He said: 1) Had the intelligence and security agencies in India and Pakistan been cooperating, they could have prevented the Mumbai carnage; 2) the Indian security agencies are to blame for the ‘failure’ to prevent the attacks and that Indian non-state actors were involved in the massacre; 3) Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley had conspired with al Qaeda terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri — a retired major of the Pakistan Army — and three Indian terrorists, Abu Jundal, Jabbiullah (sic!) and Fahim Ansari — to plot India’s worst terror attack; 4) the Mumbai attacks were the work of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT); intelligence failure was owed to the fact that there was no interaction between Pakistan and India on a basis of information-sharing.
There were some revelations in his statement, too, for Pakistan. By his assertion, the government of Pakistan has admitted that Ilyas Kashmiri was a major of the Pakistan Army who had defected to the LeT. So far, the Pakistan Army has denied that he was. Information about him in the Pakistani press says he was a ‘mujahid’ sent across to Indian-administered Kashmir and was fawned over by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who rewarded him after he brought back the head of an Indian army officer. The other information which everyone in Pakistan has is that he not only served the LeT but was an important commander of al Qaeda. What Mr Malik did not add was that the Mumbai operation was mounted by al Qaeda to bring about an India-Pakistan war — judging from the Indian reaction to an earlier attack on the Indian parliament by another affiliate of al Qaeda, Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Mr Malik’s remarks on Abu Jundal, that he was an operative for Indian intelligence, did not go down well in India. Perhaps, he was treating the Indian terrorist Abu Jundal and Zabiullah as two persons whereas Zabiullah carried the alias of Abu Jundal when he crossed over to Pakistan and attended briefings near Karachi where he has confessed some Pakistani officials were also present. He is the Indian Muslim terrorist who was handed over to India by Saudi Arabia while holding a Pakistani passport. Mr Malik’s assertion that non-state actors belonged to both sides may not be accurate. Indian Muslim terrorists cannot qualify as non-state actors in the same way as Pakistani non-state actors — simply because Pakistan used its non-state actors as mujahideen against India and is now suffering their onslaughts as affiliates of al Qaeda. India did not use Abu Jundal as a non-state actor against Pakistan.
There are other facts that he has to explain to the citizens of Pakistan. This month, a terrorist who killed the prayer leader of a mosque in Karachi was caught in Karachi. He confessed before the police that 1) he was a resident of Karachi; 2) that he was an employee of the Taliban at Rs15,000 a month; 3) that he had joined the Taliban six months earlier; and 4) that he was trained at a terrorist camp at Mansehra near Abbottabad where Osama bin Laden was finally found and killed. Pakistan says there are no training camps of terrorism in Mansehra. It is difficult after that to understand how the Taliban are still able to train their killers there. A number of recent kidnappings for ransom in the region around Mansehra point to the possibility that the camps there are now relying on crime for funding.
Of course, there is nothing more disarming in a process of reconciliation than coming clean on past mistakes, especially when the powerful clerical-jihadi Difa-e-Pakistan Council is demonstrating aggressively against Mr Malik’s efforts at normalisation of relations with India.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 18th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
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@Nowsherwan:
why do you mention "The Hindu" ? the name misleads you mate - it is a respected - left leaning newspaper! If you had mentioned "Saamna" - an RSS newspaper, I'd have appreciated your logic better ( not necessarily agree!)
@Cynical: 200 -300 years back there was no concept of nation state. There was no such thing as visa and passport. All those things exist now. You might be okay with that but most Indians are ot too thrilled about illegal immigration from Bangladesh either.
Being assertive maybe unpatriotic according to you but most people woto its citizens many of whom are hungry and illiterate.uld consider it patriotic. India cannot and should not attack another country but Indian state speaking up for its citizens is a manifestation of suc 'patriotism' and the most recent example was when the story of racially motivated murders of Indians in Australia came out.
@Nand Kishore - Forget migration present day India even makes people jump through the hoops to get a tourist visa. The idea of India that you refer to is a historical reality not practical in today's world since no one will reciprocate it. You cannot just show up in Europe or Australia and expect that they will embrace you. Insia's first duty is
@Misery Ghalib: refugee status is granted world over, inclding in India based on "persecution" , "oppression" etc ... which HIndus are facing in Pakistan - kidnapping, forced marriages, denial of rights, are common. But for Muslims it is the Land of the Pure, so the question of refugee status for Muslims from Pakistan doesnot arise.
@Gary
@C Nandkishore: Ideas are embraced.
You are spot on. Every immigrant, regardless of their country of origin should be willingly prepared to embrace the idea and ethos of their host country.
