Monthly Security Review

August 2010
Volume: 1 Edition: 3
Contents

Patron-in-Chief
Zaid Hamid Editor’s Note 01
On the Question of National Media Policy 04
Provincial Autonomy and Pakistan 09
BrassTacks Security & Political Analysis 19
Giving India Trade Route or Crossing Red Lines? 29

Editorial Board
From Indus to Oxus 33
Shehla Zafar Pakistan’s Spiritual Dimensions 42
Noureen Akhtar

Graphic Designer

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 The Ideological Battlefield

Dear readers,
Assalam oAlaikum
14 August and Ramadan Mubarak!

This day reminds us that Pakistan is an ideological Islamic state and we are proud
of it. But under the threat of 4th Generation War, not just the geography, but also the
ideology and identity of the country is under attack.

A critical analysis of “Clash of civilizations” theory by Samuel Huntington, one of

the most provocative as well as thought provoking thinkers and writers of the
Western world, suggests that the West is trying to maintain its dominance through:

Maintaining weapons superiority through non-proliferation regimes:

Despite massive qualitative and quantitative Western superiority in conventional
weapons, the emerging hostile civilizations can radically bridge the gap of military
imbalance by deploying WMD's and their delivery systems. This explains the
western obsession with WMD's in the hands of Muslim and Chinese civilizations.

Promoting western political and cultural values:

These include democracy, free sex, women empowerment, Western sponsored
education and amoral Western secular cultural values in non-Western states,
particularly Muslim States.

Protecting Western values and culture from diluting under Islamic

ideology:
Restricting immigrations to West and stopping influx of Muslims and Muslim

BRASSTACKS 01
Indian Hydro War
values through legislation, social pressures and media. The raping of thousands of
Bosnian Turk Muslim women to produce Serb offsprings, banning of Masjid
Against Paksitan
Minarets in Switzerland, banning of head scarves and veils in France, racial
profiling of Muslims and demonizing Islam and Islamic values in media, are just a
few of the means towards that goal.
We witness all these strategies being implemented very aggressively in the Muslim
world, particularly in Pakistan.

Plans,Huntington
Impact & Consequences
further, in general terms, defines the present state of the Western
world, which after decades of moral degeneration, stands on the verge of total
collapse in terms of human and social values:

Increase in anti-social behaviour such as crimes, drugs and violence.

Breakdown of family unit, including increase in divorce rate, illegitimacy,

By: Farzana
teenageShah
pregnancies, single parent families and now homosexuality as an
accepted social norm.

Decreasing commitment to social contribution in the form of reduced

charity, minimal social work and personal sacrifice for larger moral or
spiritual objectives.

Decreasing commitment to learning and intellectual activity and generally

slipping standards of scholastic achievements.

General weakening of work ethics.

It is because of this moral and social decadence that even the best sociologists in the
Western world feel that the future would belong to nations which stand on higher
ideological, moral, ethical and spiritual plane than the West and who could offer an
alternate code of life to the world other than the degenerated life style, produced by
the materialistic and blind amoral values of the secular, liberal Western civilization.

Islam is the fastest spreading religion in the West. Islam, and particularly Pakistan,
remains the biggest threat for the modern Zionists, which must be diluted at all
costs – in both military and ideological terms!

In the previous issues, we have discussed the 4GW against Pakistan and its
derivatives. In this issue, we shall discuss the ideological axis of the same ruthless

BRASSTACKS 02
 war. The double pincer is being delivered by combined Western and Hindu
civilizations on our ideology in the following manner:

1.By totally controlling/destroying the education system in Pakistan.

2.By waging a ruthless media and information war aimed at diluting

the Islamic identity, ideology, and language of the nation.

A massive psychological operations campaign, through liberal and secular

media, is being bombarded upon Pakistan these days. The softening up
strategy is obvious – to shake the faith of the youth in our Islamic identity,
ideology, founding fathers and philosophy, in order to render it vulnerable to
an imperceptible invasion by Hindu ideology and liberal, secular values that
are directly in conflict with Islamic ethos. Urdu language is being disfigured –
a tragedy in the making of mammoth proportions for Islamic civilization.

However, this axis of 4GW against Pakistan can be reversed; it already has
been to a great extent. Protecting Pakistan's ideology, identity and language is
as vital as defending the geographical frontiers of the state. It is a war we
cannot afford to lose. InshaAllah, never.

Farzana Shah

BRASSTACKS 03
 Cover Story
On the Question of National Media Policy
Fight for the Heart and Soul of Pakistan
By: Zaid Hamid
Making a media policy is far more complex than dos
and don'ts of administrative nature or forming legal
contracts for private channels. There are two major
aspects of a national media policy.
1. The Philosophical Vision, Mission
statement, goals and objectives to be
achieved.
2 .The BrassTacks – the actual details
involving technical, human, administrative,
legal and financial aspects of the policy to
achieve the defined vision and goals.
This paper only deals with the first aspect – the
Philosophical part – of the Media policy. Once this
aspect is accurately defined, all energies can then be
channelized to achieve this objective through the
deployment of the second aspect of the media policy.
The vision and goals decided must be protected by a
comprehensive media strategy, which defines the
parameters of journalism, rules for electronic media,
methods of monitoring and surveillance of fifth
columnists under the garb of journalism, as well as
media force projection capabilities, ensuring much
more than just issuing licences for tens of
uncontrolled channels which act as enemy artillery on
our social, moral, religious and national defenses.
This is war and we must respond on war footings.
There is no such thing as “freedom of expression”,
BRASSTACKS 04
“unbiased media” or “free media”. Let's not get too
carried away blindly with this notion. Not even in US,
UK or the so-called best democracies, have anything
like that. Either strong State control for national
security is exercised on media, or there is strong self-
regulation by the national media, which collaborates
with the national security and development strategy.
FOX, CNN, BBC, ZEE TV, Door Darshan, Star Plus
etc, all follow the macro agenda of their governments
and are either directly controlled by the mega cartels,
having vested interests and influence in their
country's policy formulations or are ideologically
motivated to promote their strategic vision.
Bollywood, in India, is acting as an extension of
Indian foreign policy, with the strong political and
sexually explicit movies they are churning out, while
keeping Pakistani audiences, particularly youth, in
focus. The compromised and incompetent
government's media policy ensured that these movies
end up in Pakistani theatres. Pakistani media
managers and information ministry remains
ridiculously complacent in this regard as well. While
making an apologetic attempt to project to the world
that media is free in Pakistan, the government
unabatedly allowed vulgarity and ideologically
poisonous views to be strongly promoted in the
country, which are actually worse than the Indian
artillery and nukes pointed at us. Can we allow these
amoral values to be promoted in the country in the
name of freedom of expression? Let's draw the line
and do not be fooled by the twisted notion, which we
have accepted hook, line and sinker without
questioning.
Also, the media cannot be above the law nor have the
authority to operate outside the ambit of national legal,
social and moral limits. Freedom of expression has its
limits and they must be understood, written, applied
and enforced in any media policy, which the country
wishes to deploy.
It has to be forcefully asserted that without Islamic
ideology and identity, there is and will be no Pakistan.
Our ideological frontiers must be guarded as jealously
and responsibly as our geographical frontiers and
nuclear assets. Anyone not guarding these frontiers
would not be sincere to this nation and the country.
We must never allow Allama Iqbal to be sidelined,
degraded or bypassed by the media as it launches
direct attacks on his thoughts, visions and role for
Pakistan and Ummah. He is the most dangerous man
for the anti-Islamic forces due to his revolutionary and
inspiring beliefs, therefore, he is the topmost priority
for the enemies to be destroyed. Iqbal must be
jealously guarded, lovingly projected and patronised
as his views and beliefs fit the new role for Pakistan as
the leader of the Muslim world.
Know thy enemy --- The Colony and the Colonials:
At this point it would be very appropriate to learn from
history and refer to the British attempts of colonizing
BRASSTACKS 05
Indian sub-continent and their application of
psychological warfare, information war, education
strategies and literature in creating a colonised
society. The process remains equally relevant even
today and must be understudied when we formulate
our own media policy.
As has been noted by numerous scholars of British
rule in India, the physical presence of the British in
India was not significant. Yet, for almost two
centuries, the British were able to rule two-third of the
subcontinent directly, and exercise considerable
leverage over the Princely States that accounted for
the remaining one-third.
While the strategy of divide and conquer was used
most effectively, an important aspect of British rule in
India was the psychological indoctrination of an elite
layer within the Indian society, who were artfully
tutored into becoming model British subjects.
This English-educated layer of Indian society was
craftily encouraged in absorbing such values and
notions about themselves and their land of birth, that
would be conducive to the British occupation of India,
and furthering British goals of looting India's physical
wealth and exploiting its labour.
In 1835, Thomas Macaulay articulated the goals of
British colonial imperialism most succinctly:
"We must do our best to form a class who may be
interpreters between us and the millions whom we
govern, a class of persons Indian in blood and
colour, but English in taste, in opinions, words and
intellect."
As the architect of Colonial Britain's Educational
Policy in India, Thomas Macaulay was to set the
standards for what educated Indians were going to
learn about themselves, their civilization, and their
view of Britain and the world around them. An arch-
racist, Thomas Macaulay had nothing but scornful
disdain for Indian history and civilization. In his
infamous minute of 1835, he wrote that he had
"never found one among them (speaking of
Orientalist, an opposing political faction) who could
deny that a single shelf of a good European library
was worth the whole native literature of India and
Arabia. It is, no exaggeration to say, that all the

Thomas Macaulay
historical information which has been collected
from all the books written in Sanskrit language is
less valuable than what may be found in the paltry
abridgments used at preparatory schools in
England".
All manner of conscious (and subconscious) British
(and European) agents would henceforth embark on a
journey to rape and conquer the Indian mind. Within a
matter of years, J.N Farquhar (a contemporary of
Macaulay) was to write:
"The new educational policy of the Government,
created, during these years, the modern educated
class of India. These are men who think and speak in
English habitually, who are proud of their
citizenship in the British Empire, who are devoted to
English literature, and whose intellectual life has
been almost entirely formed by the thought of the
West, large numbers of them enter government
services, while the rest practice law, medicine or
teaching, or take to journalism or business."
Macaulay's stratagem could not have yielded greater
dividends. Charles E. Trevelyan, brother-in-law of
Macaulay, stated:
"Familiarly acquainted with us by means of our
literature, the Indian youth almost cease to regard
us as foreigners. They speak of "great" men with the
same enthusiasm as we do. Educated in the same
way, interested in the same objects, engaged in the
same pursuits with ourselves, they become more
English than Hindoos, just as the Roman provincial
became more Romans than Gaul or Italians.."
That this was no benign process, but intimately related
to advancing British colonial goals, was expressed
quite candidly by Charles Trevelyan in his testimony
before the Select Committee of the House of Lords on
the Government of Indian Territories on 23rd June,
1853:
"..... the effect of training in European learning is to
give an entirely new turn to the native mind. The
young men educated in this way cease to strive after
independence according to the original native
model, and aim at improving the institutions of the
country according to the English model, with the
ultimate result of establishing constitutional self-
government. They cease to regard us as enemies and
usurpers, and they look upon us as friends and
patrons, and powerful beneficent persons, under
whose protection the regeneration of their country
will gradually be worked out. ....."
Much of the indoctrination of the Indian mind actually
took place outside the formal classrooms and through
the sale of British literature to the English-educated
Indian, who developed a voracious appetite for the
British novel and British writings on a host of popular
subjects. In a speech before the Edinburgh
Philosophical Society in 1846, Thomas Babington
(1800-1859), shortly to become Baron Macaulay,
offered a toast:
"To the literature of Britain . . . which has exercised
an influence wider than that of our commerce and
mightier than that of our arms . . .before the light of
which impious and cruel superstitions are fast
taking flight on the Banks of the Ganges!"
However, the British were not content to influence
Indian thinking just through books written in the
English language. Realizing the danger of Indians
discovering their real heritage through the medium of
Sanskrit, Christian missionaries such as William
Carey anticipated the need for British educators to
learn Sanskrit and transcribe and interpret Sanskrit
texts in a manner compatible with colonial aims. That
Carey's aims were thoroughly duplicitous, is
underscored in this quote cited by Richard FoxYoung:
"To gain the ear of those who are thus deceived, it
is necessary for them to believe that the speaker has
a superior knowledge of the subject. In these
circumstances, a knowledge of Sanskrit is valuable.
As the person thus misled, perhaps a Brahman,
BRASSTACKS 06
 deems this a most important part of knowledge, if
the advocate of truth be deficient therein, he labours
against the hill; presumption is altogether against
him."
Elaborating on the phenomenon of cultural
colonization, Priya Joshi (Culture and Consumption:
Fiction, the Reading Public, and the British Novel in
Colonial India) writes:
"Often, the implementation of a new education
system leaves those who are colonized, with a lack
of identity and a limited sense of their past. The
indigenous history and customs, once practiced and
observed, slowly slip away. The colonized become
hybrids of two vastly different cultural systems.
Colonial education creates a blurring that makes it
difficult to differentiate between the new, enforced
ideas of the colonizers and the formerly accepted
native practices."
The Impact of Language on National Character
and Ideology:
Perhaps the greatest damage done to Pakistan in the
last few years is that Pakistan is fast tracking its way to
lose its language and subsequently its identity. Urdu is
obviously not on the priority list of the present rulers
who now want to introduce English from class one,
against all basic laws and norms of basic education,
local culture, availability of resources and teachers
and capacity of the target student body. In a population
where children are even unfamiliar with Urdu due to
local ethnic cultures and local languages, now English
will be introduced as a subject, overburdening the
rural children who are already struggling with Urdu.
In private schools, Urdu is a non-entity anyway,
having given way to broken and poor English long
time ago. Already from road signs to most basic
routine state and private business, Urdu has been
abandoned entirely or replaced with Roman Urdu or
English words written in Urdu script – symbolic of a
disintegrating civilization.
It is a devastating state of affairs that an entire Muslim
civilization is on its way out, just as 800 years old
Turkish history was lost to new Turkish generations
when Mustafa Kamal destroyed classical Turkish to
be replaced with Romanized Turkish. At the present
rate of decimation of Urdu in Pakistan, we fear that in
next five years, the damage would be irreparable.
BRASSTACKS 07
Here it would be appropriate if we turn the pages of
history to see what has gone by already to predict what
will happen in the future if we maintain our present
course. It can be seen that the debate on educational
policy, medium and the long- term political and social
implication is not new and has been raging since the
times of East India Company and the British Empire.
This is what our founding fathers stressed upon in
order to create an identity for us:
“The all India Muslim League calls upon all the
Urdu speaking people of India to make every
possible endeavour to safeguard the interests of
their language, in every field of activity, with which
the Central and Provincial government were
concerned, and where ever the Urdu language is the
language of the area, its unhampered use and
development should be upheld, and where it is not a
predominant language, adequate arrangement
should be made for teaching it as an optional
subject, and in all government offices, courts,
legislature, railways, and postal departments
provisions should be made for its use. Efforts should
also be made to make Urdu the universal language
of India”
th
(All India Muslim League 25 session, 15-8-1937.)
“We will speak and write Urdu, educate our
children in Urdu, never call our language by any
other name except Urdu”
(Liaqat Ali Khan 9-4-1939, Educational conference
at Aligarh.)
What the Colonial Masters had planned for the natives
via the education policy:
“Endeavours should be made to form a class of
persons “Indian in blood and colour, but English in
 taste, in opinion, in morals and in intellect”
(Macaulay 1835, Education Commission of India)
“The great objective of the British government
ought to be the promotion of European literature
and science among the natives of India and that all
the funds appropriated to education would best be
employed on English education alone”
(Committee of Public Instruction,1835,under Macaulay)
Consequently, the question arises that how is language
critically associated with identity, imperialism,
mental slavery, cultural invasion and national unity? A
question, which our myopic leaders, interested only in
false notion of economic growth, do not understand
but the British colonizers did:
“All language is ideological in the sense that it
encodes certain conception of life. As such,
language always wields ideological, often covert
power”
(Connolly 1983, page 139-50)
“The battle for identity of Central Asia, whether it
was to be Islamic and Turkic or Marxist and Soviet,
was also fought partly through language policies
and corpus planning. Soviets changed the Arabic
based script of the Central Asia languages to Latin
in the 1920'sand then to Cyrillic in the late 30's to
cut them off from their Muslim past”
(Shorish 1984)
“Today with their autonomy, these States give their
languages symbolic status as a measure of their
national identity”
(Rashid 1994)
“Ben Yahuda's dream of preserving the Jewish
identity through the revival of Hebrew made him the
father of nationalistic language planning in Israel.”
(Fellman 1974)
“Linguistic imperialism is also central to social
imperialism, which relates to the transmission of the
normal and behaviour of a modal social structure,
and these are embedded in language. This occurs
whenever a socializing influence is exerted”
(Phillipson 1992: 54)
“Language is an important tool of Imperialism,
defined as the domination of one collectively over
another”
(Galtung 1980:107)
“The (language controversy) began in 1780 and in
a sense has never ended. It was not only an
educational matter but was indeed connected with
the political domination of India by the British”
(Spear 1938)
“The abolition of the exclusive privileges which the
Persian language has in the courts and affairs of the
court will form the crowning stroke which will shake
Hinduism and Mohammedanism to their centre and
firmly establish our language, our learning and
ultimately our religion in India”
(Letter of William Bentinck 9th April 1834 -- Philips
1977, 1239)
While the British colonial masters westernized the
natives, their own government understood the need to
learn and understand local languages by the rulers
themselves, for better communication between the
rulers and the ruled. A strict policy to learn local
languages especially Urdu, Persian and Hindi, was
adopted by the Imperial British officers:
“So seriously these examinations taken that the
suggestions of the Commander in Chief, Sir
Fredrick Roberts, that army officers should be
allowed to write Hindi in Roman rather than in
Devanagri letters, was not accepted by the
secretary of the board of examiners.”
(Letters no 2523, 27-August-1886, India office
library, London)
Even history forgets the nations who do not
jealously guard their identity. Enemies always
attack the identity of any people to cause their
final and total annihilation. The most unfortunate
aspect is that the battle to annihilate Muslim
identity and culture from India, which had started
after the battle of Plassey, in 1757, continues even
today.
The British first decimated Arabic and Persian
from India to break away the connection of Indian
Muslims from the Arab and the Persian- speaking
world. Then they began destroying Urdu as well,
but could not finish the job; it was obligingly taken
up by Pakistan's westernized elite, as well as the
Education and Information Ministries.
BRASSTACKS 08
The National Media Policy, Philosophical
Outlines:
Objective Mission Statement:
“To create and deploy a proactive, visionary and
strong media policy to propel Pakistan into the
21st century, creating and galvanizing a unified
and ideologically proud nation -- with a glorious
history and uniquely dignified divine code of life
-- with strong transnational associations within
the Ummah. The policy should be protective of
ideological and geographical boundaries of the
State, Government and Nation, as well as a
powerful information and psychological warfare
weapon, to act as an extension of national
security doctrine, rising up to the challenges
faced by the nation in the internal, external and
global arenas.”
Minimum recommended Goals of the Media
Policy:
1. To set the limits, terms and framework for
responsible and mature media, acting as an
extension of national security doctrine
working within the ambit of law, respecting
the social, moral and religious values of the
State, nation and Ummah and challenging
the attempts by the enemies to attack so as to
redefine Pakistan's ideological, moral,
social and national values. Azad media but
not Awara Media! To project the concept of
mature, responsible and value friendly
media which would assist in
r e p r o g r a m m in g t h e n a t i o n a l a n d
international psyche about human, moral
and Islamic values in the modern times.
2. To create a nation knowledgeable and
proud of its history, heritage, ideology and
values and galvanized to take up the
challenges of 21st century.
3. To give voice to global Muslim and
Human issues for balanced and alternate
BRASSTACKS 09
viewpoint from the perspective of Pakistan
and Muslim world today.
4. To project Pakistan as leader of the
Muslim world and as the model ideological
Islamic Welfare State.
5. To project Pakistan as the bridge between
the civilizations based on Sura Kafirun and
also to block the efforts of extremists to
create a clash of civilizations to destroy the
Islamic Ummah.
6. To project Pakistan as the technology and
military leader of the Muslim world and as
the only nuclear and missile power,
representing the Islamic block.
7. To counter the attempts by foreign hostile
media to encircle Pakistan and to prevent
the foreign powers and states from
exploiting the national laws and media in
order to deploy the Pakistani media to
advance foreign hostile agenda.
8. Urdu language to be jealously guarded,
protected, promoted.
Any media policy, which can keep the above
parameters in close perspective and respond to the
above mentioned challenges in a dignified manner,
would be a sound investment into national security
and would serve the nation and state very well. It is
a do-able job. Once the vision guidelines are
incorporated, the next step would be to devise laws,
vehicles and tools to achieve the defined
objectives. That is the easier part, once the vision is
clear and the goal is sharp and focused.
......................
 Provincial Autonomy
and Pakistan
By: Shahzad Masood Roomi
The Constitution of Pakistan has been broadly
reshaped under the 18th amendment by the present
political elite of the country. Allowing provincial
autonomy to the provinces is one of the major
amendments made in the constitution. Provincial
autonomy has been a buzz word in Pakistan since the
time of its independence. It means a system of
provincial government, independent and free from
any external influence or reliance in governance,
administration, legislation and management of
provincial affairs. Complete provincial autonomy
means absolute independence of provincial
government, with an absolute right to secede from the
state at will.
Politically and administratively, Pakistan is a
federated state with a center holding major policy and
decision making institutions in the realm of national
security, finance and foreign policy. Provinces have
some other subjects under their jurisdictions. Just like
any classical federation, the state also has some
subjects managed both by center and provinces at
different levels.
The debate on provincial autonomy in Pakistan stems
from the fact that socio-economic progress and
development is not uniform among all provinces due
to various natural factors and management issues.
According to provincial autonomy campaigners, this
assorted social development among provinces is a
culmination of disallowing complete autonomy to the
provinces. What these provincial autonomy
aficionados do not tell the nation is how socio-
economic uplift in the provinces would be ensured
while every state institution is indulging in unparallel
corruption, mismanagement and incompetency.
Usually it is believed that the center has seized all the
powers, however, the truth is that every political party
makes this allegation against its opponents when they
are in the government but as soon as these politicians
themselves come into power, they make new
amendments in order to grab more powers while
sitting in Islamabad. Recent amendments in
constitution have opened up a Pandora's box of this
kind of autonomy and its implications on Pakistan's
stability once again.
Does Pakistan really need provincial autonomy? Did
the Pakistan resolution promise something like
provincial autonomy? What the founding fathers have
said in this regard? What is the difference between
provincial rights and autonomy? What is the real
source of sense of deprivation in masses? What is
required to be done to ensure socio-economic uplift of
masses? This paper examines all these aspects of
provincial autonomy and attempts to find some
answers.
At this point it would be prudent to take a look at the
origin of this particular political dogma of provincial
autonomy.
ProvincialAutonomy in Pakistan Resolution:
The promise of provincial autonomy in Pakistan
rd
resolution of 23 March, 1940, is used as the strongest
argument in favor of provincial autonomy. This view
point stems from an objective analysis of the 1940
resolution, according to which, since Muslim struggle
for independence was to gain states with autonomous
BRASSTACKS 10
units in united British India, hence autonomy must be
given to provinces in Pakistan as well. One must keep
Pre and Post World War II political landscape of
British India in sight, before making any judgment
about the 1940 resolution and its demands, in context
of provincial autonomy in an independent Pakistan.
Below is an excerpt of Pakistan resolution:
"No constitutional plan would be workable or
acceptable to the Muslims unless geographical
contiguous units are demarcated into regions which
should be so constituted with such territorial
readjustments as may be necessary. That the areas
in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as
in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India
should be grouped to constitute independent states
in which the constituent units shall be autonomous
and sovereign".

