08-11-2006, 02:06 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Understand the jihadi mindset </b>
Pioneer.com
Hari Jaisingh
What is the link between Kashmir, Iraq, Chechnya, Afghanistan and West Asia? <b>Well, acts of terrorism, though the extremist postures on these issues give wrong signals on what Islam stands for</b>. The reasons for these trouble spots vary. All the same, Islam and Islamic extremism cannot be viewed through a fixed angularity as British Prime Minister Tony Blair did the other day while speaking at the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles.
The problem with most Western leaders is that they are yet to fully understand the nature, range and dimension of Islam, Islamic extremism and terrorism, though they too have had the bitter taste of Osama bin Laden-inspired and prompted bomb blasts.<b> The Saudi fugitive has provided an extra extremist thrust to the teachings of Islam, beyond its concept of compassion, brotherhood and other humane elements. </b>
This terror face of Islamic extremism has revived some old controversies discussed in Samuel P Huntington's "Clash of Civilisations". Herein lies the biggest challenge to the very idea of globalisation and silken threads of love, harmony, togetherness, secularism, tolerance, understanding, peaceful co-existence irrespective of caste, community, religion and creed.
Global thinkers and leaders have failed to provide proper answers to innumerable Islamic aberrations. True, there cannot be one set of formula to deal with terror activities in different parts of the world. Each conflict area requires proper understanding and accordingly fanatics have to be dealt with.
Each problem has its own roots. History is full of such instances. But those in power hardly learn from history. No wonder Mr Blair's theory on Islamic extremism and terrorism has some loopholes. This is obvious from the way he has linked the<b> Jammu & Kashmir dispute with the problems in Iraq, Afghanistan and West Asia - all of which he has dubbed as part of an over-arching "arch of (Muslim) extremism" across the globe</b>.
<b>The likes of Osama bin Laden are surely building an arch of Islamic extremism the world over. But it is absurd to link the Kashmir issue with other areas of turmoil. Flashpoints in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran etc are vastly different from the Kashmir problem, though terrorism has now acquired a sinister global dimension</b>.
<b>All the same, it would be too simplistic to suggest that terrorism has become "a global fight about global values" and that it is "about modernisation within Islam and outside of it". Well, in the fight against terrorism where are global values? Do British and American authorities care for them? In any case, distorted Western thinking and responses cannot be put under the label of high-sounding "global values".</b>
Look at the track-record of Britain and America on Kashmir or West Asia? Do their policies and postures stand the test of civilised global values? On Kashmir, both London and Washington have invariably shown tilts in favour of the dictatorial military regime of Islamabad rather than for value-based democratic India? They have, of late, tried to somewhat correct their tilts, but this does not wash their acts of omission and commission on Kashmir.
Let me recall some historical facts. First, Kashmir has been part of the Indian civilisation from time immemorial. Second, India cannot hand over the Kashmir Valley to Pakistan simply because it has a sizeable Muslim population there. That way the number of Muslims in India is more than in Pakistan.
<b>Third, till the advent of Islam, Kashmir was a flourishing centre of culture. Huen Tsang, a Chinese traveller, recorded in AD 631 that the people of the Valley loved learning and were highly cultured. In the 11th century, Al Beruni observed that the land was "the high school of Hindu science". </b>
Fourth, by the 13th century, Islam made a considerable impact throughout North India. Even large numbers of Kashmiris accepted Islam under the influence of Sufi saints. The synthesis of Arabic and Persian cultures produced a new order of Sufis called "Rishis" who had a powerful influence on the minds and the way of life of Kashmiris. They preached religions tolerance - a far cry from what we hear from the new exponents of Islam.
Fifth, it is no use talking about the ifs and buts of history. If Kashmir has become a problem, it is because most Indian leaders chose to live in a make-believe world. They made a mess of accession and referendum. Jawaharlal Nehru bungled on ceasefire in the face of the tribal raids, unleashed by Pakistan in October 1947.
<b>Sixth, much before Osama bin Laden the seeds of terrorism in Kashmir were sown by General Zia-ul-Haq.</b> "Operation Topac" was conceived by him in 1983. Thereafter, arms started flowing into Punjab and into Kashmir in 1986. This proxy war game shamelessly played by Islamabad continues even amidst peace talks and confidence-building measures. We know what damage fanatics can do - a poignant example is Afghanistan.
Seventh, the "armed struggle" being waged in the name of Kashmiris has very little to do with their fate and future since Islamabad's sole objective is to snatch Kashmir from India. It is an open aggression. Here let me quote American expert on terrorism Yossef Bodansky: "Through the ISI manipulations, Islamabad has transformed the Kashmir struggle into a drive for Kashmir's unification with Pakistan and away from the quest for Kashmiri self-determination and independence from India and Pakistan."
Eighth, apart from the havoc caused by terrorists, certain critical happenings in Kashmir are also a poor reflection on Indian leaders' policy and politics towards the minorities. They also reflect poorly on our governance and leadership. Our leaders either remain mute or compromise on crucial matters in the hope that time would resolve the problem. But time does not resolve such problems. Only political will can. But Indian leaders do not learn from history.
<b>They have failed to draw lessons even from the 1993 Mumbai blasts. No wonder, the right strategy to fight against the jihad sponsored by Pakistan is nowhere in sight. They have also failed to mobilise liberal Muslims to take on the "enemies" within. Our own failures to understand the mindset of Pakistani Generals and their sponsors of cross-border terrorism and communal conflicts are no less glaring. </b>
<b>Misplaced appeasement, vote-bank politics, missing stress on modern education, job avenues, good living conditions and the absence of vision for a new India have only made matters worse.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer.com
Hari Jaisingh
What is the link between Kashmir, Iraq, Chechnya, Afghanistan and West Asia? <b>Well, acts of terrorism, though the extremist postures on these issues give wrong signals on what Islam stands for</b>. The reasons for these trouble spots vary. All the same, Islam and Islamic extremism cannot be viewed through a fixed angularity as British Prime Minister Tony Blair did the other day while speaking at the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles.
