MEANINGS OF MUSHARRAF's SPEECH

TAHIR ASLAM GORA

War clouds are dispersing little bit but war on terrorism is still on head. 

Many Muslims get offended while listening this new phrase ‘war on terrorism’. 

They consider this phrase as an invention of western media just to tease them. But General Musharraf spoke a lot against this terrorism in his speech last week. He said, “I launched a campaign to rid the society of extremism, violence and terrorism. The day of reckoning has come.

Do we want Pakistan to become a theocratic state? Do we believe that religious education alone is enough for governance or do we want Pakistan to emerge as a progressive and dynamic Islamic welfare state?”

In reply to his own questions, he himself answered, “The verdict of the masses is in favour of a progressive Islamic state”.

This is probably the first General of Pak Army who spoke against theocracy in a theocratic language. Probably, there is no way to discuss Pak Government affairs in non-religious terminology. This is a sad part of a country created on the name of Religion, where head of the state can’t talk rationally. So, Musharraf presented secular ideas by quoting religious quotations.

About Holy War, Jehad, he said clearly, “Jehad is not confined to armed struggles only. Have we ever thought of waging Jehad against illiteracy, poverty, backwardness and hunger? This is the larger Jehad. Pakistan, in my opinion, needs to wage Jehad against these evils”.

He also confessed, “the extremist minority must realize that Pakistan is not responsible of waging armed Jehad in the world. We must concern ourselves with our own country. Pakistan comes first. We do not need to interfere and concern ourselves with others. There is no need to interfere in other countries.”

Of course, this is a great confession. India and all world communities always demanded this realization from Pakistan. To realize one’s own mistake doesn’t let one’s down. It’s an attempt to contribute for better human societies.

In this speech, Musharraf draw attention to three issues or problems, in his view. “In my view there are three problems causing conflict and agitation in our minds. They include; first the Kashmir Cause, secondly all political disputes at the international level concerning Muslims and thirdly internal sectarian disputes and differences. These are the three problems which create confusion in our minds. I want to lay down rules of behaviour concerning all the three. Let us take the Kashmir Cause first. Kashmir runs in our blood. No Pakistani can afford to sever links with Kashmir. The entire Pakistan and the world knows this. We will continue to extend our moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. We will never budge an inch from our principle stand on Kashmir. The Kashmir problem needs to be resolved by dialogue and peaceful means in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the United Nations resolutions. We have to find the solution of this dispute.”

Whatever he said regarding Kashmir, it may be taken as routine statements but what he said regarding the involvement of ‘forces’ in Kashmir is significant to India and to whole World.

“No organization will be allowed to indulge in terrorism in the name of Kashmir. We condemn the terrorist acts of September 11, October 1 and December 13. Anyone found involved in any terrorist act would be dealt with sternly. Strict action will be taken against any Pakistani individual, group or organization found involved in terrorism within or outside the country.”

On this occasion, as President of Pakistan, he wanted to convey a message to Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee: "If we want to normalize relations between  Pakistan and India and bring harmony to the region, the Kashmir dispute will have to be resolved peacefully through a dialogue on the basis of the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Solving the Kashmir Issue is the joint responsibility of our two countries. Let me repeat some of the observations made by you Mr. Vajpayee some time back, and I quote: mind-sets will have to be altered and historical baggage will have to be jettisoned".

“I accept your offer. Let us start talking in this very spirit.”

Indian Foreign Minister Mr. Singh welcomed Musharraf’s speech and said, "We welcome the now declared commitment (by Pakistan) not to support or permit any more the use of its territory for terrorism anywhere in the world, including in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

US President George W. Bush’s spokesman Ari Fleischer said in a statement.

"USA welcomes President Musharraf's firm decision to stand against terrorism and extremism and his commitment to the principle that no person or organization will be allowed to indulge in terror as a means to further its cause,"

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Saturday that steps announced by 

President Pervez Musharraf to crack down on Islamic militants should help ease tensions with India and urged the neighboring nuclear powers to resolve their differences through peaceful means. Musharraf took immediate actions, he banned big Islamic terrorist groups and said, “all mosques will be registered and no new mosques will be built without permission. The use of loudspeakers will be limited only to call for prayers, and Friday Sermon and Vaaz. If any Madressa (religious school) is found indulging in extremism, subversion, militant activity or possessing any types of weapons, it will be closed.”

At last he himself said, “Making rules, regulations and issuing ordinances is easy but their implementation is difficult”.

Yes, Implementation is really a task if we don’t have intention to implement. Pakistan’s politics of intervention, Islamic terrorism and militant massacre were used to be controlled by Pak Army in the past. These were not religious institutions that ran the show alone. These religious groups were created, supported and used by Pak Army.

But now World has changed, Pakistan also has to be changed.