States and terrorism

This should stop. Now.

For many Pakistanis there is a déjà vu in the scenario being enacted in Syria and Iraq and in the latest terrorist attacks that have caused mayhem in Ankara, Beirut and Paris. Speaking at a seminar in Lahore on “World Order and Conflict”, former Foreign Minister Hina Khar maintained that the cause of the prevailing disorder in the world was not the contest between the powers but because countries “employ the tools that create disorder”. The al-Qaeda, Taliban and Islamic State (IS), she said, were created by the extremist thoughts inculcated in them by the states “including the US and Pakistan”. She maintained that when countries try to resolve conflicts through non-state actors, this causes more conflicts. Referring to Syria she said all powerful countries involved in the Syrian conflict have different goals which they are trying to pursue through non-state actors. This, she maintained, would produce drastic results.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Conference in Malta on extremism and radicalism, Nawaz Sharif put his weight behind international efforts to counter the threats posed by the IS. He also said that terrorist activities whether committed by individuals, groups or states were unacceptable.

The world should have been wiser after the US created a monster in the form of jihadi networks which soon morphed into al-Qaeda, the mother of all terrorism. Countries, however, failed to draw the right lesson. The Taliban were subsequently created from the seminary students. The TTP and LeJ were presented as Pakistan friendly organisations till they turned on their own creators. JuD is still treated as an asset. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the US launched terrorist networks in Syria to effect a government change through reliance on terror. Daesh is now after its own creators, also killing, among others, American and European citizens.

The world can no more afford to tolerate terrorist organisations. Countries must stop the practice of sponsoring such networks. Meanwhile, everyone should implement the UN sanctions regimes in letter and spirit.