US declaring Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist is a one up for India's war against terrorism by Pakistan
Immense discussions have rocked media networks on the action adopted by the US in declaring Syed Salahuddin, the head of the Hizbul Mujahideen as a global terrorist.
Discussions have varied from the positives of the US supporting India on its aims and intentions of curbing Pakistan-sponsored terror and seeking diplomatic isolation of Islamabad, to comments that even Dawood Ibrahim and Masood Azhar have also been declared global terrorists by the US and have high bounties on their heads, yet roam free in Pakistan, protected by its deep state.
This action of the US may be symbolic, yet had Pakistan reacting violently. Pakistan claimed that those supporting the "right of self-determination" of the Kashmiri people were being singled out. Pakistan lamented the US action, claiming that it was hindering the "freedom struggle" of the Kashmiri people. The statement continued with the Pakistan government insisting that it would continue "providing political, diplomatic and moral support to the freedom struggle".
The US action has rattled Pakistan for many more reasons, most remain unstated, though convey a strong message.
The first message that it conveys is that the J&K is not disputed in the official eyes of the US and belongs to India. Hence, the struggle there is not a "freedom struggle" nor the "right to self-determination", as claimed by Pakistan, but terrorism.
Thus, violence in the Valley is officially supported by Pakistan and its local stooges. Indirectly, the US supports Indian actions of employing force to subdue the violence, since it is a terror-supported violence and not a "freedom struggle". It would also support any offensive action which India may take on account of any terror strike on its soil.
The second message which it conveys and which has truly rattled Pakistan is that terrorism prevailing in J&K is state-sponsored and the state sponsoring it is Pakistan.
This again conveys to Pakistan that it is now closer to being designated as a terror-sponsoring state. The message has overruled all that Pakistan has been projecting for years and seeking to convey to the world.
The third and final message is that the Hizbul Mujahideen is a terror organisation, supported by Pakistan and does not have anything to do with the freedom struggle. It is neither Kashmir-based nor assists the Kashmiri people, but is a terror group officially supported by Pakistan.
India and Indians were clearly aware of these facts, however for the world there had to be a lead to support the Indian position. This lead has flowed from the US. Pakistan may now cry hoarse and as before their prime minister would raise the Kashmir bogey in every forum, including the UN. However, his words would appear hollow as the right message has been released to the world. Hence, Pakistan’s position may carry little international weight, irrespective of Chinese support in preventing Masood Azhar being declared a global terrorist by the UN.
India’s decision not to resume dialogue is now justified as major terrorist and criminal leaders operating from Pakistan, have been marked as global terrorists and since they roam freely within the nation, Pakistan being a state sponsor of terrorism is aptly proved.
On ground, nothing much may change. The designated terrorists may roam free as before, protected by the deep state. However, whenever their involvement in terrorist strikes is proved and announced by India, it would embarrass Pakistan as it is the official supporter of terror.
There is also a requirement to link the official message given by both, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump, asking Pakistan to ensure its soil is not used for cross-border terror activities.
Pakistan’s three important neighbours — India, Afghanistan and Iran — are accusing it of providing official support to terror groups on its soil. The US is equally impacted as the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani network are based in Pakistan. The message slowly spreading is that Pakistan cannot be trusted to end terror support on its own and hence needs to be compelled to do so. It has faced military actions by all its three angry neighbours in some form.
The US would soon be compelled to apply diplomatic, financial and military pressure on Islamabad. Hence, by declaring Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist, it has added strength to its future actions of application of pressure.
Hence, while not much may change on the ground in Kashmir and in Pakistan, a clear message has been conveyed. The isolation of Pakistan is moving forward, its involvement in terror activities is being officially conveyed and India’s position in avoiding talks on terror supporting actions is gaining support. Pakistan would begin feeling greater pressure as the new Afghan strategy is released by the US. It would come under increased drone strikes angering terror groups which it supports, adding to its woes.
China's support for it may continue, but there is a limit to how much it can. Hopefully, Pakistan understands the message being conveyed to it and acts positively, before pressure intensifies and it is forced to act, much against its will.