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HowPakistan'sProxyWarBeganV
ByBRaman
Issue:BookExcerpts:ATerroristStateasaFrontlineAlly|Date:19May,2011

IndianEffortstosecureUSsupport
InadditiontosteppingupcounterterrorismoperationsbytheSecurityForcesontheground,the
GovernmentofIndiahasalsobeentrying,since1991,todrawtheattentionoftheinternationalcommunityto
theproxywarbeingwagedbyPakistanagainstIndiainJ&KandelsewhereandtopersuadeWashingtonto
declarePakistanasaStatesponsorofinternationalterrorismasprovidedforundertheUSlaws.TheIndian
effortswerefocussedontheUSbecausetheUSwastheonlycountryintheworldtohavealegalprovision
forsuchadeclaration.
Alsoread:HowPakistansProxyWarBeganI
In1991,theGovernmentofIndiagavetotheUSadetaileddossieronPakistanisponsorshipofterrorismin
IndianTerritoryandsoughtthedeclarationofPakistanasaStatesponsorofinternationalterrorism.The
BushSrAdministrationrejectedthedossierunderthepretextthatmuchoftheevidencewasbasedon
interrogationreportswhichwere,intheeyesoftheUSlaw,suspectduetothepossibleuseoftorturebythe
Indianpolice.
Clicktobuy:ATerroristStateasaFrontlineAlly
However,afteranattackin1992onagroupofIsraelitouristsinSrinagarbytheKashmiriextremistsonthe
ISIsinstructions,GeorgeBush,theninthemidstofhiscampaignforreelection,cameunderpressurefrom
theJewishlobbiestoactagainstPakistan.HeorderedareexaminationofthedossierbytheState
Department,whichnowfelttherewere,afterall,stronggroundsforactionagainstPakistan.
theGovernmentofIndiahasalsobeentrying,since1991,todrawtheattentionoftheinternational
communitytotheproxywarbeingwagedbyPakistanagainstIndia
Beforethereexaminationwascompleted,Bushhadlosthiselectionandhe,therefore,leftthedossiertohis
successor,BillClinton,fordecision.AfterassumingofficeinJanuary1993,ClintonplacedPakistanand
SudanonthesocalledwatchlistofsuspectedStatesponsorsofinternationalterrorismforsixmonths
withoutactuallydeclaringthemtobeso.
Therewerefourimportantdevelopmentsin1993:
First,since1991,theISIhadbeenrepeatedlypressingtheSikhextremistleaderstoattackimportant
economictargetsoutsidePunjabandNewDelhi,buttheywereunabletodoso.Takingadvantageofthe
strongantigovernmentfeelingsamongstsomesectionsoftheMuslimcommunityinMumbaiafterthe
communalincidentsofDecember1992,theISIaskedDawoodIbrahim,anotoriousnarcoticssmugglerthen
livinginDubaiandnowinKarachi,torecruitdisgruntledmembersoftheMuslimcommunityofMumbai
andbringthemtoPakistanviaDubaifortraining.Hedidsoandtheyweretrainedintheuseofexplosives
andaskedtocauseexplosionsdirectedagainsteconomictargetssuchastheStockExchange,theAirIndia
office,etc.ExplosivesandotherarmsandammunitionweresenttothemclandestinelybyboatfromKarachi.
TakingadvantageofthestrongantigovernmentfeelingsamongstsomesectionsoftheMuslimcommunity
theISIaskedDawoodIbrahimtorecruitdisgruntledmembersoftheMuslimcommunityofMumbaiand
bringthemtoPakistanviaDubaifortraining.
AftertheseexplosionsinMarch1993,Austriancounterterrorismexpertscertifiedthatthehandgrenades
giventotheterroristsbytheISIhadbeenmanufacturedinaPakistanordnancefactorywiththehelpof
machinetoolsandtechnologysuppliedbyanAustriancompany.UScounterterrorismexpertscertifiedthat
anunusedchemicaltimerrecoveredbytheMumbaiPolicewaspartofaconsignmentsuppliedbytheUS
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ArmytoPakistaninthe1980s.Aftertheexplosions,theterroristsfledtoKarachiviaKathmandu.The
GovernmentofIndiapressedtheClintonAdministrationonceagaintodeclarePakistanasaStatesponsorof
internationalterrorism.AtWashingtonsrequest,theUSConsulateinKarachistartedmakingenquiriesabout
thepresenceoftheseterroristsinKarachi.TheISI,thereupon,tookallofthemtoBangkokandkeptthemin
ahoteltheretilltheenquiriesoftheUSConsulatehadceasedandthenbroughtthembacktoKarachi.
