Headlines:
- Close American embassies aka “Military Operations Centers”
- Maligning the Pashtoon is for Colonialist Divide and Rule
- Regional Blocs are no Substitute for the Khilafah
Close American Embassies aka “Military Operations Centers”
As reported in Dawn dated 22 February 2017, the United States will continue to work in partnership with Pakistan to dismantle terrorist networks, said US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale while talking to Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in Islamabad. Pakistan in the last few weeks has been struck by a horrific surge in violence, killing and injuring hundreds of innocent people in various incidents. In response to the first attack, on the same day, the authorities killed one hundred people, allegedly “terrorists,” across the country, without any due process. Many human rights activists and journalists raised concerns over these killings, for if the “terrorists” were known, then why was action not taken previously. Then, Pakistan’s rulers claimed that Afghan soil was used for these attacks. Later the increase in attacks, brought further drastic measures by the authorities. Not only did the Pakistan armed forces conduct strikes in the Afghan areas bordering Pakistan, but on 20 February heavy artillery was moved towards the Pak-Afghan border in Chaman and Torkham districts. Moreover, on 22 February 2017, security officials launched ‘Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad’ (Repulsion of Corruption) across the country, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations, the army’s media wing. Concurrently, the US allied forces are facing fierce resistance in different parts of Afghanistan, since the announcement of new operations by the local resistance in 2016. Some parts of Afghanistan which fell into the control of allied forces, have in recent months been re-captured by the resistance. Despite the Pakistan rulers’ military operations in the tribal areas, the resurgence highlights the colonialists’ feeble hold within Afghanistan to the point that US General Nicholson has asked for thousands of more troops in Afghanistan.
The new US Trump administration has also been very clear to push Pakistan “do more” military operations in order to secure US interests. As reported in Dawn dated 16 January 2017, the US Defence Secretary, James Mattis, said, “I believe they should do more to collaborate with their neighbour. We should urge Pakistan to take further actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network.” And as reported in Dawn dated 10 February 2017, General Nicholson, who is leading the US and allied forces in Afghanistan, called for a “holistic review” of the relationship with Pakistan, echoing longstanding US concerns that the Haqqani network, a militant group, enjoyed “sanctuary in areas in that country along the Afghan border.” Also worthy of consideration, is that the announcement of Pakistan’s military operation comes at a time when the winter break in war, due to severe weather conditions, is nearing an end and the spring offensive by the resistance movement is about to commence.
Pakistan has been struck by repeated cycles of the same tragedy. After every tragic event heralds a drastic action plan and operation to strengthen American foot-hold in Afghanistan and now, through operations in Punjab, the Indian hold in Kashmir. On US dictates, Pakistan’s rulers have launched operations for the sake of the US one after the other, 2007’s Operation Rah-i-Haq-I in Swat valley and Shangla district, 2009’s Operation Rah-i-Rast, commonly known as the Swat Operation, 2009’s Operation Rah-i-Nijat in South Waziristan and 2014’s Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan, along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Since 2001’s American invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s rulers have pulled this country and its people into a quagmire of instability to secure US interests in the region. US supervise false flag operations are used to prod our troops into operations that are a life-line for the cowardly US forces, whilst the likes of Raymond Davis network are left to roam free to create havoc across the country, paving the way for yet more military operations.
It is well known by American policy makers that had Pakistan’s rulers not sacrificed our security and our troops, the United States would have been sent scurrying back, just like the Soviet Union before it. And the US expects even more collaboration from Pakistan’s rulers. As reported in Dawn dated 11 February 2017, “Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, set the tone of the discussion in his opening statement, saying that “succeeding” in Afghanistan will also require a candid evaluation of America’s relationship with Pakistan.” The treacherous leadership in Pakistan having full knowledge of the American plans have worked to secure their interest instead of expelling them from our soil. The need of the hour is to establish the Khilafah upon the Method of Prophethood, which will bring stability within the land, expelling the US diplomats and their notorious networks and sealing the US embassy and consulates, which are “military operation centers.” Thus Hizb ut Tahrir calls upon the sincere officers in the armed forces of Pakistan to grant Nussrah for the establishment of the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood which will change our situation from that of fear to that of safe security.
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لاَ يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ الْفَاسِقُونَ
“Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their Deen which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) will worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).”
(Surah an-Noor 24:55)
Maligning the Pashtoon is for Colonialist Divide and Rule
As reported in Dawn, dated 21 February 2017, the Chief Minister of Sindh met Mr Zardari at the Chief Minister House on 20 February against the backdrop of a suicide attack at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan. He urged the chief minister to take up the issues of Afghan nationals living in Sindh and “get them out of this province and the country.” “We have suffered a lot at their hands,” he said. I am proud to say that not a single suicide bomber from Sindh has ever been found as they are being imported from other areas and countries.” Such racist and discriminatory measures against the Islam-loving Muslims of tribal area and Afghan’s residing in Pakistan is not limited to Sindh alone, but is also driven by federal and other provincial governments. As reported, in Dawn, dated 22 February 2017, in line with government’s directives, the police have started a surveillance of people belonging to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and are considering issuing them chip-based national identity cards, equipped with security features. Have we forgotten the sacrifice of these Muslims against the British Empire and Soviet Union occupying forces? And on whose dictates have we fallen to such a new low?
