Author:
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: June 21, 2003
Pakistan is actively fomenting terrorism
and militancy in different parts of the world including South Asia and
has emerged as the chief promoter of so-called Islamic militancy.
Chairman of Kashmiri Swiss Alliance
Mohammad Zia Mustafa has charged Pakistan with supporting the trouble-makers
in various conflict zones and said it had emerged as the world's leading
terrorist state.
Pakistan, despite banning the activities
of militant groups in its country, continued to train and feed militant
outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Zia said while addressing a seminar
in Switzerland recently on "Terrorism and challenges of 21st century."
All the terrorist organisations
operating in Kashmir had rejected any ban imposed by Pakistan. Moreover,
the Muttahida (United) Jehad Council, a conglomerate of 17 Pakistan-based
terrorist organisations was still operating in Kashmir from its bases in
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), he pointed out.
Also, the much publicised ban on
terrorist organisations had not affected their activities and finances,
recruitment and arming was unabated, Zia added and claimed that Lashkar-e-Toiba
and Jaish-e-Mohammad had a free run in POK despite the ban.
Islamic militancy and extremism
had emerged as a strong and threatening form of international terrorism.
This phenomenon, however, had little to do with Islam and the perpetrators
of violence were using the religion as a convenient cover for their ulterior
motives, he said.Pakistan was supporting terrorism to gain supremacy among
the Muslim countries.
In an effort to do so it was targeting
India. As per plans, the well-trained militants of Pakistani, Arab, Afghan
and Kashmiri origin were trying to unleash a sustained campaign of sabotage,
assasinations and terrorist activities in many parts of India in an effort
to ignite chaos and strife, he said.
The ISI was playing an active role
in funding and training the terrorist groups operating in Kashmir and senior
army officers regularly attended the conventions and rallies organised
by these terrorist outfits in Pakistan.
The junta, however, had not taken
any action against such political leaders and army officers, he said.After
the withdrawal of the Soviets from Afghanistan, several militants stayed
back in Pakistan and the ISI directed them towards violent activities in
Kashmir thereby averting a possible backlash in their own country, he said.
Zia Mustafa appealed to the world
community to oppose all those who imported and exported terrorism and unless
this phenomenon was not fought peace would not be restored in the conflict
zones.