Second,onreceiptofinformationthatafterthecollapseoftheNajibullahGovernmentinKabul,different
AfghanMujahideengroupsweretryingtoselltheirsurplusstocksofStingermissilestowhoevercould
affordtobuythem,theCIAsentaspecialteamtoPeshawartopersuadetheMujahideentoselltheStingers
backtotheUS.ItsoughtthecooperationofLtGen(retd)JavedNasir,theDGISI,andhisofficersinthis
matter,buttheywerereportedlyunhelpful.Moreover,attheinstanceofOsamabinLaden,theHUMsenta
groupheadedbyMaulanaMasoodAzhartoKenyaandSomalia,firstly,topersuadethePakistanimembers
oftheUNpeacekeepingforcenottofightagainsttheSomaliinsurgentgroupsand,secondly,tohelpthe
SomaliinsurgentsintheirfightagainsttheUNtroops,particularlytheAmericans.ThisHUMcontingentwas
responsibleforsomeoftheattacksontheAmericans,whichsubsequentlyledtothewithdrawaloftheUS
troopsfromSomalia.
Third,since1992,therewerereportsthatattheinstanceofLtGenNasir,theTJhadstartedsendingoutits
cadrestoChechnya,Dagestan,TajikistanandotherCentralAsianRepublicsandsouthernPhilippines
ostensiblyonproselytisingmissions,butreallytorecruitvolunteersforbeingtrainedandarmedsothatthey
couldstartajehadagainstthegovernmentsofthosecountries.TheFilipinoauthoritiesnotedwithalarma
steepincreaseinthevisitsofTJpreachersandtheircontactswiththeleadersoftheAbuSayaafandother
Muslimextremistgroups.TheCIAtoowasalarmedbythesereports.
NawazSharifwasshockedwhentoldaboutthisbytheUSEmbassyinIslamabadbecausetheISI,whichhad
kepthiminformedofitsoperationsinIndianTerritory,hadkepthiminthedarkonitsassistancetotheL
TTE.
Fourth,inMay1993,theCIAwasinreceiptofreportsthatthearmsandammunitionfoundonboardtheL
TTEship,inwhichKittuwastravellingandwhichwasinterceptedbytheIndianNavy,hadbeengiventothe
LTTEbyPakistaninarcoticsbaronsinreturnfortheLTTEallowingtheuseofitsshipsregisteredinGreece
bythesebaronsforsmugglingherointoWesterncountriesandthattheweaponswereloadedontotheshipat
KarachiwiththeassistanceoftheISIandthePakistanNavy.TheISlsactiontotallydefiedlogicsince
IslamabadhadcordialrelationswithColomboandtheLTTEwasmassacringtheMuslimsofSriLankas
EasternProvince.NawazSharifwasshockedwhentoldaboutthisbytheUSEmbassyinIslamabadbecause
theISI,whichhadkepthiminformedofitsoperationsinIndianTerritory,hadkepthiminthedarkonits
assistancetotheLTTE.
Followingthesedevelopments,theClintonAdministrationdemandedthatSharifshouldremovefromtheISI
LtGenNasirandotherofficersinvolvedinpromotingterrorismandinencouragingtheAfghanMujahideen
nottosellbacktheirStingerstotheUS.Islamabadsuccumbedtothepressureandremovedthem.LtGen
NasirpromptlytookoverastheheadoftheTJandcontinuedtoassisttheIslamicextremistgroupsabroadin
thatcapacity.
