New Delhi: In recent months, Pakistan’s military establishment has come under increasing criticism from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F). Its chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has openly questioned Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s handling of both national security and governance, accusing him of incompetence in addressing the country’s mounting challenges.
The army has been successful in putting down dissent when it arrested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief and former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan.
Officials say that the rise of the Jamaat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F) has become a headache for Asim Munir. However, Munir, after being severely criticised for the stance that he took against Imran Khan, has resorted to a fresh strategy to put down Rehman, officials say.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that the army does not want to use force or tweak the legal system to fight against the JUI (F). Munir does not want the battle to look too obvious as he cannot afford any more criticism for now. The official said that the army is encouraging the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s political outfit Milli Muslim League (MML) to take on Rehman’s party.
To the outside world, the military seeks to portray the rivalry between the JUI-F and the MML as a purely political contest. However, according to these claims, the reality is expected to be far more violent, with the MML allegedly drawing on the operational network and resources of the Lashkar-e-Taiba to carry out targeted killings of JUI-F leaders.
The aim is to wage a silent behind-the-scenes battle aimed at driving fear with the hope that Rehman would tone down its rhetoric. “This plan by the army also exposes the faultiness that have grown amidst the terror groups post Operation Sindoor,” another official said.
The Jaish-e-Mohammad, in particular, would take this plan very badly. The outfit has been politically aligned with the JUI (F) for long. The official said that both the Jaish-e-Mohammed and JUI (F) adhere to the Sunni Deobandi branch of Islam.
The JUI (F) has always played the role of a political interlocutor for the Jaish-e-Mohammed as the outfit cannot contest elections owing to the ban on it.
Pakistan observers say that this new plot by the army may have its share of success, but it would be only temporary in nature. Both the Jaish-e-Mohammed and JUI (F) maintain historic ties with the Afghan Taliban. Both shared similar regional objectives and have demanded an end to foreign intervention in Afghanistan.
Ties between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have deteriorated considerably in recent years. Pakistan had even declared war against the Taliban recently, following which ties soured even further. The experts say that the plan to get the Lashkar-e-Taiba to battle against the JUI (F) will have far-reaching implications for the Pakistani security apparatus. Not only will this anger the Jaish-e-Mohammed, but the army would even earn the wrath of the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“The TTP has inflicted severe damage on the Pakistani security apparatus and even has the upper hand in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This newly drawn plan of Munir’s will only worsen things for the security mechanism in KP as the TTP is bound to get more aggressive,” experts say.
Officials say that Munir has taken a significant gamble. While he is said to be fully aware of the potential repercussions of his actions, they believe his growing desperation is evident. Since Operation Sindoor, during which Pakistan suffered a major setback, he has reportedly been unable to persuade the Jaish-e-Mohammed to re-emerge and resume an active role.
The Jaish-e-Mohammed’s trust, especially when it comes to the army, had eroded severely post Operation Sindoor. When the situation is such for the army in Pakistan, this latest plan by Munir to curb dissent yet again is only showing signs of backfiring very badly, officials point out.
(IANS)
