News has emanated from Pakistan that can be termed a game changer. The man accused by the Indian state of many terror attacks like the massacre of 26/11 and the attack on the Pathankot air base has been detained by the Punjab police. A detention order confining Hafiz to a house arrest was served on him and he was detained. His house is now under police surveillance. It must be noted that till date Hafiz had been given free reign to do what he liked in Pakistan.
The arrest of Hafiz is no doubt a surprise. A bigger surprise is that the Punjab
government canceled 44 arms gun licenses of the alleged terror leader. The Indian government accuses him of being the mastermind of the JUD and its terror activities. The Jamaat Ud Dawa was having state patronage and one wonders what happened for Pakistan to take this step.Hafiz has blamed India and the US president Donald Trump for this arrest. he has claimed his organization is doing only social work. Obviously, this is not accepted and he is arrested. In real terms, Paksitan had no choice as Donald Trump is breathing down their neck. In addition, there has been a spate of terror attacks in the last week inside Pakistan. There has been the Lahore bombing killing 14 and the Sind masjid attack, where a suicide bomber blew
himself up killing over 100 Shia- Sufi followers. Two Pakistan bomb disposal experts were also killed in Quetta in the Balochistan province.The writing on the wall is clear, that Pakistan is consumed from inside with a homegrown terror movement that wants to overthrow the Pakistan military- political establishment and establish a regime based on the pristine principles of the Sharia. Pakistan had been treating the Islamic fundamentalists with kid gloves hoping that the Islamic fundamentalists will spare Pakistan and attack India. Hafiz was an important cog in this wheel.
The coming of Trump has also been a dampener for Pakistan. the message given to the Pakistan military was loud and clear. They were ordered to do the cleanup act or face the consequences. Pakistan is already earning dubious distinction as a terrorist state and even Kuwait has stopped Pakistani nationals from entering that country. Pakistan was left with no choice and thus this action has been taken.
Does this mean a change of heart? One cannot tell as earlier also the man Hafiz was arrested after the Mumbai attack but released. Can this happen again? One will have to wait and watch.
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