Washington univocally condemned Tehran’s cross border strike against alleged bases of anti-Iranian Sunni terrorist group Jaish al-Adl [JuA] in the Panjgur district of Balochistan as it violated the sovereign borders of Pakistan and one had expected a similar response from the US on Pakistan’s retaliatory strike inside Iran. But it wasn’t so and instead, US President Joe Biden indirectly appears to have justified Pakistan’s attack by saying, “Iran is not particularly well liked in the region.”

Just like many of Biden’s other utterances this conclusion of his remains a mystery.

If cross border strikes are indeed accurate indicators of a country’s regional popularity as Biden seems to believe, then it’s Islamabad and not Tehran that meets this bizarre criterion better. After all, in addition to Iran, haven’t the US and India targeted key terrorists like Osama Bin Laden [OBL] and terrorist infrastructure on Pakistani soil in the past? Nevertheless, given its known adherence to the “Amicus meus, inimicus inimici mei” [the enemy of my enemy is my friend] philosophy, Washington’s ludicrous logic of taking Pakistan’s retaliatory strike inside Iran as a sign of Tehran’s unpopularity comes as no big surprise!

Both Iran and Pakistan are stoutly defending their respective actions by invoking the international tenets of right to self defence and their proclaimed ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorism; emphasising that they have only targeted terrorist groups [JuA and Balochistan Liberation Army or BLA respectively]. So, if Iran and Pakistan are really telling the truth, it’s clear that both these countries are providing safe sanctuaries to terrorist groups. Such perverse patronage upholds British politician and writer George Galloway’s observation that “one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter,” which is not only unfortunate but downright pathetic.

Whereas Tehran is definitely guilty of sponsoring several terrorist groups, but so is Pakistan- a fact that has been officially acknowledged by Washington many times. Readers may recall that just last year, the joint statement issued by White House on the conclusion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit had “strongly condemned cross-border terrorism, the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks.” [Emphasis added]. However, while the US continues demonising Iran by referring to it as part of the global ‘axis of evil’ and blaming it for creating “regional instability,” Washington finds no fault with Pakistan, its “major non-NATO ally.”  

Islamabad’s close association with designated foreign terrorists is no secret. Islamabad may claim to have no knowledge of Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden [OBL] staying in Abbottabad, but even an ignoramus wouldn’t buy the incredulous story of the world’s most wanted terrorist living undetected along with his entire family just a stone’s throw away from the Pakistan Military Academy. And the very fact that Washington chose not to inform Islamabad about Operation Neptune Spear [its plan to fly-in Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) teams to take down the Al Qaeda chief] clearly indicates that it was fully aware that it was Rawalpindi that had secreted OBL in Abbottabad.

The cross border strikes by Iran and Pakistan raises questions about the latter’s claims regarding sponsorship of armed Baloch groups. If Islamabad’s assertion that BLA is being patronised by Iran is true, then why is it accusing India for the same? Additionally, its unsubstantiated claim implies that armed anti Pakistan Baloch groups are being jointly sponsored by India-and Iran. If this is the case, then Islamabad needs to explain why it hasn’t ever spoken about this unholy Indo-Iran nexus that is facilitating terrorist activities of these groups?

Most importantly, this incident has yet once again exposed Washington’s duplicity when it comes to taking decisive action against state sponsorship of terrorism. Hence New Delhi needs to realise that it’s futile to expect the US to act against or compel its “major non-NATO ally” Pakistan to cease sponsoring terrorist activities in J&K. By attacking America’s most hated enemy Iran, Islamabad has earned Uncle Sam’s goodwill and so Washington will definitely turn a Nelson’s eye on Rawalpindi’s ongoing proxy war in J&K or at best give it a mild rap on the knuckles. New Delhi therefore has no other option but to work out an effective strategy to deal with Pakistan sponsored terrorism on its own.

In a pursuit to ensure the victory of the establishment chosen candidate, others are being targeted by the authoritarian Pakistan regime by registering fake cases against them. In the latest development, Ali Wazir, the former member of National Assembly and PTM activist has taken it to twitter to raise the concern over the undemocratic and authoritarian actions of the establishment, working under the commands of Pakistan Army, regarding the upcoming general election.

He said that other than the specific candidates, the others are being targeted, their offices are being closed and banners are being taken down. Highlighting the case in Upper Waziristan, he said that his and Alamzaib’s office in Miranshah, Khaisor, and Chaghmalai have been targeted in a similar way and the FIR has been registered.  

It is no hidden fact that elections in Pakistan are not a democratic way to select a candidate but a process to establish a military chosen candidate in a democratic looking way. Ali Wazir has been a member of National Assembly and targeting him like this speaks volume about the democratic and transparent elections. The only reason that he and people of similar caliber are targeted is because they challenge the hegemonic and totalitarian control of the Pakistan Army and have a dissenting voice. As Pakistan Army thrives on the precarious conditions of its own people, it is impossible for any development-oriented, rights-oriented and eventually people-oriented representatives to be on the same page. And as they align with the cause of people, Pakistan Army feels the nerves with their candidature that could potentially alter the outcomes of their scripted election façade.

In the midst of ongoing protests against the extrajudicial killing of Baloch youth and a march condemning the Baloch genocide, the Baloch Solidarity Committee (BYC) recently convened a conference in Islamabad. Zubair Shah Agha, a central committee member of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), delivered a fiery speech condemning the Pakistani establishment’s stance on key figures and expressing concerns over the human toll of the so-called “war on terror.”

Addressing a rally session, Agha sarcastically remarked on the Pakistani establishment’s labelling of various figures as traitors, including Bacha Khan, Manzoor Pashteen, Ali Wazir, Mehmood Khan, Samad Khan Achakzai, Akhtar Mengal, Attaullah Mengal, Mahrang Baloch, and Sammi Deen Baloch. He humorously added, “I think Mama Qadeer Baloch has been a traitor for at least 15 years,” highlighting the establishment’s tendency to dismiss dissenting voices.

Agha criticized the Pakistani establishment, asserting that it operates with a mindset dominated by generals adorned with stars on their shoulders. He argued that any dissenting voice is swiftly labeled as anti-constitutional and traitorous, emphasizing the absence of a true constitutional framework in the country.

BYC Conference: Agha speaks with facts

Agha asserted that Pakistan’s economy intricately ties itself to the “war on terror,” relying notably on external aid. He accused both terrorists and the Pakistan Army of contributing to the massacre of Pashtuns. Agha challenged official figures, claiming that the actual number of Pashtuns who have lost their lives in the conflict surpasses the reported 80,000 and could exceed one lakh.

Moreover, Agha raised concerns over the disappearance of 20,000 youth, with PTM confirming 8,000 cases. He questioned the whereabouts of these missing individuals, citing instances where construction activities revealed the remains of young people beneath the ground. Agha expressed skepticism about the establishment’s commitment to resolving these issues, accusing them of prioritizing violence to maintain their financial interests.

In conclusion, Agha highlighted the economic underpinnings of the ongoing conflict, stating that if the “war on terror” were to end, those in power would struggle to maintain their luxurious lifestyles abroad due to a lack of financial support. The Baloch Solidarity Committee’s conference in Islamabad sought to shed light on these pressing issues and call for justice and accountability in the face of alleged human rights violations.