Last two lines of the given excerpt make it clear that in

1940, One Pakistan was not the demand rather
separate Muslim states were demanded; One in North
West of India and other in Eastern zone. This
resolution was adopted by Muslim League later in
1941 as part of its constitution.
An important fact is overlooked often, that during the
debate of demand of autonomy in the 1940
Resolution, there were reasons for using the word
autonomy in that specific resolution by the drafters, as
any word like “independence” or “separation” were
strictly banned in any public procession by the law
known as Defense of India Rule, introduced after the
start of Second World War. Furthermore, it was
mentioned in the last paragraph of 1940 Pakistan
Resolution that a mechanism for “final assumption of
powers” will be formed afterwards in new Muslim
states which All India Muslim League demanded at
rd
that historic occasion of 23 March 1940.
Different Muslim States envisaged in the 1940 Resolution
deprived of their legitimate legislator representation;
but by looking at the intentions of British Raj and
Hindu conspirators, soon it was realized by the
founding fathers that the demand for autonomy was no
solution to this problem. This fact is evident from the
Quaid's speech at the conclusion of Muslim League
Legislator convention held inApril 1946 in Delhi:
“There are those who say to us what is the good
of you talking of Pakistan when you cannot form
ministries in your majority provinces? I say to
them this is the very reason why we want to get
rid of India Act of 1935 and establish Pakistan.
Look at the spirit how they are forming
Ministries in Mulsim majority provinces and
hindering us from forming Ministries in our
majority provinces.”

In these circumstances Indian Muslims were
desperate for retaining their participation and
representation in state affairs at that time. So another
major reason behind calling for autonomy was to get
justice in representation of Muslims in legislative
bodies in Muslim majority provinces. The British had
curbed the real representation of Muslims in legislator
elections in two majority provinces: Punjab and
Bengal. In Punjab Muslims were 56% of the total
population with a representation of just 42% and in
Bengal Muslims were 45% of legislator bodies despite
having a majority population share of 57%. So in these
circumstances the demand of autonomy makes
complete sense in United India where Muslims were
BRASSTACKS 11
Post 1940 political developments are instrumental in
understanding the shift of demand from autonomy to a
sovereign separate homeland for Muslims; the fact is
that by 1943 Quaid-e-Azam had demanded “Divide
and Quit”, this makes it clear that demands of
autonomy under 1940 resolution had very much
reallocated towards “complete independence and
sovereignty” by then and this fact becomes more
evident after 1945 elections, when Quaid-e-Azam
called for “Direct Action” if Indian Muslims were not
allowed to have their own independent state, Pakistan.
To make the shift in demand more clear, All India
Muslim League held its historic legislator convention,