ItlookedasiftheUS,despitetheremovaloftheseofficers,mightstilldeclarePakistanaStatesponsorof
internationalterrorism:TestifyingbeforetheSenateJudiciaryCommitteeonApril21,1993,JamesWoolsey,
thethenCIADirector,said:PakistanhassupportedMuslimmilitantsandSikhseparatistswagingterror
campaignsagainsttheIndianGovernmentintheStatesofKashmirandPunjab.Sudanisthehostofa
growingnumberofterroristgroupssuchastheIraniansponsoredHezbollah,thePalestinianAbuNidal
OrganisationandtheradicalMuslimHamasmovement.SudanandPakistan,whilenotyetontheState
DepartmentslistofStatesponsors(ofterrorism),areonthebrink.LastJanuary,theUSwarnedeachof
thesecountriesthatitcouldsoonbelisted.DetailsofhistestimonywerecarriedbytheChicagoTribuneof
April22,1993.
BenazirBhutto,senturgentprivatemessagestotheWhiteHousethroughherAmericanfriendsthatonher
returntopowershewouldstoptheISIactivitiesinsupportofterrorism.
But,bythen,SharifstroubleswiththethenPresident,GhulamIshaqKhan,andthethenChiefoftheArmy
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Staff(COAS),GeneralAbdulWaheedKakkar,hadstartedanditwasevidentthathisdaysasthePrime
Ministerwerenumbered.BenazirBhutto,thethenLeaderoftheOpposition,senturgentprivatemessagesto
theWhiteHousethroughherAmericanfriendsthatshehopedtowintheelectionsandthatonherreturnto
powershewouldstoptheISIactivitiesinsupportofterrorism.
Inresponsetohermessages,theWhiteHouseoverruledtherecommendationoftheCounterTerrorism
DivisionoftheStateDepartmenttodeclarePakistanaStatesponsorofinternationalterrorismandremoved
PakistanevenfromthewatchlistofsuspectedStatesponsorsofinternationalterrorismonJuly14,1993,on
thegroundsthatthePakistanGovernmenthadtakensomecorrectivestepswithwhichtheUSwassatisfied.
Sudanwas,however,declaredaStatesponsorofinternationalterrorism.
AdetailedPressbriefingonthissubjectwasheldbyMikeMcCurry,thethenspokesmanoftheState
Department,onJuly15,1993.ThetextofthebriefingwascarriedbytheDawnofKarachionJuly16,1993.
TheDawnsreportquotedMcCurryassaying:Inthelastsixmonthswehaveseenawillingnessontheir
(Pakistans)parttoworkwithusonthisissue,thattheyhaveaddressedsomeoftheconcernsthatwehave
raisedwiththeminthepastandtheyarecooperatingwithusingettingadditionalinformationtousabout
issuesthatwehaveraisedasrecentlyasintheannualterrorismreportthatwereleasedinApril.So,Iwould
describePakistanasbeingmuchmorecooperativeonthespecificissueofactsofinternationalterrorism,
whichiswhatthestatuterequires.OneoftheAmericancorrespondentsaskedMcCurrywhetherthedecision
toletPakistanoffthehookwasbecauseWashingtondidnotwanttoalienateanimportantMuslimcountryof
theregion.McCurryrepliedasfollows:TheSecretary(ofState)followedtheletterofthelawinthiscase
andthatsthemostimportantcriteria.But,obviously,anydecisionlikethisthatsveryimportant,thefull
rangeofcriteriathatmightbeconsideredareunderreview.
Clicktobuy:ATerroristStateasaFrontlineAlly
McCurryevadedquestionstospellouttheUSconcerns,whichPakistanhadaddressedsatisfactorily,as
claimedbytheStateDepartment.However,ajointanalysisbyRJeffreySmithandThomasWLippman
carriedbytheWashingtonPostofJuly15,1993,statedasfollows:
USofficialssaid,Pakistaniintelligenceandarmyoperativeshadfunnelledmoneyandarmsandprovided
trainingtoMuslimandSikhmilitantswhoopposedIndiasruleofKashmirandPunjab
PakistansallegedlinkstoterrorismhadinitiallyarousedUSconcernslastyear.TheClintonAdministration
beganaspecialintelligencecommunitystudyofthematterthisspringafterreceivingwhatofficialssaidwere
crediblereportsofIslamabadsinvolvementinterrorism.
