tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68117502043882852302024-02-08T01:47:36.347-08:00Day 2 Day Affairszareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-45941210399675164652009-05-20T23:00:00.000-07:002009-05-20T23:02:56.891-07:00India Bluffed LTTE – Sri Lanka Victory by Zaheerul Hassan<div align="justify">A couple of years back I happened to come across four Sri Lankan’s Army officers who reveled that their country is passing through a Indian sponsored war with Tamils . They reveled that Velupilla Prabhakaran Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Chief is one of the world's most ruthless rebel’s leader. They also narrated me that thousands of innocent Tamils and Sri Lankan forces have been killed during last few years. Any how, those young army officers were determined to fight insurgency and their faces were revealing that sooner and later they would be throwing out insurgency from the country. Still I remember that On 61 national day of Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapakse expressed that shadows of terrorism have almost been wiped out with the last remnants of the cornered in a patch of jungle in the islands northeast. At that time, he further stressed while saying "I am confident that the Tigers will be completely defeated in a few days,”. Thus Sri Lankan forces played their final episode and have defeated 37 years old Asian longest insurgency and eliminated LTTE’s Chief Prabhakaran too. It was 1979 when LTTE has been established with the support of RAW. Sri Lanka even though made many efforts to resolve the issue peacefully but India remained fully involved in backing LTTE and never let the former allowed to go for negotiations. Prabhakaran who began his fight for a separate state for Sri Lanka's minority Tamils slowly and gradually has became strong rebel leader and started struggle for an independent Tamil State. The Lankan Leaders were in the opinion that the situation much worse than what it was during the 1987. In 1986/87 full throttle have been imparted to the movement by RAW while establishing 32 LTTE training camp in Kulathur, Salem district, India, By mid 1987, over 20,000 Sri Lankan Tamil insurgents had been provided sanctuary<br /><br /> A time came when probably Rajive Gandhi came to know about the real motives of Tamil’s leader. He asked his world’s notorious agency RAW to pull her hand out from the Tamils. Rajiv Gandhi also ordered the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to fight the LTTE because he realized that Indian government made a blunder while supporting LTTE. The Prime Minster stance was totally against the secret agenda of RAW and thus agency totally behaved opposite and deliberately helped in assassination of her Prime Minister through Prabhakaran. The LTTE chief was arrested but released on bail leaving behind a big questioned mark. Basically his bail was arranged by RAW to launch him again for attaining their mission of establishing an independent state of Tamil on Sri Lanka’s piece of land. Maddrass High Court though issued Death Warrants of Prabhakaran earlier but he never been apprehended by professional intelligence agency of India.<br /><br /> India has taken “U Turn “when she came to know that Sri Lankan forces are determined to up root their launched plan and Tamils started facing defeat continuously. The basic aim of India was to keep the Tamils away from the idea of establishing Independent Tamil State on majority’s area i.e. Indian Territory. For this RAW pitched them against Sinhalies and has bluffed innocent Tamils. The Indian Armed forces used to carry out brutality against Tamils and as per <a href="http://www.tamilnation.com/">www.tamilnation.com</a> Indian peace keeping forces (IPKF) never felt hesitation of raping Tamil’s women. There are many officers like Lt. Col. Srikant Prasad Purohit who murdered and raped innocent women and Tamil’s male members of the families. I noted that LTTE and Taliban militants were using same technique while fighting against Pakistan and Sri Lankan Forces. Both were and are using human shields. It means the terrorists have been provided combat and explosives training in Indian and Afghanistan. "Suicide cadres are coming in front of troops in the frontline and exploding themselves," military spokesman of Sri Lanka, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. The government has always remained enthusiastic in waging war while handling LTTE despite involvement of India. Here the question remains, why LTTE didn’t want peace and where was LTTE which was just a militant organization getting all the finances. The deadlock between LTTE and Sri Lanka was occurred because of illegal involvement of India and RAW in Sri Lanka’s internal problems. Any how an excellent and splendid victory has been received by Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka defeated RAW’S Game Plan .But difficult phase of rehabilitation has been started and should be done on war footing. Hundred of thousands Tamils have been displaced and buried in the soil due to the longest war. Same was happened in Swat where more than 2.5 millions people were internally displaced and thousand were killed so far.<br /><br /> The LTTE movement against Sri Lanka do have new political scenario in the region. The chances of creation of Tamil’s state is now much more than earlier , since most of the trained Tamils either became underground or went back to Indian held Tamil Nadu state . Reportedly, before pushing back and surrendering, LTTE’s leadership has decided to reorganize the movement with changed brand and go for an already perceived Tamil State on Indian Territory. Thus it’s quite right that India is going to reap as she has sowed for Sri Lanka and other regional countries. Reportedly, there are more than 100 liberation movements which are struggling for the rights of self determination in their respective states. Out of these liberation movements, Kashmir, Khalistan, Mezzo Tribes, Assam and Tamils are on the top of the list. But unfortunately India is busy in spreading state terrorism against Sikhs, Muslims and christens rather than resolving their internal ethnic problems. Bangladesh mutiny, Dlai Lama and Tamils problems and interference in FATA area of Pakistan are showing clear cut involvement of New Delhi. Let’s hope that Dr. Manmohan Sing should be able to stop her notorious agency from her malicious activities against neighbouring countries. At the same times Sonia Gandhi should also detail some inquiry to find out the actual cause of the death of her husband along with the responsibly. UNO should launch some rehabilitation programms since colossal efforts are required to restore the life in effected areas of Sri Lanka. World community should also force India to stop storming state terrorism in the region. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-77772677193886128232009-05-20T20:20:00.000-07:002009-05-20T20:24:01.550-07:00INDIA: NUCLEAR-CHEMICAL-BIOLOGICAL THEFTS OR SMUGGLING by Saman Malik<div align="justify">The international media remains toujours preoccupied with fears of NCB-material thefts from Pakistan’s installations. There are some feeble voices, like that of US Congressman Ed Markey who, nevertheless, occasionally expresses concern at fragile security of India’s WMD materials and technology. Markey considers that India’s installations are very porous and offer scope for theft, and by corollary, proliferation. <br /> Concern about India is corroborated by her historical record. Let us have a bird’s-eye view of a few incidents. Four containers of phosphorous penta - sulphide were detained by Sri-Lankan authorities at Colombo Port, en-route Bombay to Israel (1994). These containers contained ingredients for manufacture of a deadly nerve gas. In 1989, India publicly confirmed that Yellowcake was being smuggled from Jaduguda Uranium mines in the Singhbhum region of southern Bihar to Nepal. Yellowcakes are manufactured from Uranium powder that could be converted into radiological-dispersal devices, commonly known as dirty bombs. The notorious smuggler, Maheshwar Deo Singh was caught by Indian police and 1.8 kg of Uranium was recovered from his possession in 1989. In the Uranium market of Kathmandu, one kg of Jaduguda Uranium costs Rs 1 crore. On being interrogated, Deo confessed that his network of couriers have been carrying on the `businesss’ for the past several years. He disclosed that a courier gets the minimum of Indian Rs 25,000 for successfully carrying a consignment from Jaduguda to various dumping centres in Bihar and West Bengal. From there the inter-country `dealers’ smuggled Uranium to Katmandu.<br /> In 1990/1991, two shiploads, containing Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) materials from India were on their way to Syria, but the vessels were called back. However, later in 1992, India succeeded to deliver such consignments to Syria. India supplied thiodyglycol and some other chemicals to Iran in 1992. Again in 1993, the United Phosphorous Ltd of India supplied 30 tonnes of trimethyl – phosphate to Iran. During November- December 1993, India made an abortive attempt to ship chemicals to Iraq through Jordan. The shipment embarked from Madras Port. The information about this shipment was received by American Government, which protested to Jordan and the ship was turned back. In 1994, four containers of phosphorous penta – sulphide were detained by Sri-Lankan authorities at Colombo Port, en-route Bombay to Israel. The consignment contained ingredients for manufacturing a deadly nerve gas.<br /> Three persons, with eight kilograms of Uranium were arrested by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation in Tamil Nadu in July 1998. The stolen material contained six kilograms of natural Uranium. The contraband was sent to Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research for analysis. It confirmed that the recovered material contained Uranium 235 and 238. On 31 July 1998, two engineers were arrested by police. They were carrying 2.31 kilograms of Uranium from. From the samples, 1.40 percent and 2.20 percent of enriched uranium was extracted, confirming that the recovered Uranium was neither an ore, nor a depleted compound. Mumbai Police seized 8.3 kilograms of uranium, confirmed by Bhaba Atomic Research Centre to be radioactive, on May 1, 2000.<br /> In 1994, a shipment of beryllium and other material worth over US $ 24 million, useful for making an H-bomb, was caught in Vilnius. This catch confirmed the late 1980s CIA assessment that India was trying to develop a Hydrogen bomb.<br /> Let us quote a few more incidents. An Indian national, Sitaram Rai Mahadevan, having Canadian citizenship and permanently residing in the USA, was arrested in October 2003 for sending blueprints of specialized nuclear valves to North Korea. Twenty-five kilograms of radioactive uranium were recovered from smugglers on November 5, 2000, and fifty-seven pounds of uranium on November 7, 2000. On 13 Nov 2000, three uranium rods were recovered from smugglers, according to an IAEA report. On August 27, 2001 West Bengal police arrested two men with more than 200 grams of semi-processed uranium. Radioactive Cobalt-60 rods were stolen from the Tata Steel factory in Jamshedpur on August 15, 2003. Seven hundred and fifty kilograms of Uranium was stolen during transportation from Jadugora Uranium Mines (Bihar) to Hyderabad in January 1999. <br /> Delhi based M/S NEC Engineers Private Limited shipped 10 consignments of prohibited material, worth $ 791,343, to Iraq between September 1998 and February 2001. The exports included titanium vessels, spherical aluminum powder, titanium centrifugal pumps and industrial cells with platinum anodes that can be used in the manufacture of rocket propellant. Protech Consultant Private Limited supplied NBC-weapons-related material to Iraq as well as Iran. This shipment violated USA-imposed sanctions on NEC Engineers and Protech Consultant Private Limited of India. Taiwanese customs authorities recovered 1,000 tons of Aluminum Oxide from a North Korean container ship in August 2003. The Aluminum Oxide found aboard the ship had been manufactured in India. The substance when mixed with other materials could be used for making shells. Twenty-nine Titanium Alloy Rings, worth Indian Rs 22.50 lakh, used in rocket engine were stolen from the highly-guarded Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Bangalore (February 6-12, 2004). Two persons, Khurshid and Aslam, were arrested by Bareilly Police with 254 grams of weapon-grade Uranium.<br /> That‘s not all. Akhtar Hussain Qutbuddin Ahmed, an Indian businessman working in Dubai was deported on 12 June 2004, on charges of trying to sell India’s nuclear secrets to various diplomatic missions. He was accused of offering nuclear secrets which he had acquired from his brother who was working as a senior scientist at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He was interrogated by police and security agencies for over 40 hours and later handed over to India, on arrival he was arrested at Mumbai airport.<br /><br /> An Indian national Sitaram Rai Mahadevan, having Canadian citizenship and permanently residing in USA, was arrested in October 2003 for allegedly sending blueprints of specialized valves, a critical part for nuclear plants to North Korea. On 30 September 2004, US State Department announced imposition of sanctions against two Indian nuclear scientists; Dr C Surrender and Dr. Y S R Prasad for transferring unconventional weapons and missile technology to Iran.<br />On 23 March 2007 US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested two Indian citizens Parthasarathy Sudarshan and Mythili Gopal in South Carolina, USA. They were involved in smuggling to India US-made electronic components for use in missile-guidance system. <br /> The above incidents are only tip of the iceberg. Indians even advertised on websites dual-use (nuclear) equipment. It is unfortunate that the world community seldom shifts its focus, away from Pakistan, to India.</div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-90962263101932753082009-05-19T01:07:00.000-07:002009-05-19T01:08:35.494-07:00India Continues to Imprison Human Rights Activist Dr. Binayak SenLast week marked the second anniversary of the detention of the internationally recognized award-winning human rights activist Dr. Binayak Sen, who’s worked as a public health professional in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh for twenty-five years. He was arrested on May 14, 2007, for allegedly helping the Maoist, also known as the Naxalite, insurgency in the state and detained under one of India’s most draconian laws, the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act.<br /><br />(for further details visit the website: <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/18/india_continues_to_imprison_human_rights">http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/18/india_continues_to_imprison_human_rights</a>)zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-28570899621084448942009-05-18T00:04:00.000-07:002009-05-18T00:06:32.329-07:00Pakistan in a state of war! by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">Pakistan is in a state of war with militants and terrorists - some sponsored and aided and abetted by enemies of Pakistan.