Quaid presiding over All India Muslim League's
historical Lahore session of 1940 at Iqbal park
April 1946, in Delhi, in which not only the earlier
resolution of 1940 was amended but a new draft was
also formulated making it clear that Muslims could
not live with Hindus in 'One India' and any oppression
and force will be resisted in the toughest possible way.
This was the first time that Muslim League decided to
shift its decisive struggle towards crafting one Muslim
state (i.e. Pakistan) in Indian subcontinent instead of
previously envisioned two states (one on North West
and other in Eastern zone). The Quaid's speech on this
occasion makes it clear that autonomy was no more a
demand of Muslims and also that Muslims were not
interested in being part of any government in united
India:
“We cannot agree to a single constitution-
making body, because it will mean we are
signing our death-warrant and we cannot agree
to consider any agreement unless Pakistan
scheme is accepted as sine qua non.”
Despite the fact that provincial autonomy was
introduced in India Act of 1935, when it came to
protection of social rights, political identity and
ideology, the only solution Quaid envisaged was the
creation of Pakistan and not the provincial autonomy
within united British India. Below is another excerpt
of his speech at the conclusion of Muslim League
legislator convention:
“If there is any safeguard known in the world
for the minority provinces, the most effective
safeguard is creation of Pakistan. The present
constitution also has safeguards but are paper
safeguards any good? ”
But still supporters of complete provincial autonomy
insist that Pakistan was intended to be a loose
federation, comprising of completely autonomous
provinces/states or in other words it was deemed as a
confederation rather than a federation. The most
absurd part of this whole drama is the way completely
autonomous provinces are presented, as if it were
promised to the nation by the founding father himself.
To thwart this misconception once and for all, below is
an excerpt of Quaid's historical speech at Quetta
th
municipality on 15 June, 1948 (Just 87 days before
his death) where he demolished any concept of
provincial autonomy:
“While, however, one must love one's town and
work for its welfare--indeed because of it--one must
love better one's country and work more devotedly
for it. Local attachments have their value but what is
the value and strength of a "part" except within the
"whole". Yet this is a truth people so easily seem to
forget and begin to prize local, sectional or
provincial interests above and regardless of the
national interests. It naturally pains me to find the
curse of provincialism holding sway over any
section of Pakistan.
Pakistan must get rid of this evil. It is a relic of the
old administration when you clung to provincial
autonomy and local liberty of action to avoid
control--which meant--British control. But with your
own Central Government and its power, it is a folly
to continue to think in the same terms, especially at
a time when your State is so new and faces such
tremendous problems internal and external. At this
juncture any subordination of the larger interest of
the State to the provincial or local or personal
interest would be suicidal.”
The Quaid also appealed to the nation for an
unshakable Pakistani nationalism to overcome the
menace of provincialism:
“Baluchistan is the land of brave independent people
and to you, therefore, national freedom, honour, and
strength should have a special meaning. These
whisperings of mulki and non-mulki are neither
profitable for the land nor worthy of it. We are now
all Pakistanis--not Baluchis, Pathans, Sindhis,
Bengalis, Punjabis and so on--and as Pakistanis we
must feel, behave and act, and we should be proud to
be known as Pakistanis and nothing else. I ask you
always to pause and consider before taking any step
whether it is conditioned by your personal or local
likes and dislikes or is determined by consideration of
the good of the State.”
BRASSTACKS 12
ProvincialAutonomy in Pakistan:
Soon after the death of Quaid-e-Azam, political
parties started to deviate from Pakistani nationalism
that was eagerly desired by him. Rhetoric of
provincial autonomy started once again and results
were devastating for national security.Awami League,
in East Pakistan, started to demand complete
autonomy under 1940 resolution. Politicians, in both
East and West Pakistan, treacherously played ethno-
linguistic cards to push their own political agendas.
Though heinous political blunders were committed by
Islamabad at times as well but chiefly it was the
demands of Awami League which resulted in the
severance of East Pakistan.
The 6 points presented by Mujib-ur-Rehman, including
demands like two currencies, two paramilitary forces,
two separate accounts for foreign exchange were a clear
declaration of secession of East Pakistan and all of
these were based on pure ethno-linguistic politics to
gain power. Never, during his whole political career,
did Mujib come up with a practical approach for
uplifting the socioeconomics of East Pakistan. He
rather used problems like poverty, linguistic
polarization and ethnic disparities to work in his favor
to pursue his agenda of separation. Unfortunately
political parties demanding provincial autonomy now
in Pakistan also have same desires and designs.
No political party ever demanded something like
provincial autonomy after the debacle of 1971, until
very recently when sudden uproar was seen in
Pakistan for this cause in pretext of deprivation of
provincial rights and local control over various natural
resources.
Leaving military dictators aside, even elected civilian
governments always try to clutch maximum powers in
the center to plunder unabated. The 18th amendment
is a clear example of this tragedy in Pakistan.
People of Pakistan demand the resolution of their
problems with feelings of participation in governance.
The sense of being deprived by the center or a majority
province must be nullified. Realization of social
problems and provincial right is the first step in that
direction.
Provincial autonomy and Social issues:
All the major problems and crises in Pakistan are a
BRASSTACKS 13
result of two things, both are mutually exclusive.
1. Power grabbing by political elite
2. Corruption
Every political party after coming into power tries its
level best to grab maximum powers to have absolute
control. This flawed political practice only generated
absolute corruption, with no accountability to the
nation. Like it is said, “Power corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely.”
Instead of solving problems, the corrupt politicians
and sub nationalists are using social and public issues
to further their agenda to have more powers by
presenting provincial autonomy as a divine remedy
for these crucial problems like water management,
food shortages, energy and terrorism.
Granting legitimate rights of legislation and
governance, to the provinces can reduce the sense of
deprivation among masses in smaller provinces but
that would only work if Pakistani political culture
undergoes a radical change.
ProvincialAutonomy versus Provincial Rights:
Sub nationalists and small ethnic political parties are
more vocal for complete provincial autonomy without
realizing the fact that it is not possible in a federated
state like Pakistan. In a federation there are some
enabling mechanisms between the two layers of
governance and administration: One at federal level
and the other at provincial level. A federation, in its
true sense is very different from what sub nationalists
and parities are demanding i.e. a confederation.
Contrary to all the propaganda, a federation has no
concept of imposing the will of the center on any
province, while at the same time it is directly in
contradiction of complete provincial autonomy. There
must be a balance of power between center and
provinces among all pertaining issues of governance
and management and this is something we don't see in
Pakistani federation. This imbalance of power
between center and provinces gave birth to problems
like corruption, inadequacy of resources, lagged
progress and social chaos.
In a multi ethnic country like Pakistan, with its diverse
demography, it is imperative to maintain a sense of
uniform development and progress among all the
ethnic communities and groups within and among the
provinces.
The smaller the ethnic group or community, the more
sensitive it would be towards its growth, progress and
development. Baluchistan is mere 4% of Pakistan's
total population and the province is further divided
into multiple ethnicities. In such a diverse and
complex, cultural and social landscape every small
ethnic community would feel insecure socially,
economically and politically if the government fails to
ensure uniform socio-economic progress among all
ethnic communities. This is something that is
agitating the Baluchis and other communities in
Baluchistan.
Does size matter?
Some analysts supporting provincial autonomy are of
the view that disparity between size of Punjab and
other provinces is a major bone of contention for
gaining provincial harmony; so Punjab must be split
into two to three smaller provinces to dissipate the
other provinces' sense of insecurity. It would help in
improving management and governance in newly
formed smaller provinces. Another group has similar
views about Baluchistan, which, according to this
group, must be divided into two to three smaller
provinces so that social uplift in Baluchistan can be
ensured.
Apparently, these proposals seem to be very realistic
and practical. In its pure management and governance
A proposed plan for dividing
Pakistan into multiple provinces
for administrative purposes would
not solve the critical problems like
provincial autonomy and provincial
harmony rather it would further
complicate existing governance
issues in the provinces.
incarnation this is what must be done as well, but
along with these proposals there are some important
questions, which must be answered:
1. How smaller provinces, consisting of
Punjabi population, will solve the problem of
provincial disharmony and how will they
promote ethnic cohesion in the state of
Pakistan?
2. How provincial rights would be granted
with this divide of larger provinces into
smaller ones? Dividing larger provinces into
smaller ones is not something equal to
provincial autonomy. So provincial autonomy
is a subject directly between the center and
provinces, regardless of how big or small they
are.
3. How diverse ethnic demography in Pakistan
will be managed in this new setup? How equal
representation of all ethnic blocks will be
ensured in Senate with split of larger
provinces? This arrangement can lead to a
calamitous situation; as with this division,
Punjabis and Baluchis will have more than one
province of theirs while Pukhtuns and Sindhis
will have just one. This will destroy the
existing political and ethnic harmony and
balance in national institutions like Senate.
4. How just and fair resource division and
allocation would be ensured? This is already a
serious and critical issue among center and
BRASSTACKS 14
 provinces. Dividing provinces would further
complicate this issue.
So it is clear that dividing larger provinces is not a
solution to any challenge, neither governance nor
provincial autonomy rather political situation in
context of ethnic harmony will become more fragile.
th
18 Amendment & Provincial Autonomy:
1973 constitution of Pakistan described the role of
both central and provincial governments along with
their roles and mandates. There were 47 items in the
constitution (Concurrent List) enlisted in schedule IV
of constitution which were shared among center and
provinces.
This list was to be abolished within the ten years of
formulation of constitution but it remained there till
the 18th amendment. In the past, concurrent list (in
schedule IV of the constitution) remained a cause of
contention between center and provinces. It has been
eliminated by the current government through the 18th
amendment under the catchphrase of giving complete
provincial autonomy to the provinces. All 47 subjects
in concurrent list, have been shifted to the provincial
legislative list. As this decision was made without
th
proper forethought and parliament passed 18
amendment in clumsy haste, now provincial
governments are up against a mammoth challenge of
managing all the departments moved from center to
provinces.
Elimination of concurrent list was necessary but this
was supposed to happen in a manner that ensures
maximum possible provincial rights to provinces
BRASSTACKS 15
while denying sense of complete provincial
autonomy. To ensure this, a careful evaluation of each
subject enlisted in concurrent list was compulsory
before passing these subjects over to provincial level.
Lack of capable and experienced bureaucratic work
force in smaller provinces is a big issue to deal with
after the eradication of concurrent list. As now these
departments would function under provincial control
so every province would employ its own people in
these departments. Baluchistan and KPK have real
difficulties in bridging the demand of experienced,
local managers and bureaucratic staff for newly
shifted departments.
It's surprising that no advocate of provincial
autonomy ponders upon these issues as how
provincial rights must be exercised while enhancing
the capacity of provinces in management and
governance areas to give local people in provinces
some sense of ownership and participation in
resolution of their local issues.
Provincial Autonomy in context of National
Integrity:
The curse of grabbing absolute political powers by
amending the constitution not only caused stagnation
to national progress but also ruined the concept of
federating state by providing opportunity to hostile
states and agencies to use this demand to launch
severe psychological operations to create mistrust,
friction and drift among various ethnic communities.
The demands of complete provincial autonomy along
with corruption, mismanagement, incompetency and
disastrous policies can potentially pose a serious
internal threat to the national security, the likes of one
the nation faced in 1970s, when Awami League
demanded the same, taking advantage of poor socio-
economic situation in East Pakistan due to poor
management by the then government in Islamabad.
As Pakistan armed forces have crushed insurgency in
Swat and Malakand, it has now become evident that
these insurgencies are not just the fall out of Pakistan's
decision to support US in war on terror rather are part
th
of the 4 generation warfare tactics being employed
against Pakistan by forces like CIA, Mossad and
RAW.
Multiple insurgencies, of varying strengths, have
 (Women protestors in Quetta 2010)
erupted in the country, particularly in Western and
North Western provinces, so the environment is
conducive for sub nationalists to push demands of
complete provincial autonomy. Taking advantage of
the situation, Indian backed BLA and BRA activists
are killing non Baluchis. Sub nationalist political
parties have got unprecedented power and the streets
of Quetta are presenting similar scenes that were once
witnessed on the streets of Dhaka.
The current government in Pakistan is almost fatal for
the nation. This government has failed miserably in
reading the security dynamics of the region and
allowed an unprecedented level of foreign meddling
into state affairs through continuation of failed
policies of previous government. A weak center is
unacceptable in a federation from the security point of
view and unfortunately the nation is living with a
politically feeble center, without any real power of
(Women protestors in Dhaka 1971)
taking corrective measures in governance and
national security policy formulation. Resultantly, sub
nationalist and separatist elements have become
stronger political players on the national canvas.
The government was hoping for a decline in separatist
th
tendency in restive provinces after passing the 18
amendment but it got messier. The situation in
Baluchistan is already very fragile as people
responsible for socio-economic plight of the masses
are sitting in the government of Baluchistan.
NWFP was renamed as Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KPK).
As renaming was carried out on ethnic basis, this
triggered a chain reaction in the country by various
communities demanding separate provinces for
themselves. This trend will divide the whole country on
ethnic and linguistic basis. Violence and clashes
erupted among different communities within NWFP in
which many lives were lost. Aggressive campaigns for
establishing Hazara province were carried out and the
situation is deteriorating with each passing day.
Angry and grieved Hazarawals have put up illegal
road signs and billboards are displayed along various
roads in Hazara, showing the region as a separate
province, whereas the government and parliament has
not decided anything like that.
The situation between Punjab and Sindh is getting
tense by the day over water issue.
Punjab and Sindh are in head-on collision on water
distribution and Chashma-Jhelum Link canal power
project announced by the government of Punjab recently.
BRASSTACKS 16
After shifting water to provincial government, Punjab
can initiate KBD (Kala Bagh Dam) project, which is
vital for its energy and agriculture needs but it would
widen the trust deficit which is already reaching a
critical threshold.
By: Shehzad Masood Roomi
Issues like water crisis are not made up by provinces
but are culmination of sheer mismanagement and
treacherous policies at federal level, by both current
and previous governments in Islamabad. Provincial
autonomy will not solve, rather it would deepen the
crisis which is already in the making, as India has
stopped the flow of Pakistani rivers by building dams
on these rivers and violating IWT of 1960.
History has taught a very tough lesson to the Pakistani
nation that provincial autonomy is a tool of
propaganda warfare used by India, successfully
throughout the 1960s and Pakistan had to pay the price
in 1971. The situation is once again similar. Pakistani
nation is under attack by Indian and Western media,
who are using provincial autonomy, objective analysis
of history and exaggerated facts as their weapons in
this media war. Pakistan needs to take some serious
steps to combat evil of provincialism.
Proposals:
There are few proposals to combat this evil of
provincialism:
1.Elimination of Corruption:
Pakistan has only one way forward on the subject of
provincial autonomy and that is to follow what Quaid-
BRASSTACKS 17
i-Azam has told. In this regard, given below is another
excerpt of the same speech he made on 15 June 1948:
“If each individual, thus scrutinizing himself
and forces--for initially it will require a certain
amount of force--upon himself the principal of
honesty to others as well as to himself,
regardless of fear or favor. I see a very bright
future ahead. If individuals, both officials and
non-officials play their part thus and work in
this spirit, the Government, the Nation and the
State will immediately bear their stamp, and
Pakistan will emerge triumphantly as one of the
greatest nations of the world.”
Here the Quaid called for pure Islamic concept of self
accountability so that no individual can be allured by
any kind of corruption. It is corruption at different
levels that has put Pakistan in the current state of
affairs. As said by the Quaid at the end of Muslim
League legislator convention in 1946;
“We have lost the fullness of our noble
character. And what is character?- Highest
sense of honour and highest sense of integrity,
conviction, incorruptibility , readiness at any
time to efface oneself for the collective good of
the nation”.
Pakistan is facing the same dilemma once again, and
the only solution to get out of this is to curb corruption
at every level, at any cost. Had Pakistan a strong
accountability system, the situation would have been
very different in every field of life, including uniform
progress for all ethnicities and communities. Absence
of accountability and speedy justice have shrouded the
masses with a sense of deprivation and hence it must
be eliminated.
2.Islamic ideology and Pakistani Nationalism
As it was said by the Quaid some 63 year ago, it is
Islamic ideology blended with Pakistani nationalism
that can keep Pakistan united under all circumstances.
Pakistan must protect its ideology jealously.
Education and Language are two sensitive areas in this
regard in any country and Pakistan is no exception.
These areas will overlap between center and
provinces. Neither provinces nor center can cope with
these subjects alone. Center must provide the
provinces with a broad framework of education, built
around the theme of defending and safeguarding the
ideology of Pakistan.
Also, center must do everything possible to save Urdu
in the education system by adopting it as a medium of
instruction in institutions and universities at higher
education level, while provinces must do the same at
secondary and primary levels.
Language and Education are two most important
pillars against the curse of provincialism and must be
cultivated into the nation's interests.
Another major area in which government must work
on war footing is media management in context of
ideology of Pakistan, so that propaganda of provincial
autonomy can be thwarted. India and US are investing
in Pakistani media to initiate complex psychometric
media wars on ideological axis.
3.Provision of Provincial Rights:
While drafting the 1973 constitution, an interim
period of ten years was given before elimination of
concurrent list. The wisdom behind this delay was the
realization that provinces would not be able to run so
many departments without proper capacity building.
The present government has eliminated concurrent
list but has failed to solve the problems. Giving
provincial rights is imperative but how this will be
done is a subject where most of the brains in
intellectual community of Pakistan must start
pondering. Provinces in Pakistan are highly
interdependent and also rely on the center for various
resources.
There are federating states, like Pakistan, with more
than two legislative lists sharing some areas and
subjects. In India, some of the subjects from provinces
have been put into federal list. Eliminating concurrent
list or moving everything to provincial legislative list
is not the word of Gospel. Pakistan needs some kind
of enabling bodies that can work with center and
province at the same time on issues which are inter
linked, like security, higher education, revenue etc.
4.Capacity Building
Many problems that smaller provinces are facing are
direct result of lack of adequate experience and skill
man power in public offices and not having capacity to
cope with challenges of modern age management
issues.
Capacity building is important and provinces must
form specialized academies so that new managers and
administrators can be trained to take responsibilities in
new departments, which would be handed over to
provinces separately.
Conclusion:
Corruption and mismanagement over the decades
have distorted the social fabric of the Pakistani nation.
Nation and state have also suffered from lack of
leadership due to corruption. This has caused a deep
sense of deprivation in the masses, particularly in
smaller provinces.
Pakistan has to overcome this corruption in its
political system and must also get rid of elements that
always seek more and more power while sitting in the
center. On the other hand Pakistani nation must reject
any ethnic or linguistic appeal by any political party or
group in order to show Pakistani nationalism rather
than provincialism.
Quaid-e-Azam gave principles of leadership and
nation building and it is time for Pakistani state to put
these principles into practice, while also devising
policies for the future.
..............................
BRASSTACKS 18
 Synopsis of the Month
By: Zaid Hamid

Eastern Front:

Regional security dynamics are changing rapidly.

Afghanistan remains the battleground for the regional
countries to fight high intensity proxy wars against
each other. There are only enemies or temporary allies
here but no friends.

There are multiple counts where Pakistan is now

openly defying US, much to the frustrations of Indians
as well.

1. Pakistan signed the IP gas pipeline deal

despite threats from the US. Indians have been
left out of it.

2. Pakistan has so far refused to send troops to

North Waziristan despite demands by the
Americans.

3. Pakistan has signed the nuclear cooperation

deal with China despite reservations by the
US.

4. Pakistan is increasing military cooperation

with China simultaneously and also going for
a full SCO membership despite strong US
reservations.

5. Pakistan defied US and helped Iranians to

track and trap the Jundullah head Abdul Malik
Regi, breaking the back of CIA operations in
Iran.

