Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir has emphasized the importance
of ‘Jihad’ against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as ‘Khawarij’
in a recent address. The army chief’s use of purely Islamic terms in his
address is believed by observers to be aimed at creating a religious narrative
to convince TTP militants in Afghanistan to surrender to the state. The Army
Chief, while addressing a Jirga in Peshawar on Monday, said that Pakistan
has concerns over the sanctuaries and free activities of banned
organizations on Afghan soil.
Read Munir’s religious references
Referring to the constitution of Pakistan, the
army chief said that the sovereignty in the constitution belongs only to Allah.
At the same time, pointing to TTP, he raised the question, “Which Shariat do
these Khawarij want to bring?” General Asim Munir termed the military
operations as Jihad and said, “We are doing Jihad in the way of Allah.”
According to him, the Pakistan Army will fight terrorism till the last drop of
blood and will leave no stone unturned to destroy the network of terrorists.
The army chief said that Islam is a religion of security and peace and those
who have used this religion as a form of terrorism will have to answer.
General Asim Munir called TTP as “Khawarij” in his address. The term
Khawarij is generally used for those who wantonly rebelled against the
legitimate government of an Islamic state. Such a statement of the Army
Chief is also of extraordinary importance because, since 9/11, the use of
‘Jihad’ and other such Islamic terms by the Pakistani military authorities has
been rare. Some observers say that there is no change in the policy
regarding Jihad in Pakistan, but the religious narrative is being used against
the TTP because, with the help of this narrative, Pakistan is weakening the
extremists, especially in the tribal areas, and can achieve success. In the
past, thousands of people from Pakistan went to Afghanistan in the name of
‘Afghan Jihad’ to fight the Soviet Union. At that time, the Pakistani
authorities, who had the backing of the West, called this war Jihad. Similarly,
after September 11, 2001, the United States along with its allies started the
war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. But Pakistan as a state was
indifferent to it and actions were taken against such jihadi people. During this
time, there were also accusations against the Pakistan Army that it had
taken several extrajudicial actions in this regard. Even now, the alleged
militants in the tribal areas are carrying out operations against the state
institutions in the name of ‘Jihad’. In this regard, the government of Pakistan
has been of the opinion that only the state has the authority to wage jihad.
The government and security forces continue to label all those who work
against it as misguided and rebellious. In the past, the government’s policy in
this regard has come out through the ‘Paigham-e-Pakistan Conference’ and
other forums. Aamir Rana, Director of the Pakistan Institute for Peace
Studies, says that the new army chief has a religious background. He quotes
Quranic verses in his speeches. He believes that in creating a national
narrative, the religious narrative is important. According to him, the Army
Chief has used the motto of the Pakistan Army, “Jihad fi Sabilillah”, keeping
these sentiments in mind. Former Army Lt. Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi says
that the use of the word ‘Khawarij’ by the Army Chief is a very sensitive issue
as Masalak should not be discussed too much. He says that the Army
Chief’s statement on Jihad is not a policy change but a response to the
narrative being used by the TTP. According to Lieutenant General (retired)
Naeem Khalid Lodhi, in view of the current situation, the Army Chief must
have made such a statement because the meaning of Jihad that was taken
in the past is not what he means now. On the other hand, Aamir Rana
believes that there is no change in Pakistan’s Jihad policy. According to him,
Pakistan had already given this narrative against the alleged terrorists in the
border areas through the ‘Message of Pakistan Conference’ and other
campaigns in the past. He said that the Army Chief has mentioned Khawarij
in his statement. Although it has not been said like this at the official level in
the past, but with the help of religious figures, such a message has been
given. Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, assistant to the prime minister for religious
harmony, says that what the army chief said has already been said by the
religious leadership of Pakistan through the Paigham-e-Pakistan
Conference. According to him, it was clearly stated in this conference that
only the state has the right to wage war or jihad. He said that opponents of
Pakistan also spread terrorism in the name of religion. That is why they are
called “Khawarij”. This statement of the army chief has come out at a time
when Mullah Hibatullah, the Amir of the Taliban in Afghanistan, also said that
the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan cannot in any way allow Jihad against
any other Islamic country. Later, Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob, the Minister of
Defense of the interim government of the Taliban in Afghanistan, during a
meeting of the Ministry of Defense on Saturday, like Mullah Hibatullah’s
statement, prohibited Jihad in any country outside Afghanistan without
naming Pakistan. Mullah Yaqub said that the supreme leader of the Taliban
has announced the end of jihad. Obedience to his decree is obligatory for all.
About the statement of the Amir of the Afghan Taliban, Amir Rana said that
Mullah Hibatullah’s statement is related to the Afghan Taliban. But this
statement is still unexplained as this statement is only for the Afghan Taliban
and they are strictly prohibited from attacking outside Afghanistan including
Pakistan. According to Aamir Rana, “I guess this statement was not meant
for TTP.” Lieutenant General (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi says that Mulla
Hibatullah’s statement is very important in the context of the current
situation. This statement has made a policy clear that the Afghan
government wants to fix its own affairs. According to him, this statement is
also beneficial for Pakistan because it can improve the control of Pakistan in
its areas, which can improve the relations between the two countries.
According to Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, the statement of Haibatullah is also very
positive. One thing clearly emerges from the statements of the Army Chief
and Haibatullah that both countries are very serious about establishing
peace and want to eliminate these elements. According to him, the army
chief of Pakistan has said for this reason that dialogue would be only with
the interim government of Afghanistan, and not with any terrorist group. It
seems to be a new policy on how to establish peace in Pakistan and
Afghanistan in their respective regions. Aamir Rana says that at present
there is no change in the policy of Pakistan regarding Jihad, nor is there any
policy of raising the people of tribal areas for Jihad and forming Lashkar or
committees. Because there is no such environment at the moment. He said
that in the past, when such peace committees or Lashkars were formed, the
people of these areas had to suffer and until today, due to the Taliban, the
targeted killing of those who formed Lashkars in these areas continues. Lt.
Gen. (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi said that some forces want the forces of
Pakistan and Afghanistan to line up against each other and fight each other.
But the current leadership of the army is fully aware of this situation. On the
topic of the use of the word ‘Jihad’ post 9/11, and the promotion of liberalism,
Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said that rumors were spread about Pakistan and
propaganda was made that the army does not talk about Jihad. But the
current army chief mentioned Iman, Taqwa, and jihad for the sake of Allah
and has once again emphasized that the foundation of the Pakistan Army is
jihad for the sake of Allah. (Translated from Asim Ali Rana, Urdu Voice of America)
The Impression is that COAS Asim Munir is referring to the Quranic verses
in his public addresses routinely and effectively changing the narrative. It is
visible that he also tightened the noose around the politicians, the ruling
PDM government that is being dissolved was following his
vision/instructions. Asim Munir is behind seemingly ending political career of
PTI Chairperson Imran Khan and it seems that under his pressure the
Afghan Taliban Supreme Commander, Haibatullah Akhundzada has issued a
statement that jihad outside Afghanistan is not jihad. It has to be seen how
the TTP will react to all the recent development.