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />And this is not the time for polemics over the genesis and the causes behind terrorism but to wholeheartedly support the armed forces, as all major political and religious parties barring a few proverbial exceptions have reached consensus that terrorists are enemies of Pakistan and the army should take the operation to its logical conclusion. Indeed, when the people of Swat and other areas see the army succeeding in its mission, they will be more than willing to bear the brunt of inconveniences because they would see light at the end of the tunnel. The government has started setting up camps for the displaced persons and care should be taken that these are safer places near their homes but away from the reach of the militants and terrorists. Anyhow, there is an enormous humanitarian crisis and rehabilitation of refugees is a great challenge, however it provides an opportunity to help the displaced persons estimated to be more than a million, who have all the time on their minds as to what will happen to their houses and belongings. They are physically suffering and under psychological stress and need care and attention. They should be assured that they will never be left alone and would be looked after in the camps, and will furthermore get all the help in rebuilding their houses after the militants are flushed out of the area. To manage such an influx of people who lost their homes and other belongings is not an easy task and requires extraordinary leadership having strength of character to face the situation. At official level, services of bureaucrat having repute in their commitment and devotion to duty should be inducted in the teams to manage the camps and providing the displaced people the necessities of life. To express solidarity with the displaced persons, the NGOs, civil society organizations and political parties should send their delegations to visit the refugee camps. Punjab government has expressed solidarity with the people of NWFP in this hour of need, whereas some religious parties are criticising the military operation and doing only lip service to the affectees. Ulema should be facilitated to visit those camps to tell the people about militants' motives and that they are acting against the teachings of Islam. The people thus be inspired to never bow down to the imposters who raise the banner of Islam to denigrate it through their barbaric methods like bullying, killing and maiming their Muslim brethren. Armed with the trust and confidence, these people in the camps would prove a great asset, and in future they will stand up and fight the enemies of Pakistan and Islam. The media should also play its role by giving all out support to the armed forces and discouraging the so-called intellectuals and religious zealots who try to prove that action should not have been taken against the militants. There can be no two opinions about Pakistan's need to eliminate terrorism; for one the writ of state has to be established, and secondly it cannot allow foreign elements to operate from its soil against Afghanistan to invite wrath of the international community. Without going into specifics, all Pakistanis must unite to frustrate the designs of terrorists and enemies of Pakistan and Islam. The should reinvent the spirit of 1965 war with India when people of Pakistan were united and stood behind the armed forces, and it was because of that unity that Pakistan not only could repel the attack but also made advances in Kashmir sector. Today, the people can play their part by giving all-out support to the armed forces, and also help the displaced persons that have been uprooted from their abodes due to the ongoing war between the armed forces and the terrorists. In February 2009, Awami National Party had entered into a peace accord with Sufi Muhammad with the objective to restore peace in Swat by demobilisation of Taliban militia and restoration of the state's writ to the beleaguered valley. But none was anywhere in sight. On the contrary, Fazlullah's brigands had publicly vowed neither to disarm nor to demobilise. Visibly, the militants had consolidated their position in Swat and began advancing to Buner, Lower Swat and Shangla to entrench, and link up with local Taliban and enlist new recruits to hold on to these regions too. Many people had raised eyebrows over the peace agreement on the pretext that it was the result of building up pressure on the NWFP government by arm-wielding Taliban. So far as residents of Swat are concerned, with enforcement of Nizam-i-Adl their old demand for restoring system of courts that was in vogue during Wali-i-Swat era had been met. Agreement to this effect was signed by Sufi Muhammad, who on his part had assured the government that he would use his influence over Maulana Fazlullah of Tehrik-i-Taliban and his followers would lay down arms after the announcement of Nizam-i-Adl. It however transpired that Fazlullah had some other motives, and he prevailed upon Sufi Muhammad who insisted that he would himself appoint Qazis and Darul Qaza, monitor the entire system, and the government would have no say in the matters in Malakand Division. It so happened that after the announcement of Nizam-i-Adl, they started moving from Swat to Dir and Buner, terrorizing people and forcing them to enlist as recruits to organise manpower to run a parallel government. Meanwhile, Maulana Sufi Muhammad in a public meeting used derogatory remarks against the Constitution, Supreme and High Courts, describing democracy and its institutions as nizam-i-kufr. By doing so, he lost the support of a large section of the people who had earlier supported or sympathized with his cause. On seeing the colossal human suffering, Ulema and Mashaikh of Sunni Ittehad Council has described the army operation as jihad. Unfortunately, Amir Jama'at-i-Islami Munawwar Hassan has opposed the military action and by doing so Jama'at-i-Islami would further lose support of the people. The army this time should not stop unless militants and Fazlullah's brigands are flushed out of the area. In the past, peace agreements were signed but to no avail because after military operation and quelling violence, the army went back to the barracks without finishing the job, because there were many voices criticising the security forces for killing their own people. But this time around, the government, parliamentarians, political parties and people at large are supportive of the military action and wish to see that armed forces complete the job and destroy the fortifications of the terrorists and militants. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-51484242517663980482009-05-17T23:59:00.000-07:002009-05-18T00:02:16.094-07:00COAS briefs politicians by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">In a briefing on Pakistan's security, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani told the senior government officials and political leaders that there was no going back on the military operation against militants till its logical conclusion and that a swift action had been launched to flush out extremists from Swat and other parts of Malakand division.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />In a five-hour long in-camera briefing military leadership also reassured political leadership that Pakistan army would continue its presence at border with India and no guarantee from international community would be accepted for showing laxity on eastern borders. A few days ago, there was news that the US had asked Pakistan for the deployment of force to the border with Afghanistan by moving them from border with India, and the US was willing to give sterling guarantees that India would not make any misadventure against Pakistan. But Pakistan rejected the US proposal because Pakistan could not trust a hostile neighbour like India. If the US can use its clout with India not to do any misadventure, the question is why the US leadership does not ask India to resolve the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan? The question also is that why the US did not ask India not to conduct war exercises of its strike forces in Indian Punjab in the close proximity of Pakistan's border at a time when tensions were already running high after Mumbai attacks. It goes without saying that non-state actors were involved in Mumbai mayhem and Pakistan as a state was not involved. President Barack Obama at his 100th day press conference had said: "Pakistan's military leadership was beginning to recognise just in the last few days that the obsession with India as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided, and that their biggest threat right now comes internally." It appears that his advisors have misguided him and Pakistan's military leadership was not misguided about India's mortal threat to Pakistan, as Pakistan's political as well as military leadership have been expressing their concern over internal as well as external threats to Pakistan. Such statements cannot satisfy Pakistan, as India on one hand refuses to implement UNSC resolutions on Kashmir while on the other is building dams on Pakistani rivers to deprive its farmers of the required water. The problem is that American-industrial-military-complex and international corporate capital are vying for orders from India for hundreds of billions of dollars, because the latter is on buying spree to acquire sophisticated weaponry and equipment and materials for the so-called civil-nuclear technology. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani said: "Pakistan is at the crossroads of its history. The situation is not normal; militants have threatened the very fabric of our society by trying to impose their will through coercive measures. After having exhausted all political and peaceful means, the government was left with no other option but to call in the armed forces to take stern action against the miscreants." Though briefing was in-camera yet sources said that the political leadership appreciated the assessment by military leadership with regard to internal and external threats to Pakistan, which was reflective of high professionalism. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-83106453609948422072009-05-17T23:55:00.000-07:002009-05-17T23:58:06.379-07:00Swat’s worst humanitarian crisis by A Z Hilali<div align="justify">The people of Swat have ultimately got what they wanted and thanks to the Pakistan military that finally they have conducted operations against militants for their permanent relief in Malakand region of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), where at least 1,800 people have been butchered by brutal actions of Taliban.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />In the military operation around 15,000 security forces are battling against 4,000 brutal militants, including a small number of foreigners and hardened fighters from the South Waziristan tribal region, who are greatest threat to the national security of Pakistan and the world at large. It is a worst human crisis in the modern South Asian history since the "war on terror" (2001) in which around 2,000 soldiers have died in battles with militants. By every account Swat unleashed the worst humanitarian crisis in the US-led "war on terror". Thousands of civilians have fled from Swat and neighbouring districts in the fighting between the army and militants and hundreds of thousands are unable to move and could be caught in the crossfire. Swat is a partly urbanized area, making civilian casualties a near-certainty. There are fears of a bloodbath if residents are unable to evacuate from the main city (Mingora) and other parts of area. Although thousands fled southwards as skirmishes broke out between Taliban and the army but according to Social-Aid (NGO), desperate people in Swat and particularly from the upper areas are trapped and most residents north of Mingora, such as Matta and Bahrain, have still problem to move for safe shelter. It is estimated that many people have died due to violence, starvation and disease. According to UNHCR, approximately 660,000 people have been displaced from Swat, Dir and Buner areas and predicted that displacement could confront Pakistan with its second largest disaster of the 21st century since the incident of 2001. The country is facing the largest displacement in its own history, and many are now living in camps lacking adequate food, shelter, sanitation, and health care and there is growing exponentially for the staggering countless people who continue to stream out of the Malakand region. Strategically, the Swat valley is surrounded neby the semi-autonomous tribal areas (FATA) on the border with Afghanistan, as well as where Taliban and the Al-Qaeda have strongholds. The military launched the offensive operation after the militants in Swat used a peace deal to impose their reign and continue their genocide of innocent people which was bloodiest and most brutal act of contemporary history. By then more than hundreds of people had been murdered (average of around 18 deaths per day) including men, women and children. In addition, there was a systematic rounding up and shooting of people, either for immediate mass-murder or detention of people in Taliban concentration camps and more than 1,500 are missing and feared dead. Indeed, Pakistan has declared war against US trained extremists and there is a possibility that the military action could trigger a wider conflagration. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, in a televised address to the nation mentioned that Pakistan has launched a full-scale offensive against Taliban guerrillas who have seized control of the vast Swat valley, and other parts of the NWFP. The Prime Minister categorically declared that Pakistan will no longer "bow its head before the terrorists," and called upon the nation to rally behind the armed forces. In fact, the federal government has given task to the military command to "eliminate the militants and the terrorists" once and forever for the greatest interest of people and the country. So, there should be no doubt that military is not fully aware of the gravity of internal threat and they are determined to employ requisite resources to ensure a decisive ascendancy over the militants as well as the forces are also fully prepared to meet the conventional threat from the arch rival of India. Moreover, it is interesting to note that the bulk of offensive against Taliban is being carried out by the military and other forces such as Frontier Corps and paramilitary forces are equally assisting the regular army. But the US media has created wrong perception that there is no indication that the army was pulling any major combat formations off the border with India and preparing to dispatch them or other major ground units to the battle in and around Swat. Furthermore, everyone seems to agree on the severity of the crisis and urged that military command should take decisive action against Taliban because the whole nation has realised the brutality of Taliban and believes that their real agenda was to seize territory and power not the enforcement of Islamic Sharia. Thus, after a long time, the people see a ray of hope in the conflict region and military also realised that majority of people are against the Talibanisation and desire to snub religious extremism for the largest interest of country. The people of the area emphasized to the federal government to focus on a response based on humanitarian aid, while human rights and civil society groups are calling for urgent protection for needy and helpless displaced people. A leading humanitarian group and Social-Aid (NGO) has called on the federal government and UNHCR to take additional measures for the help of over one million displaced people who have been rendered homeless by the ongoing armed conflict in the country. The civil-society groups have also urged the military to carry out operation carefully in the concerned areas and avoid civilian casualties in the strife-torn region because the civilian population is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the devastating impact of bloody violence. Moreover, the government and military both should establish mechanism to avoid gross human rights violations, including the indiscriminate killing of innocent people. In fact, no military can fight war without the help of people because war is not a military activity conducted by soldiers, but rather a social activity that involves entire nation. In this regard, the passions of the people are necessary to endure the sacrifices inherent in war because people supply the blood and treasure required to prosecute war and if this spirit is not available then there is a difficulty in achieving short- or long-term objectives. So, the people have urged that the planning and implementation of military operations in Swat and other parts of region must take into account the safety of the civilian population. Whoever caused the loss of innocent people must be held accountable as General Ashfaq Kayani has instructed the army that the safety and protection of people must come first in the planning and implementation of any military operation. He also ured the army to make precise strikes against the militants and adjacent areas to ensure minimum collateral damage even at the expense of taking risks. Thus, it must be clear that civilian casualties are unacceptable and every effort should be made to protect the civilian population. Moreover, the communication system, including mobile phones, have been disabled due to security reasons and the government workers and the military personnel must provide services to the needy people who are searching for their missing family members. In the same way, there is an utmost need of coordination with other IDPs camps in other parts of NWFP which would help people reduce their panic and dissociation. In general, "International law" does not recognise IDPs as refugees because the International Refugee Regime defines as refugees only those who have crossed a country border within the two sovereign countries. Because of this lack of international legal recognition, IDPs remain without international protection and live out of sight in appalling misery at the socio-political margins of their countries. However, the IDPs are direct victims of "war on terror" and the world community is responsible to develop a comprehensive plan to address their emerging problems and must take action to improve their living conditions, including strengthening the health care system among a population suffering recurrent illnesses such as anemia and acute malnutrition. The aging camps are also in need of new, improved sanitation systems and better refugee housing. For this purpose, additional funds are also needed for protection complementary and supplementary feeding; and access to basic services. Nevertheless, the people of NWFP and the rest of Pakistanis are happy that military has taken action against the atrocities of Taliban who are responsible for gross violation of human rights abuses and the displacement of people in Swat has made it among the world's worst situations in the political history of Pakistan. In fact, militants are responsible for committing or assisting war crimes and genocide of innocent people and their leaders must be treated like Slobodan Milosevic (Former Yugoslav President), Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic (Serb leaders) under the severe charges of genocide. So, the militants are killers of innocent people and solely responsible for mortal threat to the security and safety of country and the world. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-16614391414380082852009-05-17T23:52:00.000-07:002009-05-17T23:54:32.347-07:00Pakistan seeks drones’ ownership by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">Drones attack in FATA may have killed a few high-profile al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders but have caused collateral damage killing women and children.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />On the whole drones' attacks have been counter-productive for one that Pakistan's sovereignty is violated and secondly when Pakistan looks helpless, this emboldens the militants, as it gives an impression of weakness of the government as well as armed forces that they cannot safeguard territorial sovereignty of the country. Pakistan has, therefore, asked Washington for ownership of US drones that carry out attacks on its territory. "Democracy doesn't believe in half measures. We have asked for the ownership of the drones," President Zardari said, when asked about reports that the US has agreed to pass control of drone aircraft to Islamabad. Speaking in London after talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Zardari said Islamabad was "negotiating terms" with the US over the drones, which have long been a source of tension between Washington and Islamabad. Meanwhile, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, at a Senate hearing said that Pakistan had asked surveillance support missions by US unmanned aircraft. But another report says that Pakistani officials have pressed to have direct control over the drones while US intelligence and military officials have offered greater access to the data collected from unmanned surveillance drones. Rubbishing media reports that Pakistan had been given joint control of armed American drones on its territory, Major General Athar Abbas spokesman for the armed forces said Washington never made such an offer to it. But the US administration does not feel any qualms over its disinformation or double speak. In the past, late General and president Ayub Khan who had excellent relations with the US had to write "Friends not Masters", to show his disenchantment with the US administration when it betrayed him during war with India. The US had not only stopped military aid but also economic aid instead of helping Pakistan in the hour of need. Late Bhutto had initially good relations with the US but because it interfered to tell him that Pakistan should not harbour ambitions of becoming a nuclear power that he had to write "Myth of independence". Anyhow, despite all aberrations and 'sins' of the US administration each and every Pakistani ruler seemed to have worked at the pleasure of the US, and when he resisted, he was shown the door either through mass movement or an intrigue. The problem is that Pakistan depends on the US for economic and military aid, and even IMF and the World Bank would not approve loans for Pakistan unless there is nod from the US administration. It is because of this dependency syndrome that our defence minister had in the recent past said that US drones do not take off from Pakistani soil, and Pakistan has only allowed the landing of the drones. One is amazed on the statement because when the drones land in Pakistan then they must have taken off to go to some other destination. The US must understand that despite being friends, allies and also partners in war on terror, the US should respect the sovereignty of Pakistan, otherwise it will further erode its credibility and popularity which is already at the lowest ebb. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-45615019129599173802009-05-17T23:48:00.000-07:002009-05-17T23:51:03.767-07:00Pros & cons of transit trade by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 6th May to begin talks on a transit trade agreement by the end of the year, which would ‘ultimately’ allow India to use the Wagah-Khyber route for trade with Kabul.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who had hosted the Afghan and Pakistani presidents for the first round of the second trilateral talks said that both countries would benefit out of it. ‘This is an historic event. This agreement has been under discussion for 43 years without resolution,’ she said. Anyhow, mere signing of one MoU cannot be described as an historic event, as there are ‘many a slip betwixt cup and the lips’. Before this MoU is given practical shape and agreement is signed, there is need for sterling guarantee about resolution of Kashmir dispute which is lingering on for the last six decades. Secondly, if at all final agreement is signed, it should include Pakistan’s right to use India’s land route for trading with Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Though India is not mentioned in the memorandum of understanding, there is a perception that India will be the main beneficiary of a transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan as Kabul’s major trade partner. Both India and Afghanistan have long insisted that Pakistan opens its land route for transit trade between the two countries which do not have a common border. Afghanistan has been persuading Pakistan to allow Afghanistan to trade with India using Wagah-Khyber route, but Pakistan had taken the position that till the time Kashmir dispute is resolved with India, it will not give any concession to India. The signing of the MoU is once again because of dependency syndrome that the US tells Pakistan that India is not a mortal threat to Pakistan, as if American leadership is ignorant about history of the subcontinent. It has to be mentioned that Pakistan had three wars with India, and the major and the basic reason was Kashmir dispute which remains unresolved despite various rounds of negotiations including the Composite Dialogue, which has been put on hold after November 26 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan always suspected that India would use commerce as a way to undermine Pakistan’s fidelity to Kashmir, which is why Pakistan wants India to resolve the core issue before MFN status could be accorded to it. The problem is that India’s lust for big power status clouds the prospects of unity amongst the South Asian nations. India, therefore, has to give practical demonstration that it will deal with other nations on the basis of equal sovereignty. Pakistan has shown flexibility on the Kashmir issue by going beyond its stated position of resolving the dispute in accordance with the UNSC resolutions. And India should have gone beyond its stated position of ‘Atut Ang’. There are good prospects of formation of Asian Union but all the disputes have to be resolved before moving forward. It is true that despite having fought many wars including two World Wars, the visionary leaderships of the European countries are united today. The outstanding feature of 13th SAARC meeting at Dhaka in April 2006 had been the admission of Afghanistan as 8th SAARC member, and observer status to the US, South Korea and two economic powerhouses of Asia - China and Japan. The European Union has also shown interest in an observer seat in the SAARC. The question is that why the EU and US are vying to have observer status in the SAARC? The answer is not far to seek, as this forum comprises eight countries of the region with total population of more than 1.5 billion people. And with Japan and China’s population of 1.5 billion (observer status), it is a market for 45 per cent population of the world. In order to make the SAARC a stepping-stone for creating an Asian Economic Union, its members should resolve all the disputes, as the formation of European Union was possible only after the member-countries had resolved all territorial disputes. Pakistan had espoused a lot of expectations for establishing an ideal relationship with Central Asian states that became independent countries after collapse of the Soviet Union. It was rightly so due to Pakistan’s strategic position, which is confluence and meeting point between Sinkiang of China, Iran and Central Asian Republics. And also because of its principal city-port Karachi - the closest trading port for this region, and is a convenient route for their trade with the western and other countries. But apart from non-resolution of Kashmir dispute, three decades of internecine conflicts and civil war-like conditions in Afghanistan did not allow this idea to materialize. Taliban factor had also been responsible for some misgivings in the past, as some obscurantist elements were rushing to neighbouring countries like China presenting distorted version of Islam preaching militancy, which they abhorred. Unfortunately, Pak-Afghan relations were in the past marred by decades of mistrust in varying degree under different shades of government, due to the lack of visionary leadership on both sides. Continuous contact and dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan has removed many a misunderstanding, and now both sides understand each other’s point of view, difficulties and compulsions. Pakistan had some reservations; the first one that Indian consulates in Afghanistan were involved in organising terrorist activities in Pakistani provinces adjoining Afghanistan. Secondly, since India has no border with Afghanistan it could not help Afghans the way Pakistan did by conducting operations arresting hundreds of Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives. And in the process quite a number of Pakistan’s law enforcing agencies personnel were killed. But to open a new chapter of everlasting friendship, both Afghan and Pakistan governments have left the past behind. The fact remains that Pakistan and Afghanistan are bound by religious, fraternal, cultural and geographical bonds; and as it is often said in the context of geographical situation and in the realm of international relations that ‘you can change friends but not the neighbours’. Given the mutual trust, respect and cooperation, both countries could march forward to achieve progress and prosperity of their people. Apart from other avenues, the region could benefit tremendously from the proposed gas pipeline project from Central Asia to India, which envisages linking Turkmenistan with India via Afghanistan and Pakistan. In this backdrop, Pakistan rightly views a strong and stable Afghanistan not only in the interest of Pakistan but also in the interest of the region. Pakistan therefore has made enormous sacrifice and suffered in men and material but has been able to arrest and kill hundreds of al-Qaeda operatives and Taliban. Afghan government should remember the crucial role played by Pakistan to ensure smooth presidential and general elections in Afghanistan by keeping strict vigil on the border. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-63390345506625009462009-05-17T23:43:00.000-07:002009-05-17T23:47:06.869-07:00Karzai’s melodies by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">Afghan President Hamid Karzai's outpourings over these days do come pleasingly to Pakistani ears. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />But his melodies have rather come too late in the day, after much water has flowed down the bridge. Had indeed he been somewhat sincerely friendly to Pakistan, the two neighbours with their concerted endeavours would have possibly succeeded in pacifying the war-torn Afghanistan and in curbing monstrous extremism blighting them so horrifically. His Pakhtun ethnicity would have stood them in good stead, particularly in bringing to peace his country's restive south and east, his community's strongholds from where the Taliban drew their main support and where they are now insurmountably entrenched. Yet Karzai fell to playing a slave to the Americans and a surrogate to his Northern Alliance allies, and took to path of hostility and animosity against Pakistan, though ostensibly mouthing pious vows towards it but keeping a dagger in the cloak to stab it all the way. Pakistan's sincerity he invariably rewarded with deceit. Leave alone keep hauling Pakistan over the coals at his American masters' wink. He was not ever loath in swatting Pakistan right, left and centre, at the behest of his Northern Alliance allies, never taking a pause to ponder if they were taking him too for a ride even domestically. It was after ages the non-Pakhtuns, making up this alliance, had come to occupy a domineering position in Afghanistan's power dispensation, albeit courtesy the American conquerors in reward of services it had rendered them in toppling the Taliban and occupying a country traditionally ruled by its Pakhtun majority or their appointees. And if for this alliance's pleasure he kept his ethnic Pakhtun majority at bay from his country's prevalent power structure, at its behest he kept Afghanistan's relations with Pakistan turbulent too. He couldn't be unaware of the alliance's chumminess with India. Nor could he be oblivious of its machinations to embed India even strategically in Afghanistan to the detriment of Pakistan's compelling security interests. Yet he batted not an eyelid in playing ball with this scheming alliance against Pakistan. And even if not actively, he became an acquiescent participant in the plots that the alliance-dominated Afghan intelligence hatched up in collusion with CIA, RAW and Mossad to hurt Pakistan and destabilise it. Unknowing, too, he couldn't be of anti-Pakistan activities of Baloch dissidents, holed up in alien agencies' safe havens in Afghanistan. Yet all through he has always put a straight face on these inimical activities taking place in his country against Pakistan and instead has throughout kept demonising Pakistan impudently and churlishly. This really hurts, coming as it does from a man who couldn't be ignorant of the tremendous sacrifices Pakistan has made for Afghanistan's cause and the immense sufferings it has been bearing on this score till-date. Although in the Afghan jihadi structure, he had had a secondary role, still he would be knowing full well how Pakistan stuck out its neck at great risk to its own security for the Soviet aggression's vacation in Afghanistan. India, he may not have forgotten, was then staunchly on the Soviet side. And as Pakistan was struggling desperately to overcome the fallout of that involvement in Afghanistan, it finds now in a perilously bristling minefield for getting involved in yet another pacification campaign there, again thanklessly. Nonetheless, if Afghanistan's predominant Pakhtun south and east are under the resurgent Taliban's thumb, he himself is to blame. He never understood that for vested political reasons the Northern Alliance would very much want these Pakhtun regions to be perpetually disturbed. That way its supremacy in the existing power structure goes unchallenged. Its Indian friends, too, want the Pakhtuns stay sidelined, as the existing dispensation serves it well. And by a sheer quirk of circumstances, he may recapture the presidency in the August polls. For the present, he looks a shoo-in, as no formidable contender has yet emerged on the scene. But he will stay a lame duck, as the Obama administration is quite averse to him and will find out ways to bypass him. By every consideration, Hamid Karzai has burnt all his boats. His odes to Pakistan will be of no avail now, as it itself will be in a spot for Obama's Af-Pak strategy. In it, both Pakistan and Afghanistan figure as foot soldiers, with India in region occupying seat of a full partner of America. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-81639172119738941452009-05-17T23:40:00.000-07:002009-05-17T23:42:21.597-07:00It’s not too dark yet! by Ali Sukhanver<div align="justify"><br />It was the mid of 1999, I still remember the evening when I was introducing myself to a pretty German girl in Australia; I am from Pakistan and she asked me in a surprisingly strange way where Pakistan is.<br />I, again, wish to meet the same girl; I am sure now I won’t have to tell her where Pakistan is; because it is all changed now. Pakistan is no more in oblivion. We should be thankful to the unforgettable 9/11 for this whole sale introduction of us; the same 9/11 which compelled the whole world revolve around Pakistan. Life is a simple game of three moments; one which belonged to us; one which we own now and the one which is expected to be ours; the past, the present and the future. Successful are those who keep looking back at their yesterday and intelligent are those who are always conscious of their tomorrow but the luckiest ones are those who try to make their present everlasting provided that their present is something to be proud of. We the Pakistanis are surely among those luckiest ones. For the last many years this prediction is selling hot that Pakistan is going to be no more on the world map in the near future. But every year Pakistan is always there, giving a tough time to all those who are dreaming of Pakistan changing into a waste land. Pakistan has become the centre of all concentration in a very short period of time. This matchless importance is simply because of the fact that the world around us has accepted the reality that Pakistanis have an exemplary ability of sailing in troubled waters. They can achieve any target if they are determined. The situation in Swat and other neighbouring areas is certainly not very encouraging. The anti-state elements in these areas have compelled the government to order the Pakistan army for an operation clean up. As a result of this operation hundreds of miscreants has been killed and arrested but on the other hand this activity has ruined the lives of millions of innocent citizens. So many children and women and old people are forced to leave their homes and wander in the streets of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other cities of Pakistan. They are searching helplessly for shelter and food in scorching heat and certainly most of them are unsuccessful. The government of Pakistan is doing its best to help them out of this distress but because of its limited resources and a huge expenditure on the military operation in Swat, it is very much helpless in fulfilling the requirements of these migrating people. It is something very strange that the international authorities, who have been exerting a very painful pressure on the government of Pakistan to take stern action in the tribal areas, are now watching silently this game of death and distress instead of supporting the afflicted people. The innocent immigrants are trying to find out who is responsible for their miserable plight, the government of Pakistan, the Taliban, the Islamist extremists or the international authorities because one day they are going to pay off the scores. When the military operation in Swat, Buner and other neighbouring areas was in