With strong family linkages and shared Pashtun origins, the Muslims in the tribal areas of Pakistan for generations have had strong ties with the neighboring Muslims of Afghanistan. For decades, the Muslims of this region have been deprived of basic needs and facilities by the successive regimes. These Muslims due to their love for Islam and resilient traits have always been known as a formidable force against the foreign invaders. The tribal Muslims voluntarily defended the Western border against the Indian invasion at the time partition of West Pakistan. However, the filthy leaders have always oppressed them for preserving Western colonialist powers. So, when Washington wanted the end of the Soviet Russian occupation of Afghanistan, Pakistan’s rulers mobilized the tribal Muslims against the invaders and then abandoned them because the tribal Muslims wanted the implementation of Islam. However, when the US itself occupied Afghanistan, Pakistan’s rulers have used force to suppress the resistance. And in the last couple of years the rulers have intensified a campaign to direct blame upon the Afghan and tribal belt Muslims for the surge in violent attacks within Pakistan. They use this stance as a justification for subsequent military operations, shedding Muslim blood in rivers.
In June 2016, the Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said the issue of Afghan refugees has become a security issue for Pakistan as these refugee camps have become “safe havens for terrorists.” In its blind loyalty to Washington, the regime is not only oppressing the Pashtun, but is trying to alienate them from society. The regime is determined to create animosity and has even publicly issued directives of shooting these Muslims at the border crossing. As reported in Dawn dated 19 February 2017, security officials said “Shooting order has been issued to the security forces for those… found trying to enter… Pakistan illegally from any area of the border.” These announcement were made at a time when desperate Muslims on both sides of the border were stranded due to a callous, unscheduled closure of the Torkham crossing gateway. On US dictates, the treacherous Pakistan leadership is taking every measure to racially discriminate against these Muslims in an attempt to divide the Muslims of Pakistan. The racial targeting of tribal and Afghan Muslims and dividing them from other Muslims, is aimed to aid the regime in eroding support of the Afghan resistance movement against the US invasion. It also serves to divert the Muslims from accounting the rulers for their heinous alliance and collaboration with the US.
The Muslims of Pakistan and Afghanistan must stand together. They must not let the US-loyal regimes of both countries divide them. Notions of suspicion of our brothers of Pashtun origin must be rejected. It is high time that the Muslims remove this treacherous regime which is dividing them for preserving the American hegemony and replace it with a Khaleefah who will re-unify and defend the Muslims of both lands. In Islam the tribalism, racism and ethnic bigotry are all forbidden. RasulAllah (saaw) said,«لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ وَلَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ قَاتَلَ عَلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ وَلَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى عَصَبِيَّةٍ» “He is not one of us who calls to tribalism. He is not one of us who fights for the sake of tribalism. He is not one of us who dies following the way of tribalism.” (Sunan Abu Dawud) The Khilafah upon the Method of Prophethood will not only reunify the Muslims of this region but will also expel the belligerent state of America which has been scheming, dividing and killing Muslims for far too long.
Regional Blocs are no Substitute for the Khilafah
The 13th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) ended in Islamabad on 1 March 2017 with calls for doubling intra-regional trade in the next five years and promoting connectivity amid protest by Afghanistan over closure of border crossings by host Pakistan. The summit was attended by all 10 ECO members, although Afghanistan was represented at a lower level because of tensions with Pakistan over terrorism sanctuaries.
“The successful holding of the summit is a manifestation of the desire and commitment of the member states to transform the ECO into a vibrant regional bloc,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who chaired the summit, said at the end of the session. The ECO was formed in 1985 as a successor body to erstwhile Regional Cooperation Development, and expanded in 1992 when former Soviet Union’s Central Asian republics joined it. It currently comprises of the following ten Muslims states: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Whether they are part of the ECO or the OIC, the rulers of Muslims are incapable of solving Muslim problems. They are inevitably ineffective because despite commanding immense resources, they have surrendered their will to foreign masters. Thus, the major issues of the Muslims are left subject to the will of the enemy states. If the Muslims in the end have to beg their enemies to solve their problems, then why is enormous time and money wasted on organizations such as the ECO and OIC? As for economic prosperity, how will that ever be achieved when all the ECO member states implement capitalism, which concentrates the wealth in the hands of a select few, whilst depriving the masses of basic requirements, such as affordable electricity, fuel, health and education. All major policies are stipulated by the colonialist financial institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank, preventing the Muslims from achieving their actual potential.
Development in the economy is not possible without political independence which the current rulers have no intention or desire to achieve. The real objective of such regional co-operation organizations is to keep the Muslim Ummah far away from contemplating ways to achieve political independence, liberation from imperialism and solutions to their problems by keeping them preoccupied with unachievable goals in the field of economy, because of lack of sovereignty. Furthermore, to weaken the Ummah by using their Islamic armies and resources against themselves by drumming slogans such as “terrorism” and “extremism,” the current rulers are a burden. The need of the hour is to bury the rotten corpses of the ECO, OIC and similar organizations, whose real purpose is to channel and defuse the emotions of unity and unification present in the Muslim Ummah. Muslim unification and solutions to their political and technological problems are embedded in the re-establishment of the Khilafa (Caliphate) on the Method of the Prophethood. Instead of keeping Muslims divided into more than fifty states, the Khilafah will unify them under a single Ameer (leader) and unify their economic and military resources. As a result Muslims would re-emerge as a strong power on the international arena, on the way to becoming the leading state, as they were for centuries.
Indeed, unity is an obligation from Allah سبحانه وتعالى and division is a grave sin punishable by Allah سبحانه وتعالى. In the Book of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Noble Quran which was sent down on the Night of Power, Allah سبحانه وتعالى calls upon the Muslims as one people, ordering us to unify as one,
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ – وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves.”
(Surah Aali-Imran 3:102-103)
And in the same Ayaah, He سبحانه وتعالى enlightens us regarding the gift of unity and the burden of division,
وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُم أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً وَكُنتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُمْ مِّنْهَا كَذلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَـتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
“And remember Allah’s favor on you, for you were enemies of one another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.”
(Surah Aali Imran)