Volume 2, No. 12, December 2001

There are just wars and unjust wars. US imperialism’s war against Afghanistan, and threatened wars on Iraq, Somalia, and against so-called terrorists throughout the world are unjust wars. Wars for national liberation and peoples’ wars are just wars. There can be no enduring peace without eradicating the roots of war. Imperialism is the chief cause for wars — against the peoples of the world to protect their unjust exploitation and rule, and wars for the seizure of markets and sources of raw materials. And imperialism in crisis means more ruthless and ferocious wars by them. Such wars can only be ended or countered through civil wars. Pacifists, though well meaning in their opposition to war, do not understand the inner dynamics driving the imperialists to war. The anti-war movement must necessarily include not only all the peaceful opposition to it, but also the armed opposition to it.

The Sept.11 attacks have catalysed a new situation worldwide, which would anyhow have got precipitated sooner or later, on account of the deepening recession. War is the continuation of politics by other means. And politics is nothing but the concentrated expression of economics. So imperialist wars primarily serve economic interests. What was earlier attempted peacefully will now be sought to be achieved through war. The US has to teach a lesson to anyone who dares to oppose/attack its interests. These imperialists, right from the turn of the last century, have a notorious history of ruthlessness against any that dared oppose their loot and plunder. These much-touted ‘forces of civilisation’ have acted as the most uncivilized brutes history has ever seen. Quite naturally, those that dare attack their very citadels of power, have to be taught a proper lesson. The imperialists seek to destroy all opposition to it, first through bribery and attempts at buy it over; if this fails, to crush it by ruthless force. Where the former has failed, it has now embarked on the latter.

Besides, since 1992 the US has been seeking control of the gigantic oil and gas deposits of Central Asia and also of the means to transit it out. US oil giants have already invested billions in this potential gold mine. They have also been desperately seeking negotiations with the Taliban, as Afghanistan can provide the most economic and lucrative pipeline. But neither has worked out, resulting in the tying up of vast capital. Instability in Central Asia, caused by local wars instigated by the Russo-US conflict to gain control over the area, has prevented the development of oilfields already seized by US oil conglomerates (in which British petroleum is also involved). Negotiations with the Taliban, was finally put to an end after the 1998 missile strikes against it. Now, through the force of arms, the US may be able to achieve what it could not, for nearly a decade, through relatively peaceful (its attempts at destabalisation of pro-Moscow governments were not all that peaceful) means. With US forces stationed at Uzbekistan and the Georgian government (if it does not collapse — of late the pro-US president, Shevardnadze, had to sack his entire cabinet in the face of mass demonstrations) offering the US free military access, the US oil conglomerates visualize their dreams now turning into reality. And with the conquest of Afghanistan, Unocal can realize its dream of a pipeline that takes Central Asian deposits to the East.

But events are not proceeding as smoothly for the US, as it had thought. Not only is the war in Afghanistan not going according to plan, New York witnessed yet another plane crash in mid-November, right next to it main JFK airport. This took place while the UN General Assembly was in session, with numerous world leaders present in the city. This second attack, killing hundreds, in spite of all the massive security, once again in the heart of America, notwithstanding the administration’s cover-up that it was an accident, has sent the entire country into a state of panic. Besides, it is faced with worldwide demonstrations against the war, and is unable to cobble up the type of coalition it did even during the Iraq war. Worse still, on the battlefront, it faced unexpected reverses. Even the US’s plan not to immediately take Kabul until a proper coalition was manufactured, misfired with the Taliban systematically retreating to the mountains, the NA seized Kabul without firing a shot.