@C. Nandkishore: Ideas are embraced. There is no such thing called immigration to ideas. There is a big difference between immigration and migration.
@C. Nandkishore
'India is an Idea and people have been coming here for the last 3000 years.'
I admire your understanding of the ethos of India the nation. But I suspect you will find fewer and fewer Indians, young and middle aged in particular, who will readily subscribe to such holistic view of the India you know for 3000 years. The wider and inclusive idea of 'Indian nation' is disappearing at an alarming pace, to make way for an exclusive narrower idea of an 'Indian state'. An assertive, combative but self-serving and on your face type of nationalism is gaining ground, which mistakenly pass as patriotism. More politics and less statesmanship didn't help. But then there is a limit to which we can blame the leaders. We elect those we deserve. And we will keep repeating it many times over unless and until we learn from our history of the last 3000 years. Thanks anyway for invoking the 'Idea of India'.
"Indian Muslim terrorists cannot qualify as non-state actors in the same way as Pakistani non-state actors — simply because Pakistan used its non-state actors as mujahideen against India and is now suffering their onslaughts as affiliates of al Qaeda. India did not use Abu Jundal as a non-state actor against Pakistan." First time I felt that the silent majority of Pakistan is speaking out. Such introspection is the only way silent mjority can fight the terrorists. Terrorist have no religion or nationalty. Terrorists are made by reconfigurating their pshcological makeup through brain wash. The reason is simple no parents deliver a terrorist. God lways deliver a good human being. It is the one here before corrupts the newborn.
It is common for politicians of all countries that they speak more honestly in private than in public. It has to do with the vote bank. We as a commoner should give some room to politicians to speak honestly in the public too rather than jump on their candid remarks.
@C. Nandkishore: "If a Pakistani Muslim wants to migrate to India because of the situation in Pakistan then he/she should be welcomed. India does not belong to anybody least of all to Indians"
YEs India belongs to ALL Indians - ofcourse and that is regardless of their faith or if they choose not to practice any faith either. But Pakistanis are NOT Indians. Those that sought another country because they felt that they could not live with Hindus are not secular to begin with and are NOT welcome in India.
I agree with Mr. Galib. If a Pakistani Muslim wants to migrate to India because of the situation in Pakistan then he/she should be welcomed. India does not belong to anybody least of all to Indians. India is an Idea and people have been coming here for the last 3000 years. Besides just 65 years ago they were all Indians. Again Pakistani Muslims were never asked whether they wanted India or Pakistan in 1947. Muslims from Lucknow, Dacca and Hyderabad wanted Pakistan not the Muslims from Punjab, Sind, Baluchistan or NWFA. This can be gauged from the fact that they never voted Muslim League.
I couldn't help but notice ET is vilifying Rehman Malik who happens to be the Inetrior Minister of our country.Shouldn't ET be taking a more balanced approach in its editorials rather than hitting on so blatantly at the interior minister?
P.S Rehman Malik's bashing has been smoothely going on in the likes of The Hindu , so leave the job of the hawks to themselves and focus on a more pragmatic approach.
@Misery Ghalib: India has and does provide asylum to refugees irrespective of their religion be it Tibetans or Afghanis today or Bangladeshis in 71. Refugees means "A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster". Asylum is granted by state, not by individuals. Since when are you a spokesperson for 200 million Indian's :).
@Misery Ghalib: US and Canada are both open, pluralistic, and inclusive societies with strong democratic traditions. They have so much in common, what exatly does Pakistan and Indian societies have in common today?
Rehman Malik's visit to india was a total disaster . As someone who wishes peace and good neighborly relations between india and Pakistan the careless and at times casual statements that Rehman Malik made in his various interactions with the press and broadcast media will take major effort on part of the Pakistan establishment to un do . The Times of India , normally not given to sensationalism , in its lead headlines labelled Rehman Malik as 'motor mouth '. In a statement to the Indian Parliament , after the departure of Mr. Rehman Malik , the Indian Home Minister said that perhaps Mr.Malik was misinformed of the about the cases that Hafeez Saieed had been arrested for in Pakistan . While staying polite and diplomatically correct what the Indian Home Minister meant and suceeded in conveying was that Mr. Rehman Malik has not been telling the truth and in fact lying .
While commenting on sensitive issues discretion is the better part of valor . Mr.Malik very obviously does not believe in this maxim .
