Let’s give the devil his due; the Indians have exploited the sensitivities of a terror wary world to the fullest. Jumping on the anti terror bandwagon led by the USA in the wake of September Eleven, the Indians have quite successfully projected themselves as victims of terrorism at par with the Western World. Their shaping of the propaganda campaign based on this master plank has been imaginative, massive and quite successful. The attack on the Indian Parliament that followed the terror strikes in USA by only a margin of three months was used by the Indian Government to launch Operation Parakram; the largest ever mobilization of Indian army on the Pakistani borders. It has now become evident that there was no Pakistani connection to this attack and most likely it was the handy work of India’s own intelligence agencies. Indians, using catchy sound bytes (cross border terrorism, terror infrastructure, terror flow from across the border etc) have managed to project the decade and a half old Kashmiri struggle for freedom as a terrorist activity. Through this ear deafening tirade what they have successfully managed to shield is the terrorism that is emanating from India to destabilize Pakistan.
The highly publicized case of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian National and a RAW agent, who has been awarded death sentence by Pakistani courts for conducting a string of blasts inside Pakistan, during 1989-90, has served to highlight India’s state sponsored terrorism directed at Pakistan. Ever since his conviction for killing scores of civilians including women and children, the entire spectrum of Indian Media is up in arms, campaigning for his pardon by the President of Pakistan. One can’t browse the Indian channels without coming across this campaign which is based on a case of “Mistaken Identity” and on threats by Singh’s family to hang themselves in case the verdict of the court was carried out. What this well orchestrated campaign effectively covers is the fact that Indian Agencies are saturating Pakistan through a steady influx of spies who commit acts of terrorism on Pakistan soil.
A special section published by the Outlook on the issue of using spies recruited from the border villages in Punjab, Rajasthan and Kashmir by the Indian Agencies to conduct espionage and acts of terrorism in Pakistan is unusually illuminating. “On our tour of villages in the border districts of Punjab, we were astounded at the widespread nature of the phenomenon. Like shadows, these spies are just about everywhere. Some villages, like Dadwan and Kang in Gurdaspur district, have earned the sobriquet of Spy Villages, for providing a regular supply of recruits to inhabit the shadowy world of intelligence agencies—RAW, the military intelligence, the BSF et al,” observes the Outlook. The weekly very effectively brings out the systematic and ruthless exploitation of the villagers of the Indian border belt by the Indian agencies, where the “spying has become a way of life, an avenue for employment, just like agricultural labor.”
Monetary rewards are the major inducements for luring in the spy recruits from poorer segments of a village society. The lower rung of these agents who are mainly employed as couriers of the intelligence agencies are paid around Rs 1000- 2500 per assignment. These agents are employed to pass instructions, and in some cases logistics such as explosives, to the Indian agents who are operating under cover in Pakistan. Some of the more promising of these ‘sources’, as they are called in the jargon of the intelligence community, are trained to commit acts of terrorism on Pakistani soil. Sarabjeet Singh was one such ‘source’ who committed a string of explosions in Pakistan. Such missions, depending upon the sensitivity of the location and the number of casualties incurred on the site, fetch in rich monetary rewards. In addition as further inducements, these ‘sources’ are allowed to smuggle liquor, drugs or other contraband items to make additional money on the side.
Outlook has outlined in particular detail the training regimen of these villager-spies. “Those who are to act as couriers are trained at local units of hiring agencies. Those who are to stay for a longer duration in Pakistan have to undergo a year-long training, often in Delhi. Training capsules of four weeks entail learning the basics of intelligence activities—how to identify military vehicles, officers’ ranks, and the art of covering their tracks. Every spy is provided a different identity and forged Pakistani papers to prove their aliases should they get caught. The spy is often assigned Muslim names, they grow beards, they are taught to perform namaaz and generally go about like Muslims. Some say they are also circumcised” chronicles the weekly. .