On the other hand, in South Asia, the situation is volcanic, about to explode. Musharraf’s total support to the US, has not only created a volatile situation with Pakistan, it has created total confusion in the Indian expansionist camp, which sought a South Asian monopoly for US favours, particularly vis-à-vis the ‘global fight against terrorism’. Competitive servility to the US is the hallmark of both the Indian and Pakistani rulers. Today Musharraf sits on a powder keg, which can explode any day. In India the BJP-led combine, also relatively isolated due to years of misrule, corruption and failed economic policies, is seeking a more aggressive posture — communalist hysteria and fascist attacks at home, coupled with anti-Pak war-mongering abroad, are part of its twin policies to cling on to power at all costs. The situation is so faught with danger that the US/Israel has planned a mafia-style commando action to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, in case the Musharraf government is overthrown. Pakistan has reportedly shifted its nuclear weaponry secretly to a new places, fearing an attack on it.

US in a Fix

Big bully US imperialism is beginning to look more and more foolish. After one months bombing of Afghanistan, the mightiest superpower in the world, is unable to conquer the poorest country in the world. It is only after a switch to mass destruction — through carpet bombing and cluster bombs — has it facilitated the Northern Alliance to seize Kabul. But, even this victory will be quixotic, as the Taliban will retreat to the mountains making it a living hell for the ‘new rulers’.For all its entire hi-tech military machine, its huge intelligence network and its assistance from a host of countries (particularly Pakistan, that had intricate knowledge of the Taliban), its miscalculations in the present war have made it look utterly ridiculous. In spite of the brave face put on by Bush and faithful, Blair, and in spite of banning broadcasts of the Al Jazera TV (and latter even bombing its broadcasting station in Kabul) and stopping the news handouts by the Taliban representative in Pakistan, it is unable to cover up its fiasco. The Bush Administration even had a meeting with Hollywood stars to plan the direction of anti-terrorist ‘entertainment’, resembling the World War II scenario when Hollywood became a wing of the government.

In the first month of bombing, since Oct.7, the US has spent $400 million on the war, conducted 1,600 air-strike sorties, and dropped roughly 6,000 bombs on Afghanistan. The cost of the war is expected to go up to $ 1 billion a month. The entire world has been astounded by the cruelty of this attack, on a country already devastated by two decades of strife with about one-third of its population (7 to 8 million) on the brink of starvation.

Not only have military targets been hit, but also vast civic amenities have been consciously bombed. Oil storage tanks, power stations, dams, hospitals, food depots, foreign assistance centers, etc. have all been specifically targeted. The largest dam in the country and the biggest power station were bombed. A hospital was bombed in Herat causing 100 fatilities. Also an old peoples home was hit. The warehouse of the International committee of the Red Cross was bombed, as was that of the World Food Programme, which stored essential relief material. More than 5 million Afghan citizens now require humanitarian assistance, including 3.8 million who were, prior to the hostilities, entirely dependent on UN-delivered food. Not only that, the use of the cluster bomb — a weapon known for its record of indiscriminate killing and maiming —for mass murder, shows the extent of US ruthlessness. This, together with the replacement of targeted bombing with the B-52 carpet bombing — described as a crude weapon of a frustrated bully — has resulted in mass destruction, killing and maiming hundreds and thousands. And in a show of mock sympathy, food packets have been dropped from the skies — packets, that contain American-style food, that resemble the cluster bombs that were also strewn from the skies.

Yet, in a full month after the bombing the Taliban did not collapse, as was expected. Nor have they been able to develop a pro-West faction from within it, notwithstanding the services of both Pakistan and the king’s emissaries. In fact, it is the reverse. It is the US that has been facing setback after setback.

For example, the high profile ex-General, Abdul Haq, was caught, while trying to foment discontent in Taliban areas. He and his group of commandos were forthwith assassinated. This king’s emissary was to be a key player on behalf of the US, to win over Pashtun sections of the population, which are enblock with the Taliban. Also another key Pashtun infiltrator, Hamid Karzai, nearly met the same fate — while all his accomplices were caught and executed, US helicopters managed to rescue their chief. But the worst fiasco was faced by the US themselves when they airdropped crack commandos, as the first ground troops to enter Afghanistan. on Oct.20, these Delta Force Soldiers came under intense fire from the Taliban. They just managed to escape, after facing severe casualties and one helicopter destroyed. In this failed operation 12 commandos were injured, three seriously. Though the US has sought to cover up this disaster, with systematic disinformation, the facts have filtered out.