the pipe line, I had a chance of talking to my friend Dilawar Khan who is a trader there. He said that the local people are never in favour of any military operation. They know that such operations can suppress the disturbance for the time being but they are not the permanent solution. He further said that in spite of all these realities his people are of the opinion that in the present scenario the military operation seems the only possible solution because the miscreants have made their lives a hell. No peace, no security. Schools are being burnt, the shops and the banks ransacked , innocent citizens kidnapped for ransom , young girls raped ;in short all type of human rights violations; what else could the government do. He said that as a result of a huge military operation thousands will be killed and millions displaced but there is no other way out. The increasing demands kept on pushing the writ of the government to a blind alley. In the beginning it was expected that Maulana Sufi Mohammed would successfully tackle with the worsening situation if a peace accord is signed because he is the person who has a mild approach towards religion and a soft corner for peace in Swat. His role was being appreciated and admired by all segments of society but unknowingly he at once took a u-turn and started giving wrong statements, challenging constitution, blaming the parliament and rejecting democracy. This changed behavior of Maulana Sufi Mohammed gave birth to new fears and apprehensions. If he had not acted in this way, the situation in Swat could be very much different. Still, there are so many ways and solutions. The military operation should be continued because at present it is the only option. It would help the government of Pakistan in clearing out the mess. At this critical juncture the most important responsibility lies on the shoulders of the intelligence agencies of Pakistan. Although they are doing their best yet they will have to ‘do more’ .These agencies should more concisely concentrate upon the foreign elements hiding among the ranks and files of the peace loving Swatis whose sin is a desire of the implementation of Islamic Shariah. The peace accord is still alive in papers. Neither the government nor the TNSM has announced the cancellation of this accord although practically it is almost non-existent. Better we try to revive it. Sometimes we crave for our old clothes we used to wear again and again in the past because they suited us a lot. We stop using them when we have got a collection of the new ones but we never throw them away because they never seem useless to us. So it is the time to go back to yesterday and search for the old clothes .They would be surely more comfortable for us than the new ones. The night is surely at hand but yet it is not too dark. We can reach home safe and sound if we succeed in keeping the torch burning. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-36001929478522908972009-05-17T23:35:00.000-07:002009-05-17T23:36:41.141-07:00Crisis of Confidence By I A Panshota<div align="justify">It perhaps may not be wrong to say that Pakistan is on the tenterhooks. A tenter is a framework used for stretching newly woven cloth and a tenterhook is one of the hooks, which holds the material fully taut. Thus, a country on tenterhooks is in a state of great tension or suspense, especially when the anxiety or curiosity is stretched to the extreme. There have been many hiccups about Pakistan confronting US demand of doing more or earning the discredit of `not doing enough' being coalition partner on the `War on Terror'. The current spate of statement is now becoming more demanding, with rhetoric alleging that Pakistan has a foot in both camps. The question, whether Pakistan is using any dilly-dallying tactics in its war on terror is disturbing both the Pakistanis as well as international community. Some people opine that Islamabad is in an acute shock, not fully knowing, how to overcome this crisis. A large segment of Pakistani society is apprehensive of something that any action, as prescribed by the friendly allies, may prove the `last straw to break the back of the camel'. Does this mean, the US or the European allies really want Pakistan to fall prey to any imprudent and improvident move? In its latest round of development, daily `The News' has published one of the famous US news-agency FOX' s report of April 30, 2009, referring Commander of US Central Command General David Petraeus's statement, telling US officials that next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistan government will survive. The Pakistan has run out of excuses and are finally getting serious about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaeda extremists. His statement came in the wake of US propping up the Pakistan military with counter-insurgency training and foreign aid. The statement of the Gen. Patraeus came as a big blow to all the Pakistanis. Although State Department's spokesman Robert Wood has tried to neutralize its impact by saying "I do not know where this two weeks time frame came from" yet much remains to be done to heal the scars of his forecast. Both Pakistan and the US have a long history of inter-dependence. The roots of their relationship cannot be so easily exterminated, unless there is any radical departure from or reversal in bilateral relationship. For a number of reasons, Pakistan's reliance on Washington has become more pronounced during the last couple of years. Both Americans and Pakistanis, fully know how Washington remained committed, to provide political, economic and defence assistance during the most hilarious post independence days, to offset Indian domination. Then there was time, when the cold war brought the sub-continent under its foreboding shadows. It was SEATO and CENTO' "Shield" that provided Pakistan security umbrella. Then Afghan War provided yet another opportunity to Pakistan to become partners. According to famous US writer Dennis Kux, some of the US leaders termed this relationship as "marriage of convenience" and her administration soon tried to shift its gears after the Soviet pull out. Pakistan's dilemma was its failure to harvest the expected rewards of ensuing US goodwill. Granted that relations between the two countries followed strange "on-again-off-again" friendly and frosty patterns alternately, but seldom came across such a gloomy side of the American outlook.. Whatever the international media paints, is mostly disillusion. No doubts, Pakistanis are full of complaints but the level of their goodwill has not yet fully exhausted. During the last sixty years, America was always regarded as the custodian and savior of Pakistan and roots of past bonhomie are still alive in the memories of the old generation. Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its willingness to act promptly on any piece of actionable intelligence, the US ever tasked. In case, if anything goes wrong against the perceived results by default, Pakistan cannot be held responsible solely, for a number of reasons. In fact, Taliban are altogether independent entity, having their own political agenda. They do not react with the consent of Pakistan, but act, out of their own free will. Pakistan leadership suffers, when frequency of Taliban or al-Qaeda militancy gains moment and US is dismayed when it fails to achieve desired results. There is no discounting the fact that Pakistan has no magic spells or charm to mould their common enemy's opinion. It is psychological phenomenon and none of the two coalition partners are betraying each other, with prickly discontent. Pakistan continued to face similar dilemma in the past as well. During Bhutto's time, when Pakistan tried to buy nuclear plant from France, the relations with Carter administration considerably soured. Although Afghan war brought the two countries together again, yet Islamabad has to walk on tight rope during General (late) Zia's time when efforts to make nuclear bomb were in full swing. Again, in the words of Kux, the American assert that frequent wrong-headedness, twists and turns of Pakistani leaders was the underlying cause of major setbacks to Pakistan. The answer of US demands blaming Pakistan for `not doing enough' is not difficult to calculate yet same cliché is often repeated every now and then. Once again looking back into the past, Pakistan left no stone un-moved to come up to the US aspirations, providing transit routes, deploying its hundred thousand army and paramilitary troops, on the porous Pak-Afghan borders, targeting its own people on suspicious grounds, sharing intelligence, ignoring public calls or sympathy waves, bowing to the rulers disliked by the masses, allocating all financial resources for security purposes, suffering losses of trillions of rupee in business transactions, committing and mobilizing all civil forces against the extremists groups and sacrificing taboos, as part of `Please US' policy. But what did it earn, in return, is no mystery to the world. It is time for our `most allied ally' to heed to our calls and look into some of the inherent weaknesses, borne as a result of our, social, economical educational, religious, social and political background. Their ideologies baked during the last many centuries cannot be altered within so short span of time. As expecting a friendly smile from the wounded souls, a hearty laugh from a homeless displaced person and expecting good-will gestures after drone attack makes no sense. At the same time US critics should also give due credit to the Americans being considerate, extending their bowl of largesse and undertaking unfailing shuttle diplomacy to find some logical solution of the problem. Pakistan continues to bear the brunt of the Taliban wrath for taking a U-turn or our failures to fulfill their dreams. The hospitality and philanthropy demonstrated in the past, which resulted into massive influx of refugees with their high powered weaponry, in the past is today's yeast for anarchy and chaos, besides being a cause of concern for fuelling bitterness between two allies and coalition partners. In the absence of continuous congruence of security goals, the partnership is simmering with friendliness. Pakistan has never been at odds with the US in the past, nor can it afford any such proposition in future. It fully understands that all roads to peace and prosperity pass through Washington. The time now dictates to visualize the sensitivity of Gen Petraeus statement. The whole nation sincerely hopes that President Zardari and his team of advisors, currently visiting the US would be able to find some solution of the core issues through friendly dialogue process.</div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-62473967630493968702009-05-16T00:39:00.000-07:002009-05-16T00:42:35.204-07:00Manmohan’s Hypocrisy and Sikh Alienation by Mamoona Ali Kazmi<div align="justify">Recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh commented on the situation in Pakistan mainly of Sikh minority. He said “The minorities are facing problems in neighbouring Pakistan...Jazia (religious tax) is being imposed on minorities. We will take appropriate and necessary steps on the issue of imposition of jazia in neighbouring country on minorities”. Look who is talking. Congress Prime Minister is talking about the rights of minorities particularly Sikhs in Pakistan. This remark by the Indian Prime Minister accounts to interference into the internal affairs of Pakistan. It is also worth mentioning that he is talking about the area where the military operation is going on to flush out foreign militants and their local supporters to restore peace. So what is happening to minorities is not on the order of the government but of some extremist elements. Above all what is most important is that Indian Prime Minister has serious concerns about the minorities in Pakistan, which are Pakistanis. There are evidences about the violence and oppression against minorities in India. Indian government itself is a source of violence. May be Manmohan Singh forgot 6 June 1984 but not the Sikhs of Punjab who lost their loved ones. India in fact is a country of Hindus, caring only about their welfare even at the expense of other minorities. The government of India even involved in the organized killing of Minorities. As far as Sikhs are concerned they are never treated as patriotic citizens of India and always mistrusted.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Indian government tried several times to purge Sikh identity and merge them into Hinduism. Since independence Sikhs remained mistrusted and are being discriminated and treated as aliens. During British rule Gandhi and Nehru promised the Sikhs to have full rights and freedom over Punjab. They stated that Sikhs would have the rights to rule Punjab without any interference from the government and that no laws would be passed without discussing them with Sikhs. Gandhi said, “You (Sikhs) take my word that if ever Congress or I betray you, you will be justified to draw the sword as taught by Guru Gobind Singh”. As soon as the British left India Sikhs were fired from their jobs and declared as traitors of India. Even in the Indian constitution, Sikhs were declared ‘Hindus with long hair’. Gandhi betrayed Sikhs and told them that if they cut their hair and give up their faith and joined the Hindus, they would be given full right and hired at the jobs. After independence when Nehru was asked to fulfill his promise of creating a separate Punjabi state, he brushed it off by saying “circumstances have changed now”.<br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">After independence the Indian government continued its efforts to wipe out Sikhism from Indian soil. For this purpose in 1978 it sent an agent, Nirankari Gurbachan to Punjab to destroy Sikhism. He spoke against Sikhism and insulted the Sikhs Holy Scripture Guru Granath. In retaliation Sikhs launched a peaceful march against him while Gurbachan who already had Indian troops with him ordered them to shoot Sikhs. Resultantly, 13 Sikhs were killed leaving many other injured. The Indian government instead of punishing the culprits put the blame of this occurrence on Sikhs. This angered Sikhs and they rebelled against the Indian government. At this time a religious leader, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, took power in Sikh nation and started a campaign of evangelizing Sikhism. He openly spoke against the Indian Government’s activities against Sikhism. As the people started supporting Bhindranwale and the freedom movement gained momentum many a people became Sikhs. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and many political leaders launched peaceful march and demanded full rights and status of first class citizens for Sikhs in India. An Anandpur Sahib resolution was brought to attention by Bhindranwale, which included many demands for Punjab and Sikhs such as: regional autonomy for Punjab; return of Chandigarh to Punjab; specials status for Sikhs in the Indian union; a supreme court review of Punjab river waters; return of Punjabi speaking areas to Punjab; provision of a fare share of electricity to Punjab and declaring Amritsar a holy city.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />The Indian government rather than fulfilling the demands of Sikhs began arresting them blindly. At this stage Bhindranwale said, “There is no solution to Sikh’s problem without freedom”. Riots between Hindus and Sikhs broke out. In Haryana, Hindus were called from villages by beating drums to kill Sikhs. Under such circumstances Bhindranwale was sure of Indian government’s plans to attack the Golden Temple at Amritsar and he was not wrong in calculating the Indian government’s intentions. As Lt. Gen. K.S. Brar, who was in charge of operation stated that the Indian army planned and rehearsed an attack on Golden Temple 18 months before the attack itself happened. Bhindranwale addressed the Sikhs and advised them to be ready to defend the Golden Temple.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />As the Sikh movement gained momentum, Punjab was handed over to Indian military. The Indian government and military, in order to hit the Sikhs below the belly, planned to attack Golden Temple in the first week of June that marks the martyr day of fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev, founder of Golden Temple, and hence there was going to be a big Sikh gathering. Indian government announced a curfew in Punjab, telephone lines were cut and all press reporters were asked to leave Punjab. Punjab was completely disconnected from the rest of the world. The entire state was surrounded by troops. All the Sikhs were being harassed all over India.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />On 31st May a large contingent of Indian army launched an attack on Golden Temple. This operation was given the name of Blue Star. Sadly, there were only 251 Sikhs inside to protect the complex of the Golden Temple as compared to thousands of fully equipped Indian troops. The Indian government also brought tanks and destroyed Akaal Takhat, which is in the front of Golden Temple. On 6th June when all Sikh fighters became martyrs, the war was over and the Indian troops entered the temple.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />They did not even respect the sanctity of the holy place and entered with their shoes on. When the Indian troops found that only 251 men had stopped them from entering the temple for 6 days they started killing innocent Sikhs who had come there to visit the Temple. This was to hide their humiliation. About 50,000 Sikhs were killed that day. Sikh artifacts were burnt. All the literature written by the Gurus was taken away by the army. The whole Amritsar city was burnt. Sikhs’ shops were looted and houses were set on fire. Hindu mobs went to every house and burnt Sikhs alive, women were dishonored. Most Sikhs between ages 5 to 40 were killed. The Indian government thought that if they kill young Sikh men then there would be no Sikh marriages and in the next 10 to 15 years the Sikh population would not increase and they would eventually die out. All the visitors of the Golden Temple were arrested and they all starved to death because they were not given any food to eat not even a single drop of water.