‘Rogue elements out of control’

If Pakistan is trying to convince the world that it is trying to clamp down on rogue elements, it is doing quite a poor job of it, say analysts. Imtiaz Ahmad reports.

If Pakistan is trying to convince the world that it is trying to clamp down on rogue elements, it is doing quite a poor job of it, say analysts.

HT Image

The recent public rally held by the Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) in Lahore bears testament to the fact that the government’s proclamations and assurances abroad are at odds with realities at home. “The real question is — who is controlling whom?” asked Jean Luc-Racine, a French academic speaking at Karachi University recently.

Luc-Racine said Islamabad has a selective approach at countering terrorism and that until Pakistan completely dismantled its terror network, relations with India would remain uncertain. In this, analyst Ayesha Siddiqa says that so far any evidence of this happening is far and few.

Earlier this month, JuD was given a free hand in Lahore to hold a rally and issue proclamations against India.

In an earlier rally, Hafiz Saeed, the JuD chief told cheering crowds “Pakistan needs to aggressively pursue jihad against India for the liberation of Kashmir, even if it results in nuclear war.” Others at the rally advocated nuclear war too.

Gradually, mainstream parties are also aligning themselves with Pakistan’s extremists. Two politicians who have lent their support are Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party and Mian Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N party.