With these failed attempts the US had no alternative but to depend on the Northern Alliance for its ground attacks. After Oct.20 the US doubled the number of operatives working with the NA. Also, after the first fortnight, targeted bombing was replaced by carpet-bombing. But here too, problems arose, as there are competing interests amongst its 13 constituents. The US sought to bolster the influence of the Uzbeck warlord, Dostum, with military intelligence officers secretly meeting him and pumping him with a huge $50 million. When the Tajik leaders of the NA (who are closer to Moscow) got information on these deals, they held back on their joint offence on Mazar-e-Sharief. In spite of all the US assistance, Russian weaponry, and US carpet-bombing of forward Taiban positions, the NA found it difficult to even capture a town like Mazar-e-Sherief, with a non-Pashtun population. Finally, some major cities have been taken by the NA, but no one is sure where and when the Taliban will hit back through guerrilla warfare.

Having taken Kabul, on the very first night the NA looted millions of dollars from the money markets, and robbed shops and houses in the city. The Italy-based king has already complained that the capture of Kabul was a breach of agreement earlier reached. In fact, the capture of Kabul is likely to create more problems than it solves. With the Taliban forces mostly intact, due to an organized retreat, and with the Alliance likely to once again fall into enticenine battles over the loot, the Americans are planning a ‘Peacekeeping’ force. But fearful of participating in a ground war, it plans to send Turkish, Bangladeshi and other Muslims to face the brunt of the Taliban guerrilla war.

Even the post-Taliban dispensation is proving to be a nightmare, with no alternative in sight. Like vultures waiting to prey on the dead, a host of foreign powers are seeking to decide Afghanistan’s future. Pakistan does not want the NA; Russia and India do not want any section of the Taliban; and India is sulking as it has been left out of the 6+2 formula (six neighbours plus the US & Russia) to decide the future. As no alternative is in sight many are trying to cobble together a front headed by the 86 year-old Italy-based king, a willing tool of the West. They are seeking to revive the 250 year-old Loya Jigra — the Grand Council of tribal, religious and ethnic leaders — to decide the future of Afghanistan. But, till now, they are unable to see who can constitute this ‘Grand Council’. Then they have their pet option of a Kosovo/East Timor type protectorate, with so-called peacekeeping forces. They already have their UN ‘special envoy’, Lakhdar Brahmini, snooping around the area. Seeing the inability of the ‘Coalition’ to dislodge the Taliban he has suggested dividing Afghanistan, with the Taliban holding the southern part and a UN-sponsored administration controlling the rest. The US is already pushing for a major role of (Muslim) Turkish peacekeeping forces, either through the UN or independently. The Turkish armed forces are already operating in Afghanistan, as they have expertise in tackling the counter-insurgencies of the Maoists and the then PKK of Turkey. But, a UN alternative is also fraught with dangers, as Afghanistan is no Kosovo or East Timor. Any foreign force will have to face continuous guerrilla warfare, turning their existence into a nightmare. That is why the US is not suggesting a NATO force, and would rather use third world forces as cannon fodder in the proposed peacekeeping. Even after capturing Mazar-e-Sharief, the US instructed the NA not to march on Kabul as they, as yet, have no alternative to put in place.

So, in Afghanistan the US is in a deep fix, caught in a maze of its own creation. No doubt, something will be worked out, but the stability of any new formation is unlikely. Now if we turn to the ‘international coalition’, things are not so cordial there as well.