These are unprecedented developments in recent

times and show a major shift in Pak-US relations.
Indians had been counting upon US pressure on
Pakistan. Here the tables seem to be turning against
them as well. The Afghan situation is at a very critical
moment for the US now and they simply cannot afford
to have Pakistan on the wrong side of the fence.
Exploiting this weakness, Pakistan is now exerting
BRASSTACKS 19
itself openly. US knows that Pakistani military as well
as the patriotic elements in the government and
establishment are going to protect Pakistan's interests
and US betrayal in the last nine years has made
Pakistan bitter. There is a desperate scramble in US to
regain Pakistan's trust.
US and NATO are now facing a defeat in Afghanistan
and some elements are quick to find scapegoats,
blaming Pakistan for their failures. They acknowledge
that Pakistan is already fighting a bloody war in the
tribal region but are never satisfied as Pakistan selects
its own targets despite pressure from the US/NATO.
US and NATO know that Pakistan has capacity,
capability, will and the experience to bury the ISAF
dreams in Afghan mountains and gorges if Islamabad
or GHQ wills, hence keeping Pakistan on their side
remains their topmost priority.
In defiance to the US and UK, Pakistan this month also
persisted with the new aggressive Iran policy.
Pakistan's forging a strategic alliance with Iran would
have long term regional implications in Afghanistan
also.
Bilaterally, Pakistan and India tried to initiate the
media façade of peace talks under the umbrella of
SAARC conference but the suspicions and mistrust
remain too deep-rooted to make even the basic start on
any contentious issue. Americans continue to insist,
hence the formality of meeting between Pakistan and
India was carried out. But even while these photo ops
were being conducted, tensions and frictions continue
to simmer between the two hostile neighbors – from
the Arabian Sea to the Himalayan ranges of Kashmir.
As we have said, the peace talks remain a definitive
non-starter except that Indians would be extracting
more and more concessions from the weak and over
inclined PPP government. Indians blame Pakistan for
all the violence in Kashmir and losses of the Indian
forces in the restive valley.
Indians' frustrations on Kashmir are now reaching
their peak. For the first time, it is the Indian army
which is demanding that government should resolve
the matter through talks and politics. This is a clear
sign that war fatigue is now setting in Indian army in a
valley which is called the largest prison in the world
with over half a million Indian troops to contain less
than 4 million civilian population demanding their
freedom. Over hundred thousand civilians and
freedom fighters have died in the last 20 years of
struggle with thousands of Indian troops killed or
wounded as well. It is a simmering sore which just
does not heal. Indians obviously blame Pakistan for
supporting the Kashmir cause.
Since 9/11, Indians had been counting upon US
pressure upon Pakistan to gain regional and strategic
advantage. Indian presence in Afghanistan and their
ability to exploit the moment to wage ruthless
insurgencies in FATA and Baluchistan also depend
upon keeping Pakistan out of Afghanistan. But as
Pakistan continues to gain ground in Afghanistan, it is
frustrating for Delhi. Indians are definitely not
amused over the possibility of failure of their geo-
political trump card. Americans are now also forcing
them to come to talks with Pakistan as well but the
Indian foreign office maintains its hard line despite
some initial contacts. The levels of distrust, anger and
hate is so high between India and Pakistan that no talks
are possible under these circumstances. Indians
especially continue to harp on some make belief
terrorist threat from Pakistan especially in Kashmir.
Kashmir was bad enough. Now an even more ruthless
and bloody insurgency is threatening the Indian
federation – Maoists. We can visibly sense panic in the
Indian security establishment as the Maoists launch
more and more daring attacks on Indian federation in
the “Red Corridor” of Indian mainland. Indians
cannot blame Pakistan for supporting the Maoists as
A training camp of Maoist insurgents in some
remote forestland
they are a known homegrown rebellion and now
Indian army is being asked to develop plans to counter
the growing threat. With Kashmir already boiling to
dangerous levels, Indian army is understandably
BRASSTACKS 20
jittery about opening another unwinnable protracted
war front within the mainland. Indian federation is
under great stress and federal government has no plan
or strategy in hand to handle these threats except to
delay and defer or use reactive force to contain a threat
which is driven through a powerful ideology. Indian
strategy is hopeless to start with.
But even in India now, the Indian stance that Pakistan
is involved in supporting the Kashmiri resistance is
beginning to lose currency. Indian army, political
brokers and even moderate Kashmiri leaders now
acknowledge that it is a home grown intifada and
Indians have a serious internal unity crisis. The issue is
getting international attention, causing more
embarrassment for Delhi. Also, Indian army finds
itself unwilling and unable to fight on multiple major
counter insurgency fronts especially now when
Maoists too have emerged as major national security
threat to Indian federation. Kashmir is now a global
embarrassment for India. Their own armed forces are
demanding that government should decide the issue
politically as 22 years of military threat to quell the
resistance has not eroded the crisis. Now, even the UN
seems concerned. Last thing Indians want is Kashmir
being debated at the international forums. Pakistani
FO remains incapable to embarrass Indians despite the
opportunities.
But the positive axis from Pakistan's perspective is the
fact that China has started an aggressive partnership
with Pakistan to counterbalance threats from US and
Indian axis. The US vulnerabilities in Afghanistan are
now being fully exploited by Pakistan and China. Last
week, we gave the following snapshot of the emerging
regional developments. A new security and power
paradigm is emerging with China taking the lead role
and Pakistan and Iran exerting themselves more
against US. Chinese are in no mood of entertaining
any US “concerns” over their cooperation with
Pakistan. This is very discomforting for Indians as
well where the restive Himalayan valley Kashmir is
giving them serious geo-political nightmares. Both
Pakistan and China have fought wars with India over
Kashmir and Indians are always nervous over
Pakistan-China military co-operation especially in the
region around Kashmir.
For the first time in years, we find Indian seriously
trapped in internal security issues and facing a setback
in blaming Pakistan for their ills. Pakistan and China
are now regrouping and exerting themselves in the
BRASSTACKS 21
region, shifting the geo-political security balance
somewhat in Pak-China favor. US is still strongly
committed to keeping Indians as the 21st century ally
but its own follies in Afghanistan are now making US
very vulnerable, incapable to support Indians against
Pakistan and China in the short term at least. If US
decides to leave Afghanistan, that would be great geo-
political setback for the Indians and a net gain for
Pakistan, Iran and China. The battle field for South
Asia is now shifted to Afghanistan and the war is on
big time with CIA, ISI, RAW, MI6, Iranian and
Chinese Intelligence battling it out in the Afghan
gorges.
There is real anger in Indian Foreign Ministry and the
government against ISI. Pakistan's spy agency is the
nightmare of Indian security establishment. While, ISI
has begun neutralizing Indian covert operations from
Afghanistan, its Indian counterpart spy agency RAW
remains paranoid about the reach and capacity of ISI.
This factor too contributed its share in the outburst of
Indian government official against ISI, resulting in the
collapse of talks and Afghan transit trade agreement.
Indian Foreign office is petrified of the concept that
ISI has penetrated the organization.
Pakistan and India can never be at peace with each
other but only have ceasefires. The disputes, conflicts
and hatreds are so severe that the only threat of a
massive war maintains peace. It has remained like this
for the past 63 years. It shall remain so in future as well
until one day when a showdown would decide the fate.
In reality, diplomacy, politics and talks are only meant
to delay that final showdown as long as it can be, not
for peace between the two countries. That's the reality.
The reality has also dawned on the country's leaders
while they try to hide this bitter fact under the jargon of
diplomatic niceties.
As expected, the so called peace talks between
Pakistan and India fizzled out even before they started.
The weak and compromised PPP government wanted
to bend backwards to appease India but the national
mood was against giving any concessions to India
especially when Indians were not willing to talk on
Kashmir, water, Indian support to terrorism or any
other issue of dispute. In the end, even the weak FM
had to present a harsh face to India.
When both countries so seriously distrust each other,
peace talks without any external or bilateral pressure
remain meaningless. But despite the total and chaotic
end to the talks, it was Hillary's job to get India the
concession of transit trade through Pakistan to
Afghanistan and she almost did. The compromised
PPP government was all set to sign the controversial
and unprecedented Afghan Transit Trade deal to
benefit India unilaterally but the mistake by Indian
Foreign service officer of accusing ISI of terrorism
flared the tempers in media and brought the issue in
the limelight, creating a crisis for the PPP government
as well as Indian Foreign Minister, making it
impossible for them to go ahead with the agreement.
Indian Foreign Minister is rightly angry over his
officer. A historic opportunity for India was lost
though they have not given up hope. In the presence of
this corrupt and compromised PPP government,
Indians feel their best chance to subdue Pakistan
3rd generation of Kashmiris has joined the
diplomatically. It was the Indian government officials
struggle of freedom from Indian clutches.
who harmed Indian interests, not Pakistani Foreign
Restive valley witnessed unprecedented
office which had bent backwards to appease Indians.
freedom processions and uproar by civilian
population during the last two months.
There is now a genuine panic in Pakistan over looming
water crisis and Indian blockade of Pakistani rivers.
With the failure of political government to take up the Indians would not allow them to interfere in Kashmir
issue at any international forum, military has now affairs. If Pakistan was counting upon US help to tame
taken it upon itself to press the issue in strategic India, that's not happening either. US has flatly refused
dialogue with US. The issue is sensitive enough to to mediate between Pakistan and India and are only
trigger a war between Pakistan and India. US should working on the strategy of “bribing” Pakistani
be genuinely concerned as such a scenario would leadership into compliance. Pakistan is now
throw the entire US designs in the region for the 21
st affectively on its own to deal with Indians, who are
century into a tailspin. The government has now also fully backed by US, Israel, EU and even Russia.
been forced to act under duress. The much delayed Hillary and Mullen spoke what the Indians wanted to
dams are now being approved but still no one is hear.
willing to talk about Kalabagh Dam, the real need of
the country. Indians have been pulling all global Also, blaming LeT as the master terrorist organization
strings to make sure that Pakistan does not get the in place of Al-Qaeda is also a strategic shift in US
dams. The complacency of the government and the stance which is more geared to please Indians and has
water wars by India has indeed created a dangerous nothing to do with the reality on ground. This is a
situation for Pakistan. serious development against Pakistan and shows the
strategic relationship between India and US.
The mood and sentiments in Pakistan are running high
at all levels. Freedom and Water are two issues which The frictions between Pakistan and India are so high
can trigger another war and it would in the midterm. In even today that both countries can go to war on a short
the Indian controlled Kashmir, resistance, civil notice as they almost did after the Mumbai incident.
disobedience and unrest continues for the last 22 years Under these circumstances, peace talks were a façade
and does not show any sign of slowing down. The anyways. Now even the US is realizing the gravity of
intensity of the resistance varies but it continues to the situation. Pakistanis and Indians are being told to
flare up despite almost half a million Indian troops in calm down. US was particularly upset when Indians
the valley. leaked secret US-India understandings and accused
ISI of being involved in the Mumbai attacks. Pakistan
In the coming days, US may just be able to contain the could afford to delay Kashmir for 63 years. But it
rising frictions between the two countries but there cannot afford to delay water dispute for even next five.
would not be any peace process, talks or dialogue A major war with India is inevitable now as there is no
between the two hostile neighbors. Despite US desire, external pressure on Indians to give concessions or
BRASSTACKS 22
back off from their present stance of blocking
Pakistani waters. “Kashmir is Pakistan's jugular” were
the words of founding father of the country – Quaid e
Azam. Back then in 1947, not many could understand
this. Today, it's clear as daylight. Both countries know
this and continue to prepare for a final showdown!!
Indians have an upper hand at the moment as they
support multiple insurgencies in Pakistan, political
government in Islamabad is slavish, Pakistani water is
being blocked and Indians ride the tide of strategic
partnership with US. Pakistan is desperate to re-gain
the foothold but in the presence of this government,
the task is much more uphill and difficult for the
patriots and the armed forces. Rest of the “peace
process” is all media stunts and facades.
While Americans insist that Pakistan should squeeze
the Haqqani group in North Waziristan, behind the
scenes, US and Karzai government are now talking to
Afghan Taliban and Haqqani group, even if they deny
it on the surface. This is utter humiliation for the
Americans but now as they continue to take losses in a
protracted bloody war, all the options are open.
In reality, the Afghan situation is fast turning a war
between CIA and ISI, with Indian RAW acting as
scavengers. In fact, pressure is again being mounted
upon ISI and Pakistan that militant outfits are being
sent from Pakistan to fight the US/NATO forces. LeT
or JuD as they are called are not present in Afghanistan
and this latest US information war is only meant to

Western Theatre:

It is a witch's brew which the US is cooking in

Pakistani politics to salvage its Afghan debacles. US
want to take control of Pakistani armed forces through
the corrupt and sold out government of PPP. This is the
ultimate US strategy and desire which has been failing
ever since they installed Zardari as the President and
PPP as “democratic” government. But it's not
happening as army continues to exert itself to protect
Pakistan's national security interests.

US now want to fight to the last Pakistani!! After

failing to subdue the Afghan resistance, now US
administration officials want Pakistan to do their
fighting. This is not going to happen as Pakistan is
already busy fighting the CIA/RAW backed TTP
terrorists and does not have the appetite, resources and
the will to fight the Afghan resistance who are not at
war with Pakistan.
US are desperate to gain control of a fast spinning out
of control war in Afghanistan. The civilian military
differences have lead to the sacking of the US
commander of the theatre already. New General is
now equally desperate to show results but is frustrated
by Pakistan, Taliban resistance and abandoning of the
difficult war zones by their British allies. The pressure
is now mounting on US army and they are in panic
mode.
The statement of DG ISI has given cold feet to the CIA
and US/NATO and explains the underlying friction
between the power players in the region. Pakistan is
now on way to charting its own course of national
security. This is the ultimate US nightmare.
BRASSTACKS 23
General McChrystal was released by Obama on
openly expressing his frustration.
increase pressure on ISI and Pakistan army. This US
DoD's statement on LeT is totally and completely
rubbish.
As we have said, US desperation is now on its peak.
US strategy remains to blame make belief “Al-Qaeda”
for all their failures in Afghanistan. The fact that so
called Arab fighters are no more than 100 desperate
men in Afghanistan does not seem to bother the spin
doctors of US government and army. US is not being
defeated byAl-Qaeda but by 7 million strong Pashtuns
in Afghanistan, led by Mullah Umar, Haqqani and
Hekmatyar. TheseAfghans are NOTAl-Qaeda!!
But the disinformation continues and US would try to
bring Pakistan on its knees by blaming army and ISI of
supporting the mythical “Al-Qaeda”. US wants
Pakistan to go to war with Haqqani group in North
Waziristan but to make the case for it, “Al-Qaeda” has
to be reinvented. Suddenly we find flurry of news
reports and allegations that all global terrorism is
originating from Pakistan and under the banner of
“Al-Qaeda”. This is massive psy-ops, disinformation
and propaganda war.
Instead of fighting against the Haqqani network
themselves, US want Pakistan to do the dirty job for
them. Even today, US has not declared Haqqani's group
as a terrorist organization and only now proceedings
have started for the same. There is no major US
offensive in Eastern Afghanistan where Haqqani
operates. This is farcical as well as ironical. The US
game plan is so obvious that only the blind cannot see it.
US do not want to risk its own assets and resources to
tame Haqqani's group. This clearly indicates that
Haqqani is not as bigger a threat for US interests as they
project him to be. But if Pakistan goes to war with
Haqqani, Islamabad and GHQ would lose all their
goodwill in the Afghans and Pakistan would not have
any foothold in the future of Afghanistan when US
leaves or reduces their influence. US do not want to
hand over Afghanistan to Pakistan!! US, Indians and
Israelis are too upset about it.
Pakistan is now firmly selling the idea of national
reconciliation to the Americans to guarantee them a
safe exit from Afghanistan. That means offering an
olive branch to the Taliban and the Afghan resistance
to bring them on board in a national government in
Afghanistan. Despite the fact that US know that they
have lost, the ego of a super power resist the
humiliation of shaking hands with the rag tag militia
which have humbled a super power in the gorges of
Afghanistan. This is the dilemma which is now
seriously threatening the unity of the US armed forces
and the government. The Taliban and the anti-
coalition militia have sensed this weakness of the
foreign forces and have upped the pressure lately.
While Karzai denies, Obama and CIA acknowledges.
British army chief also supports the idea making it the
mainstream strategy to end the war or to find an exit
strategy. Now it's an open secret. Pakistan is sure to
have a greater role in the Afghan affairs now as this
new strategy gains currency. In fact, this is a historic
moment for Pakistan to re-establish its foothold in
Afghanistan and displace Indian and foreign forces.
But while US pursue the strategy of trying to buy or
win over Afghan resistance, it also plans to maintain
pressure on the opposition through the controversial
drones strikes strategy in Pakistani tribal regions.
Pakistani government or the military have not taken a
firm stance on this issue yet and allowed the US to get
away with this so far. Sooner or later, GHQ will have
to take the matters in its own hand on this aspect as
well. These strikes are causing Pakistan army to lose
lots of goodwill within the local population. If the
intelligence is correct and the control is with Pakistani
forces, these drones' strikes are a cheaper and affective
way to wage a war against an elusive enemy but in the
hands of the ruthlessAmericans, these are more part of
the problem than being part of the solution to the
scourge of terrorism in those regions. Every drone
strike causes civilian deaths creating more enemies for
Pakistan.
Resistance within the Pakistani civil society is now
also increasing against these attacks. Even the
government is now coming under pressure from
within their own ranks to review the policy as PPP
rapidly lose public support and draw flak.
By: Farzana Shah
US policy and objectives contradictions become
glaringly obvious when they spit out the real deal they
plan for Afghanistan – dismemberment of
Afghanistan. The “Lebanon option” has now been
floated where Hezbollah controls the south and a
separate government runs in Beirut. We have always
been saying that actual end game planned by US for
Afghanistan and Pakistan is redrawing borders on
“blood lines”, separating the countries on various
ethnic lines. The exit plan of US envisages a bloody
civil war as in Yugoslavia and then division of the land
with new maps. The same game plan it has for
Pakistan also.
It is up to Pakistan and Iran to decide what future they
want for Afghanistan. Pakistan having a bigger say as
BRASSTACKS 24
Pashtuns resistance maintain a soft corner for
Pakistan. What US desire is a perpetual recipe for a
civil war, an option the region cannot afford to
implement. The US endgame is as ruthless as their
failed war for the last 10 years.
The contradictions and confusions within the US war
planners are glaringly obvious. The sacking of former
US General McChrystal was a sign of critical
differences between civil and military leadership. But
even within the political leadership, we find those who
seek reconciliations with all Afghans including the
resistance. Holbrooke has perhaps seen the futility of
US war adventures and now seeks a path of least
resistance. Not many in Obama administration would
tag along this line. After sacking of General
McChrystal, the new US military command is not just
hawkish, they are delusional as well. We are seeing a
visible hardening of stance by the US army against
Pakistan. Also, the plans of an exit strategy are being
“revised” to a “long haul stay” – a psychological war
tactic to demoralize Taliban into talks. The levels of
mistrust and bad taste are going to increase between
Pak and US armies now. US is trying to bully Pakistan
now once again, though US are on such a weak turf in
Afghanistan that any firm stance by Pakistan can take
the wind out of the entire US strategy.
There is a reason why US cannot push Pakistan
beyond a certain degree. Their lifeline passes through
Pakistan. Right now it is the militants who attack at the
targets of opportunity. If the Pakistani state decides to
choke the vital route, that would be the end of
US/NATO Afghan war days. In reality, the cost of war
already is rising exponentially for the occupation
forces. The stress is increasing and so are the suicides.
War is truly ruthless in the country as both sides try to
gain upper hand in the summer offensives. Now the
Taliban resistance is even spreading in North of the
country which had remained safe till now.
This year is going to be very rough in Afghanistan.
Taliban are sensing victory and are not going to lose
the initiative this time. Despite the bravado, US do not
have the capability or the will to carry the war for more
years. It is either an exit for them or a total defeat and
decimation. But even if it is an exit, US would want to
prevent a Taliban return and would be doing a fair bit
of killings to achieve that objective. Pakistan remains
the key player in this scenario. Apowerful government
in Islamabad can turn the tide in its favor. For now, the
ship in Islamabad remains rudderless though the GHQ
BRASSTACKS 25
tries to steer it to sanity.
To sum it up, US is facing following fatal and grave
issues at hand inAfghanistan:
1. US is not winning the war. Taliban and anti-
coalition Pashtun militias are gaining more
strength.
2. Cost of the war in terms of material and
human losses are rising exponentially. In the
latest statistics, number of suicides has
increased than the number of battlefield deaths
in a month! Morale of the troops is all time low
and no end of war in sight.
3. NATO is not willing to do the difficult
fighting and only British, Canadian and
American troops are taking major casualties.
4. Karzai regime is failing and falling rather
rapidly.
5. Zardari is an equally failing regime in
Islamabad, making Pakistan army and ISI
more dominant and in control of policies. Bad
news for US.
6. With a withdrawal timetable given early,
Taliban have hardened their stance towards
any talks. Now a back peddling is required by
US and NATO to give a perception that they
are not quittingAfghanistan.
7. Pakistan is not willing to do the fighting for
theAmericans against Pashtun resistance.
8. Indian presence in Afghanistan has made it
very difficult for US to balance their relations
with Pakistan. Pakistan is clearly angry over
US patronage and protection of Indians.
9.Pakistan continue to hold influence over
Pashtun resistance making it clear that in the
absence of US and NATO forces, Pakistan
would once again control theAfghan future.
10. There is no defined objective of war now
for the US. There is total confusion. Al-Qaeda
is now being replaced with LeT as the next
bogey. Osama and Mullah Omar have not been
caught. In short, US do not know how to get
 out or what to do next. It is confusion galore.
11. NATO came into Afghanistan to maintain
their strategic presence to counter Islamic,
Russian and Chinese threats. There is no way
they can forego these grand strategic
objectives even if some kind of peace deal is
reached in Afghanistan. NATO is making this
clear now, finally.
So after earlier giving an exit date, by 2011, now we
see another confused policy announcement by US and
NATO. But all these US plans and announcements
donot affect Taliban who remain ruthless, cunning and
resolute. Major embarrassments continue to come US
way. In the coming days, frictions will increase
between Pakistan and US/NATO as well as the
occupation forces' casualties would mount in the
coming war season. Pakistan is rightly not willing to
fight the dirty war for the US/NATO. There is not
much US/NATO can do about it except fume, bluff
and threaten.
Political / EconomicAxis:
It can only happen in Pakistan! A huge percentage of
legislators and MP's are now known to have fake
educational degrees and have defrauded the nation
and the judiciary to win their seats. But they remain
shameless! Instead of supporting the law, even Mr.
Zaradri is upset and sees this as a conspiracy. This has
now become the biggest scandal in the country which
can actually disqualify a majority of the MP's making
the parliament non-functional. The entire political
system is so corrupt and decadent that it is futile to
expect them to deliver.
The government and its cronies continue to make
laws, rules and policies to grab billions in windfall
profits, commissions and kickbacks. This is
staggering and unprecedented levels of corruption and
financial embezzlement without any shame or fear.
While the SC is trying to resist the autocratic corrupt
rule of the government, the PPP government continues
to declare their war against the judiciary as well. Chief
Justice SC continues to give a tough time to PPP
government.
Every trick known to crooks and thieves is now being
deployed by the government to wriggle out of the legal
grip of the Supreme Court. The clash is breathtaking
as well as shameless. The entire leadership is mired in
billions of dollars of corruption and is now fighting
tooth and nail to salvage their sinking ship.
PPP government is most disturbed by the fierce
attacks on it by the media. Now, in the name of
national security, they are going to draw dictatorial
laws to check the media blitz. Government would try
to bring the army on board as well to get the muscle
behind it. While there is no doubt that Pakistan needs a
solid media policy as the present media is almost an
untouchable holy cow, causing massive anarchy in the
state, the way PPP wants to do it would cause more
mayhem than good. It seems that the realization is
there in the PPP ranks as well despite the desire to go
ahead with the idea.
Meanwhile the corrupt politicians continue to divide
the provinces over water and resource allocations,
increasing the provincial disharmony and weakening
the federation. Power crisis also continues to get
serious all over the country with no end in sight. This
sorry state of affairs is deliberately orchestrated to
justify rental power plants by the government.
Railways are collapsing and all major trains which
have been running for many decades are now being
ceased to operate. This is a horrible state of affairs or
national governance and is almost touching the limits
of a failed State.
The PPP government is already on a suicide path. Now
PML (N) has also joined their ranks and has picked up
fights with almost all power players – PPP, Media and
the army. This is bad news for Nawaz Shareef and his
political future. But PML (N) was quick to back track
and do damage control over their stance towards
media and terrorism. The inaction and failure of
Punjab government to nab and nail the terrorist outfits
has brought them under immense pressure and have
led to panicked response against media and the
government and defying the military's national
security strategy. Now PML (N) is desperate and
trying to limit the damage. The political fiasco is so
total and complete that it is breathtaking. It is not just
the government but also the so called opposition
which is equally comical, confused and disorientated.
The PPP government is also under immense pressure from
religious scholars and organizations as well. The failure to
control terrorism is now haunting the PPP government
more than the corruption they have been doing.
As Pakistan continues to face water crisis, the
government work on multiple axis to aggravate the
shortage. The government is creating a major crisis
BRASSTACKS 26
through following means.
1. New dams are not being built. In fact, the
government is blocking all projects.
2. New storage reservoirs and canals are not
being created.
3. Water disputes increasing due to corrupt and
incompetent decision makers. This is
increasing friction between provinces.
4. Issues not being taken up with India over
Indian blockade of Pakistani water.
On inter provincial axis, the disputes and frictions
continue to increase between provinces creating a
dangerous fault line for the Federation. This
government is making sure that Pakistani federation is
weakened beyond repair in the coming months and
weeks. The passing of the 18th amendment is the
biggest crime of this government. War on ethnic lines
in Karachi by two separatists' parties – MQM and ANP
– is alarmingly out of control. Both parties have great
sympathies with Indians and reject creation of
Pakistan as a State and tacitly work to create
environment to cripple Pakistan. Both are in
government in Sindh and NWFP and are aggressively

