A den of evil
Over the years the problems of Sindh have not only multiplied but have become more complicated. During the years 1977-1988, ethnic Sindhis, particularly the unemployed youth, became fertile ground for exploitation by hostile intelligence agencies, mainly RAW, in seeking to destabilize Pakistan. Having a fair percentage of Baloch in their population, during the height of Soviet Union’s Afghan war the Sindhis became a target of opportunity also for the KGB through their Afghan KHAD surrogates. While a fair amount of subversive activity took place in the interior of Sindh, most terrorist action was focussed on the virtually open city of Karachi. To further compound the situation, the metropolis became one of the world’s safest conduits for heroin, the disorder force-multiplied by the proliferation of weapons that flowed in because of the open borders resulting from the Afghan war. Those who would foment anarchy in Karachi thrived in its embrace. Looking back over the 80s, one is astounded by the fact that Karachi did not rapidly degenerate into a Beirut-like situation. One reason for not descending to anarchy is definitely the rise of MQM as a disciplined political force in the major urban cities of Sindh, the other is that despite its targeted status during Zia’s Martial Law, PPP did not disintegrate but remained, to its credit as a political institution, a potent force that very deliberately veered away from its militant wing, thus isolating them.
The 80s was a great opportunity for mayhem fully utilized by RAW. Money and material poured into Sindh in a three-pronged coordinated offensive against the stability of Pakistan. In the forefront were the elements of the Al-Zulfikar Organization (AZO) and the Jiay Sindh elements but support was also funnelled to the dacoits that infested the countryside and by the end of the 80s, having established a State within a State in the interior of Sindh, started to move into Karachi in a spate of car-snatchings and kidnappings. As the law and order situation in the urban areas deteriorated, the militant wings of all the political parties, almost without exception, joined in the banditry to fill their depleted coffers. In the process Karachi and the interior of Sindh became a “badman heaven” with rich pickings for the asking for anyone who would dare. The forces of law and order, never saintly at the best of times, became badly compromised as corruption became more manifest at the higher levels, never so apparent till even an IG Police and some of his DIGs were said to be openly involved with criminals on a massive and organised scale. At its very apex, organised crime came to be controlled by the very forces committed to its eradication.
Even bigger than any of the Embassies in Pakistan from other countries, the Indian DHC at Karachi had a fair amount of its diplomatic personnel working as undercover agents for RAW and other intelligence agencies. With money to spare and then some (raised mainly by the fabulously rich Hindujas), the DHC became RAW’s main base for all anti-Pakistan activity. Major inroads were made into the consciousness of the Karachi elite, ever ready to believe anything anti-government, particularly if lubricated by “suitable entertainment”. Helped no end by the imposition of prohibition in 1977, the Indian DHC was in a desert without alcohol. On a pro-rata basis, for every “cultural” event organised by other Consulate Generals in Karachi, the Indian diplomatic enclave organises at least a dozen, certainly much more than its own High Commission in Islamabad. This scribe had written in THE NATION in Oct 1992 in an article “CRY KASHMIR” that, quote “Despite the hard fact of continuing Indian atrocities, the sympathy of the rich and famous of Karachi, this coterie representing the dominating influence within the government and business circles, seems to have been side-tracked, a strange reaction to the realities of life within the Kashmir cauldron. The Indian Consulate General in Karachi has played a dubious role in compromising the sympathies of most of those who owe their present fortune in life and positions in society because of the existence of Pakistan. By wining and dining the Karachi affluent and the influential, at lavish parties complete with visiting Indian dancers, classical singers, poets and plenty of wine, the Indians have subverted their conscience. On or about the day, the Occupation Forces were desecrating the Jamia Mosque in Srinagar, one such event was going on in Karachi. We have become callous hypocrites, taken down the garden path by a dream world of “culture” created by the masters of the art while less than a thousand miles away a Paradise has been converted into nightmare for our brethren. Today Tuesday October 27, 1992 fully five hundred of our cultured elite will throng India House in Karachi for a “Kathak Dance” Performance by Ms Kumkum Dhar while Kashmiris are made to dance to the sound of bullets in the occupied Valley”, unquote.