Inparticular,officialssaid,Pakistaniintelligenceandarmyoperativeshadfunnelledmoneyandarmsand
providedtrainingtoMuslimandSikhmilitantswhoopposedIndiasruleofKashmirandPunjabin1991and
1992.USofficialsalsoaccusedthe(Pakistan)governmentofpermittingIslamicfundamentalists,whohad
beeninvolvedintheAfghanistanconflict,toengageinterroristactivitiesinothernationsfromsanctuaryin
Pakistan.
He(McCurry)declinedtostateexactlywhatstepsPakistanhadtaken,butotherUSofficialssaidthe
PakistanGovernmentappearstohaveendedsomeofitstiestosuspectedterroristsandhadfiredasenior
PakistaniintelligenceofficiallinkedtoterroristsinKashmir.
Atthesametime,USofficialssaid,notalloftheevidencepointedtowardexoneration.Washingtonhas
receivedconflictingreports,forexample,aboutPakistaniinvolvementinaseriesofbombingsthatdestroyed
buildingsinBombaylastMarchandUSofficialshavebeenunabletoreachaconclusionaboutwhowas
responsible.
TheroleofPakistaninaidingandabettingterrorisminKashmiriswelldocumented,somuchsothatthe
administrationalmostplacedthePakistaniregimeonthe1993listofStatesponsorsofterrorism.
USofficialsarealsonotconvincedthatarmyandintelligenceemployeesarecomplyingwithwhatone
officialcalledanewattitudebythePakistanileadershiptowardscurtailingsupportforterrorism.Theyare
justbeginningtoreorganisetheintelligenceagency.theofficialssaid.
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McCurrysaidtheUSisstillawaitingafulleraccountofPakistansresponsetoAmericanconcerns.
Pakistanhasdeniedsupportingterrorists,butadmittedtakingstepstorespondtoUSconcerns.Weflushed
outallthosegroups,whoweresaidtohavetakenpartininternationalterrorism,saidMalikZahoor,a
spokesmanforthePakistaniEmbassyhere(inWashington).Thosepeoplewereinitiallyhelpingusin
AfghanistanwhichwasourcauseandthecauseoftheUS,hesaid.Butwhentheytriedtopursuetheir
targetsinternationally,weroundedupthosewhowecouldlayourhandsonandsentthemtotheirrespective
countries.
TheWashingtonPostcontinued:ZahooralsoconfirmedthattheUShadshowntouscertainconcerns
aboutGeneralJavedNasir,theDirectorGeneralofPakistansIntelligenceDirectorate,andsaidthat
PakistaniPrimeMinisterNawazSharifhadsubsequentlydecidedtosackNasir.
Muchlater,onOctober18,1995,theNationofPakistanquotedanotherreportoftheWashingtonPostas
statingthatPakistaniofficialsinvestigatingaplotbyagroupofarmyofficersledbyMajGenZaheerul
IslamAbbasitostageacoupagainstBenazirhadfoundevidencethatthereligiouslymotivatedofficers
(involvedintheplot)hadstrongpersonalconnectionswithLtGenNasir.Amongstthereasonsforhis
removalin1993citedbytheWashingtonPostasquotedbytheNationwasbecausehewasprovidingcovert
militarysupporttoMuslimrebelsinaboutadozencountriesandafterhisremovalhehadbeentravelling
worldwide(asaTJleader)preachingmilitantIslam.
ThetrainedcadresoftheHUMandtheLashkar,alongwithregularPakistanitroops,helpedtheTalibanin
thecaptureofHeratandsubsequently,in1996,ofJalalabadandKabul.
Benazir,whoreturnedtopowerend1993,didcooperatewithWashingtoninactingagainstnarcoticsbarons
andterroristsinwhomtheUSwasinterested,butwentbackonherassurancetotheWhiteHousetostopthe
ISlssupporttoterrorisminIndiaandothercountries.Allthatshedidwas:
First,askedtheISItointeractwiththeterroristgroupsindirectlythroughcutoutssuchastheJEI,the
HUM,theMarkaz,theLashkar,etc,insteadofdirectlyasinthepast.
Second, persuaded the HUM, the Markaz, the Lashkar and the HJzbul Mujahideen to shift their
trainingcampstoAfghanterritoryundertheISlscontrol.