What the government is doing is plain and simple

treason. This may seem a harsh word but the
corruption and incompetence of the government is
pushing Pakistan towards a famine and food crisis.

The only aspect where we find this PPP government

aggressive is the borrowing from IMF and World
Bank on terms which surely are to break the national
economic back, if it is has not already. The massive
loans are being siphoned back into accounts of the
leaders while the country continues to sink deeper into
bottomless pit. The system cannot last. It is just a
matter of time now. We only hope the change is not a
bloody one.

Prime Minister Gillani extended the tenure of the

powerful army chief for next 3 years, a full new term.
This is perhaps the best thing that PM has ever done.
General Kayani is a fierce patriot and a professional
soldier and is respected in the army. He has handled
the war within the country well and his extension is a
good omen for the country. But not so much for the
government or the US plans in the region.
But if the PPP government thinks that General Kayani
would remain loyal to the government despite their
blatant betrayals of national interests and corruptions
then they are sadly mistaken. Chief Justice and the
Army Chief are the two people who can put some fear
of God into the hearts of the rulers. With already a
head-on collision between SC and the government,
army's taking sides would be decisive and this is what
the PM wanted to avoid. But we know for sure that the
loyalties of the General are with Pakistani State and its
ideology and any deviance by the government on
these counts would not be taken lightly by the army
and its powerful chief.
BRASSTACKS 27
working on the agenda of weakening the federation in
cohorts with the PPP regime. A gang war between
MQM and ANP has crippled Karachi since last month
or so and it still continues and getting intense by the
day with dozens killed in targeted assassinations just
over the past week.
Baluchistan is also in real crisis now as multiple
separatists' groups are fighting for “independence”.
The Baluchistan issue can be resolved in no time but
the CM and his provincial government are themselves
separatists and are known criminals and no one can
expect any good from them. Such is the irony and
shamelessness of this PPP regime.
If the corruption and mismanagement of the
government was not enough, the country is hit by the
worst flooding in its history, creating more havoc and
destruction in the country. Over 2000 have died
already in the first week of August and property worth
billions of rupees have been damaged. Major cities of
NWFP like Nowshehra and Charsadda are completely
submerged and Peshawar areas are without electricity
for days now.
It is undoubtedly the most horrifying collapse of state
management by any government in national history.
This time, military wants the Supreme Court to do the
cleaning of the sick system. How long the SC would
take, one cannot say at the moment. But the fact
remains that PPP government and the SC are now
locked in a mortal combat and the country bleeds in
the process. Army watches on the wings and so far is
resisting the temptation to intervene. Let's see, how
long they wait and see the nation bleed profusely?
Internal Security:
As the TTP terrorists continue to take hits in the tribal
areas, they are moving deeper into the mainland
hitting softer targets, causing much mayhem and
bloodshed. But the positive outcome is that these
attacks are uniting the nation against their terror and
forcing the government to shape up or be prepared to
ship out. The nation has refused to buckle down under
the terror. Operations continue in the tribal areas both
by the Pakistani forces and the US drones.
It's a long slog to victory. In the absence of political
will and in the presence of a failed judicial system,
army has to do the dirty job of cleaning the mess on all
fronts. The TTP militants also want to expand the axis
of war into a sectarian conflict as well. The Shias in
Parachinar are almost blockaded for more than a year
and their road passes through the TTP areas where
ambushes are routine.
It is a complex and dirty war in the FATA and tribal
regions. Multiple axis of threats, violence and
conflicts rage with various intensity.
1. Sectarian.
2. Swat.
3 .Drones and CIA's own war.
4. Pak army's operations against TTP.
5. TTP's revenge against the State.
The positive side is that the TTP has taken mortal hits
and number of suicide attacks against the people and
the security forces are decreasing steadily, almost
none last month. Military operations continue in FATA
and militants are taking regular casualties and have
not been able to react as frequently as they used to
previously. The tide has now decisively turned against
the militants and the morale within the security forces
and army is very high. It's a long haul war as the source
of the insurgency lies in Afghanistan which is still
volatile and hostile to Pakistan.
In Baluchistan, campaign of violence continues as
well where violence levels are lower but targeted
assassinations and attacks on the forces continue to
challenge the State writ. With a most corrupt and
incompetent government in Quetta as well, there is no
possibility of any improvement in the security
situation as long as this government remains. An
internal fight for turf is rocking Baluch separatists.
Baluchistan witnessed violence and protests over
assassination of a sub-nationalist leader. The BLA
attacks against the State have gone down but exist on
regular basis. Present government of Baluchistan is
unwilling as well as unable to contain these threats.
The more severe damage is being done on the political
front where the local population feels alienated and
distanced from the federation due to corruption and
bad governance of the provincial government. Recent
flooding has also done severe damage in the province
but army came to help once again in Marri and Bugti
regions.
Karachi remains a city of concern where MQM and
ANP have turned it into a war zone with Police and
Rangers incapable of controlling the marauding mobs.
With MQM and PPP in the government, police and
security forces are under their own control and their
gangs have been set lose on political opponents with
shameless audacity.
............................
BRASSTACKS 28
 Giving India Trade Route
Crossing Red Lines?
In a country that has been affected by low and high
intensity insurgencies, entrapped in a vicious debt trap
of IMF and World Bank, indulged into economic
mismanagement and political corruption at all levels;
constituting a foreign policy which can protect its
security interests is really a cumbersome job but even
then some red lines are drawn by nations on all fronts
of national defense and economic security which are
not meant to be crossed at any cost under any
circumstances.
Right after 9/11, US helped India to establish her
political and economical foothold in Afghanistan by
overlooking Pakistan's geo-political and geo-
economic interests. US policy towards establishing
Indian hegemony in SouthAsia is in full swing and it is
getting its objectives met, one after another, thanks to
another US supported and sponsored government in
Islamabad just like the one they have in Kabul. Present
government is willingly crossing red lines just to
protect artificial democracy in Pakistan by appeasing
Americans and Indians.
The only way for US and Indian plans to succeed in the
region is to get sway over all the trade routes and
corridors to Afghanistan through Pakistan. This is
something Pakistan cannot afford politically,
economically as any such concession to India would
undermine vital national geo-strategic interests.
th
On July 18 2010, both countries signed a framework
for final transit trade agreement between Pakistan and
Afghanistan. Actual agreement for Afghan Transit
Trade would be based on this framework. Efforts and
work for this framework were underway for the last
BRASSTACKS 29
or
By: Farzana Shah
th
two years. Earlier during the last year, on May 6 ,
2009 Pakistani and Afghan ministers signed an MoU
in US to renew transit trade agreement, of 1965, to
give India a transit facility for trade with Afghanistan
through Pakistani land routes from Wagah to Khyber
surrendering its 43-years-old stance on not allowing
India to use its soil for trade with Afghanistan till the
resolution of all outstanding issues including
Kashmir.
The decision by government to sign a bilateral
agreement with Afghanistan on a foreign soil and
giving India unilateral concessions on transit trade
met with severe criticism and skepticism by Pakistani
intelligentsia and military establishment as
government was to concede Pakistan's economic and
security interests to India through this agreement.
Some of the terms agreed upon by both countries in
MoU in 2009 were openly against Pakistan’s
economic hand strategic interests.
Under the second clause of the MoU not only could
Afghanistan get access to the sea route; it could also
find new avenues to India and China for similar
purposes.
The clause titled "Objectives of Pak Afghan Transit
Agreement", in the MoU, elaborated that the future
agreement would emphasize the easiest routes for
international traffic (also including access to a third
country).
The need for establishing a transit corridor connecting
Pakistan's border areas with Afghanistan, and to give

