Book Review:
Afghanistan: A Case of Sink or Swim for West, Pakistan
(Published in Weekly Pulse, Islamabad, November 12-18 2010, www.weeklypulse.org)
By: Abdul Basit
Researcher PIPS
Book: Pakistan: the Ground Zero of Terrorism
Authors: Rohan Gunaratna and Khurram Iqbal
Ever since the US-led War on Terror (WOT) kicked off in Afghanistan, Pakistan has been in global lime light and foreign policy considerations of global powers (read America) for all the wrong and unenviable reasons. It has prominently featured in almost all major academic discourses and debates on global terrorism as being the so-called “epicenter/hub/nerve center of terrorism.” It is widely argued-- without actual contextualization—that roots of major global terror plots from 7/7 London commuter train bombings, Mumbai attacks to botched Times Square Bombing in New York have been traced to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan (FATA). FATA has been described by US officials as "the most dangerous place on Earth" for harboring the world's most wanted men - Taliban supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar and al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.
The strategic calculus of Afghanistan and Pakistan is closely intertwined but ironically if things are seen in their right perspective; at present what is happening in Afghanistan is not because of Pakistan but it is the other way round. Today when the end game has begun in Afghanistan and America is contemplating different options and strategies to withdraw from Afghanistan till 2014, a careful dissection of Pakistan’s militant landscape is imperative to understand the regional security complex with a view to chalk out different roles of regional countries in post-American Afghanistan. Traditionally no regional country has the geographical and historical leverages vis a vis Afghanistan which Pakistan enjoys. Undermining Pakistan’s role by awarding much greater role to countries like India and Russia can be an erroneous fallacy.
Against this backdrop Rohan Gunaratna and Khurram Iqbal’s Pakistan: the Ground Zero of Terrorism, is a significant and timely contribution. Stretched over seven chapters the book underpins the complex dynamics of ongoing insurgency in Pakistan’s tribal region, the gradual unfolding of the phenomenon of ‘Punjabi Taliban’ in mainland Pakistan, suicide terrorism, examination of whether Pakistan really is the ground zero of terrorism or not and implications of these evolving threats for the region in general and Pakistan in specific.
Analyzing the genesis of Pakistani Taliban the book notes, “The dramatic rise of the Pakistani Taliban in FATA and the adjacent areas of KP can be attributed to various security, political and admin¬istrative factors. The Pakistani government’s failure to take swift and decisive action was the foremost factor that led to the emergence of the Pakistani Taliban as an organized fighting force.” The work not only dispels the myth of monolithic nature of militancy in Pakistan but brings to fore the qualitatively different political motivations and manifestations of Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. As the former is gradually distancing and disengaging itself from Al-Qaeda; while the later is coming closer to them. On page 64 the authors note “In January 2008 the Afghan Taliban publicly distanced themselves from the TTP and Baitullah Mehsud. Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, ‘We have no concern with anybody joining or leaving the Taliban movement in Pakistan. Ours is an Afghan movement and we as a matter of policy do not support militant activity in Pakistan.”
The book also chronicles the impact of militancy on the traditional tribal structures and how much the ideology of Al-Qaeda and other militants groups has permeated in the tribal society of Pakistan. No country has contributed in the war on terror as did Pakistan and in doing so Pakistan itself has become a vic¬tim of terrorism. To date Pakistan has approximately lost more than 3,000 troops in operations against extremists/mis¬creants, while thousands of civilians and personnel from law enforcement agencies have been killed in suicide bombings across the country.
Contrary to common belief the book has highlighted Pakistan’s demonstrated capability and determination beyond its capacity to eradicate the menace of terrorism. No country (US and NATO countries combined) sacrificed and successfully countered the threat emanating from terrorism as much Pakistan has done. Pakistan’s security forces’ have successfully restored the eroded writ of the state in Swat and South Waziristan, which was considered to be the strongest hold of militants in FATA. Unlike past the physical damage done to militants’ infrastructure has greatly reduced their capability to coordinate and execute militant activities with unfettered discretion. However this all has come at a costly economic price. Resultantly in prolonged political upheaval and economic turmoil, Pakistan lacks the capital to restore peace and security. Moreover due to continuous deterioration of security situation in Afghanistan and adjoining tribal areas of Pakistan the level and magnitude of the problem has magnified to such an extent that without steadfast international goodwill and support, Pakistan alone cannot stem the tide of militancy.
Undoubtedly Pakistan is both part of the problem and solution, however, squarely blaming Pakistan amounts to myopic reductionism. The book contends, “While Pakistan is often blamed for supporting militancy; the nation itself is more a victim than a villain. Most Pakistanis today feel betrayed by the US because, having assisted the West to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan, Pakistan did not receive support to rehabilitate and reintegrate the mujahideen they had mobilized against the Soviets.”
