Syria’s (شام) Civil War: A Tutorial For Pakistan

Regular  follower of news either on print, electronic or social media would have been come across news related to Syria’s and their casualties. We are seeing such news from last six years since 2011. We have also viewed countless Syrian refugee and migrants arrived Europe. The war has caused almost more than 75,000 causalities and overall 300,000 have been killed included armed forces, men, women and children.

Currently if one look on to globe, Muslims of Syria are the most affected and displaced people. It is perhaps the most complicated civil war where giant power are involved for their own regional and global interest. Now it is a matter of fact that Muslims around the globe have been divided based on their religious ideologies i.e. Shiia And Sunni. Their indirect involvement in internal matter of the states and then ignition and exploitation of their fault lines are prominent and have been seen in many war conflict zones.

With the above theory of how they divide and fight us indirectly, it reminded me one of my instructor, Faris Rehman, who have been  served  as an civil service officer for more than 20 years. He used to say in his “Oral communication” class that “European, Britannia and Americans are the living example of hypocracy , they are well mannered people, you cannot judge them when they are in relation with you. They act as a friend and hit you back in a very designated way, where you cannot be spare of.” He quoted an  oldest example that was “East India Company” how they came into sub-continents and rest is the history.

Similar situation is happening in Syria , and what happening in Syria has a great lesson for Pakistan. Pakistan’s has the right to take measure no matter of what extent and to what limits. It would be just to protect its sovereignty in future and to act accordingly [against any hostile country or network].

To know what exactly happening in Syria, reason of civil war, and why I have linked Syrian civil war with Pakistan following are the illustration:

It dated me back to when American’s invaded Iraq in 2003 and toppled saddam regime and left Iraq is an unstable state. It is a fact that conflict of shia sunni existed during saddam regime but it was in control. But in December 2011 complete withdrawn of American army from Iraq and left Iraq in Nouri Al Maliki (Shia) hands. Due to internal instability sparks the sunni shia war in Iraq at a greater scale, where Islamic State Of Iraq ISI emerged who aim is to topple Shia government and kill shia’s no matter wherever they are.

Syria, contrary to Iraq is a Sunni majority nation. But it's ruler- Assad, is a shia. The dispute in Syria we need to understand about Shia and Sunni factions of the religion Islam. These differences are historic and West have always exploited them for their political and strategic gains. 

ISIS has taken over large areas on Northern Iraq and syria. They have assist from the sunni population predominant in those parts. The people of Iraq, generally the Sunnis felt detach by Maliki because Maliki discrimination against the Sunnis and he mainly had a Shia dominated government. The spark of IS led us to Syria [Shia control government of Basharat Al-Assad] where they are called Islamic state of Iraq And Syrian ISIS. In  2014, ISIS declared the initiation of a worldwide caliphate. Al-Baghdadi was named its caliph. Ordely, after 2011 the effects of the Arab spring(rebellion in the Arab world against their rulers) started overflowing into Syria.

I, personally, do not believe that the Arab spring was a mass movement, I think it was  a augmentation of the US foreign policy to have more control over the middle east by keeping leaders in power who will show loyalty only to the United States. Therefore, the US wanted to establish client states in the middle east, for many reason, and one being access to huge oil reserves and to dismantle Russia influence in middle east. I know, many people will have contrary view points, but i have wrote what i think.

Amid the Syrian civil war, the ISIS captured the Syrian city of Al-Raqqah, which became its headquarters in Syria.  

Above map shows, the red area is the area that is overrun by ISIS militants. See how they expanded from Iraq to Syria.

Above map , only the Syrian map is shown, here you can study the areas having hold of  both ISIS-ISIL and the rebellions ["Free" Syrian Army.]

Now, to put it in a nutshell, there are many players in Syria: The Russians forces, led by Vladimir Putin. The Syrian Army, led by President Assad of Syria.(Supported By The Russians). ISIS led by Al-Baghdadi. (backed by US). The Free Syrian Army, backed by the US. The United States and its Allies.  Other nations are involved in this chaos. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran,  Turkey, nato troops and other smaller Arab nations. United States is bombing against the IS. But the US is also attacking the Assad regime in Syria. Even the IS wants Assad to be defeated.  The US is helping the kurds and other 'moderate' rebels with  arms and training to fight against the IS. 

Iran is a Shia nation. So it is supporting shia militants in Iraq to help counter the sunni IS. But Iran's increasing influence makes the Saudis insecure and they ensure that these Shia rebels are not too strong to be able to defeat the IS. Saudia backing ISIS in Syria to have their own faction in government i.e. sunni. While Iran trying hard to have their loyal in Syria.

I hope you understand and get a grip of this complex geopolitics though it is difficult.

Syrian situation is a complex situation. I will not hesitate from saying that i am backing the Russians on this. This entire situation has occurred because of American  imperialistic ambition of toppling governments. The US should realize that there are no "good" or bad terrorist, terrorist are just terrorists. The "free" Syrian army and ISIS are almost fighting like allies in this war backed by the US, they are receiving arms and full support of the US. More than anybody else, the people of Syria have suffered, and i sincerely hope the Russians are able to set the record straight and bring peace to the area. 

Now lets move ahead, what Syria’s war has to do with Pakistan’s future?

The map , speaks louder. 

To say the least Syria’s current situation is the direct reflection of current situation in Afghanistan. Let assume if Syria is Pakistan and Afghanistan is an Iraq and India would play role of ISIS. India has already invested billions and created their bases on Afghan land, what does this mean to us? The land of Afghanistan would be possibly the proxy land for Pakistan and we would have to face it for prolong time. US invaded Afghanistan and we know that like Iraq, one day they have to depart itself from Afghanistan. if they left Afghanistan unstable as it is now, then there are countless threats to Pakistan’s sovereignty. The repercussions after US departure to our land are severe in the form of Talibans and their networks. These networks once loyal to US and Pakistan against Soviet Union War, now they are fighting against US. So US should understand the aftermath of such trained militants. Regional stability would be greatly compromised if things happened like Iraq. They demand us to fight against all militants across the border and within the states. If we act as they demand the future would be possibly the isolated one and civil war and retaliation of militants across the border may damage us, and someday US will urge us to neutralize our nuclear assets just because of the instability. Pakistan would be in great vulnerable condition if things happened as in Iraq, to cope up with such situation we have the right to support any like minded people and networks in Afghanistan i.e. Haqqani Network.  

To support my argument, why should Pakistan support Haqqani Network or any other like minded people in Afghanistan. Hold back and watch the following video till end, because it took me a lot of time to compile the video after a extensive research.