Cavernous propaganda and Pakistan

Courtesy:- Alam Rind
Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The foreign forces have never been anywhere closer to victory in Afghanistan since its invasion. To cover up their failings, they have all along accused Pakistan of supporting and harbouring Taliban. One won’t be really surprised if they have started really believing it to be so. The Fata region has been widely propagated as safe haven for extremists. This is so in spite of the fact that the US has launched about 290 drone attacks in this area allegedly to target members of al-Qaeda and Taliban outfits, which resulted into over 2,800 casualties, mostly that of civilians.

On the other end, as a reaction to these attacks, extremists have targeted every nook and corner of Pakistan. Consequently, Pakistan has suffered around 30,000 civil and about 5,000 combatant casualties. Yet, international media is continuously tarnishing the image of Pakistan by projecting it as a state sponsoring terrorism. Their apathy for the sacrifices rendered by Pakistanis is what hurts the most.

It is painful to note that the international media has persistently worked to project Pakistan as a negative state. In doing so, no stone has been left unturned to portray Pakistan Army and ISI as rogue outfits.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in an interview with an American TV channel claimed that, ‘someone in Pakistani authority knew of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts prior to the operation carried out by US Navy Seals to kill him on May 02, 2011.’ He also made it clear that it was his hunch and he had no solid proof to substantiate his claim. But the damage was done. It must have triggered publication of thousands of articles in international print media portraying Pakistan as supporter of al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Continuing spat of propaganda against Pakistan supports the point of view of those subscribing to conspiracy theory professing that foreign forces in connivance with others wish to harm Pakistan. They may construe the congressional hearing of the issue by the US Committee on Foreign Affairs on February 8, 2012 and tabling of resolution on Balochistan in the US Congress on February 18, 2012 to seek the right to self-determination for the people of the province as a major step in this direction.

It can stir debate in international media and can provide moral justification to the activities of the centrifuge forces in the province. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Louie Gohmert who participated in the hearing have co-authored an article supporting independent Balochistan. To project negative image of Pakistan reportedly, US/ the European media is making arrangements to cover the first anniversary of Abbottabad operation in a big way.

Sources privy to these developments have confided that special funds have been allocated by foreign media to cover the occasion. Foreign journalists are expected to interview people living in areas adjacent to OBL complex. In case they encounter difficulties local media will come for their rescue. The sole purpose of the whole exercise would be to project Pakistan as a safe heaven for al-Qaeda/ Islamic extremists.

Such stories are aimed at projecting widespread support for extremism in the ranks and files of the armed forces of Pakistan and intern downplay these national institutions as rogue and supportive of extremism. We know that such themes are divorced from reality. The 99% Pakistani’s including its armed forces deplore extremism and consider acts of terrorism as ‘Haram’ from religious stand point.

Negative propaganda in fact builds anti-Pakistan perception among their own people and paves way for their governments to take punitive actions against Pakistan like attack on Salala Post without their people questioning them. It also creates pressure on Pakistani government to extending facilities in order to improve their international image.

At this point in time more than anything else Americans want safe and respectable exit from Afghanistan. That may not be possible without positive support from Pakistan. In fact they need Pakistani support more than ever before. Criticality of the situation demands that they bridge the differences with Pakistan rather than widening the existing gap. Such negative propaganda campaigns would only daunt the situation that may not serve American interests well in the area.