ISLAMABAD: Operatives of intelligence outfits have been tasked to
purge the Lashkir-i-Tayiba (LeT) and Jamat-ur-Dawa (JuD) of the
hardliners and possibly turn them to public welfare organization, an
official said on Sunday.
The official privy to the development
told Online requesting anonymity that the decision was taken at the
apex level as an alternate to the use of sheer force that could compel
hardliners in these outfits to get inclined to Al-Qaeda. The official
claimed that these organizations were not having any direct link to
Al-Qaeda. “Since you cannot simply eliminate certain number of people
from the society, therefore you need to reform them,” he added.
Meanwhile,
an American website veteranstoday.com has also claimed that a source
close to a senior official dealing with the issue (of LeT and JuD)
disclosed that the firm measures have been taken. After 2005 it is
being ensured that the hard line faction does not get any support to
further its activities. He also said that the faction had lost its
potency to a considerable extent especially after the arrest of its
leaders.
According to his assessment widely publicized linkage
between Al-Qaeda was a perception spread by interested players as they
belong to Ahle Hadees group which is anti-Deobandis of Al-Qaeda,
therefore, their close working is out of question. Such measures are
forcing hard liners to join the moderate group.
The moderate
faction, Jamat ud Dawa (JUD) under Hafiz Saeed who publicly condemns
Mumbai attacks runs 163 schools and 4 colleges for almost 44,000
students. In health sector it provides 6 hospitals, 153 dispensaries
and 150 ambulances. Its contributions in floods and earthquake are
recognized by the world. This organization remains committed to support
Kashmiri struggle on diplomatic fronts.
Waheed Hamid the author
of the article has suggested that the freedom fighters and their
supporters working on an ideology need a certain space and direction to
tailor themselves according to emerging realities. Haste and pressure
in wrong direction may turn them into terrorist supporters and play
catalyst for destabilization in this region.
The organization
like Lashkir-e-Tayiba (LeT) and Jamat ud dawa (JUD) are a classical
case study in this perspective. Let was raised in 1984 in Kunar by
Hafiz Saeed and Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi. They fought side by side against
the Russian occupation of Afghanistan. This occupation was a prelude to
Russian desire of reaching the warm waters and next phase had to move
through Pakistan. The US – Pak national interests coincided and full
support was provided to this organization. In the aftermath of success
US left Pakistan at its own to deal with such organizations. LeT a
small organization of about 4,000 odd members decided to support
oppressed Muslims of Indian held Kashmir (IHK).
Pakistan also
did not check them as it provided counter to Indian interference in its
neighbours. The 9/11 decade brought yet another change in foreign
relations and the New World Order rejected all such movements and
linked them with Al-Qaeda. US declared LeT as Foreign Terrorist
Organization (FTO) in 2001 and Pakistan banned its activities in 2002.
Where it was easy decision for US, Pakistan which had to implement had
to face enforcement problems as the region went into destabilization
mode due to 9/11. Pakistan’s take from here on followed a systematic
approach to shift the orientation of modest faction of this
organization towards welfare of countrymen and take strict actions
against hard liners after 26/11 at Mumbai. Zaka ur Rehman Lakhvi was
arrested and is presently under going trial in ATC. Online