Third,entrustedMajGen(retd)NasirullahBabar,herInteriorMinister,whohadheadedtheAfghan
DivisionoftheISIwhenherfatherwasthe,PrimeMinister,withtheresponsibilityforoverseeingthe
ISIactivitiessothatunauthorisedrogueactionsliketheISIhelpingtheLTTEdidnotoccuragain.
ExtremistelementsfromKashmirandotherpartsofIndiacontinuedgoingtothetrainingcampsinAfghan
territoryandtheinfiltrationofPakistaniandothermercenariesintoKashmirwasintensified.Inan
interventionintheUSHouseofRepresentativesonJune22,1994,BillMcCollum,amember,drewattention
toBenazirgoingbackonherwords.Hesaid:IrisetodaytobringtotheattentionoftheHouseavery
importantmatter.TheroleofPakistaninaidingandabettingterrorisminKashmiriswelldocumented,so
muchsothattheadministrationalmostplacedthePakistaniregimeonthe1993listofStatesponsorsof
terrorism.However,theadministrationdidnottakesuchactionbecauseitwasassuredbyPakistanthat
IslamabadwastakingcrediblestepstodissociateitselffromthemilitantsinKashmir.
Hecontinued:Recentreports,however,suggestthatPakistanneverstopped
itsaidtotheterroristsinKashmir.AreportintheWashingtonPost,dated
May16,1994,titledPakistanAidingRebelsinKashmir:Muslims
ReportedlyArmedAndTrainedbyJohnWordAnderson,datelined
Muzaffarabad,givesafirsthandaccountofsuchassistancebyPakistanto
terroristsinKashmir.
TheStateDepartmenthasalsoconfirmedthisfactinitsannualreporttitled
PatternsofGlobalTerrorism.Iquote:Therewerecrediblereportsin1993
ofofficialPakistanisupporttoKashmirimilitants.

EditorsPick
USMilitarySurgein
Afghanistan
Indiapaysdearlyfor
poorlynegotiatedarms
deals
RadicalIslam:Terror
isthetool

ThisfactisfurtherconfirmedfromastudyconductedbytheTaskForceonTerrorismandUnconventional
WarfaretitledTheKashmirConnection,whichIwouldliketoplaceintherecord,immediatelyfollowing
theseremarkswhichdetailstheextentofPakistaniinvolvementinaidingtheterroristsinKashmir.
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ThisHouseshouldtakecognisanceofthisseriousissue,particularlyassomeofthoseindictedinthe
bombingoftheWorldTradeCenter(atNewYorkinFebruary1993)hadalsoreceivedtraininginPakistan,
heconcluded.
TheStateDepartmenthasalsoconfirmedthisfactinitsannualreporttitledPatternsofGlobalTerrorism.I
quote:Therewerecrediblereportsin1993ofofficialPakistanisupporttoKashmirimilitants.
TherewerecertainspecialreasonsastowhyBenazirwentbackonherwordswiththeacquiescenceofthe
ClintonAdministration.
First,ofthetwoprincipalnonShiaIslamicpoliticalpartiesofPakistan,theJEIwasstronglyopposedtoher
andquestionedtherightofawomantoruleanIslamiccountrywhereastheJamaatulUlemaIslam(JUI)
(withastrongWahabiinfluence)ledbyMaulanaFazlurRehmansupportedher.TheMaulanaisthe
godfatheroftheHUM,theMarkazandtheLashkarandwasstronglyopposedtoanyrestrictionsontheir
activities.
Second,theBenazirGovernmentaswellastheClintonAdministrationusedtheMaulanainend1994to
createtheTalibanfromthestudentsoftheWahabimadrasasunderthecontroloftheJUIandhelpitwin
controloftheAfghanterritorythroughwhichtheroadtoTurkmenistanviaHeratpasses,inordertopavethe
wayfortheconstructionofoilandgaspipelinesbytheUNOCAL,apowerfulUScompany,from
TurkmenistantoPakistan.ThetrainedcadresoftheHUMandtheLashkar,alongwithregularPakistani
troops,helpedtheTalibaninthecaptureofHeratandsubsequently,in1996,ofJalalabadandKabul.