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Indian government said that the operation was conducted to flush out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters from the Golden Temple. If the Golden Temple was attacked to drive out Bhindranwale then why were other more than 50 Sikh temples attacked on the same day in Punjab by the army? Why were thousands of innocent people, specifically Sikhs, killed? Why did the government have to use tanks and heavy artillery to drive out few Sikhs? The Indian government has no justification for 1984’s bloody massacre. However, the truth is that it was a grand and wicked plan of Hindu government to vanish Sikhism by merging it into Hinduism. Because if would have been only Bhindranwale then the Indian army could have leave Punjab after the operation was over. Else there is no reason for army to stay in Punjab, burn whole Amritsar city and the Sikh literature?</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Ever since operation Blue Star, Sikh youngsters have been picked up by the police, tortured in custody and than murdered in fake encounters. In some places in Punjab, whole villages lost their young generations as a result of inflammatory action of Indian regime. To top it, Amnesty International is banned from carrying out human rights investigations in the Punjab. Operation Blue Star proved that India is a country of Hindus who are intolerable towards other communities and want either to banish them or to merge them into Hinduism. It also shows that freedom of religion which is provided under Indian constitution is nothing but reflection of a sham democracy. So it seems strange that while victims of Operation Blue Star are awaiting justice, Indian Prime Minister is very much concerned about the announcement of a dissident group of Swat about minorities. There is a need that India first brings its home in order and than talk about others and its political parties must stop using issues relating to Pakistan as election gimmicks.</div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-31109421347752810912009-05-15T21:47:00.000-07:002009-05-15T21:50:17.796-07:00THE FLOOD BEHIND THE STORM by ALI SUKHANVER<div align="justify">A room cannot be called a bed-room without a bed. River without water, a flower without fragrance and a brain without ideology; all are same as a body without soul. For a Muslim, Jihad is like the blood running in the veins .The western world is defaming this most important element of the Islamic teachings by intermingling it with violence and aggression. Jihad is in fact a very delicate and subtle type of lesson in the book of Islam. Jihad means an action against those who intend to challenge the authority of Almighty God by depriving the weaker ones of their basic human rights. It has so many types and forms. It does not mean holding a naked sword and start beheading the rivals indiscriminately. Those who interpret Jihad in this way are not aware even of the basic teachings of Islam and those who promote such blood dripping picture of Islam can never be called the Muslims.<br /><br />Unfortunately, fearing the growing popularity of Islam, the Jews and some of the de-tracked Christians planned a conspiracy and succeeded in nurturing a strong disliking against Islam and the Muslims. The Mosaad and the CIA implanted paid agents among the rows of the fundamentalist Muslims in the garb of extremists who are more interested in Jihad than any other lessons of Islam. The innocent and peace loving Muslims unknowingly became a toy in the hands of such disguised agents. Now the situation has become so complicated that it is almost next to impossible to single out the terrorists from the peace loving fundamentalists mistakenly called the extremists by the anti-Islamic world. The blood-shed in the tribal areas of Pakistan, including Swat, Buner, Bajur and the Malakand division is a result of this carefully manipulated conspiracy. Although the Pakistan army is trying its utmost to eliminate and crush out these foreign supported elements yet this operation clean up is not the final solution to this horrible menace. In spite of the best possible precautionary measures, one can never guarantee the safety and security of the innocent citizens in these areas.<br /><br />There is another misfortune or hard luck with Pakistan. Some of the very effective and powerful TV channels are behaving non-sense. They are always trying to portray that the military action directed by the government of Pakistan in the afflicted areas is a cruelty and violation of the basic human rights. Such channels are always standing with the terrorists not with the government. They claim that they are reporting the truth but they don’t know that their so-called truth is going to drown the whole of their country. The readers might be remembering that after the Mumbai blasts when the government of Pakistan was rejecting and condemning the Indian blame that Ajmal Qassab is a Pakistani citizen, it was one of the most popular TV channels which supported the Indian blame. The channel in the garb of investigative reporting tried to convince the whole of the world that the government of Pakistan is denying the facts. Such a behavior on the part of the electronic media is unique in Pakistan. All over the world no media can go against the official policy regarding the security and defense of a country. But in Pakistan media particularly the electronic media is so strong that it has forgotten every limit and boundary. It would be very immoral to say that some of the channels, intentionally or unintentionally, seem catering for the requirements of those who are not well wishers of Pakistan. It is surely the craftsmanship of such channels that today the world around us is calling us different disgusting names. They have put at stake the credibility of the government of Pakistan, the armed forces, the intelligence agencies and even of the religious institutions commonly renowned as Deeni Madrassas.It is because of the propaganda of these channels that today the west is calling these Madrassas as the nursery of terrorists. An atmosphere of fear and horror has been so successfully contrived that now people are reluctant in sending their children to these Madrassas.<br /><br />The role of Deeni Madrassas and the mosque has always been inseparable throughout the history of Islam.Madrassa means a school, not meant only for the religious education but for all types of education including science, technology, geography, chemistry, anatomy, astrology and so on and so fore. In these schools the teachers try to shape and form a character which has an ability of facing all possible challenges of life. It is an absurd misconception that these religious schools nurture and nourish terrorism. The government of Pakistan has been very sensitive with respect to the Madrassas.It the last few years all of them have been registered under a law. Their financial matters, their syllabus, their courses and even the students and the staff, almost every thing is under a careful surveillance.<br /><br />It is true that some of the Fake-Madrassas established in the tribal areas of Pakistan particularly along the Pak-Afghan borders are involved in some nefarious activities. Their role is no doubt same as that of the Indian consulates working on the other side of the border in Afghan area. Both of them are busy in defaming the Muslims and destabilizing Pakistan. It is the result of their disgusting activities that Pakistan is passing through the worst phase of its life. Everywhere there is a hue and cry that Pakistan is heading down towards a point of no return. It is also in the air that Taliban are about to take over control of state of Pakistan; all nothing but a cock and bull’s story. The international media and the US think tanks are pursuing an agenda based on international conspiracy to create a sense of insecurity and state of uncertainty. They are trying to suppress and depress the Pakistani nation so that it may lose all courage and determination to give the anti-Pakistan forces a tough time.<br /><br />The picture of Pakistan is not as horrible and disappointing as portrayed by the west. The democratic government of Pakistan is successfully tackling with all the problems in spite of so many limitations, the rule of the law is being observed, coherence between ruling coalition and establishment exists, the foreign investors are investing in new projects, the armed forces are playing their best possible role in the betterment of the country, the foreign embassies are functioning smoothly; what else is required.<br /><br /><br />It is the most urgent need of the time that the Pakistani nation must get united to thwart such conspiracies. Domestic media and political forces need to be mobilized to counter hostile propaganda and create a ray of hope in the nation. The nation should try to strengthen the institution of Mosque and Madrassas. The teachers and the preachers should be given more importance, more attention and more care. According to the reports, the CIA, the Mosaad and the RAW are eagerly trying to pop in the mischievous elements in the mosques and Madrassas of the urban areas of the Punjab and Sind. The government must be more vigilant in this regard. There should be allocation of more funds to facilitate those who are serving these mosques and Madrassas.It is not only the responsibility of the security agencies but also of the common public to keep an eye on the foreign agents who are eagerly looking for a chance of creeping into these sacred institutions. These agents are dreaming of changing the whole of our country into a battle field. We are a peace loving nation; we have nothing to do with blood-shed and slaughtering. The Pakistan army is passionately fighting a war against terrorists but this war is in fact a warm up activity. The actual game is going to start after these terrorists have been pushed out of our territory. By then our hidden enemies would have surely thought of some new plans of destabilizing us. We are preparing for the flood behind the storm.</div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-86309393109839330172009-05-15T21:36:00.000-07:002009-05-15T21:43:10.069-07:00It's Just a Matter of Pride? by Dr. Nauman Niaz<div align="justify">There is a fragile future of Pakistan to consider. Wracked by geo-political turmoil, threatened by terrorism, and lacking India’s wealth, Pakistan cricket has become a pariah, with BCCI manipulating and ICC shirking and tricking them without being the competent authority to take the decision which they not only authenticated but also hastily implemented.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">A legal notice issued to International Cricket Council (ICC) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to some has come as an overt and covert intimidation. It seems, the PCB has tried standing up to BCCI’s manipulation, sending the message that they are now equally in a contest with them. To most, PCB is playing in a dead-pan, running against the bull-horns and their response is only emotional. Nonetheless the other side shows them hitting the ground, communicating emotional tenacity, determination and resolve.ICC unlawfully took a unilateral decision and awarded Pakistan’s share of the World Cup 2011 matches to India. The series of events on behaviors disturbed characters commonly display that both ICC and the BCCI impair their ability to internalize pro-social values and also frequently serve as tactics to manipulate and impression-manage others-guilt-gripping and shaming, externalizing the blame, rationalization, minimization, and feigning innocence.Considering the present geo-political situation and the internal upheaval, it is almost next to foolishness considering that World Cup 2011 matches could be staged in Pakistan, without scare and also plain stupidity to contemplate foreign teams agreeing to play in a country that witnessed Sri Lanka being ambushed, the bullets spreading all over. Security failure it was, still BCCI and the ICC fired off so quickly that they were hard to identify and separate, and some slick maneuvers could utilize several tactics at once, picking at Pakistan, completely wrong-footed.ICC and the BCCI, working in advantageous environments concealed clearly obvious aggressive or exploitive intent while simultaneously putting Pakistan unconsciously on the defensive. However, Mr. Ijaz Butt is now engaged in deliberate, intense confrontation designed to challenge the legitimacy or validity, or the value of the decision taken by the ICC.BCCI and the ICC, significantly after the ambush at Lahore where Sri Lanka barely survived fatality, labeled Pakistan a cricketing backwater. For a while now, Pakistan cricket has felt it is being discriminated against when it comes to issues of safety, and it is easy to see why they may feel that money speaks all languages but Urdu.It's going to require a good deal of compassion, especially in the ICC and India's case, and courage, to welcome Pakistan back into the fold, but every effort must be made because cricket doesn't have enough good teams to be able to cast aside one of its major nations.The ICC's dithering has succeeded in driving a rift between Pakistan and some of the other major cricket nations, especially India. This is not a conducive atmosphere for rational decision-making in the future, especially considering how well known the ICC is for its politicking and power broking. When the storm clouds gathered and decision about moving Pakistan’s share of Cricket World Cup 2011 matches to India gained momentum, it seemed, none stood behind Pakistan, the Lahore terrorist attack brazenly used as a tool. At this point, it appears as though the ICC is splitting along ethnic lines, as has been predicted many times before.It sounds daft that Pakistan, even if the decision is overturned could still be a place to organize international matches by 2011, still their arguments over the World Cup hosting rights rage and the ICC looks to be on the verge of splintering. IDI had the powers and not the ICC and also even the competent authority could only recommend shifting the World Cup from Pakistan. Second, according to the MOU, Pakistan could only be inquired about their security plans eighteen months before the start of the tournament. In haste, the ICC allowed such manipulations to run and end in such acrimony is hard to understand. If there’s one thing it does well, it is placate vested interests. If they could find a way to appease BCCI on the ICL and Zimbabwe issues, then surely there was a route through the World Cup queries.Pakistan’s rights of hosting the World Cup matches couldn’t and shouldn’t have been taken away-instead if there were security concerns and in case if they lasted up to 2010, they could have been asked to shift their matches, not to India but to a neutral venue such as Abu Dhabi or Dubai. By stripping Pakistan it means they would lose a huge financial chunk. They would be having some disgruntled business partners in the form of the television rights holder and sponsors. Even worse, Pakistan was considered a plaything to be pushed, prodded or pulled in any direction. That is one sure way to devalue the game. It is a major concern.ICC’s decision could be viewed as hasty, bald-faced and uncivilized response to the security issues in Pakistan.Heartening, the failure of PCB’s earlier foreign policies is now clear to everyone except its architects, and then they must entertain private doubts, from time to time, about a policy whose crowning achievement now is to file a legal notice against the ICC, seeing a paradigm shift to end a swaggering silence and a deafening status quo.Before Mr. Ijaz Butt came in power, Pakistan’s most obvious mistake was to trust BCCI and play a role of a conduit; they now need to act independently, picking the right people to sincerely help developing cricket and asking ICC for their contractual rights. Anything else is an indulgence.At first glance, the goals of BCCI with reference to its huge financial market, it being the attraction for majority of top-tier cricketers and also their insight to dominate the world game might appear to conflict. BCCI after its brainchild, the Indian Premier League became a story of an overnight success, it started to use statutory rights to control access and accumulate monopolistic powers.And it also, stubbornly and quite brazenly, sidelined Pakistan, to regulate downstream activities, such as imposing exclusivity, territorial restraints and trying to isolate it in a tight corner. Inundated with success and drunk with power and unlimited opportunities, the BCCI, in the meantime, seemingly has forgotten to realise that directed at curtailing the powers and presence of other teams in the region, particularly Pakistan is fast touching the precipice of market clout which may prove harmful to subcontinent's cricket and its interests.It isn't significantly different from the situation in Pakistan, rather the hugeness of India and weak political interconnections make it more susceptible. ICC’s Executive Board, while taking the decision, completely failed to take into account that the law and order situation in the entire sub-continent was fragile and unpredictable.India, presently being termed as champion of cricket in Asia has had its share of terrorist activities. The regions with long-term terrorist activities today are Jammu & Kashmir, Mumbai, Central India (Naxalism) and Seven Sister States. In the past, the