Pakistan, terorism and the BBC

The BBC have been attacking David Cameron for daring to point out that elements connected with Pakistan's government have been involved in sponsoring terrorism. Part of the reason for the attack is the BBC's endless war on Conservative politicians but part is also due to the BBC's slavish adherence to the mantras 'Islam good, other religions bad' and 'Pakistan good, India bad' - I am sure you can see the connection between these two mantras.

The trouble with the BBC's indignation and reporting of the 'fury' at David Cameron's comments is that Pakistan and terrorism are as intertwined as the BBC and the Labour party. Here are just some examples, the first is one the BBC should remember as it comes from a 2006 Newsnight programme (my comments in italics):

'Key quotes from a leaked Ministry of Defence think-tank paper which alleges that Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI, has indirectly helped the Taleban and al-Qaeda and should be dismantled. The research paper was written by a senior officer at the MoD-run Defence Academy. The Ministry of Defence have responded that the views contained in it do not reflect the views of the MOD or the government. (not that the views are not correct just that they do not reflect MOD or government opinion)

...

"The Army's dual role in combating terrorism and at the same time promoting the MMA and so indirectly supporting the Taliban (through the ISI) is coming under closer and closer international scrutiny.

Pakistan is not currently stable but on the edge of chaos.

[The West has] turned a blind eye towards existing instability and the indirect protection of Al Qaeda and promotion of terrorism.

Indirectly Pakistan (through the ISI) has been supporting terrorism and extremism - whether in London on 7/7 or in Afghanistan or Iraq. The deaths of Britons on or under the streets of London is less important to the BBC than protecting the good name of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?

The US/UK cannot begin to turn the tide until they identify the real enemies from attacking ideas tactically - and seek to put in place a more just vision. This will require Pakistan to move away from Army rule and for the ISI to be dismantled and more significantly something to be put in its place."'That's the same ISI who the BBC were shocked to learn had cancelled a visit to London.

There is more evidence of Pakistan's involvement with terrorism: In a May 2009 interview with CBS' 60 Minutes, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said "to a certain extent, they play both sides." Gates and others suggest the ISI maintains links with groups like the Afghan Taliban as a "strategic hedge" to help Islamabad gain influence in Kabul once U.S. troops exit the region.


And what if the recent Wikileaks, the BBC have concentrated on the leaks that pertain to UK and US troops but the leaks also described the ISI's links to militant groups fighting U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan.

For more on Pakistan, Waziristan, Afghanistan, India and terrorism take a read of this Council on Foreign Relations document.


You might also like to consider Wikipedia's section on Pakistan on its State Sponsored Terrorism page:

'In July 2009, current President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari admitted that the Pakistani government had "created and nurtured" terrorist groups to achieve its short-term foreign policy goals. According to a analysis published by Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings Institution in 2008 Pakistan was the worlds 'most active' state sponsor of terrorism including aiding groups which were considered a direct threat to USA.'

Read the rest of that article and wonder why the BBC are so keen to report Pakistan's fury at being linked to terrorism.

The BBC's attacks on David Cameron are disingenuous at best and symptomatic of what should be a news reporting organisation having become a propaganda vehicle.