TheUNOCALhadreportedlycontributedheavilytothecampaignfundsofBushaswellasClintonof1992
andamongstthelargenumberofconsultantsusedbyitinconnectionwiththeprojectwereSenatorHank
Brown,whomovedtheamendmentnamedafterhimin1995todilutethePresslerAmendmentsanctions
againstPakistan,andDrKissinger.SpeakingatareceptionhostedbytheUNOCALatNewYorkon
October21,1995,tomarkthesuccessfulcompletionofthenegotiationswithTurkmenistan,DrKissinger,in
anobliquereferencetoBenazirshelpinhavingtheareaclearedbytheTalibantofacilitatethepipelines,
praisedBenazir,whowasrepresentedatthefunctionbyMakhdoomAminFahim,herOilMinister,forher
imaginativeandcourageousdecisiontogoaheadwiththeprojectinspiteofthedisturbedconditionsin
Afghanistan.Hedescribedheractionasoneofgreathistoricalsignificance.
However,subsequently,UNOCALhaddifficultiesinitsnegotiationswiththeTalibanandabandonedthe
projectwhentheTalibanregimebecameunpopularintheWestbecauseofitsviolationofthehumanrights
ofwomen.ThoughtheHUMandtheLashkarhadbeenfunctioningfromAfghanterritorysince1994and
assistingtheTalibanbinLadenandhisAlQaidahadshiftedtoAfghanistanfromSudaninthefirsthalfof
1996,theClintonAdministrationdidnotmakeanissueofthiswiththeTalibansolongasUNOCALretained
itsinterestinthepipelineprojectforwhichitneededtheTalibanshelp.OnceUNOCALlostinterest,
WashingtonstartedpressurisingtheTalibantoactagainstbinLadenandotherterroristgroupsoperatingfrom
Afghanterritory.
Clicktobuy:ATerroristStateasaFrontlineAlly
InOctober1997,theStateDepartmentdeclaredtheHUM(thenknownastheHarkatulAnsar)asaforeign
terroristorganisationundertheAntiTerrorismandEffectiveDeathPenaltyAct,1996,followingevidenceof
itsinvolvementinthekidnappingofsomeWesterntourists,includingtwoAmericans,underthenameAl
FaraninJ&Kin1995andinthemurderoftwoAmericannationalsinKarachi.
NawazSharifapprovedaplansubmittedbyGeneralMusharrafforshiftingtheHUM,theLashkarandthe
AlBadrterroristsfromtheircampsinAfghanistantotheNorthernAreasandusethemtohelpthePakistan
ArmyinthecaptureoftheridgesintheKargilarea.
Thereafter,itstartedexercisingpressureonIslamabadtoactagainstit.Thiswasintensifiedin1998afterthe
HUMsignedbinLadensfatwaagainsttheUSandIsrael.ThismatterwasagaintakenupbyWashington
afterthehijackingoftheIAplanetoKandaharbyfivePakistaniterroristsoftheHUM.NeitherSharifnor
GeneralPervezMusharrafpaidheedtotheUSrequests.
Thepost1998periodsawthereturnofLtGenNasirtofavour,withoutanyprotestfromWashington.Hewas
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appointedbyNawazSharifashisintelligenceadviser.Notonlythat,hemadeLtGenNasirtheheadofthe
PakistanSikhGurudwaraPrabandhakCommittee,whichisresponsibleforthecontrolofthegurudwarasin
Pakistan,inanattempttoreviveSikhmilitancyinthePunjab.(Authorscomment:Recentreportsindicated
thatMusharrafhasremovedhimfromthePSGPC,butthisisyettobeconfirmed.)
InFebruary1999,whenpressurefromtheUSforactingagainstbinLadenandtheterroristgroupsoperating
fromAfghanterritoryincreased,NawazSharifapprovedaplansubmittedbyGeneralMusharrafforshifting
theHUM,theLashkarandtheAlBadrterroristsfromtheircampsinAfghanistantotheNorthernAreasand
usethemtohelpthePakistanArmyinthecaptureoftheridgesintheKargilarea.
