- 10 months ago
This edition of India First details the collapse of the Afghanistan-Pakistan peace talks, marked by Taliban threats to bomb Islamabad and a spike in tensions along the 2,600 kilometer long Durand Line.
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00:00Good evening, the Afghanistan-Pakistan peace talks have collapsed.
00:04The Taliban have now threatened to bomb Islamabad if Pakistan violates Afghanistan's airspace.
00:11There's a spike in tensions along the 2600 km long Durand line.
00:16The Pakistan army is now regularly and routinely being targeted both in Khaybar Paktun Kwa and in Balochistan.
00:25But the sting is in the tail with the Taliban, the TTP and not the TTA.
00:32The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is now telling the Tehreek-e-Labbaik.
00:37Tehreek-e-Labbaik is based in southern Pakistan Punjab province.
00:41They're telling the T-T-Labbaik, Tehreek-e-Labbaik to pick up arms in Pakistan's Punjab province against the Pakistani state.
00:49So, is Pakistan now set to bleed on all fronts?
01:03Taliban threatens to bomb Islamabad.
01:11Afghan-Pakistan peace talks collapse.
01:19Pakistan defense minister threatens an all-out war.
01:24Taliban declares open season on Pakistani forces.
01:38Taliban authorities suites in Pakistan,
01:42and Taliban
01:43irges the Tehreek-e-Labbaik to rise against the Pakistani forces.
01:51Pakistan.
01:52Pakistan.
01:53Pakistan.
01:53Pakistan.
01:55Pakistan.
01:56Pakistan.
01:58Pakistan.
02:00Pakistan.
02:02Pakistan's two-and-a-half front war is our top focus on India fund.
02:08There's an old saying, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
02:15And Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir is now all set to pay a very heavy price
02:20for that lunch that he had at the White House.
02:22And the price is the blood of Pakistanis.
02:26Why?
02:26Because during the peace talks, Afghans were taken aback
02:30when Pakistan spoke of a deal with a third country
02:33for the use of their airspace to target terror.
02:36So what's the price of that free lunch?
02:40Airbases and overflight for US assets in Pakistan.
02:45The strategic depth that Pakistan lost in Afghanistan.
02:48And that's where I shift to the other big story we're tracking here on India first.
02:53The strategic depth.
02:54Pakistan has lost Afghanistan.
02:56But is it hoping to gain that in Bangladesh?
02:59There are top Pakistan army officers in Bangladesh,
03:01as is Lashkar-e-Taiba, a close confidant of Hafiz Mohammed Said.
03:07And the preacher of hate, Zakir Naik.
03:10Zakir Naik is all set to receive red carpet treatment in Dhaka.
03:15Naik is a fugitive from law in India.
03:18We get you details at 8.30 tonight.
03:20I'm Gaurav Savant.
03:21As always, let's get started with the headlines on India first.
03:25Delhi gets cloud therapy, second cloud seeding trial conducted in parts of New Delhi.
03:36But citizens yet to witness the first ever artificial rain in the national capital.
03:42In Bihar, the Mahagadbandhan released their manifesto.
03:52Tejasvi Yadav pledges to scrap the VAKF Amendment Act.
03:57In Bihar, if elected to power, BJP scoffs at the MGP poll promise, calls it unconstitutional.
04:04Union Minister Chirag Paswan declares Nitish Kumar as NDS chief ministerial face,
04:16says MLAs will vote for Nitish Kumar as chief minister of Bihar.
04:21Politics escalates over the beginning of pan-India.
04:31Special intensive revision of the voter list.
04:34DMK, TMC and the left bring down heavy fire on the election commission and the BJP.
04:39Call it a move to delete voters who do not support the BJP.
04:43Cyclone Montha strikes east coast as the process of landfall begins.
04:55Severe cyclonic storm warning issued.
04:57Andhra Pradesh or Isha brace for the impact.
05:00Wind speeds touch up to 110 km per hour.
05:13Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of sabotaging the peace negotiations.
05:28They have threatened to target Islamabad next time their airspace is violated
05:32or cities like Kabul and Kandahar are targeted.
05:35Even the Qatari and the Turkish interlocutors were taken aback
05:39by tensions between the Taliban and their erstwhile benefactors, Pakistan.
05:46There were multiple points of tension, multiple points of friction,
05:49including U.S. having access to Pakistani air bases and airspace
05:53to launch strikes across the border into Afghanistan.
05:57Now, will this lead to that 2,600 km long Durand line once again being set on fire?
06:03And are tensions flaring up even inside Pakistan,
06:08whether it's in Khaybar, Pakhtoonghua and Balochistan
06:11with a threat of this fire now threatening to singe parts of Pakistan's Punjab province.
06:18Massive escalation in Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions
06:44with Kabul threatening to bomb Islamabad if Afghan airspace was violated by Pakistan again.
06:52A threat that has sent a chill down Pakistan's spine,
06:56especially after Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir's free lunch at the White House with Donald Trump.
07:04Sources in the negotiations told Afghanistan's Tulu News
07:07that Pakistani negotiators wanted Afghanistan to cooperate with a third country
07:12using their airspace for drone and fighters to bomb terror camps.
07:20Sources say Taliban had specifically asked Pakistan to stop the violation
07:25of its airspace either by Pakistan or any other party.
07:29But Pakistan categorically refused, citing a prior promise made to a third country,
07:36the United States of America.
07:38Afghanistan was taken aback and refused.
07:42Earlier, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif
07:44had threatened Afghanistan with an all-out war
07:47if a peace agreement was not inked.
08:00Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of inappropriate behaviour
08:03and not being sincere about peace during negotiations.
08:08Kabul claims it promised it will not let its territory to be used for terror
08:13against any country, but is reported to have refused a written commitment.
08:22Afghanistan has demonstrated over the past four years
08:24that its territory will not be used against others.
08:27It remains committed to the policy that Afghan territory is not
08:30and will not be used to threaten or harm others.
08:33Pakistan-based Tahririk-e-Taliban up the ante calling on radical Islamist outfit
08:43Tahririk-e-Labek to take up arms against the Pakistani forces
08:47in the southern part of Pakistan's Punjab province.
08:51For Pakistan, that is still to recover from India striking nine terror bases
09:09including Mureed Ken Bahawalpur, six radar stations including Pasroor
09:14and Malir contornment at Karachi and 11 air bases
09:18including Noor Khan, Sargoda, Jacobabad and Raheem Yarkhan.
09:23Trouble is only mounting along multiple fronts
09:27including the AFPAC border and inside
09:30in Khaybar, Pakhtoonghua, Balochistan
09:33and possibly in the southern Punjab province.
09:37Is Pakistan geared up for a two-and-a-half front war?
09:43Bureau Report, India Today.
09:47So, on the 25th, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asaf told reporters
09:51failure to reach an agreement during talks in Istanbul
09:54would mean an open war.
09:57Today, Taliban made it clear
09:59any attack by Pakistan would result in the targeting of Islamabad.
10:03Is Pakistan's Western Front actually now becoming its Achilles heel?
10:09Is Pakistan bleeding from multiple wounds along the LOC?