Further Cracks in the Coalition

While the ruling classes of most countries of the world have supported the war against terrorism, as most are threatened by discontent within their own country, there is less support for the war against Afghanistan. Most Muslim countries have opposed it. Those that have supported have done so under coercion, calling for a quick end to the bombing — specifically before the onset of Ramzan from Nov.17. Iran, that earlier supported, later opposed. Most of the rulers of these Muslim countries fear the masses of their respective countries, as opposition to the US is reaching a crescendo. And as the war drags on, with reports of more and more civilian casualties (already reached an estimated 1,600), and deaths due to starvation and exposure to cold, anger throughout the world is bound to rise. The US’s bombing of civic amenities and food stocks have compounded the humanitarian disaster, which no amount of food packets dropped from the skies can hide. Blair’s visit to the Middle East in early November shows the extent of hostility there.

At his first stop in Syria he was publicly insulted by president Assad. At a joint press conference, with Blair looking on, Assad bluntly stated: that the country’s support for terrorism should not be confused with what is going on in Afghanistan, and that the bombing of innocent civilians was unacceptable. He further accused the West for not regarding Israeli violence as terrorism. Even the once servile royal family of Saudi Arabia (a country in which support for Bin Laden is near total), informed Blair on his first visit to the Middle East, that he was not welcome. Also the Crown Prince Abdullah has refused to travel to Washington despite repeated invitations by the Bush administration. Lately, in the light of attacks on Saudi Arabians in the USA (the US say 14 of the 19 suicide team that crashed into the WTC and Pentagon were Saudis), he called upon all Saudis to leave America and settle elsewhere.

Lately the ASEAN countries, which held a meeting in end October, did not so much as mention Afghanistan, though it did condemn terrorism. Malaysia and Indonesia, which have been critical of the military operations, did not favour an ASEAN+3 (i.e. together with Japan, China & S. Korea) joint statement on terrorism, and have been most vocal in their opposition to US aggression to Afghanistan.

And as for the major imperialist powers, while all have supported the US war on Afghanistan, most of its chief competitors are seeking to utilise US problems to further their own goals. The EU is divided in the extent of the support to be rendered, and some have reluctantly agreed to send ground troops. The big three of the EU, have been hectically involved in international diplomacy - Britain, on behalf of the US, while France and Germany have sought to utilize the occasion to promote their own imperialist interests. But, US brazenness has been so crude under the Bush dispensation that even faithful Britain has, of late, developed contradictions with their mentor. There is concern on both the military and diplomatic fronts — over the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the need to recognize a Palestine State; on extending the war to Iraq; on the bombing strategy and the necessity to consider a pause during the month of Ramzan; on the insufficient focus on the humanitarian crisis; and on the perceived lack of consultation with US’s allies. Though most EU countries have voiced these views, this was also stated by Britain after his latest visit to the Middle East.

Yet, in a growing militarist role of the imperialist powers in general, for the first time since World War II, Germany has agreed to send troops outside of Europe — 3,900 land forces to Afghanistan; and Japan has, for the first time, sent warship outside its own waters — to the Indian Ocean, to provide logistic (non-combat) support to US forces.

The imperialist country most affected by the Afghan events is Russia, with US military forces establishing bases in its own backyard. Due to its links with the Northern Alliance, though it has important leverage in Afghanistan, on which even to US is forced to rely, the NA is an incompetent mercenary rag-tag force, driven by factions, which can switch sides overnight, depending on the highest bidder. Not only has Uzbekistan provided major military bases to the US Air Force, but pro-Moscow Tajikastan agreed to US’s request for three air bases, during the US defence secretary’s recent visit to the region. To compound matters the US is also considering other neighbouring Central Asian countries, including Kyraghastan and Kazakhistan as springboards for operations. Cornered, it is no wonder that Putin has been considering cozying up to NATO and seeking some compromise with America on the NMD.

China, like all the other reactionary rulers, has supported the US’s war on terrorism, even agreeing to share intelligence with it, but has called for the quick end to the war in Afghanistan. It is the only country that is, as yet, the least hit with the worldwide recession, acting therefore as an important market in a situation of all-round gloom. No wonder it has been the only country visited by Bush after the Sept.11 events, with all heckling of ‘human rights violations’ suddenly forgotten.

Leap in Fascist measures Worldwide

In his very address to the UN General Assembly Bush openly called on all governments in the world to introduce anti-terrorist legislations and get tough on terrorists worldwide.

Since Sept.11 most countries have resorted to increasing fascist measures, all in the name of anti-terrorism. Faced with a worldwide recession and growing discontent of the masses in their respective countries, these measures are being used to stifle any outbreaks of discontent. These fascist measures consist of the standard admix of: hysterical xenophobia and jingoism against a community (in the West against all non-white immigrants in general, and against Muslims in particular); fascist legislations curbing civil liberties and democratic rights; a gigantic leap in surveillance utilising hi-tech capabilities developed by modern science; and resorting to war-mongering. Not surprisingly, in the forefront of these measures have been the US and Britain.

In both the US and Britain a hysteria has been whipped up against so-called terrorists in general and against Muslims in particular, by the very ruling establishment itself and their mainline media — e.g. CNN in the US, and the Tabloid Press in Britain.

In America there has been a systematic attempt to create a fear psychosis in order to legitimise their various fascist steps. First was the anthrax scare, which they now say is the creation of a single person — that too, a US citizen. At first the blame was put on Iraq, then the Al-Queda network, etc. The fact is that the strain of anthrax appearing in the post was that developed in American laboratories in the 1960s, and distributed to their favourites for germ warfare; particularly to Saddam Hussein during the Iraq-Iran war. This has been followed by a number of new scares from smallpox to nuclear attacks. The administration has themselves been harassing and humiliating all non-whites, including those of Indian origin, in the name of increased checks. A large number of Arabs (US citizens) and even Sikhs have been attacked by white fascist gangs. Some have even been murdered, with the administration looking the other way. Over 1000 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. The US has passed anti-terrorist legislations, which gives an open hand to the police for surveillance and detention. Immigration laws have been tightened. The Anti-terrorist Bill, signed by Bush on Oct.26 has significantly expanded the wiretapping and surveillance authority of the FBI and sets stiffer penalties for harbouring and financing ‘terrorists’. They have already frozen a large number of bank account suspected to be linked with the organizations put on their banned list.

Britain, which has been faced with growing discontent, much of it violent, since the past few years (this, aside from the armed struggle of the IRA) has gone on a high pitch against so-called terrorism. It has extracted a 650-year-old treason law to deter British Muslims from going to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban. Since Sept.11 the British government has issued four lists banning organizations and freezing their accounts and assets. These include not only the Islamic organizations, like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, but also nationality and revolutionary organizations like the PLFP of Palestine, the ETA of Spain, the LTTE of Sri Lanka, the PCP (Shining Path) of Peru, and the FARC of Colombia. They also banned the Babbar Khalsa and the International Sikh Youth Federation. The amounts frozen in the bank accounts alone amount to over $130 million. On Nov.12 Britain was placed under a state of "public emergency, to enable internment without trial of suspected terrorists and foreign nationals". It is also due to pass an anti-terrorist legislation soon.

In Europe security, immigration and asylum laws were changed and made more stringent. Accounts of ‘terrorist’ organizations were being frozen. In end October, Germany finalized controversial security measures to crack down on ‘terrorism’, and decided to introduce hi-tech measures like introducing biometric data in identity cards.

Besides these measures in the developed countries, even in the backward countries of the world, which already have only nominal rights, laws have been tightened even further (as in India), to clamp down on growing discontent against their reactionary rule. So, for example, all the ASEAN countries have come out vehemently against all forms of ‘terrorism’. Those faced with insurgencies, like the Philippines, has gone so far as to invite US military advisors, which has been promptly met by the Bush administration. Admiral Blair, head of the American Pacific Command said " the US is increasing efforts to help the Philippines defeat the Abu Sayyaf group, and has increased dialogue with their armed forces and security services to deal with terrorists". No doubt, this training will also be directed at the Maoist guerrillas also fighting in that country. The Indonesian government, while opposing aggression on Afghanistan, has issued a presidential decree against terrorism, which will allow the government to access bank accounts of individuals and groups believed to have links with terrorists.

These fascistic policies were to be seen not only in the individual countries, but also in such ‘apolitical’ forums as the disbursement of Nobel prizes. The prize for literature was given to that arch reactionary and anti-Islamic fanatic, V.S.Naipaul. For Naipaul, Islam is the worst thing that has happened to mankind. The results of this articulation of prejudice and ignorance on a scale unimaginable of a ‘famous’ writer is to be seen in two books on the subject — ‘Among the Believers’ and ‘Beyond Belief’. Of late, this man has been in India ‘researching’ to write a book on terrorism in India. As he outdoes the Sangh Parivar in his fanaticism, one can well imagine the product of his ‘research’. The Peace prize was given to Kofi Annan, which has, of late, a notorious record of supporting all US aggressions in Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, and acting to cover up for all the crimes of the imperialists, under the signboard of the ‘international community’. Today too, while calling for an international front against terrorism, and condoning US bombing on Afghanistan, it seeks to whitewash these inhuman crimes with calls for humanitarian aid.

So, after Sept.11, fascism and reaction, which was anyhow on the upswing, received a big shot in the arm. The growing worldwide recession and the mass discontent that will result, will only enhance the tide of this monster, if it is not effectively fought back by the worlds’ people.

The South Asian Cauldron

The Indian rulers have only one fanatical obsession — to push out Pakistan from the international coalition against terrorism, and be the US’s chief arm in South Asia. They are livid with anger that, after all their servility to the US over the last few years, after totally prostrating before Clinton and his gang, after having nearly won the battle in competitive slavishness vis-à-vis Pakistan, the US (and allies) can treat Pakistan as a frontline State in the battle against terrorism (even if temporarily) and India as a barking puppy to placate with nice words. Not only that, this once defiled ‘military dictator’, Musharraf, has overnight become the West’s greatest friend, to be wined and dined and propped up with huge amounts of aid. The problem with our saffron-clad rulers is that they are myopic and sometimes get carried away with their own demagogy. They fail to realize that imperialists have no permanent friends, only interests. For the present, Pakistan was absolutely essential in its battle against its immediate enemy. As long as it serves them, they will use him, and then they will, if necessary, discard him like a worn-out shoe. They did that with Saddam.

It is only through Pakistan that the US could get into the Taliban’s inner workings; it is only through a Musharraf-led Pakistan that an anti-US Islamic regime can be prevented from coming to power, upsetting the entire US apple-cart in the region; it is with Pakistan on its side that it can show to a hostile Muslim world that Islamic States (and that too frontline ones) support its war on Afghanistan; and it is only through Pakistan that the US military has access from the south, to launch its war against Afghanistan, utilizing both its land bases and air corridor.

Besides, whatever the compulsions and pressures, Musharraf has ultimately cooperated with the US on a scale unimaginable, even at the cost of instigating a revolt against himself, by the fundamentalists in the country. In such conditions, for the US to play to India’s demands, of isolating Pakistan, would be suicidal. It would lead to the destabilisation of the present government, with the Islamic fundamentalists taking over. When America is having problems defeating such an ill-equipped force as the Taliban, it could well be a nightmare to see nuclear weapons and sophisticated weaponry falling into fundamentalist’s hands in Pakistan. Of course, such a scenario is ideal for the Indian rulers as the US would have to then totally depend on India, and it could achieve its goal as America’s little Israel in South Asia. America would be forced into dependence on India, and the Indian rulers would willingly do the US’s dirty work of displacing such a regime in Pakistan through war. Anyhow India is itching for a war in the name of ending cross-border terrorism.