AttheheightoftheKargilfighting,theIndianauthoritiesinterceptedatelephoneconversationbetweenLt
GenMohammedAziz,thentheCGS,inRawalpindiandGeneralMusharraf,whowastheninBeijingona
visit.Bythen,theUSandotherWesterncountrieshadstartedpressingShariftoorderthewithdrawalofthe
intrudersfromIndianterritory.SharifwasapparentlyworriedaboutthecontrolofthePakistanArmyover
theterroristsbroughtfromAfghanistan.LtGenAzizcouldbeheardinthetapetellingGeneralMusharraf
thatheassuredSharifthatthescruffoftheirneckisinourhands,meaningtheterroristswoulddowhatever
thePakistanArmyaskedthemtodo.
TherehavebeensevenhijackingsofIAaircraftbyPakistansponsoredterroristgroupssince1971.
TenweeksafterGeneralMusharrafseizedpoweronOctober12,1999,theHUMhijackedtheIAaircraftto
Kandahar.ThiswasthefirsthijackingbyaPakistansponsoredterroristgroupsince1984.Therehavebeen
sevenhijackingsofIAaircraftbyPakistansponsoredterroristgroupssince1971:Allsevenwerecarriedout
whentheArmywasinpowerfiveunderZiaandoneeachunderYahyaKhanandMusharraf.
InresponsetoUSconcernsoveractsofterrorismfromPakistaniterritory,GeneralMusharrafmadeanumber
ofstatementsonthissubjectafterseizingpower.Fromacarefulstudyofthesestatements,itwouldbe
evidentthatwhileheiswillingtocooperatewiththeUSinactingagainstterrorismdirectedagainstUSand
otherforeigninterests,heconsidersactsofterrorismagainstIndiantargetsasactsofjehadandhenceisnot
preparedtostoptheminviewofthesacreddutyoftheMuslimstowagejehadagainstwhattheylookupon
astheiroppressors.However,hesaysthatheisopposedtohijackingevenaspartofjehadandclaimsthathe
wouldactagainstthehijackers,iffoundinPakistaniterritory.However,hehasgivennoindicationofa
sinceresearchforthem.
DuringhisvisittoSouthAsiainMarch2000,BillClintonwasverycarefulin
hisuseofexpressions.InIndia,hecondemnedtheactsofviolenceagainst
civiliansinKashmir,butwassilentonviolenceagainstthesecurityforces.
InPakistan,hereferredtotheexplosionscausedbybinLadensAlQaidaand
theInternationalIslamicFrontforJehadAgainsttheUSandIsraelinNairobi
andDarEsSalaamin1998andtotheactivitiesoftheHUM,whichhad
kidnappedin1995someforeigntourists,twoofthemUSnationals,in
KashmirunderthenameofAlFaran,andallegedlykilledtwoother
AmericansinKarachiin1995asterrorism,buttotheattacksonIndian
civiliansinKashmirasactsofviolence.

EditorsPick
Doingbusinesswith
theIndianDefence
Regime
RoleofChinaas
Pakistansnuclearand
missilepatron
IndiasSilenceon
ChineseIncursions

AsimilarcareintheuseofexpressionshadbeenexercisedbytheStateDepartmentinitsreportfor1999
submittedtotheCongressandbyMichaelSheehan,StateDepartmentsthenSpecialCoordinatoron
Counterterrorism,whilereleasingthereporttothepressonApril30,2000.
GeneralPervezMusharrafsregimepubliclysaidthatPakistanprovideddiplomatic,politicalandmoral
supportforfreedomfightersinKashmirincludingtheterroristgroupHUMbutdeniedprovidingthe
militantstrainingormaterial
However,therewasanadvanceintheUSpositionslightlyinIndiasfavourandtothedetrimentofPakistan
inthat,theUSdescribedallattacksoncivilians,notonlybytheHUM,butalsobyotherKashmirigroups
operatingfromPakistan,asterrorism.Thereportsaid:
CrediblereportscontinuedtoindicateofficialPakistanisupportforKashmirimilitantgroupsthatengagein
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terrorism,suchastheHUMKashmiriextremistgroupscontinuedtooperateinPakistan,raisingfundsand
recruitingnewcadre.Thegroupswereresponsiblefornumerousterroristactsin1999againstciviliantargets
inIndiaheldKashmirandelsewhereinIndia.