Launching the spies into Pakistan is a delicate and well organized and coordinated operation. Indians are greatly facilitated in this phase by the presence of the formidably built and very well lit barbed wire fence that covers the entire stretch of border in Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. Indian BSF controls the gates in the barbed wire fence and oversees the launching of these agents thorough selected points providing diversions like firing or switching of lights elsewhere to shift attention of the Pakistan Rangers who are on the vigil against such like incursions. To facilitate contact and to enable a trouble free return, an elaborate system of code words is put into place. Once in Pakistani territory, the agents are provided sanctuary by the already present guides, mostly located in the border belt; before the spy can move on to his contact in the hinterland.
Every dog has his day but these ‘sources’ are treated worse than dogs by their handlers. In case they are caught in Pakistan they are immediately disowned by the launching agency. After going through the rigors of interrogation and trial, the convicted persons have to inevitably bear with long periods of jail and by the time of release they are a mental and emotional wreck. More misery is awaiting them as they repatriate to India. Not only their erstwhile mentors refuse to acknowledge their services but false cases are registered against them for illegal border crossing to coerce them into silence. Wives without any means of subsistence – no monetary support from the handling agency, children growing up without the presence and care of their father - their families have to pay the ultimate price for the dangerous liaisons with the Indian intelligence.
Indian Army as well the intelligence services have perfected the use of “outsourcing” to extra institutional individuals and organizations to do their dirty work. Indian Army in Kashmir is conducting a major portion of its unsavory work such as fake encounters, extrajudicial killings, illegal detentions and execution of intimidating tactics to break the will of the local population through use of local renegades. In the field of espionage, as well, Indian agencies are employing local villagers to conduct espionage as well terrorist incidents inside Pakistan. However this brazen and ruthless exploitation of the villagers from the Indian border villages is beginning to create a strong local backlash. Since the Indian Government is not prepared to listen to the grievances of this bruised and battered community of ex-spies, a clamor for justice has begun to take shape in the Spy Villages of India. Some of these spies who, feel that the Indian agencies have ruined their lives and are not even prepared to acknowledge the services they performed at great peril and instead are now pushing them to the wall with false cases, are now moving the human right watch organizations to seek redress.
The case of Sarabjeet Singh has served to highlight the cross border flow of terrorism from India into Pakistan. It has provided incontrovertible proof of Indian conduct of espionage through use of civilian agents, recruited from the border belt to conduct acts of terrorism on Pakistani soil. Indian gambit to spin this case into a human rights issue can rightly be termed as a master case of spin-doctoring.

Pak-Israel overtures irk Iran
Shahid Saleem Afzal

Pakistan’s foreign minister met with his Israeli counterpart on 1st September 2005 in Istanbul. Like most Muslim countries, Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The move came in response to Israel’s pullout from Gaza Strip. Subsequently, on 18th September President Pervez Musharraf addressed the American Jewish Council in New York. He linked recognition of Israel to the establishment of a Palestinian State. He said, “As peace process progresses towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, we will take further steps towards normalization and cooperation, looking to full diplomatic relations.” The address has been lauded and viewed throughout the world as a courageous step by the President, which would help in creating a better understanding amongst people of different faiths and help the Palestinian cause.
The Pakistani overtures have been severely criticized by the government of Iran and leading Iranian newspapers. Mr. Hamid Reza Asefi, Spokesman of Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that “such a measure has no justification and we will notify Pakistan of the issue.” Iranian conservative newspaper Keyhan International, on 5th September called the Pakistani action un-Islamic. A question arises, ‘Is Iran justified in criticizing Pakistani overtures towards Israel?’ Pakistan being a Muslim country and a neighbour of Iran has always been given a back seat by Iran as compared to India.
Historically, Iran has enjoyed a very warm relationship with India. This can be gauged from the fact that President Mohammed Khatami was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day Parade on 26th January 2003. This honour is reserved for New Delhi’s most trusted friends. Both countries signed the “New Delhi Declaration” promising to expand trade. Bilateral trade is over a billion dollars and is increasing. Both countries have a common strategic outlook in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Cooperation in military and security affairs is also growing which has got the United States, Israel and Pakistan worried.
Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, met top Indian leaders on 31 st August 2005 as part of an effort to rally support for its controversial nuclear programme. He held meetings with Indian Prime Minister, foreign minister and the national security advisor. The Iranian-Indian alliance is strange indeed. Israel is viewed by Iran as an enemy whereas India has established strategic relationships with both Iran and Israel. It is a miracle how the three get along together. The external policies of India and Israel are a perfect match. Yet Iran views Israel with scorn and ignores the follies of India. The Iranian-Indian relationship, perhaps stems from a common cause to contain Pakistan. A comparison of the policies and deeds of both these countries would make it abundantly clear that Iran should have more reason to abstain from India than Israel.
Both India and Israel have occupied foreign land and have violated UN Security Council Resolutions. On 27th October, 1947, Indian troops blatantly contravened the principle of partition of the sub-continent into two sovereign states and occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Efforts by India to legitimize its military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir coupled with fraud and conspiracies to make possible and justify its aggression have failed. Its conspiracies to alter to its advantage the report of the Boundary Commission, its forgery of the so-called accession document, its defiance of the UN resolutions and its continued victimization and brutalization of the Kashmiri people, struggling for their right to self-determination, stand thoroughly exposed to the world.  The UNSC Resolution of 21st April 1948 is one of the principal UN resolutions on Kashmir. It states that “both India and Pakistan desire that the question of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan should be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite”. Subsequent UNSC Resolutions reiterated the same stand. UNCIP Resolutions of 3rd August 1948 and 5th January 1949 reinforced UNSC resolutions. Unfortunately, India continues to defy all these resolutions and at the same time aspires to become a permanent member of the UNSC.
Pakistan and India have taken the initiative to mend fences and the Confidence Building Measures are progressing reasonably well. Nevertheless, a solution of the Kashmir dispute is necessary for a long term relationship. The ongoing efforts may end in futility as India refuses to table the issue of Kashmir. Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh took serious exception to the reference of UNSC resolution on Kashmir by President Pervez Musharraf in his address to the special General Assembly Summit on the opening day, on 14th September 2005. He conveyed his feelings to Musharraf the same day when they met in the evening. Under the circumstances, how can the Kashmir issue be settled if India gets upset even when a reference is made to it? Israel was established on 14th May 1948. Since birth Israel has continued to usurp Palestinian land. On the 5th of June 1967, Israeli occupation forces captured the remaining West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, which then became to be known as the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Israeli policies and practices under various governments, over the past decades, has been characterized by confiscation of land to construct Jewish settlements and demolition of Palestinian houses, so as to implant more illegal Jewish settlements in the OPT.
The UNSC issued Resolution 242 on 22nd November 1967 relating to occupation of Palestinian land. Israel was asked to withdraw from occupied territories, terminate all claims of belligerency and respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force. Israel has defied the resolution and all other resolutions related to the occupation. Both, India and Israel have a terrible human rights record in the occupied lands. In fact India has surpassed Israel in this respect. During the last 15 years Indian security forces have killed 88,477 civilians, have destroyed 108,414 structures, and gang raped 9477 women including minors. Israel, on the other hand also continues to commit human rights violations against the Palestinians, but these violations are meek as compared to Indian atrocities.
Pak-Israel overtures should not bother Iran. Israel has a much better track record than India. Both countries have occupied foreign land, but Israel acknowledges the fact whereas India does not and refuses to even discuss the issue. In fact, Israel has vacated Gaza, raising hopes of establishing a Palestinian State. Both have committed human rights violations in occupied land, but atrocities by Israeli security forces are meagre as compared to the mayhem by Indian security forces in Kashmir. Above all, Israelis are people of the book and hold a much higher status in the eyes of Muslims than others. The basic beliefs of the People of the Book i.e. Jews and Christians are in harmony with Muslims. Calling Pakistan’s action as un-Islamic by the Iranian media is therefore not justified. Iran should reassess her policy of criticizing Pakistan and instead concentrate on improving relations with Pakistan than with India.