The slaughter of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army men and their Jihadi companions has generated a political maelstrom. The Opposition has turned the heat on the Raksha Mantri. They feel that AK Antony’s reference to terrorists as possible culprits dilutes Pakistan’s official role. But viewed in historical perspective, it need not be so. Whether it was the ‘tribal invasion’ of Kashmir (1947), the massacres by Rezakar/Jamaat-e-Islami in East Pakistan (1971) or the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai (2008) the ‘non-state actors’ were backed to the hilt by Pakistani Army. The reason is not a logistical one but an ideological one.

Pakistan Army plus Mujahideen

General Zia Ul Haq, in the preface to Brigadier S K Malik’s landmark book The Quranic Concept of War (Lahore, 1979), writes: “JEHAD FI-SABILILLAH is not the exclusive domain of the professional solider, nor is it restricted to the application of military force alone… the professional solider in a Muslim army, pursuing the goals of a Muslim state, cannot become ‘professional’ if, in all his activities, he does not take on the ‘the colour of Allah’. The non-military citizen of a Muslim state must, likewise, be aware of the kind of soldier that his country must produce and ONLY pattern of war that his country’s armed forces may wage’. The dividing line between a regular and an irregular is imaginary rather than real when fighting Kafirs (non-Muslims). They are not fighting adversaries so much as they are fighting for a cause.

Tariq’s prayer on Pakistan Army’s website is endorsement of its motto.

Zia Ul Haq, as President of Pakistan (1978-1988), reoriented Pakistan’s policies to suit unvarnished Islam. It might be noted that he added the expression Jehad Fi-Sabilillah (Jihad in the war of Allah) to the motto of Pakistani army. The Pakistani army, especially its junior and middle ranks, has been intoxicated by the Jihad-spirit. When the goal is to fight against Kufr or infidelity – and India is the bastion of infidelity for them — cooperation is quite desirable and feasible. The Opposition is not able to grasp this point because it is using its Hindu mind. To a Muslim mind there is no contradiction on this point.