However,thereportwassilentonviolenceagainstthesecurityforcesand,whenaskedaboutthis,Sheehan
said:inawar,ifmilitaryforcesareattackingeachother,itisnotterrorism.Butifanarmedterrorist
organisationattacksciviliantargets,thatisterrorism.
WhilereferringtotheshiftingofthelocusofterrorismfromtheMiddleEasttoSouthAsiaduring1999,the
reportfor1999usedtheexpressionthelocusofterrorismdirectedagainsttheUS.
Thereportfor1999describedindetailinthefollowingwordsthedemarchemadebytheUStoPakistan
regardingAfghanistanbasedterrorists,includingbinLadenjilndhismercenaries,threateningtheUS:The
USrepeatedlyhasaskedIslamabadtoendsupporttoelementsthatconductterroristtraininginAfghanistan,
tointerdicttravelofmilitantstoandfromcampsinAfghanistan,topreventmilitantgroupsfromacquiring
weaponsandtoblockfinancialandlogisticsupporttocampsinAfghanistan.Inaddition,theUShasurged
Islamabadtoclosecertainmadrasasorreligiousschools,thatactuallyserveasconduitsforterrorism.
CrediblereportscontinuedtoindicateofficialPakistanisupportforKashmirimilitantgroupsthatengagein
terrorism,suchastheHUMKashmiriextremistgroupscontinuedtooperateinPakistan,raisingfundsand
recruitingnewcadre.
Butsignificantly,itwassilentonanydemarchemadebyitwithIslamabadregardingactionagainstPakistan
basedterroristsoperatingagainstIndia.Itmerelysaid:PakistaniofficialsfrombothPrimeMinisterNawaz
SharifsGovernmentand,afterhisremovalbythemilitary,GeneralPervezMusharrafsregimepubliclystated
thatPakistanprovideddiplomatic,politicalandmoralsupportforfreedomfightersinKashmirincluding
theterroristgroupHUMbutdeniedprovidingthemilitantstrainingormaterial
SincetheSaringasattackinTokyoandtheOklahomabombingin1995,counterterrorismexpertshadbeen
concernedoverthepossibilityofwhathascometobeknownastheneworcatastrophicterrorism,whichis
definedasanyact,whateverbetheweaponused,thatcausesorislikelytocausefatalhumancasualtiesof
morethan1,000and/orseriousdamageofamediumorlongtermnaturetothenational,regionalorglobal
economyandvitalinfrastructures.
Duringthesediscussionsofthe1990s,fiveStatesoftheworldhadbeencitedbymanyexpertsasworrisome,
fromwhichactsofcatastrophicterrorismweremostlikelytoemanate,eitherbecausetheywereharbouring
or,softindealingwithterroristgroups,whichwouldhavenoqualmsinresortingtocatastrophicterrorismor
becausetheywereconsciouslyusingsuchgroupsasaweapontoachievetheirstrategicobjectives.
ThesecountrieswereIran,Syria,Afghanistan,PakistanandGreece.Greecewascitednotbecauseofany
complicitywiththeterrorists,butbecauseofitsweakcounterterrorismapparatus.
ThereportofthebipartisanUSNationalCommissiononTerrorism,headedbyPaulBremer,formerheadof
theCounterTerrorismDivisionoftheStateDepartment.submittedtotheCongressonJune5,2000,
specificallycitedthesecountriesandstatedasfollows:USpoliciesmustfirmlytargetallstatesthatsupport
terrorists.IranandSyriashouldbekeptonthelistofstatesponsorsuntiltheystopsupportingterrorists.
AfghanistanshouldbedesignatedasponsorofterrorismandsubjectedtoallthesanctionsapplicabletoState
sponsors.ThePresidentshouldimposesanctionsoncountriesthat,whilenotdirectsponsorsofterrorism,are
neverthelessnotcooperatingfullyoncounterterrorism.CandidatesforconsiderationincludePakistanand
Greece.
Continued:HowPakistansProxyWarBeganVI
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