Why Nawaz Sharif has admitted to Pakistan's role in 26/11 attack now
Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's admission that home-grown terror outfits were responsible for the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai needs to be viewed from different perspectives - his political compulsions, its diplomatic and political fallout for Pakistan, the unexpected diplomatic win for India and reactions within India, some really wild and outlandish like yoga guru Ramdev making a case for Indian invasion of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and his advocacy for Indian help in liberation of Balochistan.
First, consider Sharif's remarks in his interview to Pakistani daily Dawn, which triggered an international diplomatic maelstrom: "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors. Should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Why can't we complete the trial?"
It's pertinent to note that the three-time prime minister has made this hugely embarrassing remark for his country at a time he is being hounded from all sides, particularly the judiciary, and neither the political establishment nor the powerful military has come to his help.
In April, Pakistan Supreme Court disqualified him for life from holding any public office for failing to declare his assets while being the prime minister, a harsh measure which came just two months after the Pakistani apex court disqualified him as president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The February 2018 order of the Supreme Court ruled that all decisions taken by Sharif as the party chief stood "null and void".
Sharif's condition is akin to a cat trapped inside a room with all exits sealed and stick-wielding people coming after the hapless animal. In such a situation the cat invariably pounces at the attacker's face to escape.
Sharif too appears to have done that. Being a seasoned politician and three-time premier, Sharif cannot be unmindful of the consequences of his remarks for his country's image internationally.
This may be part of Nawaz Sharif's conscious and deliberate strategy aimed at his domestic constituency. He is probably sending a signal to the political and military establishments to intervene and stop his "persecution" before it is too late.
It remains to be seen if Sharif gets some substantive relief in the coming days as Pakistan is due to hold its next general election later this year. If no such thing happens, Sharif may further up the ante and come up with more embarrassing statements which name and shame Pakistan.
Expectedly, Sharif's remarks have roiled the political waters within Pakistan. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan pounced upon the opportunity and criticised Sharif for speaking against Pakistan's sovereignty, saying the ex-PM has joined hands with foreign forces for personal gains. Khan even trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in lambasting Sharif and said Sharif was speaking the language of PM Modi to save the Rs 300 billion that he has concealed under the names of his sons' offshore companies.
Incidentally, you can call it the Sharif impact as close on the heels of Sharif's remarks, Imran Khan was showered with rare praise from general Pervez Musharraf, who said Khan had a very good chance of being elected as the prime minister in the upcoming elections. Musharraf also said that Imran Khan was a much better choice in comparison to Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari to lead the nation. This may be indicative of things to come and confirms the widely held belief in Pakistan that Imran Khan is being propped up by the Pakistan Army.
Actually, this is not the first time when former rulers of Pakistan have put their country in a fix with their controversial statements. Loose lips sink ships!
Just about six months ago, former Pakistan president and army chief general Musharraf had said that he was the "biggest supporter" of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an internationally ostracised terror outfit which is banned even in Pakistan since 2002. He didn't stop at that and added that he was aware that the LeT liked him too.
In an interview with Pakistan's Ary TV in November 2017, Musharraf had remarked thus about LeT's founder and mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks Hafiz Saeed: "I'm the biggest supporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba and I know the LeT and JuD people like me… Yes, I have met him (Saeed), even recently…I have always been in favour of action in Kashmir, and I've always been in their favour, that in Kashmir we must pressure the Indian Army and this (LeT) is the biggest force."
Musharraf's remarks had come after Saeed, a United Nations-designated terrorist, was freed from house arrest on an order from Lahore high court. Obviously, Musharraf cannot be unaware of the fact that the United States too has branded Saeed a terrorist and put a $10 million bounty on his head after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Sharif knows that erstwhile rulers of Pakistan like Musharraf have embarrassed Pakistan with their controversial remarks and gone scot-free. However, Sharif's remarks have triggered some hawkish response from within India.
Sample this statement of yoga guru Ramdev in response to Sharif's confession: "It is true that terrorists are trained in Pakistan, a solution to this problem is that India should invade PoK and make it a part of the country. India should also help in freedom of Balochistan, only then Pakistan will correct its course."
Political parties like BJP and Congress too waded into the controversy and lambasted Pakistan's involvement in aiding and abetting terrorism in India.
Union minister for minority affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said: "Pakistan is solely responsible for 26/11 terrorist attack. We have already provided enough evidence of the same to them but they have always denied those facts and all the related reports. The entire world knows this reality that Pakistan is responsible for 26/11 terrorist attack in India. If Nawaz Sharif has finally accepted this fact then it is great news."
Another Union minister minister of state for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said Pakistan was solely responsible for the 26/11 attacks. Congress leader Rajiv Satav too blamed Pakistan for orchestrating the 26/11 attacks and demanded stern action from the Centre against the Pakistani government. Satav said: "Former prime minister Manmohan Singh ji has already said that Pakistan is behind the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. He was very strict with the Pakistani government when he was the prime minister. This is a very serious matter now."
Nawaz Sharif's admission of Pakistan's hand behind the 26/11 Mumbai carnage will inevitably trigger further slide in Pakistan's credibility before the international community. It may also adversely impact Pakistan in several cases it is locked in with India before the International Court of Justice and other international platforms. It has given an unexpected bounty to India to expose Pakistan at international platforms.
The Sharif bombshell has exploded weeks ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China in June which India and Pakistan would be participating in for the first time as full-fledged members. China would be more wary of Pakistan now.