10:13Remember what happened on the 10th of May
10:14and even subsequently including at Lipa Valley
10:17it's burning and facing trouble along the Durand Line
10:22inside Khaybar, Pakhtoonghua, in Balochistan
10:24and now you heard the TTP, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander
10:29asking the Tehrik-e-Labbeq
10:31Remember, several Tehrik-e-Labbeq activists were butchered
10:34by the Pakistani security forces
10:36in Pakistan's Punjab province
10:38in Lahore and Muridke.
10:39So, they're asking the TLP to take up arms
10:42against the Pakistani state.
10:44Now, I have the finest experts
10:46joining me on this broadcast
10:48and these are analysts who've dealt
10:50with this region for decades.
10:53Joining me on India First
10:55is Tilak Devesha, author, former member of the National Security Advisory Board
11:00was Special Secretary at the Research and Analysis Wing
11:04Ambassador Vivek Karju
11:05our former ambassador to Afghanistan
11:07for a very long time
11:09was handling the Pakistan-Afghanistan and Iran desk
11:12Sushant Sareen
11:13is a very well-respected Pakistan-Afghanistan
11:15watcher, senior fellow
11:17at the Observer Research Foundation
11:18In a moment, we also hope to be joined
11:21by John Rosmendo
11:23geopolitical and national security strategist
11:25from Washington DC
11:26and Daniel Block
11:27senior editor of foreign affairs
11:30magazine from New York
11:31will join us on this broadcast
11:33So, let me begin
11:34by asking you, Mr. Devashir
11:36your assessment of Taliban
11:38saying next time
11:39they are targeted
11:41Islamabad will be hit
11:43Is this a very serious threat
11:45from Afghanistan
11:46to Pakistan?
11:48Are they taking this battle
11:49right into the heart of the enemy camp?
11:51Or are these just empty words?
11:54Thank you, Gaurav
11:55for having me on your show
11:56and grieving to fellow panelists
11:59No, I think Pakistan should take this very seriously
12:01You see, when the Taliban says
12:04they will bomb Islamabad
12:05they are not talking about
12:08aerial bombing
12:09They are talking about suicide bombers
12:12You see, the only defense
12:14that the Taliban have against air attacks
12:16In fact, during the
12:18when the US was in Afghanistan
12:20the only defense that they had against drones
12:23was the suicide bomber
12:26And by different accounts
12:29Taliban has over 5,000
12:30suicide bombers
12:32So, I would
12:34if I were a Pakistani
12:35policy maker
12:37I would be very, very careful
12:39of how you deal with the Taliban
12:41You know, these
12:43vague comments
12:44by Khwaja Asef
12:45of open war
12:46He doesn't know
12:47what he is talking about
12:48and the kind of repercussions
12:50and the blowback
12:51that Pakistan will have to face
12:53if they try and
12:55you know, mess around with the Taliban
12:57and I am shocked really
12:58You know, people suspected
13:00that the Americans had bases
13:01in Pakistan
13:03but this is an open admission
13:05in Istanbul
13:06and Pakistan says
13:08we can do nothing about it
13:09We have an agreement
13:10with the third country
13:11and the third country
13:12can go and bomb Afghanistan
13:14at will
13:14I mean, I think
13:16this is fairly absurd
13:17You know, that
13:18you are not in control
13:20You are not sovereign anymore
13:21You don't have control
13:23over your own air bases
13:24You can't control
13:25what the US is doing
13:27in
13:27or going to do
13:28in Afghanistan
13:29and you expect
13:30expect the Taliban
13:32will just sit back
13:33and take it lying down
13:34Ambassador Karju
13:36is that also
13:37your assessment
13:38you know
13:39the Pakistani
13:40Punjabi leadership
13:41are they reading
13:42the Pashtuns
13:43on both sides
13:44of the Durant line
13:45very
13:46are they reading them wrong
13:48is Afghanistan
13:49indicating that
13:49they are not a proxy
13:50of Pakistan's ISI
13:52this is
13:53is this posturing
13:54or is this very very
13:55is this a serious threat
13:56to Rawalpindi
13:57I think
14:01Taliban
14:02never have been
14:04Pakistani proxies
14:05that is what
14:06they were indicating
14:07to us
14:08for decades
14:09ever since
14:10they came up
14:11but there were
14:13compulsions
14:14that we had
14:15and that
14:16led us
14:17to follow
14:19a certain
14:19policy course
14:20in Afghanistan
14:21which I think
14:22was correct
14:23at that stage
14:24today
14:26I agree
14:27with
14:28the luck
14:29that if
14:29I was a policymaker
14:31in Islamabad
14:32I would be
14:33worried
14:33question is
14:35how worried
14:37should I be
14:37one
14:38yes of course
14:41the Taliban
14:41have instruments
14:43to the TTP
14:45to cause
14:46trouble
14:46is far more
14:52than it is
14:54in Punjab
14:55second
14:56I
14:57the theological
14:59differences
15:00between
15:00the Afghan
15:02Taliban
15:02and the TTP
15:04as well as
15:05the
15:05are very
15:06deep
15:07therefore
15:08I do not
15:10think
15:10I think
15:11these things
15:11have to be
15:12analysed
15:12soberly
15:13so I
15:14therefore
15:15I do not
15:16think
15:16that
15:17it is a
15:18given
15:18that
15:19Lebek
15:19will
15:20listen
15:21to the
15:22TTP
15:22and rise
15:23up
15:23against
15:23the
15:24Pakistan
15:24state
15:25despite
15:26all the
15:27troubles
15:29between
15:29the
15:30Lebek
15:30and the
15:31Pakistan
15:31state
15:32especially
15:32Pakistan
15:33security
15:34forces
15:34that is
15:34something
15:35that we
15:35will have
15:36to see
15:36because
15:37theology
15:38here
15:38matters
15:39a great
15:40deal
15:41and last
15:41the
15:42Barelvis
15:42will not
15:43come and
15:43listen to
15:43the
15:44Deobandis
15:44is that
15:45your
15:45assessment
15:45on
15:46TLP
15:46and
15:46TTP
15:46sir
15:47I
15:48you see
15:48these
15:49are
15:49very
15:49complex
15:50issues
15:52one can't
15:54just simplify
15:54them and
15:55put them
15:55in black
15:56and white
15:56boxes
15:57the kind
15:58of
15:58nexus
15:59that
15:59exists
16:00on
16:00some
16:01issues
16:01on
16:02some
16:02other
16:02issues
16:03it's
16:03one
16:04needs
16:04to
16:05have
16:06far
16:06greater
16:07information
16:07than
16:08to
16:08sort
16:09of
16:09shoot
16:09from
16:10the
16:10hip
16:10here
16:10but
16:11yes
16:12you
16:12are