Besides their respective diplomats in Islamabad and Delhi, India and Pakistan had Consulates in Lahore and Jullundar in the pre-1965 era to facilitate getting visas for their nationals. However, after the 1965 war, these were permanently closed. In 1977, Mr Bajpai, the then Indian Ambassador to Pakistan, proposed to Secretary General Foreign Affairs, Mr Agha Shahi, that India and Pakistan should open their Consulate Offices in Karachi and Bombay respectively. The Martial Law Government being new and dependant almost totally on the dictates of civil servants Pakistan agreed to the proposal of the Indian Ambassador without any real safeguards about mutual commitments. As expeditiously as logistics would allow it, India established its Consular presence in Karachi in 1979 with great help from the Pakistan establishment in regaining all its property and use thereof, in reciprocation India promised to give Jinnah House, which is of sentimental value to Pakistanis, in Bombay to Pakistan. However, since then, India has been stalling repeated Pakistani requests about handing over of this property to our diplomatic staff. After trying in vain for over a decade, the Pakistani DHC started operating from the Oberoi Hotel in Bombay in 1992. The government of India not only refused to help Pakistan to even obtain some other suitable accommodation but had also refused permission to lease a plot of land for the Pakistan DHC in Bombay in August 1980. What to talk about reciprocation for their Karachi enclave, the Indians failed to even extend the basic cooperation manifest under 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular relations.
No Consulate can ever operate comfortably or efficiently from a hotel for an extended period and this was force-multiplied by the negative attitude of the Maharashtra Government. In sheer violation of accepted diplomatic norms Shev Sena extended open threats to the DHC staff but neither the Maharashtra government nor the Indian Federal government did anything to check these threats. Because of these threats the management of Oberoi Hotel went back on their commitment to provide hotel space to the Pakistan DHC to hold Pakistan Day on 23 March 1994. Efforts to find alternate place to hold the Pakistan Day celebrations were also met with refusals, Indian government showing its inability to help. In such circumstances Pakistan had no alternative but to ultimately close its DHC in March 1994. In contrast to this inability to honour its commitment, Indian DHC in Karachi continues to operate at liberty. There is unquestioned proof and evidence of the involvement of several Indian diplomats, many of them RAW agents, in creating unrest in Sindh. Pakistan may be a peace loving country having great respect for diplomatic norms and international agreements but it cannot overlook the threats to its internal security for the sake of diplomatic niceties. Moreover, when India has so openly violated its commitment on diplomatic norms, Pakistan has every right to do whatever suits her national interests. The people of Pakistan are rightly worried over the inaction of the Pakistani government as regards to closing of the Indian DHC at Karachi. Irrespective whether or not we got accommodation for our DHC at Bombay, the subversive activities of Indian staff at its Karachi DHC were serious enough to close it down. So far Pakistan government had done nothing about the closing down of its Bombay operations by reciprocating and angered Pakistanis who rightfully demand that the Government of Pakistan must realise the severity of the situation and closing down the Indian DHC at Karachi.
While in the 80s, ethnic Sindhis and disgruntled militant elements among the PPP were the main target of RAW, Operation Clean-Up presented them with a God-given opportunity to infiltrate the body and soul of the hitherto steadfast Mohajir community. Some elements within the MQM had descended into outright criminal behaviour, as the army targeted them they went into hiding along with the broad mass of MQM leadership, the entire lot remaining underground till it became clear that the Army was primarily interested only in those involved in criminal activity. As the MQM leadership surfaced, the criminals burrowed further down, some of them crossed into India where they were welcomed and taken over by RAW. It is a well-known fact that Indian police is very efficient at locating immigrants within its respective local precincts within hours of their arrival, how come these “guests” have not overstayed their welcome? There is tangible proof that their activities are now being orchestrated through the Indian DHC. Indian success in infiltrating the criminal elements representing a small minority of the MQM leadership is most dangerous. The broad mass of MQM leadership, have unknowingly become part of this RAW operation. Malicious propaganda to support anti-Pakistan Army feelings are being planted in the media with a mani-fold purpose, to discredit the Army and in reciprocation cause the Army to look at the Mohajir community with suspicion. Disaffection on ethnic basis and hatred of the Army is being fomented. This is a most dangerous development as it estranges two major pillars that constitute the foundations of the forces committed to the integrity of Pakistan, the Pakistan Armed Forces and the Mohajir community.
Failure to close the DHC would mean that a serious threat to Pakistan’s integrity is being ignored in allowing the RAW agents a free hand in conducting their anti-Pakistan operations. In the face of concrete evidence, the government must stand up to its responsibility and decide this issue without further loss of time. Pending of this important decision will motivate the people of Pakistan to only one conclusion, that the Federal Government has reason to fear the taking of this step.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment