|
|
Mr. Prime Minister,
Mr. Secretary General,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I thank Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, Mr.Elie Wiesel and the
International Peace Academy for this timely initiative.
The theme of the Conference “Fighting Terrorism for Humanity” is particularly
apt, because humanity is the first victim of terrorist acts. The venue chosen is
tragically very appropriate. It is here in New York where, two years ago,
nationals from about 80 countries – Pakistanis included – fell victim to
international terrorism.
The horrors of 9/11 forced us to mount an international campaign against
terrorism. Today the Al-Qaida is only a shadow of its past, but the questions
before us are: Will terrorism outlive Al Qaida? What precisely is terrorism?
What are the causes of terrorism including religiously inspired terrorism? What
can the leaders of the world do to purge this menace for all times to come? And
most importantly how can we avert a clash of civilizations and work for
understanding and cooperation between diverse faiths?
The world today has indeed become a dangerous place riven with strife, suspicion
and confrontation. Religious faiths – which should be the source of hope,
tolerance and peace – are pitted against each other. Our destiny, and the future
of succeeding generations, is held hostage by a minority of extremists.
I urge the world leaders here to use their wisdom and authority to influence
events and be the catalysts of change. They must not flow with the current that
threatens the collapse of global civilization into confrontation and conflict.
Mr. Prime Minister,
Terrorism is not a new phenomenon. It predates its modern description by
centuries. Its history is as much Asian and Middle Eastern as European and Latin
American. Terrorism transcends secular and religious barriers. The “reign of
terror” was originally associated with states suppressing people. Non-state
actors also committed acts of indiscriminate violence. Anti-colonialist
movements were often dubbed as terrorists. Since the end of Second World War,
terrorists have been motivated by considerations ranging from ethnicity to
ideology to cults.
What is new is that, the decade of 90s saw a sudden upsurge in militancy and
violence. At the end of the Cold War, hopes were kindled for a peaceful and
harmonious world. But these hopes were soon shattered with the genocide in
Bosnia and Kosovo. Militancy in Palestine grew and Kashmir saw the rise of an
armed indigenous resistance in response to Indian repression. In Afghanistan a
self-destructive civil war raged, creating a vacuum and a haven for
international terrorists. Militants spread their tentacles to Central Asia.
After 9/11, terrorism became equated with Al Qaida and its franchises – and by a
misperceived extension with Islam. This is an artificial and very perilous
linkage. Now, the Middle East has become even more volatile because of the
situation in Iraq. And, there is a growing sense among Muslims that Islam, as a
religion, is being targeted and pilloried.
Mr. Prime Minister,
To fight terrorism, the strategic decisions which Pakistan took after September
11 are very consistent with our moral principles, our national interests and our
vision of Pakistan, standing tall among the nations of the world that respect
and strongly adhere to the principles of humanity.
Pakistan’s actions speak louder than words. Our support has been critical in the
war against terrorism. This support will continue until our shared objectives
are fully met.
In Pakistan we are fighting terrorism in all its dimensions. We are operating
against Al Qaida or any elements which misuse our territory for the export of
terrorism across our borders or internationally. No foreigner, no terrorist will
be allowed to use our soil for plotting or launching attacks from Pakistan. The
other dimension, and I dare say, the more serious dimension of our anti
terrorist campaign targets sectarian and religious extremism.
While operating against Al Qaida and their supporters is a short term strategy,
the longer term strategy is designed to deal with religious extremism. For
overall success we must address the menace of terrorism simultaneously in its
short and long term perspectives.
For operating against Al Qaida, we have developed an effective intelligence
network based on human intelligence, technological capabilities and aerial
surveillance. This is now backed by an effective Quick Reaction Force to hit
located targets. We are also adopting measures to choke the sources of terrorist
financing. Therefore, in the short term strategy of striking against terrorists,
we are well poised for success in Pakistan. A similar capability and action is
required in the vast vacuums of the Afghan countryside to produce the optimum
impact in the entire region. It must be understood that it is not a conventional
military operation that is required of sweeping and searching the entire
mountain ranges which would be practically impossible. It is more an
intelligence operation where we locate hostile targets and launch a swift
military action against that located targets. Assertions in the Western and
Indian media that all Taliban activity in Afghanistan emanates from Pakistan, or
that Pakistan is not doing enough, are baseless and, may I add, thankless. Such
aspersions display either deliberate discrimination or insufficient
understanding of the ground realities. No nation has done more in the war
against terrorism than Pakistan.
The short-term actions against terrorism must be accompanied by a long-term
strategy. Otherwise, the war against terrorism may fail. We have to look beyond
Al Qaida to the breeding grounds of terrorism. What motivates a suicide bomber
to take his own life and kill innocent civilians? In order to eliminate
terrorism, we must understand its causes. The fact is that today most of the
unresolved political disputes and issues involve Muslims. Their demands for
justice are often brushed aside. This has given rise to hopelessness,
frustration and desperation. Foreign occupation and the suppression of the right
of peoples to self-determination leading to a sense of despair is a direct cause
for suicide bombings and terrorist acts.
Is it not ironic that even as we come to grips with the ravages of terrorism, we
do not have its precise definition? Is it that political expediency dictates
avoiding the truth? We must have a clear, legal definition of terrorism.
Terrorism has many forms, different motivations and diverse causes.
There should be no selective application of the international norms and
standards against terrorism. Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations –
including state terrorism – has to be opposed without any discrimination.
To start with, there is the reality of state terrorism - which is the most
deadly form of terrorism. Mostly, state terrorism targets people seeking freedom
from foreign occupation – as in Palestine and Kashmir. Their oppression through
State terrorism is all the more unacceptable because they were assured
self-determination by no less than the UNSC.
There are also acts of violence and mass murder committed by individuals and
groups. They kill innocent civilians and inflict havoc in our cities and towns.
No ideology, no doctrine can justify their acts or condone their crimes.
The need to evolve a definition of terrorism has become more essential because
those who are committing state terrorism against occupied peoples, often depict
their legitimate movements for self-determination as terrorism. It is the UN’s
responsibility to develop a definition of terrorism which clarifies that such
movements for self-determination, recognized by the United Nations, are
legitimate and cannot be equated with terrorism. Indeed, these freedom movements
are, in essence, resisting the violators of United Nations resolutions.
The right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for self-determination has been
sanctioned explicitly by the UN Security Council. Until India agrees to
implement the Security Council resolutions, and while it persists in its violent
suppression of the Kashmiris people, they have a legitimate right to resist
Indian occupation. Equating their freedom struggle with terrorism is quite a
travesty. The United Nations must promote a solution for Kashmir – as it did for
East Timor – on the basis of the UN resolutions. And, the international
community, which desires peace and security in South Asia, must persuade India
to end its repression in Kashmir and resume a dialogue process with Pakistan. We
are ready for dialogue. Now it is India’s call. It should respond positively.
It’s not that we ask for a solution in favour of Pakistan. It should be a
win-win solution, in favour of Pakistan, India and most of all Kashmiri people.
Mr. Prime Minister,
Most of the political disputes of our times afflict Islamic peoples and nations.
Religious extremism and militancy have risen because these conflicts have been
allowed to fester without solution. There is a feeling in the Muslim world that
Islam is being targeted. In the West, misperceptions persist that Islam inspires
or endorses extremism. Expressions such as “Islamic terror”, “Muslim rage”,
“Islamic threat” and the “Crisis of Islam”, offer only very facile explanations.
This widening gulf of perceptions between the West and the Islamic world has to
be bridged. There is no such thing as “militant Islam”. There are only some
“militant Muslims” – as there are militant Hindus, militant Christians and
militant Jews.
The thesis of a clash of civilizations put forward by some influential Western
intellectuals, and now increasingly embraced at the popular level, is a recipe
for confrontation. We must advance an antithesis - of cohesion and understanding
between civilizations. In this post-modern era, we must not go back to
Medievalism. We, the world leaders, should dictate the global agenda, not allow
the terrorists and extremists to do so.
The essence of Islam must be clearly understood.
· The scare in the West about the Shariah is misplaced. The Shariah is simply an
Islamic way of life.
· There is no incompatibility between Islam and democracy. The early Islamic
State was a model of democracy. And, the Holy Quran prescribes the promotion of
human rights, social equality, freedom of speech and adoption of decisions
through consultation and consensus – in short the practice of democracy in all
walks of life.
· The protection of minorities is an article of faith in Islam. Islam makes no
discrimination on basis of color, caste, creed or religion. In this sense
secularism is embedded in our Faith. We do not need to proclaim it.
· Islam’s tenets provide for continuous renewal and adoption – through the
process of Ijtihad (or consultation) and an emphasis on education and the
acquisition of scientific and technical knowledge. Islam’s vision is not trapped
in any one period of history, it is modern and futuristic.
Of course, the problem is that there is today a dichotomy between Islam’s
principles and their actual practice in extremist quarters. The introduction of
extremist laws or practices through a twisted representation of the Shariah by
vested, misguided interests in no way reflect the tolerant spirit and tenets of
Islam. Those who abuse the faith of Islam to propagate violence do not represent
Muslims. They do not serve Islam. They are an aberration and a negation of the
tenets of our faith. We need to marginalize and exclude them in our polity and
society.
Mr. Prime Minister,
All nations must cooperate and contribute to ensure success in the long term
strategy against terrorism. We must adopt a two pronged strategy.
The Muslim world, for its part, must shun militancy and extremism in favor of
‘Enlightened Moderation’. We must reform those Madrassahs which are preaching
hatred, extremism and militancy. We must concentrate on emancipating ourselves
through an emphasis on the social sector, raising the level of our education and
health standards and pursuing social justice and poverty eradication.
Yet, this will be feasible only if the West joins us by helping to resolve all
political disputes involving Muslims with justice. The resolution of the
Palestinian and Kashmir disputes will inevitably marginalize extremist
organizations - like Hamas, Jaish-e-Muhammad or Lashkar-e- Tayyaba. The advanced
countries must also promote the development of human resources, investment and
technology in the Muslim World to marginalize extremism.
Mr. Prime Minister,
This then is the complete recipe for success against the destructive forces of
extremism and terrorism. There is no quick fix solution. Yet, we cannot opt for
inaction. Inertia and lack of resoluteness on our part will only strengthen the
extremists and weaken the moderates. Terrorism has to be addressed in its
entirety. A piecemeal or unifocal approach will only create distortion,
diffusion and mistrust.
We, the leaders of the world, must ensure that the principles of humanity win.
We have no choice but to prevail. We owe this to our future generations.
I thank you, Mr. Prime Minister