16:12right
16:12the
16:13differences
16:13between
16:14the
16:14Deobandi
16:15Wahhabis
16:15and
16:16the
16:16Barelbis
16:17are
16:17substantial
16:18and
16:19one
16:20always
16:20has
16:20to
16:20take
16:21them
16:21into
16:21account
16:21lastly
16:23I
16:23think
16:23the
16:24Taliban
16:24too
16:25know
16:25that
16:25Khwaja
16:26Asif
16:26and
16:27they
16:27know
16:27it
16:27well
16:28because
16:28their
16:28relations
16:29with
16:29the
16:30ISI
16:30have
16:30been
16:31intimate
16:31for
16:32almost
16:3230
16:33years
16:33so
16:34they
16:34know
16:34that
16:34people
16:35like
16:35Khwaja
16:35Asif
16:36are
16:36windbags
16:37and
16:38they
16:38don't
16:38have
16:39taken
16:39seriously
16:40I
16:41for
16:41one
16:41have
16:41never
16:41taken
16:42Khwaja
16:42Asif
16:43seriously
16:43yes
16:44I
16:44think
16:45he's
16:45foolish
16:45because
16:46as
16:46the
16:46defence
16:47minister
16:47he
16:47should
16:48be
16:48far
16:48more
16:48restrained
16:49but
16:49they
16:50would
16:50not
16:50take
16:50him
16:51seriously
16:51my
16:51last
16:52and
16:53here
16:54at
16:55the
16:55moment
16:55both
16:57sides
16:58have
16:59how
17:01should
17:01I
17:02say
17:02have
17:02leverage
17:03against
17:04the
17:04other
17:04because
17:06let us
17:06not
17:06forget
17:07that
17:08Afghanistan
17:08is
17:09landlocked
17:10its
17:12greatest
17:12access
17:13is
17:14from
17:14Pakistan
17:14yes
17:17it
17:17can
17:17get
17:17access
17:19it
17:19has
17:19access
17:20from
17:20Iran
17:20it
17:21has
17:21access
17:21from
17:21Central
17:22Asia
17:22but
17:23it
17:25is
17:25really
17:25Pakistan
17:26and
17:26this
17:26is
17:27the
17:27leverage
17:27that
17:27the
17:28Pakistanis
17:28have
17:29always
17:29applied
17:30from
17:32time
17:32to
17:33time
17:33and
17:34for
17:34extended
17:35periods
17:35so
17:36it
17:36is
17:36an
17:36evolving
17:37situation
17:38this
17:38is
17:38an
17:40evolving
17:40situation
17:41and
17:42we
17:42shouldn't
17:42jump
17:43to
17:43any
17:43conclusions
17:44at
17:44this
17:45stage
17:45but
17:46when
17:46you
17:46look
17:46at
17:46what's
17:47happening
17:47on
17:47ground
17:47and
17:48the
17:48number
17:49of
17:49Pakistan
17:49army
17:50and
17:50security
17:51personnel
17:51who've
17:52been
17:52bleeding
17:53ever
17:53since
17:54Taliban
17:55took
17:55control
17:55of
17:56Afghanistan
17:57would
17:57seem
17:58to
17:58indicate
17:58that
17:59Pakistan
17:59is
17:59in
17:59serious
18:00trouble
18:00not
18:01just
18:01in
18:01Khyber
18:01Pakhtoon
18:02Khoa
18:02but
18:03also
18:03in
18:04Baluchistan
18:05and
18:05Taliban
18:05equally
18:06good
18:06with
18:06information
18:07warfare
18:07putting
18:08out
18:08videos
18:08of
18:09Pakistani
18:11officers
18:12being
18:12set
18:12on
18:12fire
18:13equipment
18:13confiscated
18:14camps
18:15attacked
18:15soldiers
18:16taken
18:17prisoner
18:17or
18:18killed
18:18or
18:19is
18:20your
18:20assessment
18:21that
18:21Asim
18:21Munir
18:22is
18:22opening
18:23a
18:23second
18:23front
18:23to
18:24please
18:24the
18:24Americans
18:25no
18:27I
18:27won't
18:27say
18:27that
18:28he's
18:28opening
18:28a
18:28second
18:29front
18:29to
18:29please
18:29the
18:30Americans
18:30but
18:31I
18:31would
18:32certainly
18:32agree
18:33with
18:33the
18:33assessment
18:34that
18:34Pakistan
18:35is
18:35in
18:36a
18:36state
18:36of
18:36crisis
18:37or
18:37is
18:37going
18:38to
18:38get
18:38into
18:38a
18:38state
18:38of
18:38crisis
18:39look
18:39this
18:40is
18:40not
18:40a
18:41typical
18:41conventional
18:42war
18:42this
18:42is
18:42going
18:43to
18:43be
18:43a
18:43sub
18:43conventional
18:43kind
18:44of
18:44a
18:44war
18:44of
18:45attrition
18:45and
18:47as
18:47we
18:47know
18:48from
18:48our
18:49experiences
18:49for
18:50example
18:50in
18:50the
18:50northeast
18:51to
18:51some
18:52extent
18:52and
18:53to
18:53a
18:53greater
18:54extent
18:54in
18:54Kashmir
18:55these
18:57are
18:57areas
18:57which
18:58take
18:59a lot
18:59of
18:59troops
19:00if you
19:00really
19:00want to
19:01maintain
19:01a
19:01security
19:02presence
19:02do
19:03the
19:03Pakistanis
19:03have
19:04that
19:04level
19:04of
19:04troop
19:05mobilization
19:06which
19:06they
19:06can
19:06put
19:07on
19:07the
19:07western
19:07front
19:08when
19:08they
19:09have
19:09already
19:09agitated
19:11the
19:11eastern
19:11front
19:12with
19:12their
19:12sponsorship
19:13of
19:13terrorism
19:13against
19:14India
19:14now
19:15at
19:15one
19:15level
19:15if you
19:16look at
19:16the
19:16game
19:17that
19:17the
19:17Taliban
19:17are
19:18playing
19:18please
19:18remember
19:19Gaurav
19:19the
19:20Taliban
19:20with
19:21their
19:21very
19:22rudimentary
19:22kind
19:23of
19:23propaganda
19:24machinery
19:25were
19:25able
19:26to
19:26defeat
19:27the
19:27mighty
19:28Americans
19:28and
19:28the
19:29mighty
19:29Europeans
19:30and
19:30the
19:30NATO
19:31in
19:32the
19:32information
19:32game
19:33they
19:34were
19:34worsted
19:35the
19:35Americans
19:36no matter
19:36what
19:37they
19:37tried
19:37nobody
19:38was
19:38buying
19:39what
19:39the
19:39Americans
19:39were
19:40selling
19:40as
19:40insofar
19:41as
19:41the
19:42insurgency
19:42the
19:4320-year
19:44insurgency
19:44in
19:45Afghanistan
19:45was
19:45concerned
19:46the
19:46Taliban
19:47were
19:47able
19:47to
19:48hold
19:48their
19:48own
19:48number
19:48one
19:49number
19:49two
19:49the
19:49way
19:50they
19:50are
19:50reaching
19:50out
19:51I
19:51agree
19:51with
19:51what
19:52Ambassador
19:52Karju
19:52is
19:52saying
19:53that
19:53there
19:54are
19:54theological
19:54differences
19:55that
19:55TLP
19:56is a
19:57violent
19:57political
19:59movement
20:00or party
20:00whatever you
20:01want to
20:01call it
20:02but it's
20:02not an
20:02armed
20:03one
20:04but
20:04when
20:05has
20:05theological
20:06differences
20:07prevented
20:07people from
20:08entering
20:09into tactical
20:09adjustments
20:10if push
20:11comes to
20:11shove
20:12we've
20:12seen
20:12Hamas
20:13a
20:13hardline
20:14Sunni
20:14organization
20:15taking
20:15equipment
20:17and money
20:17and everything
20:18from Iran
20:19which is a
20:19hardline
20:20Shia state
20:20we've seen
20:22many such
20:22accommodations
20:24and tactical
20:24alliances being
20:25made across
20:27the spectrum