the two countries access to each other's neighbouring
countries was also emphasized in the MoU.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton was jubilant and
declared the MoU a “landmark memorandum of
understanding” but that was last year. This year, she
traveled all the way to Islamabad to supervise signing
ceremony of framework that will be utilized while
formulating the final agreement which would be
signed in future after approval by cabinet.
Though the transit trade agreement is completely a
bilateral matter between Pakistan and Afghanistan but
there is an unprecedented level of US interest and
interference, since 2008, in this agreement and that is
something raising eyebrows in some circles in
Pakistan.
According to media reports, Pakistan has conceded
following to Afghanistan;
1. To provide, for the first time, Afghanistan
with facility to use Pakistani land routes of
Wagah-Khyber for exports to India.
2. To continue providing sea-port access to
India for her exports to Afghanistan. Not only
Karachi port would be used but Gawadar and
Bin Qasim ports would also be available for
Indian exports to Afghanistan.
This may not sound turbulent as Pakistan is bound to
provide transit trade to land locked Afghanistan but
there are more concessions from Pakistan in this
framework for future Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade
Agreement (APTTA) and these concessions are
primarily for India.
3. In future, India would be allowed through a
“side-letter” by Islamabad to use Pakistani
land routes for moving its goods directly to
Afghanistan via Wagah – Khyber route.
Pakistani intelligentsia and patriots reacted strongly
over this precarious framework which now has become
binding for Pakistan to follow while finalizing final
agreement for Pak – Afghan transit trade. Reacting to
this outrage, the government tried to do some damage
control by giving some absurd and twisted explanations
and reasons for the need for new agreement like; the
previous agreement, signed in 1965, had become
obsolete, there was no mechanism to prevent
smuggling, the new agreement would enable all
Pakistani ports to be utilized for Afghan transit trade
etc. These reasons given by commerce minister have no
answers for the following critical questions;
I) If an agreement between Pakistan and
Afghanistan was becoming obsolete why did
US intervene? Pakistan and Afghanistan are
two neighbors which have a history and they
can talk to each other directly.
II) Why Pakistani government has allowed
Washington to hijack the whole transit trade
agreement? Why US diplomats are so much
involved in a regional matter that has nothing
to do with any foreign country?
III) Why Americans are so worried for Indian
access to Afghanistan through Pakistan?
Which US interests would be served or
protected by facilitating India inAfghanistan?
The only answer to these questions is that actual deal is
to protect US interests in the region and not the trade.
Americans want Indians in Afghanistan, US wants to
leave Afghanistan but wants a reliable partner in
Kabul and some regional player as a babysitter for that
partner. On the other hand Indians want access to
Central Asia and Middle East, something that is only
possible via Pakistan. Indians also want to corner
Pakistan from its Western border (which they are
already doing by supporting multiple insurgencies in
Pakistan but after getting land access via Pakistan the
noose around Pakistan will be further tightened).
Indo-US regional plan can move forward only in the
presence of a completely compromised, complacent
BRASSTACKS 30
and sellout government in Islamabad, which the
current regime has proved itself on multiple accounts.
So, all the ingredients are there to cook a very nasty
recipe to undermine Pakistan’s economic and
strategic interest.
This agreement with above mentioned provisions,
when materialized, would be a bigger favor to India by
US than the nuclear deal between Washington and
New Dehli.
India had been trying her level best in the past to get
this transit route through Pakistan which will easily
give her a license to expand her footprints from
Myanmar in the East to Afghanistan, the Central Asia
and to the Middle East in the West. Apart from that,
allowing transit route to India has some other grave
implications for Pakistan as well, ranging from
security issues to economic ones.
Security Implications:
Pakistan and India both have long and outstanding
issues. India never missed any chance to harm
Pakistani interests unlike Islamabad where a
deepening leadership crisis has encouraged the
Indians to form an aggressive foreign policy towards
Pakistan.
In current circumstances, providing any facility to
India or Afghanistan to use Wagah –Khyber route
would be a strategic blunder for following reasons;
a. Giving India transit route despite the clear
proofs of Indian involvement in Baluchistan
BRASSTACKS 31
and FATA is going to be proved disastrous for
Pakistan.
b. The accord will allow India to use Pakistan
as a road contributing towards its military
buildup and intelligence network in
Afghanistan which is being used against
Pakistan.
c. Once gates are opened it would be difficult
for Pakistan to distinguish between traders and
Indian intelligence and military personnel.
Trucks loaded with RAW operatives, Indian
military personnel or weapons pretending as
trade convoys will be a new aid to Indian-
backed insurgents in Pakistan.
d. India would be in a position to support
Baluch insurgents more affectively once it has
a direct road access from within Pakistan.
e. It would provide an excellent opportunity
for Indian intelligence operatives to conduct
ground surveillance and espionage operations
of sensitive installations and infrastructure,
while traversing between Wagah –Khyber
trade corridor.
f. Safety of Afghan / Indian trucks on Pakistani
soil will be a problem and Pakistan will have to
allocate extra resources for the protection of
trade convoys through new routes along with
those which are already used for Afghan
transit. Banned Jihadi outfits can attack these
convoys while they travel through Pakistan.
This would create another security situation.
Economic Implications:
Indian involvement in APTTA will be disturbing in its
pure economic incarnation due to following reasons;
a. It is said that the new framework has strict
control recommendations to eradicate the
menace of smuggling but in reality there is no
industrial base in Afghanistan that can cater to
huge Indian market and also there is no huge
market in Afghanistan which can provide
sustained business to Indian industries. So
there is a big possibility that eventually all the
goods intended for Afghanistan would end up
 in Pakistani markets.
b. Pakistan and China invested heavily in
Gawadar mainly for using it as a trade hub
between countries in Central Asia, China,
Russia and rest of the world. Allowing India
transit through Pakistan may end up in
allowing all Central Asian countries and
Russia to sign deals with Afghanistan and
India for using Indian ports instead of
Gawadar for trade with Far East, Australia and
Japan as Indian ports are closer to these
countries than Gawadar.
c. Currently 90 per cent goods ranging from
food to construction material for Afghanistan
are being supplied by Pakistani traders and
balance of trade is heavily in favor of Pakistan.
But it would not remain so as cost of Indian
goods will be reduced in Afghan markets once
they are supplied via land routes. Currently
India cannot accessAfghanistan through roads
so cost of Pakistani goods is somehow
competitive to Indian goods but after the
transit route opened Pakistan will completely
lose theAfghan market.
d. Currently, Afghan exports are carried to
Wagah border by Pakistani trucks. There is
large number of agents, workers and crew
members employed by Pakistani transporters.
After implementing APTTA, these persons
would be rendered jobless.
Political Implications:
APTTA would impact Pakistan on political axis as
well due to following reasons;
a. Allowing India trade route has always been
linked with resolution of Kashmir issue by
Pakistani policy makers since last many
decades. The sudden U-turn by current
government not only surprised Pakistanis but
it will send a very disturbing message to
Kashmiris as well.
b. Pakistan would not get any beneficial
concession on reciprocal basis from India.
Pakistan would not get trade access to Nepal or
Bhutan through Indian land routes, so a
unilateral concession in this regard is flawed
geo-politically.
Final thoughts:
As all the odds are turning against NATO and US
forces in Afghanistan, a panic and urgency is visible in
US efforts to secure its strategic interests in the
region.US administration also feeling pressure from
local masses to end this war. So for US and NATO,
leaving Afghanistan, sooner or later, is inevitable. US
found India to do its dirty work but Indians have their
own plans for the region. Pakistan is caught in
between and this is where both India and US have
found common grounds vis-a-vis Paksitan.
Putting all the above into perspective it becomes clear
that Pakistan has found itself caught in a vicious
conspiracy due to some grossly treacherous policies
by US backed governments in Islamabad since last
nine years. Pakistan offered Indians a unilateral
ceasefire on LoC (Line of Control) in 2004 and India
responded this “confidence building measure” with
her aggressive water policy, support to multiple
insurgencies in Pakistan and diplomatic offenses.
How Pakistan can hope for any return of generous
concessions offered in Afghan –Pakistan Transit
TradeAgreement?
In a situation like this, Pakistan cannot risk its own
interests and security while signing treaties like APTTA
especially when the country is facing a gross
mismanagement in every statecraft due to leadership
crisis. Judiciary is one institute that can bail out Pakistan
from this death trap completely and this agreement has
already been challenged in the court of law.
Final agreement hasn't been signed yet so Pakistan
still has an opportunity to limit Indian economic and
strategic interests in the region by reviewing this
agreement. Indian and Afghan governments, on the
behest of US, would urge Pakistan to finalize the
agreement as soon as possible but they can urge only
as long as US is in the region. Once US quits, tables
will be turned in the region and in Afghanistan as
well. The question is, can patriots in every institute get
together against foreign pressures for this agreement
along with thwarting attempts by conspirators within
Pakistani government till US taste ultimate defeat in
Afghanistan?
..............................
BRASSTACKS 32
 Zaid Hamid

Into the killing fields!

Since I was an amateur young man in the books of Afghans, my
first stop was also planned at a training camp in Warsak, near
Peshawar. After an hour long drive across the black top road and
a diversion into the hills, we reached Warsak camp, a bustling
training camp of Afghan resistance, accommodating a few
hundred fighters at a time, in an ongoing cyclic schedule. The
camp commander received me in his tent and after a few cups of
light black tea, which was to become my staple drink for the next
few years in Afghanistan; we set about touring the camp.
Various weapon-training sites were scattered all over the planes
and hillocks. There were small groups of 15-20 men sitting
around a specific weapon, with an instructor briefing them about
how to use it and later allowing them live fire practice. Though
this camp belonged to Hizb-e-Islami, Hekmatyar group, which
is a dominantly Pashtun party, the trainees came from various
ethnic backgrounds – Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tajiks. Most of these
trainees were young men but some were also elderly, who had
chosen to take up arms and liberate their homeland from the
oppression of one of the mightiest armies in the world back then.

To be honest, I was surprised at the simplicity and limited

variety of weapons at the camp. My perception of fighting a high
intensity war was with heavy artillery, armoury and jet fighters. I
had no clue about how a guerilla war was fought and with which
weapons. I needed to correct my mental bearings in quick time.
The array of weapons at the camp included:

BRASSTACKS 33
 1. Anti aircraft 14.5 mm single barreled guns
called Ziguyags.
2. Anti aircraft 12.7 mm heavy gun called
Dashekas.
3. Heavy Machine Gun 7.62 caliber called
Grunov.
4. Light machine gun 7.62 mm with belt or
drum magazine.
5. Rocket propelled grenades RPG – 7.
6. Light Cannon shoulder or tripod fired
recoilless 82 mm.
7. Light Cannon shoulder or tripod fired
recoilless 75 mm.
8. Mortars of various calibers like 82mm to
120 mm.
9. Single barrel rocket launcher 107mm.
10. AK-47 Kalashnikov.
RPG-7 Training In Warsak
“That's it?” I thought, with some dismay, after
completing my quick tour of the training posts. My
confidence in the Mujahideen's fighting ability, as
well as my own chances of survival in the battlefield
began to frizzle away. “Are these weapons enough?
Are we supposed to fight the Soviets with just these?”
I could not resist asking the camp commander. “These
are good”, he replied with an amusing smile under
which I detected a subtle taunt. “When we started, we
only had homemade guns, First World War bolt
actions and even shot guns”, he seemed happy at the
progress made in six years of resistance. I was still not
so sure. “Which weapon would you like to fire?” he
asked. The offer was tempting but I only settled for the
Kalashnikov; all other weapons seemed fairly simple,
and with a surge of over confidence, I felt I did not
need to use them here and preferred an on-the-job
training in the battlefield.
Later, when faced with the enemy, my apprehensions
proved true, and even though the resistance was giving
some serious, tough time to the Soviets with these
light, transportable and shoulder carried weapons; the
war had actually begun to swing in the favor of the
Soviets due to their much modified tactics, superior air
power as well as their use of high technology weapon
systems, especially the feared MI-24 gunship
helicopters and the modified armoured plated Sukhoi
bomber. These weapons, which had somehow
managed to carry the war thus far for the resistance,
were not going to be enough if the Soviets were to be
driven out of Afghanistan. Within the next few days,
fate was to present me with the opportunity of
experiencing this phenomenon first hand.
On a wooden target, placed at a distance of 200 yards, I
prepared to fire my first shots of the AK-47. One of the
instructors tried to brief me on magazine loading but I
declined the offer. It was my time to make an
impression. First, while standing and then sitting and
taking aim, I fired 5 rounds each, hitting the bull's-eye.
Then lying down on my stomach, turning the selector
switch to full auto, I fired short bursts into the target,
generating some serious excitement in the small group
of onlookers who had gathered to see the “guest” try
his luck. Finally, it was time to really fascinate them. I
flamboyantly fired a full magazine, in small bursts
from the hip, without aiming into the target. Though
not all shots struck home, it was impressive enough an
attempt to draw a round of applause. “Where did you
learn to fire like this?” The camp commander could
hardly conceal his amazement, “At my university, in
Karachi,” I replied with a smile, handing over the gun
to another instructor. I could sense the commander's
disbelief, as I walked away triumphantly.
**********************
Finally on March 27, 1986, the moment of truth
arrived. I was asked to carry my rucksack and join a
BRASSTACKS 34

