command was the tension it created between the “modern westernized professionals” and the mujahideen. The professional image of the force fast began to wane, and has continued ever since.
The foundation for Islamization of Pakistan was laid by the frequent military coups, and the lack of “grass roots” democracy. Military coups were witnessed from the birth of Pakistan. Many were unsuccessful: for example, the 1951 Rawalpindi case leading to the arrest of 13 army officers, the 1968 Agartal case, and 1973 Attock conspiracy case. The successful coups were of Ayub’s (1953), Yahyakhan (1969), Zia ul Haq’s (1977) and the 1999 coup of General Musharraf’s. Future coups in Pakistan are likely to be religiously inspired.
To be continued…