So there are only interests no principles for all these reactionaries. There are US interests in South Asia; there are Indian expansionist interests here. If they fully coincide they will gang up; if there are any contradictions, the US will go it own way, the Indian rulers must oblige or continue to wail. In the immediate sense, Pakistan is an absolute necessity to US plans; so it has to try and humour India while utilizing Pakistan. Anyhow, India’s continuous saber rattling is useful to keep the pressure on Pakistan to toe the US line completely.

The Musharraf clique’s collaboration with the US is unprecedented. It has stabbed the Taliban in the back — an organization that was nurtured, trained and equipped by Pakistan itself. It has ruthlessly dismissed senior military personnel and even the ISI chief, who were thought to be unreliable and close to the Taliban. It arrested, tortured and interrogated three top nuclear scientists, including the ex-chief of the PAEC (Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission). The authorities went so far at to hand over these scientists to the American FBI for interrogation. They were suspected to have links with the Taliban and Laden. The Pak government has come down heavily on all opposition to movements against US aggression on Afghanistan and their government’s support to it. They have arrested most opposition leaders. They have, either secretly or openly, given all support to the US in its war on Afghanistan — not only detailed information it had on the inner details of the Taliban’s military, but also the use of its land and air bases for launching attacks. It has continued this support even in the face of gigantic opposition within the country to the war. Under instructions from the US, they have curtailed the news briefings of Taliban ambassador, Zaeef.

For this collaboration with the West, it has been heavily rewarded. At Musharraf’s meeting with Bush during the UN General Assembly, he was offered a $1 billion aid package. Soon after Musharraf ganged up with the US war effort it was immediately granted $100 million. The US also rescheduled the $379 million repayment due on the Pakistani debt. It is also planning to work out a larger relief package on its $3 billion debt. It has also granted $73 million to Pak as emergency aid to strengthen security at its porous Afghan borders. Britain has already announced a 3-year loan of $152 million and is also writing off Pakistan’s $32 million debt to the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Japan and Canada have also rescheduled repayment on their dues of $550 million and $288 million respectively. The US and Britain are also promoting a Paris Club rescheduling of Pakistan’s total external debt of $28 billion. In addition, the World Bank announced a $300 million credit to Pakistan for its reform of the banking sector, while the IMF is considering a massive $1 billion to $2.5 billion poverty reduction & growth loan, at nominal interest. Pakistan has also been offered an aid programme worth some $500 million to cope with the Afghan refugees. Also the UAE has agreed to provide $265 million financial assistance, at a 2% interest rate, for four different hydroelectric projects.

But what has hit India the most is the huge bonanza given by the EU and the US to Pakistan’s textile exports. In mid-October the European Commission agreed to remove all tariffs on Pakistani clothing and increased its quota for textile and clothing exports by 15% (till 2004). The US has also announced concessions. This will badly affect Indian textile exports, which were already down by 17% in the April to July period of this year. India has been unsuccessfully clamouring for years for a reduction in tariffs and increase in quotas on what is India’s largest item of exports.

Now if we turn to India, we find the rulers thrown totally off balance by the extent of the Pak capitulation to the US. After being the first country to offer the US the use of Indian territory for its war, and after having been one of the only countries in the world to have supported the US’s NMD programme, it expected to be the front runner in the US’s war in this region. Not only has it not been given its reward for its servility, it feels betrayed that what it considers as the world’s number one terrorist state, Pakistan, has become a frontline state in the anti-terrorist coalition. Besides, even in the post-Taliban dispensation, it has been begging for a say, but has been ignored by, not only the US but also Russia. It lobbied hard to extend the 6+2 proposal to decide the future of Afghanistan, but to no affect. To pose as a big brother in the region it even pompously declared a Rs.100 crore rehabilitation assistance package for Afghanistan (surprising, when it cannot give a fraction of that amount to the drought affected within India, as rehabilitation).

