–In view of the present grave political turmoil in Pakistan, whatever Russia is doing for addressing the militant-Jihadi problem emanating from Afghanistan, will not solve its problems unless Russia does minimum as mentioned at:-
https://chauthiduniya.com/
(1)- First and foremost, Russia should realize that in addition to the entire region of Russian influence [which will come in the “Alliance Against Religious Terrorism & Excesses” (AARTE) suggested above to be sponsored by Russia] the nuclear Pakistan will have to be addressed by Russia on priority. The ongoing agitation by a political party registered with the Election Commission, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has potential of not only increasing its following if (i)- Its democratic agitation is crushed by force by the government and (ii)- If demand of TLP for expelling the French Ambassador is postponed further without disposing it comprehensively. But it also has a potential of attracting the militant-Jihadis of not only AARTE region but of the entire Sunni-world (which is about 85 % of the Muslim world) who want to bring the nukes of Pakistan under their control so that (especially after the victory of Taliban in Afghanistan) they can achieve their Islamic rather communal agenda globally in an easier way.
(2)- The present situation in Pakistan [where Islamic forces are on the street (through TLP, some elements of PDM etc) and even in armed rebellion through TTP etc], if not handled properly by Russia then all the efforts Russia is making (for avoiding militant-Jihadi problems emanating from Afghanistan and its related fall-out by way of consolidating militant-Jihadis especially from the region under Russian influence) will not bring desired results for Russia. It should be realized by Russia that the unresolved chronic & gory Kashmir problem – [which has deteriorated further due to what India did on and after August 5, 2019 by (instead of carrying out plebiscite in J&K as mandated by its IOA) eliminating special status of J&K by amending Article 370 and by repealing Article 35-A of the Constitution] – is readily available to militant-Jihadis (Taliban, ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda etc from Afghanistan, TTP etc from Pakistan, militant-Jihadis from region under Russian influence and from other parts of the world) to take the radical elements of Pak military (radicalized from the days of Gen. Zia) to constrain the remaining Pak military to join them in snatching remaining J&K militarily (the plan supported by PM Imran as per PTI office-bearer) from India because it will also pave the way for bringing nukes of Pak under effective control of the militant-Jihadis.
(3)- Here the efforts of Khalistanis (who are trying to fish in troubled waters due to on-going farmer’s agitation in India which is supported crucially by agitating Sikhs around Delhi) and who are planning to carry-out meaningless & feeble referendum in UK for Khalistan on the last day of this October, can be overlooked because it will have no impact on the efforts of militant-Jihadis to snatch remaining J&K militarily from India.
(4)- Russia should know that the AARTE will increase its chances of success if Russia gives priority to promotion of democracy in its member countries. For example the government of India is not providing proper place, arrangement and order for Dharna (sit-in) and demonstrations to agitating farmers with the result it has resulted in recent avoidable loss of lives & blood at Lakhimpur (U.P.) and at Singhu Delhi border.
(5)- Whereas in Pakistan the government unnecessarily placed hurdles in on-going demonstrations / marches by the TLP which resulted in avoidable loss of lives and blood of the demonstrators / marchers and security forces. These undemocratic approaches & derelictions of both governments of India & Pakistan should be opposed / criticized by Russia.
(6)- Government of Pakistan doesn’t understand that the TLP has every right to mobilize the people of Pakistan for influencing State policies of Pakistan in the interest of promoting / protecting the religion (which its members and supporters follow), of-course without resorting to religious terrorism, violence and excesses and without harming the similar interests of other religions commensurate with the principle of “Sarv Dharm Sam-bhaav” (equal respect to all religions) which is being professed (though not practiced satisfactorily) even in constitutionally secular India.
(7)- If Russia wants to get the region of its influence free from militant-Jihadis then it should understand that the countries (Europe and European origin countries including the USA, China, India etc) which are practicing secularism generally look down upon countries which are theocratic. No doubt secular democracy is the desirable ideology of the contemporary world because it is helpful in the development of powerful modern science & technology which has transformed the world for the better in the last about 500 years. But at the same time the State has not been able to impart justice to the majority of the people in Asia who are economically humble hence people look towards religion for getting them justice (To what extent Muslims cling to their religious leaders is evident from hundreds of thousand of people who assembled at the funeral of TLP departed leader at Lahore in November 2020). Muslims consider Islam as a religion which believes in brotherhood of the Ummah hence the Muslims including the people of the region of Russian influence would not adopt secular politics unless they are satisfied that the secular State will get them justice. In other words, Russia will have to honor the stronger allegiance of Muslims to Islam even in political matters and will have to wait for imparting secular values in these Muslim countries because it will happen gradually only after their economic uplift.
(8)- As far as the TLP’s demand for the expulsion of the French Ambassador on account of alleged blasphemy is concerned (about which a ruling party lawmaker presented a resolution in April 2021 in National Assembly and on which special committee has been formed), certainly there are some sensitive religious issues even in constitutionally secular countries, as is the case in India where cow (considered sacred by the majority community, the Hindus) slaughter is not allowed (though India doesn’t expect people in other countries to honor it).
(9)- The TLP is a very small part of Pakistan’s population and such a matter of vital national interest about the French Ambassador shouldn’t be left even to the National Assembly which may decide the matter out of political expediency or under political pressure. Pakistan, a country of about 220 million (in an already difficult economic situation) will suffer further & intense economic hardship if the European Union & others inflict sanctions on Pakistan due to said expulsion of the French Ambassador.
(10)- Hence the government of Pakistan should go for REFERENDUM by all its voters on this extremely important matter of expulsion of the French Ambassador. Russia should tell Pakistan that every important issue need not be decided by people’s representatives in Parliament. Pakistan can be further told that on the issue of utmost importance to the nation, referendum has been carried out in established democracies like UK etc.which also have a body of people’s representatives, namely Parliament.
It is hoped that in the interest of avoiding militant-Jihadis getting control of Pak-nukes, Russia (i)- Will not allow Pakistan to put the issue of expulsion of French Ambassador in cold storage (ii)- Will not allow India and Pakistan to put the chronic & gory Kashmir problem in cold storage.
Hem Raj Jain (Author of ‘Betrayal of Americanism’) Shakopee, MN, USA
