Ostensibly, his diatribe might be to the chagrin of the Pakistan army, for Zardari has obliquely alluded to the Islamisation of Pakistan during Martial law administrator General Zia-ul-Haq’s rule. The acceptance of the ‘guilt’--- first by any Pakistan head of State--- came forth just on the heels of his equally astounding remarks, whipping up the US State Department for fomenting militancy in Pakistan. The question arises, if the past military regimes in Pakistan are held culpable for propping up militants, making Pakistan the epicentre of extremism, what is his own government’s contribution in doing away with terrorism, directed against India?

What Zardari proposes; his Army disposes. Soon after Zardari made his mea culpa public, two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, who were arrested by the Indian Army near LoC in Kupwara district of Kashmir, revealed that the state’s prestigious and major hydel power project at Baglihar was on their hit list. The militants, after receiving extensive training in PoK, were pushed into the valley by ISI, to carry forward ‘jihad’ against India. Among other things they were tasked to strike at security forces’ camps and at vital strategic installations. They told their interrogators that trained militants were presently engaged in digging up a ‘secret’ tunnel from Sialkot in Pakistan towards India.

Pakistan’s game plan is continuing. Richard Barrett, a top U N official, acting as coordinator for the U N Al Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee, has lately warned that LeT was planning to strike India again. Pakistan Army has been constructing bunkers. Several observation posts have been erected along the international border with Pakistan. The Border Security Force (BSF) Director General U K Bansal has just revealed that there has been an increase in ‘objectionable activities’ across the border. In January, the security forces had foiled attempts by Pakistan to send five probing missions into India, along borders in Punjab and Rajasthan. Intriguingly, such attempts are being renewed. Pakistan is now sending fresh probing missions into India. What does it all convey?

Zardari is just shedding crocodile tears. Constitutionally, he is the most powerful person in Pakistan, but virtually, he is a nominal head. The real power lies in the Army and ISI, the perpetrators of terrorism. Zardari is not being considered a crème de la crème by the Pakistan establishment. It is Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who has ‘better rating’ than Zardari in the political forums in Islamabad.

But one thing has clearly emerged from Zardari’s on-again, off-again ‘confessional’ statements. A chunk of officialdom in Islamabad has come to believe that ‘seeds’ of extremism were deliberately sown by the military establishment, threatening regional and international peace. Some officials are broad- minded and realize the folly committed by the Army rulers.

Zardari in an interview to the Washington Post said: “ Once the Soviets were defeated, the West stood by, as a democratically-elected government (in Pakistan) was toppled by a military dictator in the late 70s……..The West used my nation as a blunt instrument of the Cold War. It empowered Gen Zia’s dictatorship, that brutalized people, decimated our political parties, murdered the Prime Minister (Z A Bhutto) who had founded Pakistan’s largest political party….”

Be as it may, President Barack Obama too should now subject himself to self-flagellation, because past governments in the United States are seen responsible for fomenting militancy, not only in Pakistan, but also in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region. The U S raised the crop of Taliban, Al Qaida et al and should be held responsible for Talibanisation of the region.

Intriguingly enough, Punjab government in Pakistan has withdrawn case against rancorous Hafiz Muhammed Saeed, heading the LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa. He is accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attack. What can be construed from such postures emanating from our hostile neighbour? Let Zardari explain. He has been quoted as saying: “Let us be truthful to ourselves and make a candid admission of the realities.” Can he explain the truth? If he thinks he wields the real power at home, let him explain what reality is?

Pakistan is fighting a group of nurtured terrorists, notably under U S pressure. Together they sowed the ‘seeds’ of ‘jihadism’, and together they are now ‘harvesting’ the crop. Lot of harm has been done to the beleaguered region. Now attempts are on to destabilize India.

Zardari’s latest disclosure is fraught with serious consequences, involving his own security. The belligerent elements will never keep lying down. Who killed his wife, two- time Premier, Ms Benazir Bhutto? If Zardari is powerful, let him destroy the Frankenstein of terrorism once for all, and make peace with India. There are hardcore elements in the Pakistan army as well as in the establishment, which will never take his utterances lightly. They will never gulp his mea culpa theory.

Pakistan Army will never target militants, especially LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed. They have been wilfully nurtured as a ‘proxy force’ to destabilize India. The militants act in ‘mufti’ (civil uniform).

Pakistan is known for its blackmailing tactics. It has been ‘extracting’ a heavy price from the U S in terms of military hardware and economic aid worth billions of dollars, as a quid pro quo for combating Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan’s military spokesman Maj General Athar Abbas has told CNN: “Islamabad has enough clout with the Taliban leadership to persuade them to negotiate with the Americans, provided Washington can get India to disengage in Afghanistan”.

Our petulant neighbour wants U S to stop India from conducting humanitarian work to stabilize war-torn Afghanistan. In fact, both Pakistan and Taliban want India and U S to get out of Afghanistan. If the U S succumbs to such malevolent tactics, it will be suicidal for not only the Americans but also for its Western allies and to the peace loving international community.

Pakistan has told the U S not to worry about its nuclear weapons, but only to bring pressure upon India on Kashmir. Pakistan feels anguished that U S wants it to fight against Taliban and al-Qaeda, which it considers are its ‘strategic assets’.

Under these circumstances, India must be fully prepared with contingency plans to thwart any Pakistan-sponsored terrorist aggression. We should tell the U S not to succumb to any pressure and also instruct its officials to refrain from making overtures pertaining to Kashmir. It only encourages Pakistan and provokes zealots there to continue jihad against India.

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