If history is any thing to go by then it should not repeat itself in [Afghanistan] what has been the graveyard of British and Russian Empires. The stakes are really high. While Taliban have nothing to lose; Pakistan and international community have everything to lose at this critical juncture. Though Pakistan and America have a shared goal in defeating terrorism in this region but mutual suspicions and misgivings have proved detrimental to counter-terrorism and peace making efforts in the region. Given such nature of partnership at times isolated efforts to stem the tide of militancy have worked at odds with each other. Moreover the divergent perspectives and fundamental disconnect between US and Pakistan about the end goals in war against terrorism is problematic as well. US should not abandon Pakistan the way it did after Soviet disintegration while Pakistan should shun the policy of strategic depth in Afghanistan. At the end of the day the solution to myriad of problems in Afghanistan and adjoining tribal regions of Pakistan has to be common one. So we will either rise or sink together in Afghanistan.
Book Review
Rohan Gunaratna and Khuram Iqbal, Pakistan: Terrorism Ground Zero London: Reaktion Books, 2010, 352 pp. ISBN: 978 1 86189 768 8
Reviewed by Andrew T H Tan
University of New South Wales
Sydney, Australia
Hindsight tells us that the global war against terrorism took a backseat following the US-led ejection of the Taliban and Al Qaeda from Afghanistan, and the subsequent US invasion of Iraq. Whilst the US was tied down with invading and then pacifying Iraq, Al Qaeda and its Taliban allies almost effortlessly relocated to the lawless region beyond the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, known as the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA). It has been in this sanctuary, over which Pakistan historically had only tenuous control, that Al Qaeda and its radical Islamist allies have been able to re-organise sufficiently to carry out insurgent operations in Afghanistan and terrorist attacks in Pakistan, emerging from 2005 in an astonishingly short time following its reversals after 9-11 as a serious and credible threat to the stability of both Afghanistan and Pakistan, with significant ramifications for regional stability and the threat of international terrorism.
The Afpak Theatre is fast becoming an epicenter of international terrorism, with a nuclear-armed and increasingly unstable Pakistan emerging as a keystone in the international fight against radical Islamist terrorism. Given the astonishing speed of events which have led to this development, it is unsurprising that both analysis and policy have struggled to keep up with understanding the nature of the complex challenges in this strategic theatre and how to better handle them. This book, with the self-explanatory title of Pakistan: Terrorism Ground Zero, is therefore timely as it adds to our understanding of the vital Afpak Theatre. This book is a detailed analysis of the myriad insurgent groups in the tribal areas and elsewhere in Pakistan, based on fieldwork research and interviews with serving and former terrorists, as well as government officials. It also has the added authority of its authors: Rohan Gunaratna is better known as the author of Inside Al Qaeda, while Khuram Iqbal is Head of Research at the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies.
The book has seven chapters plus an introduction. Following the introduction, the first chapter explains why tribal Pakistan has become the epicenter of global terrorism. The second chapter explains the Pakistan Taliban. The third chapter examines terrorism in Karachi, the key metropolis in Pakistan. Chapter four assesses the key terrorist groups operating in the country. Chapter five discusses the threat to the region, especially to India and Iran. Finally, the concluding chapter seven makes a plea for international support for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts, warning that failure would have huge ramifications.
This book is not a typical academic text; however, it makes an important contribution to our empirical understanding of this key theatre through its descriptive analysis of the nature, structure and agendas of the various radical Islamist groups operating in Pakistan, as well as their links with co-religionists in Iran and India. Usefully, the book also concludes with an appeal for both understanding and support from the international community for Pakistan’s contribution to the global fight against terrorism, reminding an external, and particularly Western, audience, that “Pakistan has accepted its obligations with unparalleled responsibility,” and that its contributions towards this war “surpass those of any other country, and remain unmatched by any standard” (p.265). This is no hyperbole, when considering the fact that Pakistan alone arrested more than 1,000 Al Qaeda suspects between January 2002 and May 2006, and also made US-led coalition operations in Afghanistan possible (p.267). However, Pakistan has paid dearly for its involvement, becoming not only a front-line against terrorism but also a key victim. In 2007, for instance, there were 1,306 terrorist attacks, claiming some 2,450 lives (p.271).
In short, this book is a useful addition to the literature on the vital important Afpak Theatre, drawing attention to the complex challenges which the book has highlighted will not be easy to meet, certainly not by Pakistan alone.
Book Review
Rohan Gunaratna and Khuram Iqbal, Pakistan: Terrorism Ground Zero London: Reaktion Books, 2010, 352 pp. ISBN: 978 1 86189 768 8
Reviewed by Sara De Silva
Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention (CTCP)
University of Wollongong, Australia
For those who have ever wondered as to why Pakistan continues to dominate the media headlines in the recent years, the exact answers to the question are presented in this book. Although the country has demonstrated its efforts in the global war on terror, the threat emanating from Pakistan continues to impact both the regional and international security. Many fail to grasp the gravity and the complexity of the threat that emerges from within and simultaneously challenges the country. For this reason, contextualizing the militancy in Pakistan and its region at large becomes imperative not only to demystify common perceptions but also to plan a long-term strategy to counter the serious threat of terrorism. . Against this backdrop, “Pakistan: Terrorism Ground Zero” by Rohan Gunaratna and Khuram Iqbal offer an interesting and compelling case as to how Pakistan became an epicenter of global terrorism over the years. Ultimately, this work demonstrates why grasping the complex nature of the threat is paramount in winning a crucial battle against the global war on terror.
