Law enforcement authorities tightened the security of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other high-profile personalities on Saturday in the wake of a provincial home department warning of an assassination plot by India’s Research & Analysis Wing (RAW).In a chilling notice issued on October 9, the Punjab home department stated that RAW, in collusion with some banned organisations, could hit important political personalities, including Premier Nawaz. The home department has directed the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to strengthen security of the premier and Hafiz Saeed, who heads the banned Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) – both of whom, according to the government, are likely targets. Among other likely targets are high-profile personalities, some of whom are part of the present government. These attempts will be portrayed as “retaliatory strikes” by extremist groups like LeJ or TTP to avenge the recent terrorist actions.
RAW operatives have been found in the Punjab, in Karachi and in Balochistan. We had thought that the National Action Plan and Zarb-e-Azb would end the last of our worries, but now we have subversive Indian activity to deal with. Between RAW, Daesh and assorted Islamic militant groups, we still have a long way to go before becoming truly secure.The argument presented by the Home Department is that India cannot tolerate peace in Pakistan. While a few years go, this statement could have been taken with a pinch of salt, that we are blaming domestic problem on an external enemy, so that the government can skirt blame- today this is a very real concern. With it repeated mob lynchings, forced conversions, Line of Control violations and loud anti-Pakistan rhetoric, India today is morphing into the monster of our nightmares. It is this India that we were taught to hate in our myopic history books- but India has grown up to be as myopic and short-sighted as Pakistan if not more. It was a larger, and more diverse country unlike Pakistan that is relatively homogenous. It has failed to give birth to a peaceful pluralist system. It is this India that keeps mothers wake at nights and soldiers ready for battle. It is this India due to which we have had to create strategies, including cold start, strategic depth and minimal credible deterrence.
pk.shafaqna.com
