Hammad Waleed
On May 8th, a series of deadly blasts gripped the Dasht e Barchi neighborhood of Kabul. The attack targeted school going girls, most of them belonging from the Hazara community . However this was not the only attack that particularly targeted the Hazaras . As per the 2019 report of office of high commissioner of Human rights in Afghanistan, more than 25 acts of terrorism against the Hazara community have been carried out by militants between 2014 and 2018. The community has suffered the most when soft targets are hit by radical militants which include schools, colleges , mosques, community centres and even healthcare facilities. Last year, the very locality where schoolgirls were targeted witnessed a bloody attack on a maternity healthcare facility.
The community activists have not only described their security related woes but difficulties faced by the community in other sectors as well. They hold the view that government does not look after the interests of the Hazaras. Parts of central Afghanistan, like Bamiyan, the unofficial Hazara capital, are among the country’s poorest, often lacking basic facilities and electricity.
The Hazara community has faced atrocities from state apparatus as well as non state actors particularly due to their ‘ Shia Faith’ which sidelines them from predominantly Sunni majority in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The history of persecution finds its roots in the 19th century when the Afghanistan’s monarch Shah Abdur Rehman Khan expelled and persecuted the community. Surviving Hazaras found refuge in the areas of Iran and those of present day Balochistan which eventually became a part of Pakistan later on.
Additionally, the Hazara community has made its mark in political, social as well as military sectors. The famed commander General Musa Khan who led Pakistani forces during the 1965 Indo-Pak war hailed from Hazara community. Similarly Karim Khalil the second Vice president of Afghanistan also belonged from this community.
Why target the Hazaras?
In spite of the fact that Hazara community itself has depicted a pluralist and peaceful posture, the radical elements that came to prominence at the culmination of Soviet Afghan War have targeted the community on religious as well as ethnic lines. It is noteworthy that after the Iranian revolution of 1979, Shia groups residing in neighboring states came into the crosshairs of Jihadi outfits. In Pakistan, groups like Sipah Sahaba and Lashkar e Jhangvi flared up the sectarian crisis by targeting Hazaras.
On September 20, 2011, near the town of Mastung in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, gunmen stopped a bus carrying about 40 Shia Hazaras Muslims traveling to Iran to visit Shia holy sites, and killed the members from community only. In 2013, a series of bombings claimed by Lashkar e Jhangvi killed more than 180 Hazaras in Quetta, derailing the peace in the city.
Steps taken by Pakistan to protect Hazaras:
When it comes to Pakistan, the state has taken solid measures to quell targeted militancy which persecutes Hazara community. As Quetta borders with Afghanistan and provided the rough terrain border with Afghanistan, the influx of terrorists from conflict zone in Afghanistan to Pakistan has been among the paramount cause of attacks against Hazaras. The 1200 Kilometer long border with Afghanistan provides ample locations for terrorist intrusions into Pakistan. The rugged and unpopulated frontier areas had little border policing due to which perpetrators of Hazara attacks could get in and return to their safe haven in war zones of Afghan territory.
When it comes to solid steps taken to protect the community in their neighborhoods, FC personnel were deployed specifically to protect the designated Hazara neighborhoods. According to Balochistan Home ministry, 410 FC personnel, 310 Police personnel, 393 Levies personnel, 126 Vehicles, 16 Jamming vehicles, and 7 Levies APCs, provided on permanent basis to protect the Shia Hazara pilgrims that travel from Balochistan to Taftan in Iran.
However, despite such measures, there have been targeted attacks on the Hazara community due to which many prefer to leave the Quetta localities to other Urban centers in the country where security situation is stable.
The Quagmire of Afghan Hazaras:
The list of terrorist attacks on the Hazara community in Afghanistan remained high. The community has been targeted by both the Taliban and the ISKP. This persecution has resulted in thousands of Hazaras fleeing their native lands in search of safety.
The fragility of security situation in Afghanistan and Kabul government’s restrains in controlling areas under its territory are a major source of violence against Hazaras, going unchecked. However the political blame game that has followed once lethal attacks on Hazara community in government controlled areas , occurred has a more detrimental effect on any follow up security measure. Last year when a health care facility was targeted by terrorists, the Kabul government immediately blamed the Taliban. US special representative Zalmay Khalilzad categorically blamed ISIS for the attack, absolving the Taliban. However, even his remarks were challenged by Afghan government. Similarly , during the attack on schoolgirls at Dasht e Barchi and attack on miners belonging from HALO Trust, Kabul government blamed the Taliban. On the contrary the Taliban denied any role in these attacks.
It surely is a moment of rejoinder that members of Hazara community are not safe in Afghanistan’s capital where Kabul government enjoys authority . This also raises a question on the safety measures put in place.
However, the frail security situation of Hazaras in Afghanistan does not vindicate Pakistan form its commitments to securing the ‘religiously and ethnically targeted community’. After all Pakistan is better poised to provide security and conduct operations against terror outfits perpetuating targeted attacks against the community.
Conclusion:
When it comes to Hazaras, it must always be their opinion that must hold primacy for matters pertaining their security. Bureaucratic jargons that state governments give regarding measures taken are downplayed when a targeted attack takes place , not once but repeatedly. The community residing on both sides of the border has voiced their feeling of insecurity on many occasions. The response from democratic executives should be empathic to the community. Failure to do so would further alienate the Hazaras. This was also the case when Hazara community residing in Australia demonstrated against President Ghani during his visit to the country.
Similarly the response by Pakistani Premier Imran khan during the Hazara protest over killing of miners in January also became a matter of debate. Where he equated the protestors refusal of burying their dead as a means of blackmail. However, Khan rushed to meet the families of the slain Hazara miners as a request from the community where he stated that a whole programme was prepared and a security forces cell is being made which will look at providing the Hazaras with protection and pursuing those responsible for attacks.
With the emergence of ISKP , resurging TTP, Afghan Taliban making gains and no material protection measures in place, the risks facing the Hazara community are intensifying. The onus lies on the states that have granted constitutional rights to Hazaras, to ensure their security and contain all such outfits that victimize Hazaras: only due to ethnic and sectarians prejudices.
About the Author
Hammad Waleed is a student of International Relation in Islamabad. His interests include discourse analysis, Foreign policy analysis, South Asian affairs, Pak-Afghan ties, Military and Strategic affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]