A group of Arab and Afghan Mujahideen after
ambushing a Soviet Convoy
group of about 20 Arab Mujahideen moving towards
Paktia inAfghanistan via Parachinar, the last Pakistani
town on Afghan border in Kurram agency, tribal
region. It was reported that fighting had broken out
there as a Soviet military column was bogged down
while traveling through the province towards Khost.
Ambushing convoys was a favorite pastime of the
resistance. Arriving in Parachinar just after midday,
we moved on to cross the border by afternoon, and
then made a long trek through the mountains towards
the closest Hizb base in the village of Chamkani inside
Afghanistan, arriving there just after dusk. The Arab
group, of which I was a part, was escorted by a local
Afghan guide, armed with an Ak-47. None of the new
recruits carried any weapons at this stage, which made
me feel somewhat vulnerable while entering the war
zone empty handed. But, Chamkani base was the
closest to the Pakistan border and the Mujahideen had
controlled the region fairly well thus far, as hundreds
of fighters and vehicles crossed both ways almost
daily, despite threats of Soviet bombers and Gunships.
For the first time, I experienced a surge of tension,
seriousness and excitement building up. “This is for
real”, I told myself, as I took stock of the battle
hardened Afghan and Arab men surrounding me,
wearing their battle gears and carrying weapons,
discussing exploits of the bygone battles and
preparing plans for the next day. One could hear the
thunder of artillery in the distance and the reality
began to sink home that now there was no turning
back. I was in the battle field now. We were led into a
small brick room, lit with kerosene lanterns, a typical
example of local architecture; the ambiance created a
mystifying aura about the place. Many such rooms
dotted the harsh mountainous base, occupied by Arab
and Afghan fighters. I was given a first world war
BRASSTACKS 35
Enfield 303 bolt action rifle with about 30 rounds. I
was quite disappointed at not being given an AK-47,
but then I convinced myself that in any real
engagement, I would be able to take down quite a few
enemies, even with this weapon.
Plans had been made to attack a Soviet convoy as well
as a nearby enemy post the next day, therefore, we
were told to take an early rest. The next few days had
some shocking experiences in store for me and served
as a tough initiation process into what was to come my
way during the next six years. I had maintained a small
diary, taking down brief notes as the perilous
adventure unfolded itself. It makes fascinating
reading and gives first hand insight about life on a
typicalAfghan battlefield during those days.
(Diary notes are in Italics and I have added extra
commentary underneath now for clarity).
Date: 28.3.86:
“From Mujahid camp to close to enemy positions,
5km long tiring walk through mountains with heavy
load of shells and guns. It is nearly mid-day now
and we plan to attack the enemy with multi barreled
rocket launchers. I have not seen enemy so far but,
inshaAllah, after a couple of hours…..”
The Mujahideen attacked the Soviets with multi-
barreled rocket launchers from across the hills into the
plains, where the convoy was stuck. 12 thunderous 107
mm rockets would form a typical barrage onto the
enemy positions, creating a fearsome onslaught of
artillery for the enemy. The Soviet response was swift
and even more ruthless. For the first time, I saw the
dreaded MI-24 Gunships, hovering at a safe distance
and firing salvos of rockets into the hills where MBRL
was dug in. The action lasted for about 2 hours and then
we started the retreat back to base.
The earth shook beneath our feet as bombs and rockets
were fired at us from Gunship copters and jets, which
kept on chasing us as we tried to make our way back
from the battle front to the base carrying our dead,
wounded and weapons. We had taken casualties and
the MBRL position had taken a direct Soviet rocket
hit, knocking out the launcher and killing a crew
member. As we started the retreat, the Gunships gave
chase. With only one single barreled 14.5 Ziguyag at
the base to keep the fearsome MI-24's away, we had
little chance of survival but darkness became our ally.
And then the jets arrived, dropping light flares and
again all hell broke loose.
Heavy bombardment from enemy with mortars,
missiles, Gunships and Jets. Enemy suffered great
losses due to Mujahideen's rocket attack. We were
hiding behind rocks with shells falling all around us.
Only Allah protected us. A brother from Afghanistan
was Shaheed.
One Arab was wounded. He was taken to Pakistan. At
night jets bombarded the place in flare lights. We were
hiding in a cave. Allah saved us again. For the first
time in my life I have experienced something like this,
but this is Jihad…
Date 29.3.86:
“Heavy bombardment again by jets, rockets fell
close to us. We kept hiding behind the rocks. It is
midday now and we are at a Mujahideen outpost
close to enemy. We can see enemy camp and jets
bombarding Mujahideen positions in different areas.
We can see white mountains around us”.
Early morning the next day, we were forced to leave
camp by the Mujahideen even before day break and a
column of about 20 men dashed out towards a forward
post, but we were trapped in a small ravine when a
squadron of Soviet jets attacked us, diving low, firing
rockets and strafing right into the column. The column
consisted mostly of young Arab fighters who had not
seen much action before. They panicked. The group,
including myself, desperately tried to take cover
behind rocks and stones with Soviet jets diving in
waves, releasing flares to prevent any SAM attacks.
The roaring, whistling sound of aircraft, slicing
through the wind was uncannily familiar, perhaps
from the movies we had seen, and then panic and fear
began to set in almost immediately.
I stared, horrified as three fighter jets formed a line and
entered into a dive straight at me, strafing with bullets
whizzing past me and hitting the ravine floor kicking
clouds of dust. I was frozen in fear, almost into a trance
of disbelief as the jets released their loads. The planes
dived so low that I could see the helmets of the pilots
when they flew past me. Luckily, bombs and rockets
exploded on the hill slopes, missing the terrified
young fighters in the ravine below, who lay there,
hugging the ground as bullets whizzed past,
miraculously missing the targets. This was my first
ever experience of coming under a hostile fighter jet
attack and made me freeze in sheer terror.
A Mujahideen’s anti aircraft 14.5mm gun
Till today, I regret not having shot at those aircraft, for
I am sure that if I had, even with a bolt action rifle, I
wouldn't have missed. I had often gone duck hunting
with my dad, and in retrospect, seeing those fighter
jets sailing though the air, I could not help but compare
them to fast teals and mallards that could have been
shot down without much effort. But, at that point in
time, I was too frozen with fear to even consider the
possibility. Till that time, advanced surface to air
missiles had not arrived in Afghanistan and Soviet
planes released decoy flares but those were more of a
precaution than due to a real threat from an advanced
SAM.
We finally managed to move out of the ravine and into
the observation post closer to the Soviet base in the
valley below. We came back to our own base at night.
For the next few days, our group used to move out to
our outpost, OP, in the morning and return at night.
Those days were of relative calm for me as I saw the
war unfolding around us while we waited and
observed Soviet positions and tactics. It seemed like
watching a movie, only with real, deadly action taking
place around us, without the rewind or pause buttons.
Enchanting, snowy, mountainous landscape and the
stillness of the serene environment, did not betray the
immense bloodshed and butchery those valleys had
witnessed. The Soviets had used brute and ruthless
force to decimate almost every village they even
suspected of hosting the resistance. Miles after miles,
abandoned villages dotted the hills and valleys, their
occupants having migrated to Pakistan with only
fighters returning to continue the struggle. We were
also lodged in one such vacated, mud and stone,
double storied house.
It was here, for the first time, that I was properly
introduced to the Arab fighters as well. I was the only
BRASSTACKS 36
 Rag-tag Afghan resistance militia
Pakistani in the group and could speak English, a
fascination for the Afghans and Arabs alike. My
Arabic, Pushto or Dari was almost non-existent at the
time and only Abu Hajir, from Iraq could speak
English. We became good friends immediately. He
had not met any Pakistani on the battle front before
and was keen to know about Islamic movements in
Pakistan. This small band of Muslim fighters
comprised of young men from at least 10 different
nationalities from various social and educational
backgrounds, almost all meeting each other for the
first time but united by the bond of a common sacred
cause. Afghan Jihad was truly a Pan Islamic
movement.
I last met Abu Hajir briefly after 4 years on my way to
Takhar, towards regions of Ahmed Shah Masood in
Northern Afghanistan in 1990. Abu Hajir was
trekking back towards Pakistan from Takhar on that
grueling journey. Just before sundown, on a dusty,
narrow dirt track in the Farkhar valley, he recognized
me riding a horse, nursing my lacerated feet after days
of walking. We embraced each other with excitement,
shook hands, introduced each other to the comrades.
He even offered me his own boots when he saw that
mine were hurting me. I then rode into the wilderness,
as Abu Hajir hastened on the opposite dusty track,
BRASSTACKS 37
disappearing into the darkening shadows. I never saw
or heard about him again. People just seemed to vanish
in those killing fields.
Date: 30-3-86:
“Not much happened yesterday after midday. We
came back from OP after dusk. Today we pushed off
very fast from our base and reached OP. Jets
bombarding surrounding hills, probably our HQ as
well. Came back late in the evening, saw enemy
movements and Mujahideen firing rockets on enemy
positions with enemy retaliating and us in the
middle with shells flying over our heads. Sent a
letter to Mom”
Date: 31.3.86:
“Not much action for us all day except usual sights
of jets bombing and rocketing. At night enemy
attacked us with rockets. It was a surprise attack.
Thank God no one was hurt.”
Date: 1.4.86:
“Early morning left for Parachinar. Not much
action here for a Kalashnikov. Decided to leave for
other fronts. Arabs also coming back.
Date: 2.4.86:
“Back in Peshawar”.
These first four days on the front line were to change
my entire perspective and outlook on life. Despite its
harshness and ruthlessness, it was a surreal experience,
almost mystical in intensity. The experiences of trials,
human brutality as well as sacrifice, undergone during
this span of time, taught me phenomenal lessons about
life and death. Those of us who were alive did not know
why they were spared and those who died, we did not
understand why they were chosen. This dangerous, but
extremely mystifying life was to be my destiny for the
next few years.
During this first trip into the killing fields of
Afghanistan, I was destined to undergo similar
experiences in Jalalabad and Paktia. I had maintained
a brief diary of these events as well, and this gives
more insight into the ways and tactics of war being
fought in those days: Earlier it was ambushing
convoys, whereas now in Jalalabad, it was joining
Mujahideen for attacking a fixed enemy post.
Very close to the Pakistan border was the Mujahideen
base at Shalman Dakka. It was overseeing the road to
Jalalabad from Torkham, Pakistan-Afghan border. It
was a very strategic road for the Soviets, heavily
guarded and bitterly fought for by the Mujahideen.
Ambushing this road was a regular battle strategy. But
to get to the road, one had to pass through many
security posts or hilltop fortresses dotting the area.
Therefore, this area was very suitable for post warfare
as well.
I landed at Hizb-e-Islami camp in Shalman. The wide
valley had a river running through it, with one exit
towards Pakistan, hence making it easy for the
resistance to cross the border and bring in men and
supplies. The smaller side of the valley, where the
Mujahideen had their bases was dotted with tents,
caves and make shift shanties for all Mujahideen
groups, having their camps side by side. Hilltops
were manned with anti-air craft guns to keep fighter
jets and helicopters away.
I was received by a short, stout, well built, very
confident middle aged, Mujahideen commander,
Kochi Khan. He was a Pashtun from a nomadic tribe
and interestingly his name Kochi literally means
'nomad'. I was to spend the next 10 days with Kochi
and he was to become my mentor in Dari/Persian, war
strategy, guerilla war tactics and observations, lessons
in ambushing convoys and in attacking posts. Though
he was a Pashtun, he spoke Dari very well, and I
immediately started to take my language lessons.
Within a few days, we were communicating
reasonably well in Dari, which was to become my
second language during all my adventures.
Somehow, I could never pick up Pashtu fluently
despite my years of association with Afghan
resistance and having Peshawar as my second home
for this period, perhaps because of my focus on Dari,
which was closer to Urdu and easier to learn and
speak. Every educated Afghan is at least bilingual and
hence Dari became and remained my first choice of
language inAfghanistan.
Kochi handed me anAK-47 and I was ecstatic. That was
to be my personal weapon from now on. I had a small
camera with me as well and had been taking pictures all
along. In those days, there were no digital cameras and
old fashioned films had to be loaded, so one would only
know after weeks or often months the results of their
photography; but I kept on clicking. In the coming years
I was also to become part of Mujahideen propagation
department and produce hundreds of thousands of
pictures, audio tapes and video films for the resistance.
But at that moment, in Shalman, I was on my own, a
young Karachi student who had enigmatically decided
to abandon an engineering career and join the resistance
as a foot soldier.
One day, it was decided within the groups, to launch an
attack on a post inside the enemy territory. The plan
demanded that we cross the heavily guarded Jalalabad
highway at night, penetrate deep near the target post,
hide in the gorges and natural trenches in the day,
dodge the hilltop posts on the way, make an attack in
the afternoon and finally come out alive somehow. It
was insane to start with but everyone was hyper
charged, so I decided to go along silently. Every group
contributed men and a total of 50 fighters were
assembled for the operation. Kochi Khan was the
commander of the combined force. The weapons
included AK-47's and RPG's with the troopers and
only one 82mm recoilless rifle as softening up
artillery, which was to be used by Kochi himself. As
per battle plan, an assault team was to attack the post
frontally, once it was softened by the 82mm rockets.
Kochi wanted me to stay close to him, obviously for
my protection. I wanted to go with the assault teams, a
high risk proposition. Kochi was visibly
uncomfortable about sending me along with the
assault group. He was jealously protecting me like a
guardian angel. I decided to go with the fighting group
BRASSTACKS 38
anyway and let the battle decide my fate.
My diary entry reads:
Jalalabad 14-4-86:
“At night going for an attack, inshaAllah. Hope to
be back after two days. Saw target post in the day
from an OP post. Enemy tanks and vehicles are close
to it. About 50 Mujahideen are going. We will stay
out at night and reach target area and hide. Next
morning we will keep hiding till after noon and then
attack and make our way back in the darkness. We
are using Kalashnikovs, RPG's, 82 mm shoulder fired
recoilless gun. Attack will last one hour. If we fail,
retreat. If we succeed, a full assault will be made.
The one hour would be decisive”.
The awe-inspiring, mysticism of that particular night
bewilders me even today. After dusk, men assembled
at the rendezvous, verses from the Quran were recited,
followed by a collective prayer for victory. Men were
aware of the risks and were willing to take the chances
with courage. It was an audacious plan and if the
attack had taken place, many or perhaps all could have
perished. There was a full moon, and the column
started their march in single file almost in silence, only
the rattling of the weapons and sounds of the marching
footsteps on mountain stones broke the stillness of the
Faith comes first -- Praying in the battle field
BRASSTACKS 39
night. It was my first experience to march with battle
hardened Mujahideen on those treacherous mountain
slopes and I was struggling to keep pace. Within the
first hour, I was exhausted, carrying my load of
weapon, about 250 rounds of ammunition, medical
pack and some extra clothes. We crossed hills, dirt
tracks, ponds, canals, mountain passes, drinking dirty
sand infested water on the move, without stopping and
then finally reaching the Jalalabad road around 10 pm
at night after 3 hours of forced march. We had been
observing this stretch of the road for days now and
knew it was guarded with tanks and posts. Now came
the tricky part: How to cross the road in a bright,
moonlit night? The agitation and fear factor began to
take over. Mujahideen and Kochi were unnerved.
It was decided to send small groups of men across the
road one after another. Kochi went first, then another
and then another. It was my turn now. Rising from the
roadside ditch, I stepped on the blacktop road,
precariously visible under the full moon. Crouching
low, head down, anticipating hostile fire, I rushed
across the road and dived into the ditch on the other
side. Now we were officially in the enemy territory.
My pulse began to rise.
On the face of it, it was insanity what Mujahideen had
planned to do. Coming this far into enemy territory
and so close to tanks and posts was bad enough. Now
they planned to move deeper, passing many posts on
the way and then hide near a selected post and spend
the next day there, hoping that no one would see them.
If we were to be seen by the enemy during daytime,
there would be a massacre for sure, with no escape
route. If we were to attack the post the next day and
then try to make our way back through this same
treacherous path, the probability of a massacre would
still be strong. But now, we were across the road and
no one was planning a retreat, not now at least.
The attacking column re-assembled in a single file
once again, the standard marching formation in
Afghanistan for fear of landmines. Another half an
hour of silent march into the hostile territory and
suddenly the leader signaled to everyone to stop and
sit. There was trouble.
The dogs on the nearby posts had felt the movement of
the Mujahideen and were barking uncontrollably,
making the Soviet/Afghan army guards alert and
nervous about possible presence of Mujahideen in the
area. And then, all hell broke loose. All the posts
started to fire simultaneously in all directions. It was
obvious that they did not know our exact location, but
were not taking any chances and multi directional,
indiscriminate fire was the best insurance against
sneaking Mujahideen fighting patrols. Our column sat
in tensed silence as machine gun and AK-47 bullets
whizzed past our heads. The tracer rounds were
particularly enthralling to watch as they left a trail of
light when they passed by. I saw two tracer rounds
move at lightning speed towards me and just missed
by a fraction. It was close. Very close. While the
Mujahideen guide was desperately trying to find
alternate route to move forward and the column was
tensely ducking the incoming machine gun fire, the
incredible happened. I went to sleep!
I was jolted from my deep sleep by an Afghan comrade
minutes later and he asked “Tufung Kuja ast?” Where is
your rifle? Panic and fear ran a chill down my spine. My
rifle was gone. I frantically searched all around in the
darkness, not moving too far from the column for fear of
losing it, keeping the head low to avoid the incoming
sporadic fire. All my sleep, laziness, tiredness and
fatigue vanished in a flash of sheer panic. Seeing me
horrified, he reached behind a bush, pulled out my AK-
47, handed it over to me and gave me a survival lesson of
a lifetime in a single sentence “This is not our base.
Don't ever sleep”. I remembered this hard learnt lesson
throughout my association with Afghan Jihad and never
became casual on the Afghan killing fields nor separated
myself from my weapon ever again and it did help keep
me alive. The situation was getting desperate. If we had
to get out before daybreak, we had to move out now;
else, we would be trapped within the enemy zone and
decimated. Kochi took a brave and pragmatic decision
despite resistance by the younger, emotional members
of the group. He ordered a withdrawal.
My diary entry read:
15.4.86:
“Attack called off. Reached enemy area near the
target post but then it was discovered that more enemy
posts are present then previously known. Enemy was
all around us and we were trapped in the middle. If
they had known our positions, some of us would not
have returned alive. We made a safe entry and safe
retreat. It was a long walk, mysterious but interesting,
tiring and adventurous at the same time. At 8 pm we
started and reached the target area at 12 midnight.
Retreat was immediate and we reached back at 4 am
in the morning at base. I was extremely tired and
could not even lift my feet properly, desperately trying
to find my way back in darkness”.
I could not make it back to the base by the first light but
we were in the safe territory. We forced marched almost
the entire night through the mountains and hills. My
whole body ached with cramps and pains. Unable to
walk any further, I sat between rocks along with a couple
of Afghan Mujahideen and we made a makeshift
sleeping arrangement. Here, I had no problem sleeping
but still, tightly hugged my rifle and dozed off. Kochi
had reached the base and waited for me, till I finally
joined him just before noon. There was disappointment
in Kochi at not achieving the mission but also a genuine
satisfaction at pulling the group out alive without any
casualty. He had a very sensible head on his shoulders.
He knew it was a long war and had learnt the art of
staying alive to fight another day. I was fast learning
from his cool head, calm composure and brave attitude.
It was amazing how a nomadic shepherd had turned into
a genuine guerilla fighter against the mightiest army in
the world.
It was time for me to take leave from Kochi. He was a
mentor whose expertise and affection continue to
inspire me. The next day I went back to Peshawar to plan
my next move.
Three years later in 1989, I once again went back to
Jalalabad to participate in the bloody fight for the city.
After the Soviet withdrawal, Mujahideen had planned to
BRASSTACKS 40
 A typical mujahideen fighting group !
capture a major city and make it their capital of the free
government. The attack turned out to be a disaster of
mega proportions on which I shall write later. On way to
the battle front on the outskirts of the city, I drove from
Torkham to the exact spot on the Jalalabad road where
we had crossed 3 years earlier with our small battle
group in the moonlit night and were almost killed in the
subsequent confusion. Driving past that exact very point
of crossing, memories of that night and its nostalgia took
me by storm. My mind thought of Kochi.
In 1988, almost two years after my return from Shalman
front, I was driving through University town, Peshawar
and stopped by a house. The poor security guard, sitting
on a chair, looked into my eyes and instantly called my
name. I was a little surprised, trying to recognize the
broken face of a very sad man. “mun Kochi astam”, I am
Kochi, he said in Dari and then I recognized him, a little
surprised at why he did not get up to greet me. I was
excited, happy and wanted to embrace him but he kept
sitting and then it dawned on me: One of his legs was
missing!
Commander Kochi Khan had stepped on a landmine
after I had left the base and had nearly been killed and
ever since had been under treatment and now doing a
BRASSTACKS 41
part time job of a security guard. He did not have an
artificial leg and used crutches. Now I could see tears of
desperation and helplessness in his eyes. I was
shattered.
The Commander Kochi Khan I knew was a tiger of the
mountains, taking on the Soviets and charging on their
posts. The Kochi whom I was meeting now was from
another world. The Soviets had planted millions of land
mines in Afghanistan and they continue to kill and maim
Afghans even today. It is estimated that it would take
400 years to clear Afghanistan of all the land mines
planted and dropped by the Soviets. It is a brutal and
indiscriminate way of killing and maiming a nation.
Thousands of Afghans have lost lives and limbs till
today, and the toll continues to climb higher every week.
Kochi was just one more statistic in this brutal war. I
wanted to give him some cash as gift. He gratefully
accepted. I still remember tears in his eyes when I left
him there and went ahead to my duty. I am not sure
whether he saw my tears or not. I could not even take his
address and later I was told that he had moved with his
nomadic tribe to where he belonged. He was a nomad, a
free soul and could not do a job sitting in a chair. That
was my last meeting with Kochi Khan. May Allah bless
you Kochi, always and forever. (to be continued)
 14 August Special
Pakistan’s
Spiritual Dimensions
Translated by: Zaki Khalid
(Left) Qudratullah Shahab, (Right) Mumtaz Mufti.
NOTE: Translated excerpts from Mumtaz Mufti’ s
book 'Pyaz ke Chilkey'
It was the 14th of August, 1947.
For the first time that day, I had a positive feeling for
Pakistan. It was nearing midnight. The signature tune
was being played on the radio. The echo of the duffs
was creating an eerie atmosphere, as if war drums
were being beaten. Trumpets were blowing loudly.
However, this signature tune held no special
importance for me, I was busy, engaged in reading
some book. And then it was announced, "Radio
Pakistan"... the book fell out of my hands... I felt as if
tiny insects were walking all over my body. A gush of
air passed over my heart. Colorful stars started to
dance inside me. This was my first positive feeling for
Pakistan, which unexpectedly penetrated inside each
and every vein of my body as if the full moon raises up
the tides in the calm sea.
After the creation of Pakistan, all hopes for a secure
and prosperous life at Bombay seemed vague. The
items and collectibles, for which we had gone to
Bombay, lost their signifance. And so, Ahmed Bashir
and I arrived in Pakistan as we were (without bringing
any other thing along).. The only thing that got us
anxious after we reached here was to shift our relatives
from Gurdaspur to Pakistan. Pakistan had become an
abode of peace for us. Pakistan had security for us,
Muslims. Now I could really feel with high intensity
that I am a Muslim. Though the light of faith was there
in my heart or not, whether my lifestyle was in
accordance with Islam or not. Whether there were pro-
Islamic sentiments in my heart or not. In any case, I
was a Muslim.
Eight years passed by. During this time, I got
acquainted with a literary figure who was full of
Islamic zeal and fervor. Someone in whose life the
Islamic codes were practically visible. One day, I went
to meet him and saw Khawaja sahib seated there. We
were introduced to each other. After this, I had the
opportunity to come across Khawaja sahib quite many
a times, now and then. Khawaja sahib spoke less. He
was used to hearing what others had to say instead of
talking himself. He was intelligent and had a keen eye
on various affairs. He always felt delight in helping
others and the best thing in him was his correctness.
One day, I left for the graveyard. There, inside an
ordinary square-walled building, I saw Khawaja sahib
reciting Fatiha over a grave. I stopped. After he got
free, he greeted me with great joy as usual.
"So tell me, how are you?" he asked.
I replied "Not well really.."
"And why is that?" he asked.
"Just going through anxiety", I replied.
He asked again "Why?Anxiety for what?"
I said "Khawaja sahib, what will become of Pakistan?
This boat is shaking wildly"
I had said this in a bit of amusement. It is true that I
could feel Pakistan's boat shaking, but I had no real
concern for it in my heart.
Khawaja sahib actually turned serious after listening
to what I said:
"Mufti sahib" he said "Why do you worry for Pakistan
BRASSTACKS 42
when there are so many huge entities and personalities separately.”
worrying for it? Why do you or I have to worry for it?"
"Yes Sir," I replied.
He paused for a while, then continued "Do you see that
old man over there?" I looked towards the place "The peon will bring the box," he said. "Alright Sir", I
Khawaja sahib was pointing at, where he was offering said, as I left the room.
Fatiha just a while ago. Khawaja sahib spoke up.
I opened the first letter, it was written: "Oh Shah! How
"That old man had spent his whole life for the creation fortunate you are that you got the honour of ruling
of Pakistan. This tree was planted by him." Pakistan!"