The authors introduce the readers to the backdrop to the problem currently faced by the nation of Pakistan. The proxy war in Afghanistan fought between the superpowers produced generations of fighters from Pakistan and other nations to fight against the Soviet Union through years of indoctrination. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked an end of an era, leaving these warriors with arms and the will to fight, but without an enemy. Such environment became conducive to the country in becoming the most important sanctuary for both the local and foreign fighters to achieve the so-called incomplete mission of bringing down the remaining super power in the world. The negligence of the international community in handling the aftermath of the Cold War, and the national policies promulgated by Islamabad vis-à-vis the insurgents proved to be a strategic blunder, which eventually proved fatal to Pakistan in the long run.
Starting with an explanation of tribal Pakistan as the epicenter of global terrorism, Gunaratna and Iqbal depict the manner in which the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) emerged as a new headquarter of Al Qaeda and the global jihad movement. They provide a concrete background to FATA and offer a systematic analysis on why the tribal areas serve to be the most important terrorist sanctuary in the country, which bears significance to both the regional and international security. The book subsequently shifts the focus on mapping out the myriad of insurgent groups that function under the umbrella of the Pakistani Taliban. The authors detail the generic profile of the sub-groups from its membership, leadership and organizational structure, methods of finance, operational capabilities, and links with other local and international groups. Ultimately, this section depicts the complexity of the Pakistani Taliban, which according to the authors is not a monolithic entity. Different factions are driven by different motivations and goal, and the authors argue that a comprehensive strategy needs to be promulgated in addressing the varied interests of the outfits.
The anomaly that devours the country takes in many forms- the most deadly being the stark rise in suicide attacks in the recent years. Although many scholars favor to present a single overarching theory in explicating the phenomenon, Gunaratna and Iqbal assert otherwise. The motivating forces behind suicide terrorism in Pakistan are an amalgamation of cultural, religious, social, political, and economic factors. A ‘one-size-fits all’ theory does not do any justice in truly grasping the suicide terrorist threat that pervades the entire nation, which also extends beyond its borders.
The writers also reveal the significance of Karachi as a hub of terrorism in Pakistan. They illustrate the intricate nature of terrorist groups and criminal activities that live side by side with the sectarian and ethnic violence that are rampant in the financial centre of the country. This part of the book particularly illustrates the threat landscape of Pakistan from a distinct outlook. Not only is it crucial to understand the profile of the different terrorist outfits operating in the country outside of FATA, but the presentation of Karachi in this context adds a flavour in highlighting the intricate nature of threat that emanates from the country. As the threat from within inevitably spills over to its region, the authors urge for an awakening of the neighbouring countries to fight against respective domestic instabilities and encourage harmonious relations in preventing the proliferating menace in the region. This deadly anomaly is incurable by Pakistani efforts alone, but requires an unparalleled cooperation of the international community.
The authors give much credit to Pakistan’s unprecedented effort in fighting the war on terrorism alongside with the US, in contrary to the numerous accusations made against the country as a perpetrator of militancy and terrorism in the region. As Islamabad became the frontline fighter and thus the frontline target of terrorist groups, the nation of Pakistan is now paying the price of countering this menace. The fundamental message behind all of this is that Pakistan is in fact the victim of terrorism. The writers exhort the readers to realize the severity and the complication of the anomaly that haunts the country, and calls for the need to strengthen international cooperation as a way forward in fighting this rigorous battle against Pakistan’s most fatal cancer.
Gunaratna and Iqbal dissect the nature of the terrorist threat which emanates from Pakistan, and unfolds its intricacy in a succinct manner. They do not rely on abstract academic theories in explicating the anomaly. Instead, their arguments are informative and narrated in a logical sequence which is substantiated by anecdotal evidences. They excellently carry the readers through the threat landscape systematically, in an attempt to map out the status quo which is not easily digestible to many. Simultaneously, this work debunks the common misperceptions and clarifies the confusions that arise from grasping the current trends in Pakistan. This surely is a challenge in itself which has been achieved by the experts, and the findings presented in this research comprehensively encompass both the domestic and the regional implications of the problems which face Pakistan.
Rohan Gunaratna is a renowned expert on global terrorism and Khuram Iqbal is the head of Research at Pak Institute for Peace Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank that carries out extensive research on peace and security issues. The experts present an ‘all-in-one’ book which covers absolutely everything one needs to know about Pakistan’s current security climate- including its backdrop, status quo, and recommended policy prescriptions without having to juxtapose complex jargons, concepts and academic theories. The readability of the findings proposed by the authors should be digestible for all readers of various backgrounds including policymakers, academics, journalists and students of international security and terrorism. If you have ever wondered as to what exactly is going on in the ‘ground zero of terrorism’, this book is a must read.
