Stating the Obvious

Breaking News: After 76 days since the Mumbai attacks, the shocking truth is revealed that “some part of the conspiracy” behind the November attacks did indeed take place in Pakistan.

Needless to say the entire of Pakistan has been caught blind-sided by this revelation. Pakistan? Terrorism? Is that even conceivable? Isn’t terrorism an entirely Zionist Jewish phenomenon, along with other such cataclysmic conjurations as imperialism, Hitler, money, women’s rights and malaria? What about Amar Singh, who Zaid Hamid claimed with such authority, was the real perpetrator? Could Zaid Hamid, a man who has presented us with such astounding truths as the Zionist plan to destroy the nuclear family, actually be mistaken? For the Pakistani media, this is all unthinkable. From Zaid Hamid to Shaikh Rashid to Aslam Beg, civilian, political and military "experts" alike have pitched in their two cents in a media campaign to absolve Pakistan entirely of any responsibility in this, or indeed any terrorist attack. Alas, the truth however has no doubt shaken their convictions to the core. Or, perhaps, using their well-honed skills of logic and reasoning that they employ in their daily rants, they could successfully convince an alarmed Pakistani population that truth itself is a Zionist conspiracy, and must be avoided at all costs. I look forward to their next move.

I could go on blasting Pakistan’s media and so-called intelligentsia and finding reasons to laugh at the fact that the Pakistani government has taken 76 days to state the obvious. However, put into context, this announcement is indeed quite significant.

There is, in all likelihood, little doubt within the circles of power in Pakistan, that India’s accusation backed by pretty much almost every other country, that the Mumbai attacks were planned and prepared in Pakistan, is an accurate one. This does not mean that other countries may not have been involved. And the Pakistan government’s current diffused responsibility strategy, blaming a wide network of states for involvement in the attack, although primarily being done in its own self-interest, may well have some truth to it. However, there is still the admission of responsibility by the Pakistani government of actions taken on its own soil. One look back at Pakistan history, and we have almost never admitted to Pakistan’s involvement in any such attacks in the past. Whereas, we have taken action against elements involved in attacks in India before, this action has been superficial at best, as it has never come with the open admission of these elements’ actual involvement in terrorism on Indian soil. Even that beacon of peace and reconciliation with India, Pervez Musharraf, would never have done so. The lack of such statements goes hand-in-hand with the lack of interest to actually target and rein in these terrorist elements working from within Pakistan.

The reason? The Army

The Pakistani army, in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks made clear their continuation of their position as protector to Jihadi outfits based in Pakistan, especially those that do not have ambitions or motives within Pakistan, and especially squared (just to give an idea of how special this relationship is) those whose destructive ambitions lie on the other side of the eastern border. Indeed you had leading officers from the army declaring the terrorists “patriots.” When the Pakistani government tried to cooperate with the Indian one, offering to send our ISI Director-General, the army refused. When one of Pakistan’s most senior cabinet members, national security adviser, Mahmood Durrani dared admit that the surviving terrorist Ajmal Kasab was indeed from Pakistan, there were very swift moves to have him removed from his post. After the attacks, the Pakistan army’s primary interest was in shifting troops to the eastern border with India, instead of hunting down any perpetrators. Indeed, the Taliban’s offer to help the Pakistani army in a war against India was not roundly renounced by the army. So, with the army taking such a resolute position against any acceptance of blame, and any real cooperation at all, and given the power the Pakistani army wields in Pakistan’s internal political structure, for the government to be able to make such an announcement, indicates a considerable shaking of the internal status quo within these power circles. Somehow the army must have compromised on its stance. Someone must have made them do so.

The person? Richard Holbrooke.

The Pakistani government’s statement comes on the heels of the new American special envoy’s first visit to Pakistan. And on his visit, Holbrooke visited not just the Pakistani civilian leadership, but also the military leadership, and, most significantly, he met with the Director General of the ISI, the wing of the army with the closest ties to the Jihadi outfits. The meetings were described as “frank,” by the government’s spokesman. In diplomatic terms, frank, is never a word for calm, affable and non-confrontational talks. Holbrooke, clearly came with an agenda. The pressure was applied; the American position was made clear. And the results are there for us all to see today. The army has been made to cave.

So, from this perspective this statement of the obvious by the government is very significant. The American government has clearly weighed in on the side of the civilian government, and is clearly taking an active interest in Pakistan’s internal power structure. Key arrests are already being made following up from that statement. There may finally be an opportunity for Pakistan’s leadership to take some concrete action against the Jihadi outfits. For this, we thank you Mr. Holbrooke. Let us hope this opportunity is not squandered.