20:27of militancy
20:29and insurgency
20:30so why not
20:31out here
20:32whether that
20:33will happen
20:33or not is
20:34another
20:34debate
20:34but the
20:36TLP
20:36is definitely
20:39going to be
20:39a very
20:40major threat
20:40if it does
20:41come to
20:42an armed
20:44kind of a
20:44rebellion
20:45against the
20:45Pakistani state
20:46please
20:47please also
20:47remember
20:47that the
20:48TLP
20:48represents
20:50the
20:50Punjabi
20:50underclass
20:51these are
20:52not
20:52the
20:53well-heeled
20:53Punjabis
20:54you know
20:55of Pakistan
20:56this is the
20:57underclass
20:57which is the
20:58majority
20:58and the
20:59TLP
21:00has emerged
21:00as the
21:01single
21:01largest
21:02religious
21:02political
21:03party
21:03in Pakistan
21:04so it's
21:05not
21:05but their
21:05leadership
21:06has been
21:06killed
21:06a large
21:07number
21:07of their
21:08cadre
21:08have been
21:08killed
21:09they haven't
21:09been able
21:10to utter
21:10a word
21:11since the
21:12massacre
21:12took place
21:13in
21:13Muridke and
21:13Lahore
21:14does that
21:14indicate
21:15that the
21:15Pakistani
21:16Punjabi
21:17not the
21:18underclass
21:18has been
21:19able to
21:19push them
21:20to a
21:20corner
21:20so
21:20Shansarine
21:21quick 30
21:21seconds
21:22before I
21:22bring in
21:22John
21:23Roshmundo
21:23and Daniel
21:25I think
21:26the TLP
21:27is on the
21:28back foot
21:28because the
21:29leadership
21:29is nowhere
21:29to be seen
21:30right now
21:31but the
21:31cadre would
21:32certainly
21:32be itching
21:33for revenge
21:34as we have
21:35seen
21:35violent
21:36outbursts
21:37every time
21:37they have
21:37come out
21:38just one
21:39more point
21:39if you
21:39allow me
21:40you know
21:40the Taliban
21:41in these
21:42negotiations
21:42very often
21:43you know
21:43we look
21:43at the
21:44Taliban
21:44as these
21:45medieval
21:45kind of
21:46characters
21:46but frankly
21:48when they
21:48negotiate
21:49they do
21:50drive a
21:51very tough
21:51negotiation
21:51so if the
21:52Pakistanis
21:53thought
21:53that they
21:54can order
21:54them around
21:55with the
21:55Turks
21:56and the
21:56Qataris
21:57at their
21:57back
21:57that they
21:58can order
21:59the Taliban
21:59around
22:00and get
22:00them to
22:01sign on
22:01the dotted
22:01line
22:02they have
22:02another
22:02thought
22:03coming
22:03because the
22:03Taliban
22:04are now
22:05asking the
22:05Pakistan
22:06that okay
22:06fine
22:07you don't
22:07want our
22:08land to be
22:08used
22:08you don't
22:09allow your
22:10air to be
22:10used against
22:11us
22:11we will not
22:12allow our
22:12second you
22:14have to
22:15give us
22:16commitments
22:16that there
22:17will be no
22:17ISKP
22:18activity into
22:19Afghanistan
22:19from Pakistan
22:20which is a
22:21clear acquisition
22:21which they are
22:22holding against
22:23Pakistan for
22:24playing footsie
22:25with the
22:26ISKP guys
22:27and giving
22:27them some
22:28kind of
22:29basing rights
22:30inside Pakistan
22:31to be used
22:31against insurgents
22:32in Pakistan
22:33and against the
22:34TTP and
22:35Taliban targets
22:37inside Afghanistan
22:37so the Taliban
22:38also have
22:39agency they
22:40also know
22:42how to play
22:42this game
22:43they have
22:43dealt with
22:44bigger powers
22:45than Pakistan
22:46in the past
22:47so let's
22:48see how this
22:48proceeds
22:49okay
22:49John Rosmundo
22:50there is no
22:51such thing
22:51as a free
22:52lunch
22:52would that
22:53be clear
22:54to Field
22:54Marshal
22:55Asim Munir
22:55if he was
22:56invited to
22:57the White
22:57House
22:57and given
22:58lunch by
22:59you know
23:00the American
23:00President
23:01Pakistan has
23:02to pay
23:03a very heavy
23:04price for
23:05that lunch
23:05basing rights
23:06you know
23:07overflight
23:08for American
23:10military hardware
23:10and Afghanistan
23:11says they
23:12were taken
23:12aback
23:13by Pakistan
23:14saying they
23:15cannot stop
23:15a third
23:16country from
23:17targeting
23:17Afghanistan
23:18well the
23:20one thing
23:20that we've
23:21seen
23:21you know
23:22for the
23:22past two
23:23decades
23:24has been
23:24you know
23:25the TTP's
23:26effort to
23:27destabilize
23:28you know
23:29Pakistan
23:30and we
23:31know that
23:31the Afghan
23:33Taliban
23:33and the
23:33Pakistani
23:34Taliban
23:34are
23:35you know
23:36virtually
23:37aligned
23:39together
23:40and so
23:41the Taliban
23:43Afghanistan
23:44has a lot
23:45of leverage
23:45inside of
23:46and reach
23:47inside of
23:47Pakistan
23:48and
23:49Asim Munir
23:50has to
23:51pay attention
23:51to his
23:52backside
23:55yep
23:56yep
23:57and Daniel
23:58Block
23:58that's exactly
23:59what Asim
23:59Munir doesn't
24:00appear to be
24:01doing
24:01Taliban
24:01are telling
24:02Pakistan
24:02that TTP
24:03is their
24:04problem on
24:05their side
24:06of the border
24:06they need
24:07to sort
24:07out the
24:08mess
24:08within
24:08in
24:09Khyber
24:09Pakhtoom
24:09would you
24:11agree with
24:11that assessment
24:12is Pakistan
24:13failing to
24:13address the
24:14problem
24:14inside its
24:15territory
24:16and blaming
24:17Taliban
24:17for its
24:17failures
24:18my sense
24:22is that
24:23both things
24:23can be
24:24true
24:24it can
24:25be the
24:25case
24:26as it
24:26has been
24:27for years
24:27and years
24:28that Pakistan
24:28has an
24:29enormous
24:29amount
24:29of
24:30difficulty
24:30securing
24:31its own
24:31internal
24:32security
24:32that it
24:33really
24:33struggles
24:34to assert
24:35itself
24:35over all
24:35its territory
24:36it can
24:37also be
24:37true
24:37my
24:38understanding
24:38is that
24:39this is
24:39true as
24:39well
24:40that the
24:42group
24:42has
24:42safe haven
24:45in
24:45Afghanistan
24:46and that
24:46makes it
24:47really
24:47difficult
24:48to deal
24:49with
24:50internally
24:50so I
24:50think
24:51both
24:51elements
24:51can be
24:52true
24:52at once
24:52it can
24:52be
24:53true
24:53that the
24:53Taliban
24:53in
24:54Afghanistan
24:54is making
24:55it very
24:56hard
24:56for Pakistan
24:57and that
24:57Pakistan
24:58in addition
24:58to that
24:59just has
24:59trouble
25:00securing
25:01its own
25:01borders
25:02and monitoring
25:03what's
25:03happening
25:04within its
25:05own territory
25:05Mr.
25:07Devashit
25:07does Pakistan
25:08have the
25:08resources
25:09it has
25:10you know
25:10one division
25:11I believe
25:11in
25:12Khyber
25:13Pakhtoon
25:13one in
25:14Balochistan
25:14but clearly
25:15not enough
25:16troops
25:16to sort out
25:17the insurgency
25:18within
25:19and protect
25:20its borders
25:21so what are
25:21options for
25:22Asim Muneer
25:23except
25:23grin
25:24bear it
25:25and accept
25:26the conditions
25:26of Taliban
25:27you are
25:29right
25:29you know
25:30because
25:30I was
25:31reading
25:31somewhere
25:32that
25:32Pakistan
25:33has now
25:33committed
25:33to send
25:34about
25:3520,000
25:35troops
25:36to
25:36Saudi
25:36Arabia
25:36after
25:37the
25:37agreement
25:38that they
25:38signed
25:38they have
25:39committed
25:40to send
25:40I don't
25:41know
25:41how many
25:41thousands
25:41of troops
25:42to Gaza
25:42as part
25:44of the
25:44you know
25:45force
25:46yeah
25:48and then
25:49they have
25:49problems
25:50in Balochistan
25:50problems
25:51in Khyber
25:51they have
25:53to have
25:53deployments
25:54in Punjab
25:54because
25:55they don't
25:55know how
25:56the TLP
25:56is going
25:56to react
25:57and then
25:58you know
25:58the kind
25:59of panic
26:00in Pakistan
26:01today
26:01because of
26:03Operation
26:03Trishul
26:03which India
26:05is launching
26:05on the 30th
26:06till the 10th
26:07of November
26:07you know
26:09every channel
26:10every channel
26:11is running
26:12around scared
26:12trying to find
26:13out what
26:14is India
26:14doing
26:15so Pakistan
26:16army today
26:17is really
26:18spread out
26:19very thin
26:19and I think
26:21that if
26:21Pakistan
26:22thinks that
26:23it can
26:23take on
26:24the Taliban
26:24seriously
26:25at this
26:26stage
26:26when it
26:27is spread
26:28out so
26:28thin
26:29I think
26:30Aasip
26:30Muneer
26:31must be
26:31a super
26:32general
26:32I mean
26:33really
26:33needs to
26:33be the
26:34field
26:34marshal
26:34but I
26:35don't
26:36think
26:36so
26:36Pakistan
26:36has
26:37the
26:37wherewithal
26:38or the
26:40capability
26:40or the
26:41capacity
26:41to be
26:43able to
26:43tackle
26:43the
26:43multiple
26:44problems
26:44that
26:44it's
26:45facing
26:45now
26:45especially
26:46in the
26:46next
26:4610
26:47days
26:47when
26:48India
26:48is
26:49launching
26:49its own
26:50operations
26:50Rishul
26:51of the
26:52Rajasthan
26:52Gujarat
26:53border
26:53and this
26:55is where
26:55the
26:56Pakistani
26:56Navy
26:56Chief
26:57Sushant
26:58Sarin
26:58just
26:59visited
27:00you know
27:00the
27:01Sir Creek
27:01area
27:01from their
27:02side
27:02they are
27:04trying to
27:04push up
27:04some
27:05additional
27:05forces
27:05they don't
27:06have those
27:06additional
27:07forces
27:07they've
27:08got as
27:08many
27:09forces
27:09as they
27:09can
27:09deploy
27:10in
27:11the
27:12Sindh
27:13province
27:13as they
27:14can
27:14in
27:15Punjab
27:15province
27:15and they
27:16sometimes
27:16fear
27:17this could
27:17be
27:18deception
27:18that
27:18you know
27:19this could
27:19be the
27:19deception
27:20the real
27:20thing could
27:20happen in
27:21POJK
27:21when you
27:22look at
27:22the Pakistani
27:23media
27:23when you
27:24listen to
27:24some of
27:24their
27:25commentators
27:25they seem
27:26to be
27:26in
27:26tailspin
27:27so
27:29even if
27:31there is
27:32no kinetic
27:32action which
27:33takes place
27:33from India
27:34I think the
27:34possibility that
27:35something like
27:36this could
27:37happen
27:37I think that
27:38is a great
27:39leverage that
27:40we now have
27:40over the
27:41Pakistanis
27:41is that
27:42we can
27:43actually start
27:45building up
27:48force levels
27:49along the
27:49borders
27:50keep the
27:51Pakistanis
27:51busy out
27:52there
27:52even as
27:53the Taliban
27:54bleed them
27:54and frankly
27:55speaking for
27:56me as
27:57an Indian
27:57how does
27:58it make
27:58a difference
27:59because it's
28:00not as though
28:00the Pakistanis
28:01are these
28:01really nice
28:02sweet boys
28:03you know
28:04who are
28:04very well
28:04disposed
28:05towards us
28:05the Pakistanis
28:07have come
28:07and killed
28:08thousands
28:08tens of
28:09thousands
28:09of Indians
28:09with the
28:10terrorists
28:10which they
28:11have thrown
28:12out here
28:12right
28:13and if
28:14they are
28:15getting a
28:15taste of
28:15their own
28:16medicine
28:16I am not
28:17going to
28:17shed any
28:17tear for
28:18these guys
28:18they deserve
28:19every bit
28:20and more
28:21because of
28:22the kind
28:22of terrorism
28:23they have
28:23done
28:23the kind
28:24of double
28:24games they
28:25have played
28:25the kind
28:25of treachery
28:26they have
28:26done
28:27and because
28:28they have
28:28done all
28:28that treachery
28:29they are
28:30now fearing
28:32that you know
28:32even if the
28:33Taliban were to
28:34give them
28:34some kind of
28:35assurance
28:35it is not
28:36worth anything
28:36because the
28:37Pakistani word
28:38has never
28:38been worth
28:39anything
28:39the Pakistanis
28:40have given
28:41us written
28:41assurances
28:42including
28:43in 2004
28:44when they
28:46said that
28:47we will not
28:47allow our
28:47territory to
28:48be used
28:48has the
28:49Pakistani
28:49territory not
28:50been used
28:50against India
28:51so the
28:52point is
28:52the Pakistanis
28:53are getting
28:53a taste of
28:54their own
28:54medicine
28:55and the
28:55Americans
28:56as usual
28:56are going
28:57to be
28:57backing
28:58them
28:58because there
28:59is an
28:59abuse
29:00wife syndrome
29:00that the
29:01Americans
29:01suffer from
29:02so they
29:02will continue
29:03to back
29:03the Pakistanis
29:05no matter
29:05what they
29:06do and
29:06frankly it's
29:07no skin
29:08of our
29:08nose let
29:09them go
29:09out there let
29:10them get
29:10bleeded again
29:11I don't care
29:12but I think
29:14the Pakistanis
29:15are getting
29:15what they
29:15deserve frankly
29:16okay Daniel
29:17would you want
29:18to respond to
29:19this that
29:19Pakistanis may
29:20go running
29:21to US
29:21President Donald
29:22Trump and
29:23say they're
29:23getting hemmed
29:24in on all
29:24sides they're
29:25fighting Taliban
29:26they're fighting
29:27terror and they
29:28need weapons to
29:29fight terror and
29:30like last time
29:31the Americans
29:32will arm them
29:33with F-16s and
29:34air-to-air missiles
29:35in the name of
29:35battling terror
29:36even though
29:37Afghanistan does
29:38not have an
29:39air force
29:40I mean the
29:43thing with
29:43Trump is
29:43always is it's
29:44so hard to
29:45say what he's
29:46going to do
29:47right now
29:48obviously he
29:49is fond of
29:51Pakistan or
29:52seems to be
29:52fond of
29:53Pakistan there's
29:54an effort to
29:54warm ties with
29:56Pakistan I
29:57think a lot of
29:58that has to do
29:59with the fact
29:59that Pakistan
30:01nominated him
30:02for a Nobel
30:03Peace Prize
30:04after the
30:05conflict with
30:06India between
30:06India and
30:06Pakistan ended
30:07and you
30:08know the
30:08United States
30:09obviously it's
30:10heavily disputed
30:10appeared to
30:11play some
30:11small role or
30:12we really don't
30:13know how big a
30:14role it played
30:14in that but
30:15anyway after
30:16that whole
30:16incident there's
30:18a certain soft
30:19spot for the
30:19Trump administration
30:20right now with
30:21Pakistan but that
30:21said this is
30:22Trump I mean
30:23he could agree
30:25to a deal and
30:26then completely
30:26change his mind
30:27somebody in
30:28Pakistan could
30:28say something to
30:29him that he
30:31doesn't like and
30:31he could say
30:32nope sorry you're
30:33gone he could
30:34start to arm the
30:35Pakistanis with
30:35some weapons and
30:37then they could
30:38not do what he
30:38wanted or exactly
30:39what he wanted and
30:40he could say you
30:41know what we're
30:41totally done with
30:42you we hate
30:43Pakistan now we're
30:44on to other
30:45things he could
30:46look at some
30:47trade dispute with
30:47Pakistan and say
30:48actually I don't
30:49like that and
30:49you're not getting
30:50any weapons or he
30:51could demand some
30:52kind of economic
30:52concession in
30:53exchange for weapons
30:54that Pakistan is
30:55not willing to
30:56make I know I'm
30:57throwing a lot of
30:57things out here
30:58right now
30:58I agree but a
31:01country like
31:01Pakistan on a
31:03bent knee they'll
31:03they'll pawn a part
31:04of their own
31:05territory to the
31:06United States give
31:07him give Donald
31:08Trump pasni give
31:09him a couple of
31:09golf courses in
31:11Sindh and Balochistan
31:12ambassador Kajoo
31:13maybe even in
31:14Islamabad and
31:15Ravalpindi for
31:16Pakistan their
31:18army is just a
31:19property dealer
31:20they'll give a
31:21coroner plot to
31:22Donald Trump but
31:23is that a cause for
31:24grave concern for
31:25India that America
31:26in this situation
31:27could be arming
31:28Pakistan in the
31:30times to come
31:31I say the
31:32Pakistanis have this
31:34long tradition of
31:35trying to please
31:37their benefactors
31:39let's we know
31:40what the kind of
31:41red carpet
31:43treatment the kind
31:44of facilities land
31:45and everything they
31:46gave to the Arab
31:47sheikhs we know
31:49that from our own
31:50experience and that
31:51was butto started it
31:53and Zia continued
31:54with it and it went
31:56all through so if
31:57they are doing it
31:58to Donald Trump
31:58it's part of a
32:00tradition that they
32:01have second I think
32:05we've got to be
32:06concerned but not
32:07overly concerned I
32:09I for one know my
32:12assessment is that
32:13the Pakistanis are
32:15under great pressure
32:17and that's good it's
32:19good they consider
32:20in me India as a
32:22permanent enemy and
32:23so if someone which
32:24considers you as a
32:26permanent enemy is
32:27under pressure then
32:28then that's good for
32:28us strategically that's
32:30one two of course
32:32they will bleed the
32:33Taliban will make
32:35them bleed but the
32:37Pakistan army even
32:38if it thins out will
32:40have the capacity to
32:41hold hold the
32:44Taliban and I doubt
32:47whether it will be
32:48ever a situation
32:49where the Taliban
32:50can come in and
32:51hold territory my
32:52last point the real
32:54problem this
32:55with this which the
32:57Pakistanis will face
32:59and which they are
33:00beginning to face is
33:02anger against the
33:03Punjab and that
33:06anger will now
33:08many is manifesting
33:09itself of course in
33:10KP very openly it is
33:13manifesting itself in
33:15Balochistan their pockets
33:16in in in Sindh and I
33:21think in the Punjab and
33:23that's something which we
33:23have not mentioned and
33:24you haven't mentioned
33:25Imran still has a
33:28reservoir of support and
33:31the Pakistan army is
33:33very very concerned about
33:34the reservoir of support
33:36so there this is an army
33:38which is now under
33:40enormous pressure and
33:41that's good for us
33:42oh absolutely
33:43absolutely
33:45mr.
