Assassination of Gen Qasem Soleimani – Violation of International Laws – by – Tazeen Akhtar + Ume Laila

Tazeen Akhtar + Ume Laila / Pakistan in the World / Islamabad / 02 Jan 2023

The history of so called War on Terror has revealed that the Champions of peace in the world and torch bearers of “End of Terrorism, Extremism” are themselves involved in creation and promotion of terrorism, radicalism around the globe in general and in South Asia, Middle East in particular. From Iraq to Afghanistan and from Libya to Syria , anti state elements gather support from the same capitals that speak loud about elimination of terrorism. The assassination of Lt Gen Qasem Soleimani on 03 Jan 3 years ago proved the bitter reality of connivance of the big players with the terrorist agents of the region. This totally illegal action against a uniform official was a big blow to the efforts of the regional nations to curb terrorism .

03 January is  anniversary of the assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with his companion Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several other officials and personnel who were risking their lives to save the region from ISIS and other terrorist groups that are still active and taking innocents lives not only in Iran but in Pakistan as well. It is only because the brave soldiers of the land who were a wall in front of the terrorists, were hit below the belt. In Pakistan, the news of assassination of Gen Soleimani was heard with grief while the perpetrators of the attempt were seen possibly from Israel. There is no doubt that Israel is the agents of USA in this region. But it was actually a drone attack by the US military.

The assassination of Gen Soleimani was a deliberate, planned act of terrorism against an official and high-ranking military staff of the UN member state. It  was an obvious breach of international law, Geneva Conventions and military customs and regulations. Iran is still resolute to hold the committers, supporters and assistants of this brutal crime accountable and to prosecute them in a fair and equitable court of justice.

Iran’s stance on the assassination is based on facts and rationale evidences. We fully endorse the Iranian point of view that the assassination of Gen Soleimani is regarded as an international criminal act indictable in the international tribunals, International Criminal Court (ICC) being one, the scope of the mechanism of which the USA escaped some two decades ago in order to evade accountability under such crimes and to provide impunity for the committers of the international crime as such.

Who can better understand than Pakistanis, the role of USA and Israel in creation, funding and patronizing the anti state groups in our region. Pakistan is facing the menace of terrorism for last 4 decades. Same is the situation with Iran. It all began when USA with Western Allies made its way to this region in the name of “Jehad against USSR” in Afghanistan. Before that , there was no terrorist group or we had observed nothing like extremism in our countries.

Raymond Davis is the open book on how the terrorism is sponsored in our countries only to keep us engaged in security matters where we need weapons and dollars from USA. Raymond Davis was leading Black Water in Pakistan. He killed two Pakistanis on the road in the day light with weapon he was carrying while his country claimed him to be a diplomat. Later his country succeeded in taking him away safe and sound using our own officials who were otherwise responsible to bring him to the book.

That is why most of Pakistanis consider in line with what Iran has noted that  action, being an act of crime and an act of aggression is considered to be a great threat to the peace and security of the world and the region. The so-called preventive assassination was categorically meant to eliminate a competent and triumphant force, but soon after it proved to be a miscalculation strategic illusion exercised by an awkward quasi-politician, prompted by associate elements and facilitated by hypocrites.

The perpetrators, committers and assistants in this heinous terrorist act are confirmed supporters of  organized crimes against humanity. The not only disrespected the sovereignty and total integrity of the independent state but jeopardized the lives of the public in the region breaking a solid wall that was keeping the terrorists away.

Assassinating an active anti-terrorist commander could empower the terrorist groups like ISIS to regenerate again in the region and Pakistan is observing the rise of terrorists again. They have attacked on military personnel in KPK, Balochistan. They gathered courage to attack CTD Center Bannu in KPK and get their accomplices free from the custody. Last week, a suicide attack was thwarted by Islamabad Police. It means even the capital city is not safe from the terrorists. It is clear example that when an experienced strategist for combating against terrorism ended up in weakening the anti-terrorist axis.

The state terrorism revealed the double standards even in the definition and implementation of the most evident and basic principle of international law and human right. Examples of this kind of double standard and hypocrisy by the USA are galore in the contemporary history of the international community.

Every country that is sincere in safety and security of the public, aims at the end of terrorism from within the country and from around the world should stand with Iran. All nations are supposed to use their political, legal and international capacities in order to take action and prosecute and indict the perpetrators of this hideous crime through recognized legal mechanisms. Otherwise no one can get rid of this unseen threat because the soldiers standing against the miscreants and killers of innocents will be assassinated in the same manner like what happened to Gen Qasem Soleimani.