The Indian ruler’s repeated call to the US that terrorism is a worldwide phenomena and should not be restricted to only Afghanistan, is music to the US ears, as it amounts to an open invitation to the US to intervene in any country in the name of fighting terrorism. This is just as the US imperialists want it, and also what they plan for the future. The Indian rulers too know it, but they repeat it, not only to bring focus on Pakistan, but also to curry favour with the US. It has willingly accepted any of the demands of the US. It allowed the re-fueling of an American warplane at Delhi and the docking of a warship at Chennai.

In the wake of the Sept.11 events, the BJP-led government has taken a number of measures to promote its expansionist policies in the name of international fight against terrorism. These are:

Besides, the government has gone on a three-point offensive: aggressive posturing for war (hot pursuit) with Pakistan; a high profile campaign to whip up communalism throughout the country; and increasing fascist measures like POTO and the stepped up brutal killings in Kashmir. Hindutva fundamentalism, big nation chauvinism and Indian expansionism are the poisonous gruel that nourishes the Sangh Parivar.

With the coming to power of the BNP, it has also been whipping up anti-Bangladeshi sentiments within the country. While turning a blind eye to the attacks on people of Indian origin in America, it is seeking to whip up hysteria against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. For the saffron brigade, to be lynched by whites is acceptable, but not by Muslims. Just as US imperialism has created hatred for itself throughout the world, Indian expansionism has created hatred throughout the sub-continent.

The war in Afghanistan, the likely destabilization of the rule in Pakistan, and India’s aggressive war designs are a potent mix to create an explosion in the sub-continent. With the proliferation of nuclear weapons this becomes all the more lethal.

Worldwide Upsurge Against War

While the rulers of all countries are engaged in hectic discussions and planning against ‘terrorism’, the people of all countries are coming out in thousands against the US’s war. The anti-war tempo, reported in the last issue of the magazine, continues unabated. While it is the strongest in all the Islamic countries, it has also picked up momentum in all other countries o the world.

In mid-October Italy witnessed the biggest demonstration of its kind in over one decade, when roughly 3 lakh people staged a peace march from the city of Perugia to Assisi. All along the 24km stretch, the marchers shouted slogans and chanted anti-war songs against the US/British strikes against Afghanistan. Not even during the Gulf war, or the one in Kosovo did the peace march attract so many. The march took place on the same day, as the right-wing Prime Minister, Berlusconi, was to meet Bush in Washington. There have also been huge demonstrations, not only in Paris, Berlin and London, but also in smaller towns throughout Europe and America. Not only is there strong opposition to the war, but also public opinion generally has been changing, even in a country like Britain. BBC’s Channel IV discovered that of the participants in its programme 51% opposed the war. In Europe the figure is much higher. Even a section of the ruling Labour party in Britain, and the Greens in the ruling coalition in Germany, have opposed he war. In Italy the opposition social democrats, including the recently defeated Prime Ministerial candidate, participated in the historic march.

In West Asia the intefada refuses to die down, even though in the one-year to October 2001, 565 Palestinians have been killed and another 15,000 wounded. This is despite a Palestinian Authority order that fire is not to be directed at Israelis even when the Israeli side shoots first.

In Pakistan there have been huge militant demonstrations, not only in the border towns with Afghanistan, but throughout the country. Many have been killed in police firing, while thousands have been arrested. Similar militant demonstrations have been seen in all Muslim countries from Indonesia in the East to the Middle East in the West.

In a separate report in this issue we also see the rise of anti-war movements within India, even though they are being brutally crushed by the government.

The growth of the anti-war movement must evolve into a vast upsurge against imperialism, and particularly US imperialism. It must target not only the imperialists, but also more specifically their comprador agents within the country, whose support is essential for their continued existence throughout the world. And if the imperialists and their agents dare unleash a war against a neighbouring country the people of the two countries, instead of fighting each other, should turn their guns on their own rulers and turn the reactionary war into a just war for liberation. And if the US imperialists dare to directly aggress on any country, as in Afghanistan, in the name of fighting terrorism, then the entire country should unite to kick the US out, and to crush their collaborators within the country.

Nov.15, 2001

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