"Mufti sahib", he said smiling "Great personalities are 'What a weird letter!' I thought after I read the whole
working for Pakistan. Why do you worry?"

"Then what do I do?" I inquired jokingly.

"What you can do is, before you do something, ponder

over whether you are working for Pakistan's benefit?
Is your step going against Pakistan? Your own interest
lies in it. Pakistan will live free and prosper no matter
what. People will be stunned by its blossoming.
Insha'Allah!"

I was quite surprised after hearing Khawaja sahib's

talk. Khawaja sahib never talked like this before. He
always talked sensibly, rationally. He was not in
favour of saint-following, etc. Then who was that old
man who had planted the tree of Pakistan? Who were
those great personalities who were bent on worrying
for Pakistan?... What is so special about Pakistan that
great personalities get concerned for it? Pakistan is a
small country, no Islamic specialty has developed in it
yet. And there are dozens of Islamic countries. All
their conditions are pitiable... Khawaja sahib's talk
sounded strange...

Four years passed on.

I got transferred to a special department. I was

appointed to a high-ranking official (Qudrat Ullah
Shahab rehmatullah alayh). Afew characteristics were
prominent in my new officer. He was very intelligent.
Spoke less. He was full of patience.
Sahib (Shahab saab) called me in: "You may start your
work."
"Yes Sir," I replied.
"There are letters from the week past in this box" he
said. "Read all of them carefully, classify them
according to their subject and make a summary. Those
letters that require special attention, place them
BRASSTACKS 43
letter.
I was surprised further when I opened the second
letter: "Beware! Don't ever let flour get expensive in
Pakistan!"
In the third letter, it was written: “The day is not far
when the residents of Madinah would look at Pakistan
and say 'SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah'"
French Scorpion Submarine
I was worried after I read all these letters. I could not
understand why the writers of these letters even wrote
them. What was their purpose?Anyhow, one thing was
obvious. The writers had no intent to abuse the rulers,
neither did they want to gain attention for themselves.
Nor did they ask for personal claims or demands. Most
of the letters did not even have the writer's name on
it.These letters ended with 'Yours respectfully' or
'Yours faithfully'. Most of the letters were written on
chunks of papers. The writing and its expression both
were crude. They weren't really effective. Why had the
writer's even bothered to write such things? Why did
they waste time and money on it?
Then I grabbed hold of a long letter. This letter was
received from Malayam, a city in South India. The
writer was a sub-judge who had been disabled due to
an accident 20 years ago. His only work during these
20 years was worshipping. Despite the length, the gist
of the letter was 'I am not writing this letter for you, but
for Pakistan. Soon, Pakistan will become a great state.
A great victory will be achieved and then Pakistan will
become a great centre of the Islamic World.'
These letters stupefied me. Which world was this?
What kind of people were they? What was the reason
for them writing such letters? Were they all victims of
religious hysteria? Madmen or wishful thinkers?
However, a few letters were written by educated
people. It was surprising that none of the letters talked
of any individual or personality. No one was
appraised/criticised in these letters. They were devoid
of any appraisals. No "His Majesty" was addressed to
in these letters. Their subject was Pakistan. Pakistan's
exclusive status. Pakistan's association with
RasulAllah sallallaho alaihi wasallam, Allah's Mercy
and Blessings on Pakistan... these letters drove me
crazy. A weird eeriness engulfed me. What is all this?
Who are these people? Which world is this? What is
Pakistan? What exclusive status does it have? And
why?
I am known to be emotional by nature. No event leaves
any effect on me under normal circumstances, but
when it does, then I am left stunned. Lava starts to boil
within me and then, as if the volcano erupts. At first,
after reading these letters, I was lost in amazement, I
do not know what happened next. It was as if both ends
of sanity and rationality broke off; a wave of emotions
overtook me and I was drowned in it.
For two days, I kept walking around my house like a
madman. When the storm managed to subside for a
while, I went into wondering again. I decided to go to
sahib (Qudrat Ullah Shahab rehmatullah alayh) and
tell him.
'Sir, these letters are beyond my understanding. Please
give me some serious work that has got something to
do with sanity.'
The third day, I was ready that as soon as sahib
(Q.U.Shahab) would be left alone, I would go inside
and talk to him about this. At that very instant, sahib's
peon arrived. I thought it best to tell him to inform me
as soon as sahib gets free. The peon came back and
said "Sahib is calling" As I entered the room, I waited
for sahib to say something and only then will I share
what I wanted to.
He was busy in writing something at the time. He
looked at me and said: "Please go to the security room
at the gate. Someone is insisting to meet me there.
Please talk to him, tell him I have sent you.If he agrees
to talk with you, ask him what the matter is. But if he
insists to meet me, then do not let him go, do inform
me... I will meet him."
"Yes Sir..." I said, as I turned towards the door.
"And listen," he said Do not talk inside the security
room. Take him outside. In separation, understood?"
"Yes Sir"... It was not the time to talk with sahib about
my issue. I thought of talking on it during my return.
A miserable-looking man was standing inside the
security room. I took him outside in the lawn.
"Sahib is busy in work, he has sent me. If you can tell
me in what regard you would like to meet him, then..."
I had barely finished my sentence that he spoke up:
"Mister, what do I have to do by meeting sahib? I have
nothing to do with him neither do I know him. I was
coming from my village. I came across an ox-cart rider
near this street. He pointed at me. I went to him and he
said 'Mian, go inside this house. Meet the sahib and
give him a message of our's' The ox-cart rider was an
old man. I did as he told and came here. But these
policemen do not even listen to what the other is
saying, they keep on blabbering themselves."
BRASSTACKS 44
I told him to share the message with me, I will convey
it to sahib.
(The man said) "The ox-cart rider told me to go and tell
him (sahib) that what he is writing is wrong, and what
he already wrote and tore, is correct.”
'What a weird vague message' I thought. What did an
ox-cart rider have to do with sahib's note? And how
come an ox-cart rider was travelling here? I had never
seen an ox-cart rider in this area. This person must be a
fool for sure, I thought.
I was sure that sahib would listen to what I would tell
him, smile and then get back to work. However, he
went into a moment of silence after he heard it all.
Then he spoke in a serious tone:
"Please pickup this waste-paper basket."
I picked up the waste-paper basket up and placed it on
the table.
He very delicately picked up torn strips of paper from
the basket. I was amazed at this sight Had sahib taken
the ox-cart rider's message to be true?
Sahib handed over the strips of paper to me, "Please
join these when you find the time."
"Yes Sir", I said. He picked up the new note he was
writing, tore it up and threw it in the waste-paper
basket. My mouth was wide-open in surprise. This
man right here, who is so intelligent and acute, who
stands by what he believes in even after so many
things others advise him. Who has individualistic
thoughts. Who stays away from fake traiditonal
rituals. Who has not an inch of relation with any sort of
fanaticism...
Why is this person accepting an unknown ox-cart
rider's advice, as if he has always been in
communication with such ox-cart riders? As if he has
always been familiar with such messages, what is this
mystery?
I joined the strips of paper together. It was a clause in
the proposed Constitution of Pakistan which had a
relation to Islam. At this point, talking to sahib about
those mysterious letters seemed meaningless and I
was shuffled here and there amidst the brewing storm
of the letters. Such letters were received everyday.
BRASSTACKS 45
Generally, their subject was the same: Pakistan,
Pakistan's status, Pakistan's upcoming Might, bright
future...I started to sense this fourth-dimension is a
reality after all. Maybe Allah does indeed hold special
liking and affection for a country or person. After all,
He is the Lord of the Heavens and the Earths, if He
wants to say something, who can stop Him?
One day, sahib called me to hand over some work and
told me to sit there so I may complete it right there. I
was working seated at a corner, that the peon entered,
"Sir, an uncle of mine went for Hajj this time. He has
brought a message for you from Madinah, may I call
him with your permission?"
Sahib listened with seriousness to what the peon said,
then he spoke up, "Call him.”
He placed his work at one side. He got up and kissed
the old man on his hand and started to listen to the old
man's message with attention and care.
After praising Allah, the old man spoke, "You see, he
(the one who has sent the message) is a resident of
Jhelum. He was a sepoy in the Army. Had gone to an
expedition during the big war. From there he went to
Madinah Shareef for Salaam and attendance. And then
he stayed there. He is there since then. He is the key-
holder now (who takes care of the key to Rauda e
Rasul sallallaho alaihi wasallam). It is a very high
station."
Sahib nodded his head in agreement.
The old man shared the message (on behalf of the
army officer at Madinah):
"In 1946, we saw a dream in which a tree-vine sprout
up from the Masjid e Nabwi sallallaho alaihi wasallam
and kept going far and wide as it grew. Green leaves
appeared on its other end,"
Sahib nodded his head in agreement.
"After about four years, we saw the same tree-vine in a
dream. The branch was present as it was, but the leaves
had withered... Now again, we have seen that tree-
vine. It is getting evergreen again, bulbs are sprouting
up on it again." He (the officer) told me to go and
convey glad tidings; also to give this message that
shepherds do not sit under the shade themselves.”
All the time the old man talked, I could not focus on
my work despite repeated efforts. When he said 'Give
glad tidings on our behalf', I felt as if the glad tidings
were being given to me. That day, I sensed Pakistan's
tree to be more greener than before and fresh new
leaves coming up from thin branches. I kept reciting
'La hawla wala quwwata'. I tried to control myself but
all in vain. There was a mysterious feeling in this
magical world. A strange intoxication.. My senses
tried to control my mind but I was lost in the magic..
An event occurred after this incident by which every
nook and cranny of my body started to jitter and I was
shocked with fear. A friend of sahib called up, "A
mystic has come, in the beginning he was the IG of
Police in Hyderabad, then he was called (to Madinah)
after which he put everything aside and went there. He
is a very interesting man. Do come to my place if you
would like to meet him"
Sahib took me along when he went to meet that
mystic. The mystic's face was too frighterning. Black
colored, a skeloton of bones, terrifying eyes, crude
voice; after his friend introduced sahib to the mystic,
he had to leave for a while. The sahib and mystic were
left alone in the room after this, and the mystic to me
looked like a rotten chilli. I was seated in the room
next to their's, reading a newspaper and waiting for
sahib.
Suddenly the newspaper fell out of my hands as I
heard that mystic from the next room talking in
English "Flay you alive, put bran on you and place you
in the Sun!" . Huh? What was this old man telling
sahib? Is he a mystic or a butcher?
"I have come only for this purpose," his crude voice
boomed, "to warn you, you do know that warnings are
not given in such cases, those who err are suspended,
removed, but Pakistan has a special exception. That is
why you are being warned. If carelessness still
persists, then you will be skinned, salted and placed in
the sun!"
The blood in my body froze with shock. I came outside
in amazement. The mystic and sahib remained in the
room for three hours.
When sahib came out, his face was yellow, as if all the
blood had been sucked. He was walking with
difficulty. It seemed as if his bones were crushed.
Two years later, another event of such magnitude took
place. Sahib and I had gone to Karachi for an official
trip. One evening, we went to Central Jail. Sahib had
some work there. He had just gotten free from work
there that a guard came up to him and gave a salute,
"Sir, a prisoner is repeatedly calling you by name, he is
asking for you."
We followed the guard to where the prisoner was. A
eunuch was locked inside a small hollowed cell. Sahib
took a glance towards him.
"Open the lock" said sahib.
The lock was opened, he went inside and told the
guard, "You may go'. I stood nearby, outside.
The eunuch shouted at sahib as soon as he saw him,
"We had to get locked up to warn you!"
I got in fear as soon as I heard this and ran outide. An
hour later when sahib came out, he was in the same
state as he was when he met the mystic. Oh Allah, what
is this mystery? A pool of wonders floated in my mind
again. The next day, I went to the jail alone but he (the
prisoner) was not there. I inquired about his
whereabouts from here and there and came to know
that he was not a formal prisoner. He was ranting in the
bazaar next to the jail, because of which the guard at
the jail was forced to lock him up. No guard had any
knowledge of who had brought him here. These
incidents drove me crazy. The mystery of Pakistan's
status got even more amazing. In all this, I got
convinced of Pakistan's special importance. The
fourth-dimension was no more a wonder to me.
War broke loose. India attacked Pakistan. News
reports of the time were something like this:
"RasulAllah sallallaho alaihi wasallam was coming
on a horse to participate in Pakistan's jihad, The
martyrs of Badr had reached the battle-fields. Hazrat
Ali, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain were seen going
towards the battle-field near and around Sialkot sector
wearing white clothes. An Indian POW (Prisoner Of
War) stated that Pakistani troops dressed in long white
clothes were destroying Indian forces one by one.
Flames were coming out of their swords. Another
Indian POW said that Pakistani troops wearing red
caps and short in stature had sealed off intra-Indian
BRASSTACKS 46
communication. A captured Indian bomber said that
bombardment was useless. A white-clothed elder
would catch my bomb and thow it aside. Indian pilots
stated that when they threw bombs, then white-
clothed elders caught them in the air and placed them
down on the ground in such a way that the bombs did
not explode.
All of Pakistan was resounding with such miracles.
During the war, a colleague of mine came to visit me. I
asked him whether he was going home. "No," he said.
"I will meet Qazi sahib and then go home"
I asked who he is, he replied, "He is a worshipful
person, a very nice man."
I requested him to take me along too.
Pictures of Madinah adorned Qazi sahib's room here
and there. Prayer-beads were spread all over his
prayer-mat. He met us with great zeal and talked about
random affairs. He looked at me and said, "Please do
say something.”
I said, "Uh, please do dua for Pakistan"
He turned serious. "I'm a very small man. A very small
man, what worth do I have that I do dua for Pakistan?
No Mufti sahib, I am not of such a worth"
But Qazi sahib, anyone can do dua!" I spoke up.
"That is right", he said "But Pakistan is a different
matter. You do not know. I also have very little
knowledge, very little. I am a small man, very small.
BRASSTACKS 47
Pakistan has the blessings of elders on it. So many of
the top-elders have their hands on Pakistan... they are
the caretakers of Pakistan. They look after it, don't you
worry about Pakistan.”
Qazi sahib's statement rattled the hive of hibernating
bees once again. Oh Allah, who are these great elders?
Are they those who were seen wearing long white
clothes in the Sialkot sector? Were they the ones who
were catching cannon-balls fired by Indians? Who
picked up aerial bombs and placed them far away
without them exploding? Was it one of these elders
who tricked one of the Indian pilots and he saw six
bridges of the river Ravi instead of one? Were they the
ones who ordered the Indian pilot 'Bail Out, Bail Out!'
and they returned back without fighting Pakistani
troops?
A naked madman and mystic was talking to himself
near a graveyard, "Nothing has happened yet. Rivers
of blood will flow. Many will die, many! Corpses and
corpses, then a great victory will be achieved and
SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah!" He was clapping
excitedly as if someone was bothering him.
I watched Khawaja sahib offering Fatiha at the tomb in
the graveyard and stopped.
"How are you Mufti sahib?" he asked.
"Stuck in anxiety Khawaja sahib.." I replied.
"In whose anxiety are you getting stuck in?" he
inquired.
“I am worried for Pakistan" I said.
He got serious; there were indications of anger on his
face. He spoke up:
“Mufti G, leave Allah's affairs to Allah alone. Do not
take Allah's affairs into your own hands. Who are you
to worry for Pakistan? Think about yourself. Fulfill
your obligations. Think of how you can serve
Pakistan. Check whether you are doing something that
is against Pakistan's interests. Do not worry for
Pakistan... RasulAllah's hands (sallallaho alaihi
wasallam) are over Pakistan. Wah Mufti G! You could
not understand this point till now!”
...........................
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Fiction, the reading public, and the
British Novel in Colonial India)

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