The problem with most Western leaders is that they are yet to fully understand the nature, range and dimension of Islam, Islamic extremism and terrorism, though they too have had the bitter taste of Osama bin Laden-inspired and prompted bomb blasts.<b> The Saudi fugitive has provided an extra extremist thrust to the teachings of Islam, beyond its concept of compassion, brotherhood and other humane elements. </b>
This terror face of Islamic extremism has revived some old controversies discussed in Samuel P Huntington's "Clash of Civilisations". Herein lies the biggest challenge to the very idea of globalisation and silken threads of love, harmony, togetherness, secularism, tolerance, understanding, peaceful co-existence irrespective of caste, community, religion and creed.
Global thinkers and leaders have failed to provide proper answers to innumerable Islamic aberrations. True, there cannot be one set of formula to deal with terror activities in different parts of the world. Each conflict area requires proper understanding and accordingly fanatics have to be dealt with.
Each problem has its own roots. History is full of such instances. But those in power hardly learn from history. No wonder Mr Blair's theory on Islamic extremism and terrorism has some loopholes. This is obvious from the way he has linked the<b> Jammu & Kashmir dispute with the problems in Iraq, Afghanistan and West Asia - all of which he has dubbed as part of an over-arching "arch of (Muslim) extremism" across the globe</b>.
<b>The likes of Osama bin Laden are surely building an arch of Islamic extremism the world over. But it is absurd to link the Kashmir issue with other areas of turmoil. Flashpoints in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran etc are vastly different from the Kashmir problem, though terrorism has now acquired a sinister global dimension</b>.
<b>All the same, it would be too simplistic to suggest that terrorism has become "a global fight about global values" and that it is "about modernisation within Islam and outside of it". Well, in the fight against terrorism where are global values? Do British and American authorities care for them? In any case, distorted Western thinking and responses cannot be put under the label of high-sounding "global values".</b>
Look at the track-record of Britain and America on Kashmir or West Asia? Do their policies and postures stand the test of civilised global values? On Kashmir, both London and Washington have invariably shown tilts in favour of the dictatorial military regime of Islamabad rather than for value-based democratic India? They have, of late, tried to somewhat correct their tilts, but this does not wash their acts of omission and commission on Kashmir.
Let me recall some historical facts. First, Kashmir has been part of the Indian civilisation from time immemorial. Second, India cannot hand over the Kashmir Valley to Pakistan simply because it has a sizeable Muslim population there. That way the number of Muslims in India is more than in Pakistan.
<b>Third, till the advent of Islam, Kashmir was a flourishing centre of culture. Huen Tsang, a Chinese traveller, recorded in AD 631 that the people of the Valley loved learning and were highly cultured. In the 11th century, Al Beruni observed that the land was "the high school of Hindu science". </b>
Fourth, by the 13th century, Islam made a considerable impact throughout North India. Even large numbers of Kashmiris accepted Islam under the influence of Sufi saints. The synthesis of Arabic and Persian cultures produced a new order of Sufis called "Rishis" who had a powerful influence on the minds and the way of life of Kashmiris. They preached religions tolerance - a far cry from what we hear from the new exponents of Islam.
Fifth, it is no use talking about the ifs and buts of history. If Kashmir has become a problem, it is because most Indian leaders chose to live in a make-believe world. They made a mess of accession and referendum. Jawaharlal Nehru bungled on ceasefire in the face of the tribal raids, unleashed by Pakistan in October 1947.
<b>Sixth, much before Osama bin Laden the seeds of terrorism in Kashmir were sown by General Zia-ul-Haq.</b> "Operation Topac" was conceived by him in 1983. Thereafter, arms started flowing into Punjab and into Kashmir in 1986. This proxy war game shamelessly played by Islamabad continues even amidst peace talks and confidence-building measures. We know what damage fanatics can do - a poignant example is Afghanistan.
Seventh, the "armed struggle" being waged in the name of Kashmiris has very little to do with their fate and future since Islamabad's sole objective is to snatch Kashmir from India. It is an open aggression. Here let me quote American expert on terrorism Yossef Bodansky: "Through the ISI manipulations, Islamabad has transformed the Kashmir struggle into a drive for Kashmir's unification with Pakistan and away from the quest for Kashmiri self-determination and independence from India and Pakistan."
Eighth, apart from the havoc caused by terrorists, certain critical happenings in Kashmir are also a poor reflection on Indian leaders' policy and politics towards the minorities. They also reflect poorly on our governance and leadership. Our leaders either remain mute or compromise on crucial matters in the hope that time would resolve the problem. But time does not resolve such problems. Only political will can. But Indian leaders do not learn from history.
<b>They have failed to draw lessons even from the 1993 Mumbai blasts. No wonder, the right strategy to fight against the jihad sponsored by Pakistan is nowhere in sight. They have also failed to mobilise liberal Muslims to take on the "enemies" within. Our own failures to understand the mindset of Pakistani Generals and their sponsors of cross-border terrorism and communal conflicts are no less glaring. </b>
<b>Misplaced appeasement, vote-bank politics, missing stress on modern education, job avenues, good living conditions and the absence of vision for a new India have only made matters worse.</b> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->