We’ve achieved more than our quota
The US notification of Malik Ishaaq, the chief of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhanvi, as a recognised global terrorist would, no doubt, rankle. This is because, as opposed to global terrorists from Al Qaeda or the Taliban, Ishaq is free to go about his business in Pakistan. He is not holed up in some cave in Waziristan or even hiding in plain sight in an urban centre a la Osama. No, he is a free citizen, roaming about, even addressing rallies. If one slices it like this, the notification marks one of the tersest points in Pakistan-US relations.
It is a testament to our nadir that the free citizens of our country acquire such dubious distinctions in the rest of the world. There are two ways to fix that state of affairs. One, that the rest of the world eases up. Two, that we get our act together. The gentleman in question has been acquitted by the courts. Are we to cast aspersions on the court itself or question the quality of the legislation that allows certain people to slip through?
Pakistan is on its way to becoming a resting stop for militants all over the world. In some cases, it is a convenient place to hide. In other cases, there is no need to hide in the first place.
We only know one thing: that there are more where he came from. Our eastern neighbour has a list. Our western neighbour has a list. The Chinese have problems with us. The Central Asian republics have problems with us. Pretty soon, even middle-eastern countries are going to be viewing us with suspicion. Pakistan is on its way to becoming a resting stop for militants all over the world. In some cases, it is a convenient place to hide. In other cases, there is no need to hide in the first place.