@Misery Ghalib: As you say, India is declared secular. It may not be perfect, but is still secular. It is important for India and its entire population, be they hindus, christians, muslims or sikhs or of any religion, that India maintains its secular character and improves on it. In Pakistan everything starts and ends with religion. Brutal, inhuman and obscene methods of conversion are followed regularly and these enjoy popular support. Hate literature for all has been taught in schools for many decades. Importantly, Pakistanis consider themselves as muslims first and Pakistanis later. So, there is no nationality in Pakistan. Today, the younger generation of Pakistan talk more of Pakistan's contribution to the muslim world than the older generation. Even in cricket, Pakistan's captain apologizes for the entire muslim world and not to Pakistanis when they loose a game. The captain leads his team to public prayer session on the field before the cricket match starts. Even Saudi's do not do this when they play foot ball against any other country. Terrorists from everywhere in the world find Pakistan welcoming them for the islamic cause. Does India want to become what Pakistan has already become. Certainly not. Even its muslim population do not want this with the exception of small section from the bordering areas. No one wants to see daily destruction of places of one worship of any religion and consequent retaliatory actions. Cross movement is perfectly acceptable if proper watch and vigil can be maintained. Cross migration is not desirable as it would bring problems for India and even to its muslim population. Canada and USA have open borders as neither has religious fanatics in such numbers. Yes, if Pakistan becomes moderate (they can still be islamic), more relaxation would be in order. But, this would take several decades as many generations have grown up learning a curriculum of extreme hate for everyone.
@Misery Ghalib : "@gp65: muslims in india will support cross border migration. ok – another point – india is declared secular – why limit refugee to hindus only – what if muslim in india wants to give refuge to relatives who are in pakistan ? it is hypocrisy if refuge is for hindu only"
India is secular for its own citizens. Paistanis who want to come to India are not covered by India's secular laws whne Pakistan will not treat even its own citizens under a secular constitution. India is a very poor country and it cannot take theka for the whole world. Certainly not for people who took lead role in dividing India. Hindu people's daughters are being forcibly converted after raping. They desrve to have a place to go. But people in Pakistan who said they needed a separate country because they could not live with Hindus are not welcome to migrate to India. You asked for a country, you got a country, now live there. India nad Indians want to no part of it.
Indian Muslims are a different story. They chose to live in India so they are as Indian as anyone else and are entitled to every single right of an Indian citizen. No double standards there.You are the one professng double standards. You want what is yours exclusively and you also want to share what is ours. Doesn't work like that..
You also did not address my original question about why living together and open borders in 1947 and 1965 did not destroy hatred and how suddenly it will do so.
@gp65: I could not have said this any better.
@gp65: muslims in india will support cross border migration. ok - another point - india is declared secular - why limit refugee to hindus only - what if muslim in india wants to give refuge to relatives who are in pakistan ? it is hypocrisy if refuge is for hindu only.
I agree with the editorial that Rehman Malik made some very irresponsible remarks with regarfds to Jundal. Also everyone knows who signals DPC. SO Paistan is trying on one hand to talk peace but on other hand beat war drums through its agencies' proxies. IF Pakistan truly wants peace, this is not the way to go about it.
@Misery Ghalib: "the only way is to open borders – so that cross-border migration takes place – when that happens both sides will not have interest in wars " Facts do not substantiate your assumption. BEfore 1965, the borders were open but Pakistan styill attacked India. Forget that, before 1947 Hindus and Muslims used to live together, still the PAkistan movement made the claim that Hindus and Muslims could not live together because they were 2 Nations and turned oneighbour against another with a call for Direct Action. What happened during partition on both sides also is nnot hidden from everyone. What about East and West PAkistan, there was no question about borders, yet the army attacked its own citizens. The Pakistani army leadership wants to keep the hate against India alive so it can continue to live in the Royal style they are used to. At the same time it wants to focus on Western border so they want temporary cpooling of temperatures with India, so it wants politicaians to talk peace. This type of hypocrisy is well understood by Indians and no one is fooled.
No cross border migration is expected from India to Pakistan and India does not want cross border migration from Pakistan except for asylum for Hindus who are escaping oppression and persecution.
Shias and Ahmadis wo fought for Pakistan have it now. They need to sort out their problems within India. Option to migrate to India does not exist for them,. You wanted 2 nations, you have 2 nations. Now live with that.
@Editorial You deserve appreciation for breaking taboos on acknowleging sordid realities we face . This is a real act of patriotism . I am aghast at dicovering the identity a notorious Al Quaida operator . One wonders how thoughtless we have been in our statecraft . Details of numerous militant mayhems show that some militants are our own ex-service men, showing that plague of militancy has permeated our forces . Our Defence Minsitry should act on war footing and adopt measures for a radical re-orientation of our forces .
@realist: the only way is to open borders - so that cross-border migration takes place - when that happens both sides will not have interest in wars because respective people will be on both sides - in time maybe joint parliament will be there - maybe even two armies will combine under joint command - just like US, Canada which have joint norther command