AT this moment when we are at war in our own country certain questions about our security must be answered.

Q. What is the nature of Pakistan’s insecurity?

There are two immediate threats: from the insurgency in Balochistan and the one in Fata. The first is caused by 61 years of grievances of the Baloch coming to a head. The Baloch feel that they are exploited and treated like a colony. They have fought against the centre on several occasions and are now doing it again.

The insurgency in the Pushto-speaking areas is a byproduct of our own wrong policies. Even Z.A.Bhutto trained Afghans to fight against their government in the hope of making Kabul forfeit its claim to Pakistan’s Pushto-speaking areas. Later Ziaul Haq joined America’s proxy war against the Soviet Union.

We received a large number of moneyed and radicalised Arabs and later Chechens and Uzbeks who fought the Russians with American money and our training. It is widely accepted that Pakistan used some of them, as well as militants from Punjab, to fight its proxy war against India for Kashmir. This exposed us to a possible war with India.

On the western front we supported Islamic extremists in Afghanistan in order to create a friendly government there in case of a war with India. This policy of seeking ‘strategic depth’ also backfired. By not following a neutral and peaceful policy we have unleashed the demons of war in own our land.

Q. Is the war in Fata Pakistan’s war?

There are two kinds of conflict going in Fata. The first is to defeat the Nato forces in Afghanistan. The second is to gain power in areas of Pakistan and rule there in the name of the Sharia.

The first need not have been our war to begin with. The second one is our war since it is the duty of the state to provide security to the citizens and allow them to live in freedom within the boundaries of the law. The Taliban have ruled in many areas where they have beheaded people, destroyed schools and lashed women. The writ of the state did not run in these places. To fight against them is the job of the state and this part of the conflict is our war.

Q. Are foreign powers causing violence in our cities to destabilise us?

It is a conspiracy theory to believe that America is after our nuclear weapons or that some agency (Blackwater) is causing all this violence. America does not want these weapons to fall into the hands of radicals but there is no evidence to suggest that the Americans are interested in destabilising the country by bombings.

It is possible that India is helping the Baloch with arms and ammunition. However, it would be madness on the part of India to help the Taliban as they are violently anti-India. But, incredible though it is, it may be that the bizarre logic of the intelligence agencies of India dictates support for all Pakistan’s enemies including the Taliban. The only way to counter this is to make peace with India at the same time telling the world that such activities by India can jeopardise humanity.

As for Israel there is no evidence that it has a hand in either insurgency.

Q. Are drone attacks justified?

They are not justified on humanitarian and political grounds. True, they have taken out some powerful militants but they have killed so many innocent people that they are counterproductive. Besides they discredit our government which appears as a puppet of America. Thus, they actually reduce the fighting capability of our armed forces.

Q. What will happen if America pulls out of Afghanistan?

America should pull out of both Afghanistan and Iraq. These wars were not justified to begin with. Of course, we should be prepared to see Afghanistan, at least the southern part, fall to the Taliban again.

This may also mean that Taliban influence will increase in our Pushto-speaking areas. But if the Taliban challenge the writ of the state we can fight them and our people will support us because our government will not be seen as a puppet of the US.

Q. What should Pakistan’s policies have been in the past?

We should have been genuinely and truly neutral and peaceful. While the rights of Kashmiris should have been defended at international forums, adventures like the 1965 war, using Islamic militants to fight a proxy war with India, and Kargil need not have been undertaken. Pakistan should have refused to join the American war against the Soviets.

Likewise, Pakistan should have given no military or logistic help to the US in 2001. Our policy should have been to extend humanitarian help to all (including refugees from Afghanistan) but military help to none.

Q. What should be Pakistan’s policies now?

Balochistan needs to be given a new deal. If the Baloch are happy with us they will not accept Indian help any longer. As for Fata we should quit taking any aid

from America to fight the Taliban while keeping our cultural and educational ties with that country as well as all others. Also, we should not let our land be used against Nato powers.

As for our own war with the Taliban, we should make it clear what the Taliban agenda is and that this state belongs to the people and their writ has to be maintained.

If our people see that we are no longer getting paid by the Americans they will help their army fight the Taliban so that they do not establish a state within a state. It is also imperative that we help the IDPs.

We also have to change the worldview which attracts people to the Taliban philosophy. This would mean introducing new textbooks in schools, showing people just how precious human rights are and promoting pro-peace values.

It would also mean strengthening justice since some Taliban groups supply it, rough and ready though it is, which the state does not. Above all it means we must own our mistakes of the past which have brought us to this pass. There is no conspiracy against us; we have made mistakes and are now facing the consequences.(Dr.Tariq Rehman.DAWN NEWS)