Letter from Pakistan by Syed Refaqat

A Letter from Pakistan

By Lt. General Syed Refaqat (retd.), Pakistan (September 16, 2001)

I live 3000 miles away from the epicenter of the tragedy of 11 September, and yet my country has been drawn right into the eye of the storm created by that tragic and dastardly act.

The people of Pakistan are dazed. This is the first time I have seen them in this psychological state. And they are torn between belief and disbelief. Tomorrow has become a little more uncertain than it was yesterday.

My own perception of the Taliban has undergone rapid change. Previously, I thought it was possible to nudge them gradually, gently, tenderly, systematically, and with skillful deployment of compassion and sympathy, to bring them onto that median band of international behavior that can be rated, with interpretative generosity, as normal. I had hoped that the much trumpeted and highly talked about sense of Afghan realism and pragmatism would drive them to adopt operational modes of behavior which make them appear as a source of solace rather than an unchecked menace, cooperative and helpful rather than foolishly stubborn. It is wrong, totally wrong, that they are the only ruling community in the entire universe who have a 'sense of honour', that the rest of mankind is steeped in filthy dishonor and indignity, that Pakistan, which cooperated (and whose cooperation remains unacknowledged and unsung) in the arrest of Ramzi Yusuf and Kansi, contains shameless, dishonorable people, and that harboring criminals is an Islamic duty. They forget that in Islam there is no 5th Amendment. An accused cannot take shelter behind the fact that he would not make self-incriminating statements. He is, under Islamic Law, supposed to tell the truth, by words and deeds, always and every time. Impersonation, the adoption of false aliases, and filling up forms with incorrect data or information was declared a crime 1400 years ago. In Islam there is no room for underground networks, even for 'nobler ends'. Both the Message and Methodology have to be open and transparent.

Seen in this light, it is my considered opinion that the Taliban have done enduring and deep disservice to the cause, concept and name of Islam. Coming as it is from the Taliban, this is the "most unkindest cut of them all" upon the fair name and philosophy of Islam. Whereas with many reservations, I am prepared to yield them a modicum of legitimacy as rulers of Afghanistan, I strongly contest their claim to be the "sole spokesmen" of Islam in the modern day world. Who, on earth, gave them this mandate? I want to be counted among those who did not.

Ironically, they have one physical advantage that is unique. They live in the Stone Age and are quite content to keep their country in that state. They have no 5-year plans of development, no political commitment to the people of Afghanistan to give them clean potable water, universal primary heath cover, some system of irrigation, good, reliable and comfortable transportation, electricity, phone service, education, etc. This being so, they are in that "happy" state where, quoting only one half of Marx and Engel's famous statement: "You have nothing to lose....". But the whole of the Islamic world has a lot to lose from the folly of a few. I have drifted away from the subject.

I believe that the 'engagement theory' for the Taliban has become obsolete. Perhaps they were flawed right from the beginning. The worst part of the story is that whereas Pakistan has gone beyond reasonable limits to safeguard the interests of Afghans (please note that Afghans are not necessarily the same thing as Taliban), the Taliban remain totally insensitive to the interests or vulnerabilities of Pakistan.

Pakistan today lies on the horns of a dreadful dilemma. The Northern Alliance is not strategically acceptable to Pakistan. It is clearly an anti-Pakistan grouping with the full support of India and Ex-Soviet elements that rule Central Asia. This dreadful lack of a choice pushed Pakistan to this present untenable position where it had to recognize the Taliban Government. How the Pakistani Government handles this tricky situation suddenly hitting it in the face as a consequence of the terrorist attack on the US is the greatest test for General Musharraf, especially as he has decided to cooperate fully with the US, i.e. meet all the requests of Secretary Powell.

This is a risky decision as well as a courageous policy act, which, in my view is a prudent decision. What can the US do to make his predicament easier? The example of Jordan and Egypt come to my mind. Those countries are in the same predicament as we are. But, Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah are getting a quality of support from the West and the US that is unparalleled. On the contrary, the only 'help' General Musharraf has gotten so far from the US was a barrage of sanctions, scathing criticism, (not to speak of the utterly humiliating treatment from Bill Clinton during his South Asia visit), and demands for a "road map" for democracy. I do not mean that Pakistan does not need or deserve democracy. All I say is that if the West wants General Musharraf to take a bold position and some exceptionally firm actions - that is, face head on religious radicalism within the country as well as determined measures against the Taliban, the US and the West shall have to come up with a tangible, wholesome, even dramatic package of political and economic support. Please note that like it was in the Eighties, by an unhappy and strange twist of fate, that we are once again becoming 'the frontline state' in America's targeted 'war' (a phrase being used so thoughtlessly in US) against terrorism.

Please accept the heartfelt felt condolence of my wife and myself for all those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy. All of those who died were normal, decent, compassionate, cooperative, hard working, tender-hearted and caring men and women - endowed by nature with a sterling and unique set of qualities that every American possesses. Humanity is poorer by their death. May God give solace and strength to the bereaved families.

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