As the campaign of demonization intensifies against Pakistan, stigma of Taliban is frequently used to discredit any protest or action that is anti-Musharraf, pro-independence, pro-peace and pro-people. For example, see this story, the text below the picture says: “Pakistani pro-Taliban activists on a protest in Islamabad in June.” Please note that not all those, who are protesting the regime bloody drama at Lal Masjid, are Taliban or pro-Taliban. They are simply Pakistanis protesting the regime’s action and demand an impartial inquiry into the affair. However, the way AFP labels them all as Taliban and pro-Taliban discredit their demands and protest right from the get go.

The same story reads: “Pro-Taliban militants ended their siege of a police station in restive northwest Pakistan when troops arrived early Thursday, police said.” Militants? Of course they are militants as they are reacting to the regime militancy. But are they pro-Taliban is highly debatable. Where were they when Taliban were in power in Afghanistan? There were no militants as such because the Pakistani regime was in bad with the Taliban and had not received orders from its masters of invade towns and home of the Pakistanis who have  now turned militants as a result.

The next question is: Was there any relationship between these “militants” and the Taliban in Afghanistan before the US pre-planned war launched in October 2001? There was no formal relationship between the local tribes and the Taliban. Pakistani regime was far more involved and supportive of the Taliban than any of these tribal people could even think of.

As per US warlords plan to create internal factions and promote a war within Pakistan, Mush regime was forced to invade the tribal areas like Israel’s invasion and occupation of the Palestinian towns. As expected they met resistance and reaction. Now dubbing all Pakistanis reaction to the provocation and oppression of the regime are labelled as pro-Taliban to justify further provocations, bombings, invasions and continuation of the war of terror.

AFP, Reuters and others are playing an effective role in this demonization campaign just as they did before 9/11 to pave the way for a subsequent illegal and illegitimate war of aggression.

 E-mail this article to a friend