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| India-Pakistan |
| Presence of IS militants |
| 2015-05-26 |
| [DAWN] THE rise of the self-styled Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not reallyMoslems.... in the Middle East has been marked by its ruthlessness on the battlefield and resultant occupation of territory in Iraq and Syria, as well as its manifest brutality. Yet with the declaration of the 'caliphate' last year, an even more disturbing dimension became apparent: IS's desire to expand across the Moslem world, and perhaps beyond. The Death Eater outfit's latest success has been the capture of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra; reportedly, hundreds of people have been massacred in the aftermath of the IS takeover. Where its expansionism is concerned, two senior foreign military figures have recently stated publicly that IS now has a presence in both Pakistain and Afghanistan. Gen John F. Campbell, NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... 's commander in Afghanistan, has said IS is recruiting in that country as well as Pakistain while separately, Gen Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan, commander of Iran's ground forces, has also observed that the group is present in these two countries. Where Afghanistan is concerned, as the NATO general himself pointed out, some estranged Taliban fighters may be "rebranding" themselves with the IS label. In Pakistain, the situation is slightly different. Here, pro-IS graffiti, the distribution of literature praising the outfit (such as that found at the site of the recent massacre of Ismailis in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... ), as well as the pledging of allegiance of some breakaway factions of the banned TTP to 'caliph' Baghdadi are all being described as 'evidence' of the so-called caliphate in Pakistain. However, a lie repeated often enough remains a lie... these do not constitute concrete proof. After all, how difficult is it for an armchair Death Eater, or sympathiser, to ensure pro-IS wall-chalkings? Also, anyone with a computer and printer can produce and distribute literature in praise of the 'caliphate'. As for local hard boyz pledging themselves to Baghdadi's cause, this may simply be a ruse to raise their profile. Having said that, these developments cannot be ignored either. For it is also true that there are many in this country's intricate web of Death Eater and Death Eater groups that identify with the twisted worldview of IS -- especially its virulent sectarianism and Death Eater interpretation of Islam. And considering IS's rapid advances, local supporters may well be emboldened to emulate these 'successes'. So while it would be premature to say IS has arrived in Pakistain, it would also be wrong to completely ignore attempts to create a presence in this country. After all, IS 'recruiters' have been locked away Book 'im, Mahmoud! elsewhere in the subcontinent, for example in Bangladesh. The state must keep a close watch on groups that share the IS ideology. This can primarily be achieved on the intelligence front, with the state monitoring local hard boyz and sympathisers for any attempt to establish links with fighters in the Middle East. Pakistain already has its plate full dealing with the menace of militancy. It certainly does not need a lethal new player added to the mix. |
| Posted by:Fred |