By Rafiq Tasal
Throughout the centuries, there have repeatedly emerged circles and groups which, outwardly, appeared to be Muslim and claimed adherence to Islam, yet inwardly were bloodthirsty exploiters and plunderers of Muslims. For example, during the time of Salah ad-Din Ayyubi (RH) and Nur ad-Din Zangi (RH), there existed the mercenary militia of Sheikh Sinan and the Hashshashin, whose actions and conduct closely resembled those of the Pakistani military. They would, in exchange for payment and wages, martyr Muslims and prominent personalities, plunder the wealth and reserves of Muslims, and train Muslim women to be used in conspiracies and schemes for the benefit of non-believers.
The same situation persists today. They have entrenched themselves in Pakistan’s minerals, resources, and public taxation. Even if the people die of hunger, these circles and groups continue to extract taxes. In Pakistan, the mysterious killings of opposing individuals and prominent figures carried out by the military, the selling of the honor of this nation’s chaste women for wages and to please non-believers, and the mass killing of oppressed Muslims for the interests of disbelief. These are the very acts that such mercenary militias and groups committed in the past, and today they are being carried out by the Pakistani military in the name of Islam.
Interestingly, this military calls itself a pure, Muslim, and Islamic army. Its adherence to the outward principles and sacred slogans of the public is only meant to deceive the people outwardly while pursuing its own objectives inwardly. Throughout history, such mercenary militias have also used similar titles and slogans to protect themselves from public distrust and blame on the surface.
This very military has chosen such a name and emblem for its malice and wickedness, giving the appearance that it defends Islam, is a pure army, and a protector of the faith. Yet inwardly, it exemplifies the holy verse which says: “When they meet the believers they say, ‘We believe.’ But when alone with their evil associates they say, ‘We are definitely with you; we were only mocking.'” This is precisely the policy of the Pakistani military: outwardly, it proclaims friendship and support for Muslims, but inwardly, it betrays, kills, plunders, and sacrifices these same Muslims for the benefit of non-believers.
There are many more examples that prove these circles to be bloodthirsty toward Muslims: Operation Zarb-e-Azb against oppressed fellow citizens under their control; the daily bombings of the oppressed populations in the tribal and Pashtun regions; and mysterious massacres. The thousands of oppressed Muslims killed in Afghanistan and the tens of thousands more in Palestine—are these the actions of a pure army, a Muslim army, and an army defending Muslims, or are they the acts of enemies of Muslims who plunder and destroy their resources, lands, and sacred sites?
The people of Pakistan and Muslims around the world must recognize the true face of this military, which uses Islam and religion only as a slogan; in reality, inwardly it is a mercenary enemy of Islam and Muslims, pursuing the goals of disbelief through deceit, cunning, and hypocrisy.