33:45Devashir your
33:46assessment will
33:47Taliban tensions have
33:48consequences that are
33:49not restricted just to
33:50Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or
33:52maybe an odd attack in
33:53Balochistan but have
33:54wider consequences in
33:56Pakistan's Punjab province
33:58especially with KPK links and
34:00Punjab links Imran Khan
34:02factor
34:03yes certainly you see
34:06there are so many
34:09oppressed nationalities in
34:10Pakistan you have the
34:13Baloch you have the
34:14Seraikis you have the
34:15Sindhis you have people in
34:17AJK and you know POK and
34:20Gilgit-Bartistan all of
34:22them will take this as an
34:23example if they perceive an
34:25opportunity now depends how
34:28serious the situation gets
34:29and there are people waiting
34:31in the wings to take
34:33advantage of the Pakistan
34:34army being on the
34:36defensive there are people
34:37in the Pakistan army
34:39itself who are not too
34:42happy with Mureen trying
34:43to get a five-year
34:44extension you know another
34:45five-year extension for
34:46Munir means about 20
34:48left union generals over a
34:49period of five years are
34:51going to retire and not have
34:52a chance to make the top
34:55spot so there are many many
34:57irons in the fire it's a lot
35:00of moving parts I think
35:01we just have to wait and
35:02see that what how does the
35:04Taliban Pakistan situation
35:06actually get activated on
35:10the ground what exactly do
35:12the Taliban do you know one
35:14other thing Gaurav if I
35:16ever mentioned you see the
35:17control points between the
35:20two or the border trading
35:22posts between the two
35:23countries have been blocked
35:24for the last two weeks yes so
35:27the prices of all commodities in
35:29Pakistan have gone up and how
35:32long will the people who are
35:33already facing the brunt of
35:34inflation face this kind of
35:37inflation so the longer this
35:39abroglio lasts the more
35:42problematic is it's going to be
35:43for the Pakistani public and all
35:46over Pakistan not just confined to
35:48Khyber Pakhtunkhwa I was watching a
35:51report that prices of both onion
35:54and tomatoes is gone through the
35:56roof in in Pakistan people anyway
35:59couldn't afford non-vegetarian the
36:01majority and now they're saying we
36:02can't even afford vegetables John
36:04Rasmundo Pakistan in your
36:06assessment is it in a position to
36:08handle these fires on multiple
36:11fronts especially with the
36:12collapsing economy and tensions with
36:14India well I don't think that it's an
36:18ideal situation to deal with these
36:20problems I mean if they were to
36:23decide to go on and invade
36:26Afghanistan we saw what's happened
36:29everyone who's invaded Afghanistan in
36:31the past you know many centuries it
36:34would be a failure they've done the
36:36package the Taliban would probably also
36:38launch a campaign of you know
36:41terrorist attacks all over Pakistan
36:44and if you know facing up against
36:47India Pakistan is not in any situation
36:50where it can really afford to engage
36:54too many targets at the same time
36:56and given the situation Sushant
36:59Sarin Pakistan perhaps would want the
37:01Americans in in Afghanistan they would
37:03want Americans to intervene have the
37:06Bagram airbase because that would not
37:08only ensure that Pakistan gets more
37:09money once again opening the Karachi route
37:12to Afghanistan but also have a say in
37:15dealing with Taliban that would be
37:17worrisome Taliban clearly wouldn't want
37:19that I don't see how the Americans are
37:22going to get Bagram see it's it's one
37:25thing wanting something it's quite
37:26another being able to get it so I don't
37:29think Bagram is really going to go the
37:31American way how are they going to get
37:33it unless you're invading Afghanistan and
37:36then carving out a portion and then you
37:38know taking care of Bagram and handing it
37:41over to the Americans how are you going to
37:42do it so it's out of the it's it's it's
37:45not possible I don't see it happen and I
37:47don't see any case in which the Taliban
37:50will agree to lease out Bagram to the
37:53Americans no way that's going to happen
37:55the Taliban will lose the next day if they
37:58were ever to agree to that secondly I
38:01think Gaurav let's not kid ourselves on
38:04this whole American policy in the
38:06subcontinent I think that's changed
38:08retrievably it has nothing to do with
38:10Donald Trump anymore I think we are going
38:12to be fooling ourselves if we think that
38:14the American policy in in the subcontinent
38:17will come back to what it was it's not
38:20going to happen the Americans have clearly
38:23declared us in some ways an adversary in
38:27some cases enemy number one they might be
38:30using nice words about us but I don't
38:33think that relationship will ever go back
38:36to what it was or what we assumed it was
38:38I think that is broken how far they get in
38:41bed with the Pakistanis is entirely to the
38:45Americans they can get into bed today and
38:47you know change the concubine tomorrow that
38:50is entirely to the American liking so I think
38:53we should not kid ourselves to imagine that
38:56you know that love fest between us and the
38:59Americans is going to come back that's not
39:01happening so it's high time we start looking at
39:03strategic options and that's not to say that
39:07I should break off my relationship with the
39:09Americans true far from it but I don't think
39:11just keep limiting the damage the last 30
39:14seconds that I have on this part of the show
39:15you agree ambassador Karju our ties with
39:17America will never be the same again and a
39:20lot will also depend on how the Trump Xi
39:23meeting happens in South Korea on the 30th I think
39:28irrespective of that meeting in that meeting the
39:31Americans are under pressure there and I think
39:33they'll make there'll be some kind of an understanding
39:36reach but irrespective of that I think I tend to
39:40agree with what Sushant is saying this is beyond
39:43Donald Trump the Americans are reverting to the old
39:46policies towards Pakistan and we've got to be very
39:50conscious of this that is why it is important for us to
39:55develop our relationship with Afghanistan step by step in
40:00a prudent manner bearing in mind that the Taliban can
40:06put enormous pressure up and that Pakistani army is
40:13under mental pressure but that no one wants and that's my
40:18last word no we have to be conscious no one wants a nuclear
40:24Somalia yes oh absolutely there are experts who say that Americans
40:31already are in control of the Pakistani nukes Mr. Devashar you you may have
40:35better insight into that and John Rosmundo but do you also agree
40:40John know that Indian American relations are not what they were maybe five years
40:46ago or ten years ago and they'll never be the same again I don't know I'd go as
40:51far as say never be the same again but I think that as long as President Trump is
40:56in office I don't think that the slights that he is given against India will be
41:01forgiven easily I think that you know the president needs to look at the bigger
41:08picture in terms of you know the subcontinent and India's role as what
41:17could be a 32 trillion dollar economy by 2040 and can we afford as Americans to let
41:27that go by the way we'll track that story very closely I want to thank all my
41:32guests for joining me mr. Devashar and Sushant stay with me for a moment as we
41:36talk about Pakistan lost its strategic depth in Afghanistan is it trying to
41:41regain that in Bangladesh look at a series of developments that are taking place in
41:46Bangladesh from a red carpet treatment to one of India's most wanted fugitives
41:51Zakir Naik to general Shamshad Mirza Pakistan's chief of general staff visiting
41:56and a key aide of Hafiz Mohammed Said visiting Bangladesh join the dots what's a
42:03picture that emerges we tell you on the other side of a quick break on Dhaka's
42:07dangerous diplomacy let's now focus on the other border the India Bangladesh border so
42:16Pakistan's chairman joint chiefs of staff committee general Sahir Samshad Mirza is in Bangladesh so is
42:23Lashkar-e-Taiba's top terrorist Hafiz Mohammed Said's key aid Iptisham Ilahi Zaheer general
42:30secretary of Pakistan's Markazi Jamiyet Ahle Hadith and of course the preacher of hate Zakir Naik once
42:38banned in Bangladesh he's set to receive a red carpet welcome once again in Bangladesh so join the
42:46dots it's a very dangerous picture that emerges a very dangerous cocktail of radical Islamist terror
42:54in our backyard Bangladesh once India's trusted ally is fast slipping into dangerous company
43:04Thaka is rolling out the red carpet for Zakir Naik I'm Zakir Naik the controversial preacher
43:13wanted in India for hate speech and inciting extremism the move under the interim government of Mohammed
43:20Yunus marks a sharp policy reversal and a worrying signal for India's security agencies Zakir Naik is
43:27not the only name raising eyebrows a close aid of UN designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed Iptisham
43:36Ilahi Zaheer has also arrived in Bangladesh he has been touring districts right along the India
43:43Bangladesh border Zaheer has been delivering provocative speeches and meeting local clerics if that wasn't
