If Pakistan needs anyone to blame, for them being ‘nearly placed’ on a formal US list of state sponsors of terrorism in the early 90s during the Bill Clinton administration, then they have to look back at Zia Ul Haq’s actions as head of state in the early 80s. The former president set the foundation for extremism, which was used as an arm of diplomacy, especially against India. They escaped then and became beneficiaries of US aid, humanitarian and security too. But all this is now coming under scrutiny by lawmakers in America.
Zia Ul Haq used America’s funding of Afghan rebels to create Pakistan’s own armoury and army. The country laid the foundation for madrassas, which began training recruits and imposing extremist idealogy. This was also the country that sheltered Osama Bin Laden and still houses Dawood Ibrahim.
Today, Pakistan cannot deny that they are a breeding ground for terrorists and are responsible to a large extent for the attacks on India and other neighbouring countries. If Islamabad has to change this, then they have to start identifying areas that are infested with terror groups and start weeding them out. Easier said than done, but the clock is ticking.
