Taliban a terrorist organisation, says India
As Taliban fighters began regrouping in Swat Valley, fears mounted around the world over increasing Talibanisation of Pakistan and possible fallout in the region from this development.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: As Taliban fighters began regrouping in Swat Valley, fears mounted around the world over increasing Talibanisation of Pakistan and possible fallout in the region from this development. For India, the perceived danger is in the Taliban elements extending their influence beyond the Swat Valley to other parts of Pakistan towards the Indian border.
It is also feared that the rallies in Swat will not only invigorate other jihadi groups but also lead to further dissemination of the hard-line ideology. The deal is being seen here as a surrender by the Pakistani military to fundamentalist elements.
���The fact of the matter is that Taliban is a terrorist organisation. It believes in nothing but destruction and violence. In my assessment, it is a danger to humanity and civilisation,��� said external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee criticising the deal.
The Pakistani government has agreed to enforce Sharia law in Swat as part of the peace deal with the Taliban fighters, who have announced a short ceasefire.
Echoing India���s concerns, Nato also criticised the truce saying it gave the Taliban a legitimate safe haven. We should all be concerned by a situation in which extremists would have a safe haven,��� Nato spokesman James Appathurai was quoted as saying in Brussels.
The US, which said it was still assessing the truce, expressed concern with the situation in Pakistan but did not
But the immediate threat of the peace deal is perceived to be within Pakistan. The truce deal legitimises the Taliban and opens the door for Taliban-linked groups to increase its influence in the country. This is not the first time the Pakistani government has struck a truce with the Taliban as former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf had courted the Taliban in a similar fashion.
But unlike the Musharraf regime, this civilian government has been unable to gather to much legitimacy. Ironically, the Zardari government completed its first year in power this month but the occasion was marked by the peace deal with the Taliban.
At the same time, India would also prefer dealing with the civilian government and does not want to be faced with a situation of complete anarchy in Pakistan or the break down of democracy.
It is also feared that the rallies in Swat will not only invigorate other jihadi groups but also lead to further dissemination of the hard-line ideology. The deal is being seen here as a surrender by the Pakistani military to fundamentalist elements.
���The fact of the matter is that Taliban is a terrorist organisation. It believes in nothing but destruction and violence. In my assessment, it is a danger to humanity and civilisation,��� said external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee criticising the deal.
The Pakistani government has agreed to enforce Sharia law in Swat as part of the peace deal with the Taliban fighters, who have announced a short ceasefire.
Echoing India���s concerns, Nato also criticised the truce saying it gave the Taliban a legitimate safe haven. We should all be concerned by a situation in which extremists would have a safe haven,��� Nato spokesman James Appathurai was quoted as saying in Brussels.
The US, which said it was still assessing the truce, expressed concern with the situation in Pakistan but did not
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criticise the Pakistani government for entering into such a deal. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said, ���the activity by extremist elements in Pakistan poses a direct threat to the government of Pakistan as well as to the security of the United States, Afghanistan and a number of other nations, not only in the immediate region.���But the immediate threat of the peace deal is perceived to be within Pakistan. The truce deal legitimises the Taliban and opens the door for Taliban-linked groups to increase its influence in the country. This is not the first time the Pakistani government has struck a truce with the Taliban as former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf had courted the Taliban in a similar fashion.
But unlike the Musharraf regime, this civilian government has been unable to gather to much legitimacy. Ironically, the Zardari government completed its first year in power this month but the occasion was marked by the peace deal with the Taliban.
At the same time, India would also prefer dealing with the civilian government and does not want to be faced with a situation of complete anarchy in Pakistan or the break down of democracy.
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As the Mumbai terror attacks have proved the direct danger for India lies in groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba which have been nurtured by ISI to target India. The biggest threat to India continues to be state actors. Download
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