43:50enough diplomatic moves are also adding to the concern on Saturday Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff
43:59Committee General Sahir Shamsher Mirza met Mohammed Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna during his
44:06official visit to Dhaka the high-profile military visit first in years signals deepening ties between
44:13Dhaka and Islamabad under the new interim setup led by Mohammed Yunus Bangladesh is seen reaching out to
44:20countries once kept at arm's length including China and Pakistan for economic and defense cooperation
44:26from Zakir Naik's visit to Hafiz Saeed's eighth brother tours to talks with Pakistani general the writing on
44:34the wall seems ominous Bangladesh terror tango could soon become India's next big security challenge bureau
44:43report India today so let's try and make sense of these developments Sushant Sareen and Telak Devashir stay with me on
44:52this big story Mr. Devashir your assessment because it's not just general Mirza there are many Pakistani
44:59generals including those of Pakistan's ISI who visited Bangladesh some very close to the Indian border and
45:05especially the siligudi corridor and they're building military strength around that area your assessment of
45:11what's happening in Bangladesh right now sir you know according to the reports media reports i don't have
45:18confirmation that the Mirza actually did a go to sell it and flew to areas around the chickens necks obviously
45:28you know the some sort of a mischief is a fruit but the interesting thing again these are media reports
45:35i stand corrected if you have to he didn't meet the army chief yes he met the naval chief he met the air
45:42chief there is no report about him making the Bangladesh army chief that i think is significant
45:50because if you know there is to be any uh kind of anti-india moves the army will definitely be involved
45:57so that is one thing we should just keep at the back of the mind but yes there has been a series of
46:02visit in army officers exchanges right from january onwards when uh people from bangladesh have gone they've
46:10started trading courses ships uh air flights are going to start again so there's a whole lot of
46:17things on the agenda which shows a deepening the relationship or pakistan trying very hard
46:23to deepen the relationship with bangladesh and most significant if you recall when munir hasim munir was
46:30speaking to the diaspora in tampa florida he said this time we will attack india from the east
46:36that's where they have the most resources and they don't share up yes they don't share a border
46:44yes they don't share a border so obviously they have some sort of intention of using what you mentioned
46:49strategic depth or trying to use the land border of bangladesh and the most vulnerable area is the
46:57seliguri corridor of chicken's neck so if you put all these things together and now with this dashkar
47:02fellow arriving there along with zakir night you know it shows that there is a creeping
47:10sort of coordination between pakistan and bangladesh i wouldn't say all of bangladesh
47:16in any case this man mohamad junius is only there for a temporary time and hopefully when elections are
47:23held in february there will be greater clarity on which way bangladesh is going but this is something we
47:28should certainly be concerned about because sushant sarin when you look at the picture one is being
47:34done very openly the visit of pakistani generals uh the visit of zakir night the visit of those very
47:41close to lashkar-e-taiba uh the radicalization of a major part of the population there uh what does this
47:49all show uh asem munir said next time the attack will take place from the east so elections in bengal
47:55target india's east target india's northeast target the chicken's neck uh or are they trying to send
48:01across a message don't mess with us in afghanistan we'll mess with you through bangladesh i think it
48:06could be all of the above gaurav i think they are going to try and send that message uh there is some
48:13talk of a trilateral between china pakistan and bangladesh the bangladeshis have said no no for now but who
48:21knows how things will pan out we've seen a lot of movement of the islamists as you yourself have
48:26documented it uh and we have seen a a regime in bangladesh under this third grade fellow the nobel
48:33peace laureate you know even i don't know what the kind of people who get the nobel peace prize
48:39this fellow he has actively been encouraging this activity and has been denying it whenever he's been
48:46confronted with it so i think it's upon us now to wake up and again smell the coffee unless we again
48:53want to stay in a slumber and think that no bangladesh will be perfectly fine it'll all work out in the
48:59end let's wait for the elections look the elections are not going to throw up any uh any results i i would
49:05love to be surprised and be proven wrong but from whatever we can make out right now the elections
49:11uh are not going to throw up any results which are going to be uh good for india okay uh yeah and
49:17let us imagine a situation where a terrorist party like the jamaati islami wins the election then what
49:23then what do you do uh and we still have a portion of a border that is not fenced here even today
49:30allow me a sentence i think it's what india needs to do number one beef up your uh your intelligence
49:37assets in bangladesh to get a fix on where all these activities are taking place and secondly the
49:42prime minister assured this country mr modi that henceforth we will not allow this kind of terrorism
49:50to take place into india without an appropriate response so please be ready for an appropriate
49:56response don't take three weeks before you now start taking an appropriate response if it means having
50:03to bomb uh some kind of camps or take out some kind of people inside bangladesh uh this is something
50:09that the bangladeshis would have called upon themselves not something that we desire doing
50:14but this is something that the bangladeshis are forcing us to do i think that message needs to go out
50:19loud and clear mr devashir how would you see zakir naik's presence uh and especially after the terror
50:25attack he's a fugitive there he's a fugitive from law in india and now he gets a red carpet
50:30treatment from the radical islamists in bangladesh uh is this not just to radicalize people in
50:36bangladesh but also along india's border belt true but you know zakir naik was last year he was in
50:43pakistan he got even a red carpet treatment in pakistan if you recall now he's come to bangladesh you know
50:50working on both sides so this man is danger he's poison you know and uh the fact that he's in bangladesh
50:57bangladeshi unfortunately after the departure of sheikh hasina the radicalism in the bangladesh
51:05polity has come very much in evidence because of the jamaati islami and top of it if you insert
51:11zakir naik you know then you can it's a very it's a witch's brew so i think it's again a very dangerous
51:18thing one thing about elections what i meant to convey was that this chap unus is acting
51:24right so you can't take what he's doing as bangladesh policy whatever once you have a government
51:31a regular government elected for five years then bangladesh will be in its true colors and you will
51:37know i agree with shushak you know which way the trend is going if a warmi league continues to be banned
51:43and can't participate then it might be a toss up in the jamaat and the bnp neither of the two prospects are
51:49at the moment or going by past history very much to speak home about but there will be a regular
51:55government and then you can have determine what the policy is for zakir naik is bad news
52:01indeed zakir naik lashkar-e-taiba pakistan's isi it's a very dangerous cocktail in bangladesh and we'll be
52:08tracking that story very closely i want to thank my guests but before i take a break i want to talk
52:13about an indian maulana from devuband who's very worried and he's very worried because of a pakistani
52:20serial he thinks this pakistani serial will cause trouble in india not because it preaches terror
52:28because it preaches women's rights it's a pakistani serial so this indian maulana from devuband has
52:34spoken out against a pakistani television serial asking women to stay away and not watch this pakistani
52:40serial because family ties in india will get impacted so maulana kari isha gora from devuband
52:47has blamed this pakistani television serial which is quite popular in pakistan
52:53that it's spreading poison in muslim households in india and is leading to rising cases and divorces
53:01because because it talks about women's rights listen in and listen in to the maulana
53:07this lady's isa jitni dur bhaagni ki kooshis karti hain boop kisi na kisi tarah maari zindagi
53:12hello jack hello
53:16chakrat
53:19his track record is not that good
53:22and if you think that he's good
53:23he's the best of the world
53:27when you are wise
53:29That's why I'm trans.
53:38Come on.
53:39Thank you, uncle.
53:59Thank you very much.
54:29that's all i have for you on india first this evening
54:53many thanks for watching
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