Punjab insurgency led to militant activities in the Indian state of Punjab as well as in Delhi. As of 2006, at least 232 of the country’s 608 districts were afflicted, at differing intensities, by various insurgent and terrorist movements. Mumbai has been the most preferred, over the past few years a series of attacks including explosions in local trains in July 2006, to the more recent ones in November, 2008 (killing at least 172). On August 25th, 2003, two bomb explosions near the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar killed 50 while on July 11th, 2006, a series of seven blasts took toll of 209 people.From Mumbai to Delhi and the three explosions on October 29th, 2005 killed more than 60 and injured at least 200. The Delhi Summit on Security took place on February 14th, 2007 with the foreign ministers of China, India and Russia meeting in Hyderabad House, Delhi to discuss terrorism, drug trafficking, reform of the United Nations and the security situations in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and North Korea. It was followed by 5 bombs exploding on September 13th, 2008.Attack on the Indian Parliament on December 13th, 2001, the Ayodhya Crisis, Varanasi blasts, insurgency in North-East India, the volatility in Nagaland and Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and the devastation continues to South. Karnataka, the serial blasts in Bangalore on July 26th, 2008 and the Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh, and the Hyderabad bombings, further to Tamil Nadu etcetera hardly show India being a country without possibilities of a series of other such attacks.Retrospectively, BCCI must know that unlike the West, it lives on a triggering device and events erupt to change the political, social and geographical dynamics. India, no matter how lucrative a marketplace isn't fully a safe place for cricket's unconditional prosperity. Throughout history, revolutions and political changes have brought the fall of one organisation or system only to replace it with another. "Round and round she goes, when she stops nobody knows!"In the present India-Pakistan situation, restricting to cricket alone, BCCI's egocentricity has been viewed as the root cause of the game's suffering, though indirectly in Pakistan and we still continue to jump on this ages-old, broken bandwagon. We have been led to believe that BCCI's inflated ego must be undone, negated or at least brought down a peg or two, convincing them that their prosperity would last from within the subcontinent with Pakistan, India and Bangladesh being the other three wheels.I genuinely believe that given Indian cricket's present economic growth my inclination to batter and blame BCCI's ego mentality is not only logically nonsensical, it is also irresponsible. They are ruling the roost and ready for complete domination, not in Asia but also contemplating to emerge as a major governing force in world cricket, effectively endeavoring to sabotage the ICC.Secondly, I assert that it's not the ego that's the true cause of the way things are in Asia, but rather the soul or the higher self. This includes the current crises. Although this may be hard to believe, it's true. It's time that both the BCCI and the PCB should know that the higher self's primary motivations are to experience, and through a variety of challenging experiences, to grow; they would also need BCCSL and the BCB..In fact, this is the time our collective higher selves actually engineer what's known as the illusion in order to accomplish some highly noble intentions on this Asian Block, otherwise Pakistan may well not but BCCI would end up in a real tight corner, completely isolated needing to learn through contrast and spirituality. By reconnecting within and viewing life from this higher-level perspective, you can achieve all these goals most quickly and easily.Bangladesh, another co-host mustn’t forget the August 17th, 2005 catastrophe. Five hundred bomb explosions occurred at 300 locations in 63 out of the 54 districts. The bombs were exploded within a half hour period starting from 11.30 a.m.On 17 August 2005, around 500 bomb explosions occurred at 300 locations in 63 out of the 64 districts of Bangladesh. The bombs were exploded within a half hour period starting from 11:30 am. A terrorist organization, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) claimed responsibility for the bombings. The group, led by Shaykh Abdur Rahman and the elusive Siddiqur Rahman (also known as Bangla Bhai), is alleged to be affiliated with Al Qaeda.In Sri Lanka on August 12th, 2005 their Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assasinated by an alleged LTTE sniper. On January 7th, 2006, a suspected LTTE fishing board loaded with explosives detonated and destroyed a Sri Lanka Navy vessel at the port of Trincomalee, killing thirteen sailors. The March 1st mine explosion and April 23rd attack on Sinahlese civilans in the village of Gomarankadawala in the Trincomalee district, an an attempt to kill Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, the sinking of Sri Lanka Navy ship on May 11th, and the killing of award-winning author Nihal de Silva and seven tourists by a LTTE land mine in Wilpatty National Park made 2006 gory for Sri Lanka.On June 15th the LTTE blew up a civilian bus killing 68, including ten children and three pregnant women. The same day, the LTTE bombed a bus carrying 140 people in Kebithigollewa in Northeastern Sri Lanka. Sixty-eight people died. On June 26th, 2006, the third highest ranking Sri Lanka Military officier Major General Parami Kulatunga was wounded in an attack by LTTE and died after reaching the hospital. A suicide bomber killed 103 sailors on October 16th. On February 7th, 2007 at Batticaloa, Rev. Selliah Parameswaran Kurukkal, the head Priest of the Santhiveli Pilleyar Kovil and a father of three, who blessed President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the President’s visit to Vakarai four days previously, was forcibly dragged out of his residence and shot dead by gunemen from the LTTE.There were eight terrorist attacks in April and several others continuing well into May, July, August, September and November made Sri Lanka hostage to militancy. On January 1st, 2008, a former minister and a Member of Parliament beloning to UNP for Colombo District T. Maheswaran was shot by a gunman while attending the New Year prayers at Kotahena, Sivam Kovil around 10..35 local time (05:05 GMT) and later succumbed to his injuries at the Colombo General Hospital along with one Hindu pilgrim who was too attending to the prayers. On January 8th, a non-caibnet Minister of Nation Building and a Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka, D. M. Dassanayake died of injuries sustained in a roadside bomb attack in Ja-Ela, twelve miles (19 km) north of Colombo along with one of his body guard. The attack injured ten others. LTTE blamed for this assassination.Ironically, the sequence of terrorism in Sri Lanka runs into 2009, with the suicide air raid on Colombo on February 20th, the Kirimetiyagara Village Massacre on February 20th, and the Mahagodaya Massacre on April 12th should have been evidence enough for the ICC to refrain taking a radical decision against Pakistan. A legal notice to the ICC and the PCB ratcheting up the stakes in its confrontation further, sending a lette rto Michael Beloff, President of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, to refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) isn’t something emotional, it is all quite logical.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Writer is the Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Official Historian of Pakistan Cricket </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-87188237815428769422009-05-14T21:22:00.000-07:002009-05-14T21:25:33.646-07:00Curbing Terrorism: Difficult Fight Ahead by Khalid Khokhar<div align="justify">The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, storming of Marriott Hotel, attacking a visiting Sri Lankan cricket team and assaulting a Police Academy Manawan have galvanized the PPP-led Government to embark upon a comprehensive and sustained campaign to flush the militants in Buner, Dir and Swat regions. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />The people of Pakistan supports the ongoing military operation codenamed as “Rah-e-Haq Four” against the militants rebels in the Malakand division of country’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The “Malakand Peace Aggrement-2009” that was brokered on February 16, 2009, aimed to curtail militants' freedom of actions and wean locals away from hardcore militant Talibans. The peace accord was followed by Nizam-i-Adl Regulation-2009 (NAR) hoping that it was a regional remedy which should not be exported to other parts of the country. Soon after its implementation, the Swat Peace Accord suffered a violation committed by Talibans. The militants started intimidating people and forcibly recruiting young people to take them back to Swat for military training. The military was exercising restraint to honour the peace agreement in Swat, but the deal has only emboldened an export into other districts in the name of spreading Islamic law. The utmost restraint from Pakistan Army was misinterpreted as “weakness”. The militants moved south to occupy Buner, just few hundred kilometers from Islamabad. Taliban militants want to enforce own laws in the region, and have been attacking government buildings, courts and security forces. The militancy was further accentuated by the edict of TNSM leader Sufi Mohammad (who helped negotiate the peace deal in Swat) declaring that Pakistani institutions like Parliament and the High Courts are un-Islamic - a statement that reveals the militants’ broader goal of undermining Pakistan’s democratic institutions. It is quite alarming that insurgency-ravaged environment prevalent in Swat, Buner and Dir has created serious national security concerns for Pakistan, both internal and external which can be enumerated as under: - (a) Spill over of extremism and militancy in the settled areas. Incident of militancy in SWAT, Buner and Dir are a case in point. (b) Burgeoning trend of extremism which unleashed a spate of suicide attacks all over Pakistan. (c) Subversion of general masses through negative propaganda by militants against the Government, thriving on the common perception that Pakistan is fighting America's war. (d) Presence of foreign fighters has serious impact on the overall security situation in the country. (e) Demands from international community to "Do More" affect morale of our troops, who have given huge sacrifices. The continuation of unlawful activities even after the peace deal and enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl in Malakand and Swat areas, forced Pakistan Army to resume their operations on April 26 in Lower Dir, Buner and Swat. An all-out offensive “Rah-e-Haq-Four”, has been launched in Swat to flush out anti-state elements and terrorists from the restive valley. The militants entered Buner district in the first week of April and secured a firm control of the district after a clash in Gokand. The sources believed majority of the militants had come from Swat while they had also recruited locals in their militia. Pakistan Army is doing a commendable service and progress in controlling the Buner region. In Maidan area of Lower Dir district, the Army has been using gunship helicopters to pound the suspected positions of the militants. The operation would lead towards Sultanwas and Pir Baba. Militants’ strongholds in Mingora, Peochar, Kabal, Khawazakhel and Shangla had been attacked successfully. In Swat, the ground forces have moved towards the area which is considered to be the “rear base” of militant hideouts of Fazlullah, Muslim Khan, Shah Dawran, Mehmood Khan and Ibne Amin. The Government is likely to deploy two more division as part of contingency measure to eliminate miscreants in the troubled areas. The militants were on the run. Nevertheless, the district headquarters of Mingora is still under the control of Taliban. The militants are patrolling the streets and holding positions in roof-tops. The ground intelligence estimates indicate the presence of about 4000 militants in Swat, and around 700-800 in Buner. 762 militants have been killed, 34 personnel of security forces martyred and 77 others injured in the operation of “search & destroy” till writing of these lines on 14 May, 2009. Major General. Athar Abbas, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said security forces were exercising utmost restraint during the military operation in Buner as the militants were using civilians as human shields. They are attacking only confirmed hideouts and strongholds in the valley on the mountains to, avoid collateral damage. The effects of the operation are evident: (a) Cross border move has been fairly controlled. (b) Militants' freedom of movement has been considerably curtailed. (c) Ability to organize training camps is effectively dented. (d) Common people are gradually weaning away from the militants. (e) Absorbed all the "No Go Areas" in FATA and traditional writ has been restored to a large extent. (f) Majority of militants' sanctuaries have been busted. (g) Balance of power is gradually shifting to Government/common tribesmen. (h) Development works are progressing at a reasonable pace. The Governmental strategy was to re-establish Government's writ followed by package of incentives, quick dispensation of compensation, rehabilitation process & reform and economic development. The military operation has led to a flood of internally displace people (IDP) seeking shelter outside Malakand division. According to reliable sources, millions of people are fleeing through difficult mountain tracks to the neighbouring Swabi and Mardan districts, where the Government has set up 20 refugee camps. The exodus from Dir, Swat, Buner and Malakand constitutes the largest IDPs since 1947. With the fresh migration, the total is likely to exceed 1.5 millions. Approximately 9,90,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have so far got themselves registered with the government. The Pakistan Cabinet endorsed the ongoing military operation against the Taliban and other militants in the Malakand division of the country's North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Some of the features are: (a) creation of P M Special Fund for the victims of terrorism with the initial contribution of Rs200 million from MNAs own pockets, besides a month’s salary. (b) Formation of committees to carry out day-to day monitoring of IDPs. (c) Providing full cover to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) through Benazir Income Support Program. (d) Holding of “peace march” against terrorists and militants across the country. As the use of force within own country without popular support of the people, could seriously erode credibility of military operations in the eyes of own people. Therefore, Pakistan Army has to be very careful to avoid collateral damage and take extra care of the local sensitivities. The Federal Cabinet has fully endorsed military action in Swat observing that there was no option left after failure of the peace accord. However, the cabinet expressed the resolve that there should be minimum collateral damage and should be over as soon as possible. Gen Kayani’s remark that “The present security situation requires that all elements of national power should work in close harmony to fight the menace of terrorism and extremism”, serves as a welcome sign that the army needs active cooperation of all other elements of the society to meet this enormous challenge. The people have realized that even after accepting their demand of enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl, the miscreants continued to indulge in unlawful activities including destroying public property, abduction, dacoities etc. The entire nation shared their grief and sympathies with their brethren of Swat Buner and Dir in the hour of trial and tribulation and will not leave them alone in lurch. Within this purview, cardinal aspects are: (a) Military means must be politically driven backed by popular support. (b) Convergence of military and political components. (c) Use of minimum essential force to achieve well defined objectives. (d) Conduct effect based operations to establish writ of the Government and shape the environment for effective articulation of political and socio-economic means. (e) Reduce own and exploit militants' vulnerabilities. The fight against Taliban and extremists is a long-term, episodic, multi-front, and multi-dimensional conflict. Pakistan is doing everything it can within the constraints. The Pakistan military may have a difficult fight ahead. The Taliban have already been digging trenches and fortified positions. There are indications that the fighting in Dir, Buner and Swat will be heavier with high civilian cost. In a recently conducted survey by US-based International Republican Institute (IRI) on March 2009, 69 per cent acknowledged that Taliban and al Qaeda operating in Pakistan is a serious threat, while 45 per cent support Pakistan Army fighting the extremists in NWFP/FATA. The armed forces are determined to take the operation to its logical conclusion. However, it will be a long drawn counterinsurgency operation because Pakistan Army is confronting an “irregular war”. Even winning the conflicts in Swat and tribal regions will not end the “long war” against terrorism. Terrorism cannot be eradicated by taking pre-emptive military actions alone as it has several dimensions. The amicable and permanent resolution of the issue of extremism can only be achieved when it is addressed in totality and not in parts. It is of course very important to confront the immediate threat of terrorism but it is equally important to address the root causes of terrorism. People loose hope, when societies breakdown and countries fragment. These then become recruiting areas for terrorists. The world can be made a safer place by investing in people, strengthening economic opportunity, responding to global challenges, alleviating poverty, eradicating hunger, fighting disease and spreading literacy to the poor and marginalized people in the tribal belt. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-66348563337085869762009-05-14T21:19:00.000-07:002009-05-14T21:22:08.195-07:00Pulling the Rabbit out of Empty Hat by I.A. Pansohta<div align="justify">Sweet or sour, statements are something like a cocktail of fair or foul practices. But such catchy phrases or ideas leave a profound impact on the psyche of people.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />The statement by one of the honorable American think tank Bruce Riedel that Pakistan has become one of the `most dangerous places in the world’ will prove a costly illusion to the Muslim community, in general and Pakistani Diaspora in particular. Besides, indicting Pakistan on a number of accounts, such as a country with track record of abetting nuclear proliferation, waging wars with its neighbor, hosting terrorists, and running drug business, he even termed Pakistan as birthplace of whole group of terrorist organizations, ultimately linked to the Pakistan intelligence service and to the Pakistan military. His concluding remarks “these are conspiracies within conspiracies within conspiracies” demand a close scrutiny and reality check, to lay bare the facts before the readers. His statement about the complex political scenario currently prevailing in the country cannot be denied, but the resultant situation, is outcome of many factors, to which Pakistan alone cannot be blamed for. Each subject, Mr. Riedel raised, has its own history that cannot be summed up to clear the doubts of the international community, in so short span of time. Pakistan has been target of international conspiracies, time and again, but to divulge the realities, by its leaders, would have posed more threats, than serving any good purpose. On the contrary, our ability to say yes to most of the calls, by our coalition partners was never appreciated or paid with the kind tokens by the foreign media managers. But whenever things went wrong, in their calculations, as consequences of such moves, Pakistan became the victim of wide publicity and US or European lobbies started picking holes in its policies. It may not be wrong to say that there may be a few countries in the world, so pliable, as Pakistan is. If India carries out its nuclear tests, no hullabaloo is created and the dust of international acerbity, kicked up, after a few condemnation statements, settles after sometime. But in Pakistan’s case, whatever it does for its safety, or as its deterrence against Indian expansionism, it goes with a big bang as `Islamic bomb’. ISI did whatever its masters wished it to do but it always remains in the news for displaying double standards. The issue often raised about ISI element’s involvement, in violating the agreed agenda is more a myth than reality. As far, Pakistan’s capability to fight counter-terrorism wars is concerned, the same can be partially acknowledged but time has taught many new things to our military and the leadership, to confront challenges, one after the other. By design or by default, the situation, which our young generation might face would be stigma of Jihadis – a symbol of hate or terror. The Americans and the European fully know what Pakistanis did or doing and what all this tiny community in US/Europe is contributing to make their lives so comfortable. Against the ground realities, Mr. Riedel’s statement does not fit well. Will some one peel off his logic and carry out reality-check with his open eyes, to set the things right? At the same time one should not be disillusioned with certain other realities may termed as referred pain – a medical terminology used when the patient complains about the pain that actually shoots due to any other disease of other organ. A practical manifestation of such misconstrued concept is the definition of terrorism in the modern lexicons. In the same manner, Pakistani people throw out their feeler, when they are mistreated, when painted in the wrong color or shades. They complain, why those criminals who kill another fellow-being, out of their religious grudge are treated as Taliban, terrorist or extremists, whereas this is centuries old common human nature all over the world. They also argue that Muslims, who turn violent, after the murder of their mother, wife, children or any other close relative by the anti-terrorist squads or during the drone attack are dubbed, treated and targeted as Taliban/al-Qaeda operatives or Extremists? Although their reaction is a natural phenomenon being a defender, guardian or savior of their families or part of social set-up? Every society is curious mix of people of different shades and opinion. In any society, there are nationalists HR activists, patriots, criminals, fifth columnists and political parasites, yet collective condemnation or labeling a nation as Jihadis or Taliban is not rational, as no one can guess what ratio of its population is exactly assessing its government actions as right or wrong. Most of the people in Pakistan lament that they have become more or less hostage of certain disinformation lobbies of generally Western origin, who fabricate or project the individuals’ un-Islamic immoral and inhuman acts as whole nation’s collective mindset, faith or strategy to which they so vehemently and categorically condemn, disapprove and disagree. The media reflection of Pakistani society, in most of the Western world, is generally considered biased, distorted and devoid of reality. Except few pockets in the border belt area, neither its 99% population supports Jihadi outlook, nor they want to be wary, is never highlighted. Let anybody come and visit the whole of Pakistan to see with their own eyes, he will find every citizen peace-loving, law-abiding, god-fearing and badly smitten with poverty - but full of complaints against the poor governance and highhandedness of powerful Mafias be they feudal community or ruling political hierarchy or the pressure groups. The impression about Pakistani people, generally reflecting Pakistanis as supporters of Jihadis or anti-American/Europeans is not true. Granted the current spree of drone attacks has created a wave of anxiety and resentment against Bush legacy, but people fully know what role the USA played to save, support and bail out Pakistan from a chain of crisis during the last six decades. Despite reservations, one will have to acknowledge that Americans felt the pulse of our nation with great sympathy and in all probability will continue to support us in future as well. But it is beyond anybody’s guess, how Mr. Riedel went to the extent of visualizing Pakistan, a place that is most dangerous heart of this planet? Many American, European and Eastern were heard quoting that Pakistani Diaspora has been found, one of the best community, due to their humility, hard-work, loyalty, discipline, law-abiding and morally sound that has virtually helped them to earn great respect. True or false, my claims can be verified by all those, who either are living or had spent reasonable time here. What hot and cold is being blown about Pakistanis as extremists, Jahidis or terrorists or militants is an attempt to pull the rabbit out of hat either with certain vest interests, malfunctioning of some other government institutions or seeing the things from wrong perspectives. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-53456876883990693572009-05-14T21:12:00.000-07:002009-05-14T21:16:25.488-07:00Bleeding Wars by I. A. Passohta<div align="justify">A senior fellow at Brooking institute and Advisor to three consecutive US Presidents since 9/11 Mr. Bruce Riedel, who also authored one of the most sought after book “the Search for al Qaeda:<br />its leadership, ideology and future’ while giving an interview to Trudy Rubin termed Pakistan as the `Most Dangerous Country in the World’ today. The contents of answers are full of skeptics that Pakistani Jihadis’ ultimate goal is to drive the US out of the Muslim world, to force US to withdraw all of its military forces and diplomats. In his opinion, the immediate goal is to bleed the United States and its allies in what Taliban call “bleeding Wars” There is an adage, “the riches are supposed to do what they want and poor will continue to suffer which they must”. This preposition fully fits around the neck of Pakistanis. His statement is actually a curious mix of many charges which are inter-linked. Pakistan has nuclear weapons, out of our necessity of survival to safeguard our sovereignty against lurking Indian expansionism threat. But charges against Pakistan for proliferating the nuclear technology to others by a group of scientists is a different story that goes beyond saying, with many ifs and buts. What if some one reminds Mr. Riedel to justify the role of those Americans who were involved in the espionage of technical know how from the USA to former USSR. There are many nuclear countries in the world now but why they all have not been mentioned as dangerous as Pakistan is? The fact that one will have to acknowledge that in every country, people of shady characters or men of excellence, who play their negative or positive role, at one stage or the other. To single out Pakistan for this purpose at this stage, by ignoring others, who betrayed their countries, amounts to pulling the strings, against this most allied ally. Pakistan is dangerous in his opinion because this country has fought four wars - Yes it did, but the US had fought over one hundred wars. Will the Americans like, if they are regarded as dangerous. If his rational is accepted as true that Pakistan is hosting terrorist and providing them safe haven. Pakistan could be blamed if it had proofs, or any other country provided any leads or actionable intelligence but it did not act. It is matter of common sense that no one likes to keep the thieves or such trouble mongers in his house. Why should a country that had track history of being so peaceful, would allow criminals to enjoy hospitality in Pakistan. If they come and go or hide somewhere, it may be inability of concerned quarters and if the US can help tracking them with its state of the art technology, the genie of terrorism would have been harnessed years back. Such people of ill-fame or repute bring a bad name and pose risk to the life and property. They are like the lethal weapons and nuke, whose custody or monitoring is both expensive and risky. They are the one who may push the country to the point of no return and expedite a fall from the high estate. At the same time, a miscalculated or speculative conclusion, that Pakistan does such things, by displaying double standards. It has become a fashion now to link Pakistan with terrorism. The hearsays goes on, and no one bothers to know the root cause of the problem. Say it Pakistan’s dilemma after having displayed such a high degree of allegiance, maintained in its relations with US and European allies in the past. How come, the people or leaders of Pakistan could have become so improvident and imprudent of brewing troubles for the US or its allies, when they have no political vendetta or any divergence on any key issue? May be a few Taliban sympathizers in a country of more or less 180 millions people extended their cooperation, on multiple accounts by providing shelter or safe haven by design or out of their criminal ignorance. But such black-sheep are found in every corner of the world. Had Pakistan ever ignored any information to act, then Pakistan can be blamed. But if no such thing was ever noticed, then trumpeting up such charges, time and again, is sheer injustice. In fact, the Agencies, collecting and processing intelligence should share the blame for their inability to track or locate such elements. With the multitude of such domestic problems, the state is bound to experience so many administrative shortcomings. Mr. Riedel’s statement that country is awash in narcotics and drugs, in the backdrop of our all out cooperation and joint anti - Narcotics operations with the cooperation and assistance of European experts to eliminate this menace has yielded fair degree of success. It may be significant to note that a country like India with world’s largest poppy cultivation has not been discussed in the same context, as Pakistan has been. His assertion that the country was on the brink of nuclear war during a couple of years, cannot be denied - but it was not Pakistan’s fault and whatever we did was out of our earnest desire to defend this state against any foreign aggression. His rhetoric that they (Jihadis) want to US military forces or diplomats to leave their country. But Pakistan is not a state or country for such a tiny/fractional number of opinion If an impartial opinion-survey is conducted, the results would fully demonstrate real credentials of the people of this country. Even most of the Americans, currently living in Pakistan will not approve any such mindset of Pakistanis. Taliban or their affiliates they have no authority to dictate or decide the fate of 180 million people of Pakistan. To far the impression that these Taliban or extremists would take the control of major part of the country, in the presence of more than six hundred thousand motivated and armed forces, how a scattered, un-trained and tiny number of militants can take the reigns of power into their hand? His rational that about coup attempts in Pakistan if replied to amounts to opening a Pandora’s Box. Similarly, his logic for making an attempt with the top notches of army and intelligence to comply with the orders of democratically elected civilian establishment is riddled with multiple layers of “marriage of convenience” best-known to ruling elites of both the countries. Besides, his assessment about `Is ISI on our side or the other side’ - is an issue that cannot be discussed due to the sensitivity and lack of access to the information. But suffice to say, that working relationship, as seen through various media reports between the counterpart of the US and Pakistan’s Agency officials and Military commands, reflects fairly good if not excellent. A sizeable number of intelligentsia, however, feels embarrassed when American partners, talk in circles without being specific to solve the problem. After rendering so many sacrifices and committing near one hundred thousand troops along the border, out of its meager financial resources, if Islamabad, fails to convince the US administration, on whose side the ISI is, then Pakistan should pay due attention to find an alternate and amicable solution of the problem to seek mutual consensus to avoid any ambiguity. His assertion “if you look at the itch that Pakistan has been scratching for the last 30 years that has produced this Jihadist culture” has many strands or riddles for the historians and political analysts to look into the problem. How did Jihadi culture proliferate? How did Pakistan remain a hub of such unwanted activities? How international interests did fuel this crisis and why US supported military regime of Pakistan failed to toe the US line, are some of the important questions Mr. Riedel may be knowing more, than anybody else. Similarly, his reference to the compensation or the aid provided to Pakistan “We have provided somewhere in excess of $11 billion in aid to Pakistan since 9/11. That is more aid than we have provided in the previous fifty years to Pakistan” has already been discussed and details of the expenditure have been provided by the concerned quarters. Again, some of the salient features of interview like poor infrastructure of roads airports and educational system with proposed Biden Bill to help Pakistan rebuild its public education is really right step in the right direction, provided tides of public wraths generated by the drone attacks are not stirred to wipe away the rewards of generosity. Mr. Riedel should play his role to help Pakistan to translate Biden vision into reality to turn Pakistan a region of peace than a din of terrorist ghosts. The threat, which he echoed in his statement “I fear that within two to four years al-Qaeda could be in the streets of Islamabad” demands careful analysis and warrants vigilance. Pakistan can achieve any amount of success, provided, it is provided all moral and material support. In the recent past, the recipe of applying both stick and carrot created more fog of confusion, than steering our efforts in the right direction. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-181837469539638082009-05-14T21:06:00.000-07:002009-05-14T21:11:33.112-07:00INDIA’S NUCLEAR SAFETY by Muhammad Sa’ad<div align="justify">India wants to increase its nuclear power generation manifold within framework of the 123 agreement. However, India’s desire is fraught with severe hazards. India’s past record of nuclear-security is dismal. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Christopher Pine, a nuclear expert at the Natural Resources Council in Washington, stated that Indian power plants have the lowest capacity factor in the world and one of the poorest safety records. A UN report, published in 1993, confirmed Pine’s fears. The report stated that occupational-exposure hazards in India, calculated in proportion to the amount of electricity generated, were six to eight times more than the world average. A subsequent report of Indian Parliamentary corroborated that there has been 147 mishaps or safety related incidents, including 28 of acute nature. Dr A. Gopalakrishnan, former Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, willy-nilly admitted in his report to the Atomic Energy Agency in 1996, following observations: (a) Indian nuclear facilities have had 130 instances of safety related concerns including 95 that require urgent action. (b) India is likely to face serious nuclear accident in the not too distant future. (c) The degree of automation and cross checks on safety in old nuclear power plants is very minimal. The poor safety standards in nuclear plants have been a subject of litigation also. However, even India’s supreme court (on 6 January 2004) wilted under government’ s pressure and rejected a public-interest petition seeking disclosure of contents of Atomic Energy Regulation Board report. disallowed opening the lid from the Pandora box of lapses. The basic contention of the petition was that nuclear installations and atomic power stations across the country were endangering the lives of people living in the vicinity. Dr A Gopalakrishnan, former Chairman of India’s AERB was also a petitioner. He had contended that serious nuclear accidents could take place at Narora Nuclear Power Plant, Uttar Pradesh and Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant, Karnataka. The Supreme Court ruled that Government had every right to maintain secrecy about nuclear installations and deny public information about these in the interest of national security. It would be pertinent to quote a few failures of nuclear safety. The Cirus reactor at Trombay, capable of producing 14 kg weapon-grade plutonium, developed a radiation leak in 1991. As a result, soil water and vegetation in the vicinity was contaminated. Dhruva, a reactor at Trombay, capable of producing 30 kg weapon grade plutonium, suffered from design problems that caused fuel failures. Mumbai port became radioactive because of nuclear effluents discharged by plutonium -reprocessing facilities. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor of 40 MW at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, built with French assistance, was rated `not safe’, and discarded. Similar reactors, like Super Phoenix of France and Monju of Japan, were also discarded because of safety hazards. Twenty-six workers were injured because of radiation leakage on 14 Mar 1980. Subsequently, a high dosage (740 times higher than the normal level) of iodine was found in seawater around this plant in 1989. The radioactive waste from the plant contaminated the water supply of nearly 3000 villagers living nearby. Rajasthan Atomic Power Plants, Rawatbhata (Kota) were shut down several times during 1980 to 1994 due to cracks in its coolant channels, or water leakage. Madras Atomic Power Plants, Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu) suffered numerous shutdowns because of radiation leakages, injurious to workers and marine life. Let us quote a few more incidents. Since early 1990s, Madras Atomic Power Reactors have suffered frequent breakdown owing to defective flow of uranium. On March 1993, fire broke out in the Narora Atomic Power Plant. On 25 April 2003, heavy water leaked from one of the coolant channels. The resulting radiation affected the environment. The radiation leakages from tritium- contaminated heavy water from coolant channels of Kakrapar Atomic Power Station have affected not only the workers but also the population in vicinity. A power reactors experienced a near disastrous fire accident in 1991. The design of Kaiga Atomic Power Plants proved to be defective. Containment dome of a unit collapsed in 1994, 24 hours prior to commissioning of the plant. In view of poor nuclear safety-standards in India, India’s quest for augmenting its nuclear energy by establishing a sprawling network of nuclear reactors could be hazardous for the people and the environment. The performance of the existing reactors amply reflects that several plants suffered from flaws in designs, besides slipshod operation. Being the next-door neigbour, poor nuclear safety in India is a source of concern for it. The world community and the nuclear watchdogs, also, should prevent export of nuclear fuel to India ostensibly for nuclear-power generation. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-74497569149408713982009-05-13T21:49:00.000-07:002009-05-13T21:53:02.705-07:00Post-operation scenario by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">The humanitarian crisis in Malakand Division is not much different from epic scale tragedy of October earthquake so far as matter of displaced people is concerned.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Therefore, the government should move on war footing for the rehabilitation of displaced persons to win their hearts and minds. The military operation was inevitable in Swat because extremists and militants were not willing to wean away from their anti-people and anti-state activities, as they believed in righteousness of their cause and success in their mission. In FATA and NWFP there are many shades of Taliban. There are also groups supported and funded by foreign agencies having their own agenda. In February 2009, the Awami National Party had entered into a peace accord with Sufi Muhammad with the objective to restore peace in Swat by demobilisation of Taliban militia and restoration of the state’s writ to the beleaguered valley. But none was anywhere in sight. Fazlullah’s brigands had publicly vowed neither to disarm nor to demobilise. Visibly, the militants consolidated their position in Swat and began advancing to Buner, Lower Swat and Shangla to entrench, and link up with local Taliban and enlist new recruits to hold on to these regions too. When the US wanted from Pakistan to be ruthless with the militants it may have its axe to grind, or may have some genuine grievances that militants from Pakistan side enter Afghanistan to create problems for US and NATO forces. It is, however, impossible to completely stop their movements because of the porous border, though the frequency can be reduced by taking stringent measures. Many people had raised eyebrows over the peace agreement on the pretext that it was result of building up pressure by arm wielding Taliban on the government. So far the residents of Swat are concerned with the enforcement of Nizam-i-Adl, their old demand for restoring system of courts during Wali-i-Swat was met. Agreement to this effect was signed by Sufi Muhammad, who on his part had assured the government that he would use his influence over Maulana Fazlullah of Tehrik-i-Taliban and Taliban would lay down arms after the announcement of Nizam-i-Adl. It, however, transpired that Fazlullah had other motives and he prevailed upon Sufi Muhammad who insisted that he would himself appoint Qazis and Darul Qaza, monitor the entire system, and the government would have no say in the matters in Malakand Division. Unfortunately, the Taliban have proved their skeptics right who presaged that they would not stop at Swat or for that matter in Malakand Division. It so happened that after the announcement of Nizam-i-Adl, they started moving from Swat to Dir and Buner terrorising the people and enlisting more recruits and manpower to run a parallel government. Meanwhile, Maulana Sufi Muhammad in a public meeting used derogatory remarks against the Constitution, Supreme and High Courts, describing democracy and its institutions as nizam-i-kufr. By doing so, he lost the support of a large section of the people who had earlier supported or sympathised with his cause. Anyway, it was duty of the followers of Sufi Muhammad and Fazlullah to ensure the safety of the people, but on the contrary Fazlullah’ thugs continued to play havoc in Dir, Buner and Shangla. In this backdrop, the security forces had no choice but to take action to stem their tide. The Taliban claim that they are fighting for the cause of Islam but the question is how a Muslim could kill innocent Muslim brethren on one pretext or another, and behead members of the security forces who are defenders of the frontiers of the country and the people? They risk their lives and lay down their lives so that their compatriots could live in peace. On Monday, the Taliban had taken control of Mingora and were trying to move into other areas in clear violation of the Swat peace agreement. According to latest report, security forces pounded militants’ strongholds with gunship helicopters and artillery in Swat also. Gunship helicopters targeted militants’ positions in Shahdhari area of tehsil Kabal, Bamakhela, Khawazakhela in Matta and Malamjabba mountains. On Thursday, Taliban militants blocked roads with rocks and trees preventing terrified civilians from fleeing the valley as the army stepped up a ground and air assault on the guerrillas. More than 500,000 Pakistanis driven out by fighting in other regions of the northwest are already living in makeshift camps or with relatives, adding a growing humanitarian crisis to the country’s daunting security, economic and political problems. With Taliban militants roaming the streets of Mingora, Swat’s main town, and troops launching artillery and air strikes on militant targets from helicopter, many residents remain indoors with trepidation and fear. But more and more internally displaced persons are leaving their houses and the figure is estimated to be one million. The government has already arranged camps for the people who are leaving their abodes to avert collateral damage but it needs a massive effort of civil society, non-governmental organisations and political parties to help those people in this hour of need. In view of colossal human suffering, the international community should come forward to help those who are in camps. Meanwhile, the security forces should try to clear the roads to help residents of Swat to vacate the area, so that operation could be taken to its logical conclusion by flushing the militants once for all. In the past, peace agreements were signed but to no avail because after military operation and quelling violence, the army went to the barracks without finishing the job because there were many voices criticising the security forces for killing their own people. But this time around, the government, parliamentarians, political parties and people at large are supportive of the military action and wish to see that armed forces complete the job by eliminating the terrorists from the area. Indeed, when the people see the army succeeding in its mission, they will bear the inconveniences for its campaign to go ahead with all the speed and full vigour. The government must set up well-maintained and tightly-secured camps in safer places near their homes and post officials to guide them to those encampments. The government should bear in mind that challenge of rehabilitation of refugees also provide opportunity to help the displaced persons, who have all the time on their minds as to what will happen to their houses and belongings? They should be assured that they will never be left alone and would be looked after in the camps and they will get all the help in rebuilding their houses after the militants are flushed out of the area. To express solidarity with the displaced persons, the NGOs, civil society organisations and political parties should send their delegations to visit the refugee camps. Right thinking ulema should also visit those camps to tell the people that what militants are doing is against the teachings of Islam and inspire them to never bow down to the imposters who raise the banner of Islam to denigrate it through their barbaric methods, bullying, killing and maiming their Muslim brethren. Armed with the trust and confidence, these people in the camps would prove a great asset and in future they will stand up and fight the enemies of Pakistan and Islam. The media should also play its role by giving all out support to the armed forces and discouraging the so-called intellectuals and religious zealots, who try to prove that action should not have been taken against the militants. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-64681257579239049912009-05-13T21:30:00.000-07:002009-05-13T21:34:14.255-07:00Eyeing Pak-Afghan Transit Trade by Momin Iftikhar<div align="justify">The signing of a Pak-Afghan MoU, on 6 May 2009, on the sidelines of the tri-lateral discussions involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and US has been viewed as a significant development in reshaping the contours of an existing transit trade agreement, signed in 1965 to provide transit to Afghan trade through Pakistan.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />The MoU binds the two governments to finalize a trade agreement by the end of the year; the existing arrangements having been overtaken by the exigencies of the changing geo-strategic environments in the Region. It was however the doctored jubilation in the Indian media that led one to believe that perhaps the MoU had provided a much awaited breakthrough to India in securing a transit trade route through Pakistan to Afghanistan. It was the clarification from the Pakistan Foreign Office that put a check to such vested speculations. “As far as our engagement with India in the context of transit route for Afghanistan is concerned, it is a separate issue all together. It will be discussed with India bilaterally and has nothing to do with MoU,” said Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit. The spokesman clarified the Nation’s stance by saying that progress in ties with New Delhi was not possible without resolution of all disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir. Sensing an opportunity to push a foot in the door, India has redoubled its efforts in securing the Wagah-Khyber transit route to Afghanistan – a lingering ambition ever since independence - notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan and Afghanistan are already engaged in an exercise to revise the agreement as an ongoing process and signing of the MoU is nothing out of the blue. The aspect was adequately underscored by Mr. Basit. “This is not something new and is going on because Afghanistan at one stage proposed to us that we need to revise this agreement. So this is a continuation of the process,” he clarified. With the emergence of Central Asian Republics the dependence of Afghanistan and Pakistan on both ways transit facilities through their respective homelands has acquired greater importance that is mutually intertwined in the manner of a conjoined twin. Afghanistan is dependent on Pakistan for providing a major and shortest access to a seaport. In its turn Afghanistan, due to its strategic location has the potential to provide Pakistan transit access to the Central Asian States and vice versa. Presently the transit through Pakistan is governed by the 1965 Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) which specifies the port, route, transport modes and customs transit procedures. But the status quo already stands shaken by the winds of change. Over the last forty three years the economic, infrastructural and geo-political conditions in the Region have transformed to say the least. Consequently the two countries are already engaged in renegotiating ATTA, not only with regard to arranging a transit arrangement for Afghanistan to reach the Arabian Sea but also define the terms for Pakistan to secure routes to the Central Asian Republics through Afghanistan. The MoU signed in Washington is a step in formalizing the ongoing process; a work in progress. India, without sharing a border with Afghanistan is obsessed with gaining a transit route to Afghanistan and thence on to the Central Asian States. The transit route through Pakistan has remained an enduring dream; but obviously this has not dissuaded her from exploring other options. A major manifestation of her ambitions was on display when President Karzai and the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 220 KM link-road Delaram (Nimroz Province Afghanistan) – Zaranj (on Iranian border); a lion’s share of the $1.1 billion construction costs having been footed by India . This road effectively links Afghanistan’s arterial Herat-Kabul-Kandahar ring road with the Iranian port of Chahbahar, thus opening up Afghanistan and the Central Asian States to a transit route from Iran. It is worth noting that India has already concluded transit agreements with Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and the Chahbahar link up affected in Afghanistan will help her speed up her flow of men and materials in the Region. The opening up of an alternative route has only marginally depreciated the importance of the transit route through Pakistan. The Iranian route covers a distance of more than 3500 Km, whereas the Torkhum Route involves 2700 KM and given the expenses involved, the commercial viability of the Iranian route will remain at a marked handicap. Aware of the inherent disadvantages and making a determined effort to offset the same, the Iranian Government has allowed Afghan exporters a 90% discount on port fees, a 50% discount on warehouse charges and permitting Afghan vehicles full transit rights on the Iranian road system. Notwithstanding the acquisition of an alternative transit route into Afghanistan, the Indian obsession still remains fixated in finding a transit corridor to Afghanistan through Pakistani territory. Such an Indian desire, incidentally, is not restricted to Pakistan alone. Finding such a transit swath through Bangladesh to gain access to its restive North Eastern States has remained a persistent Indian ambition – something that constituted a strategic goal of India’s seeking the dismemberment of East Pakistan and a desire that has largely remained unfulfilled so far. In Nepal she doesn’t need a corridor since through a highly manipulative treaty of friendship and cooperation the Indo-Nepal border is open and is extensively used to keep the Government in Nepal on its knees and always looking over its shoulders to evade Indian coercion. For the Indian Government to think that it can acquire the right of transit trade to Afghanistan passing through Pakistan,is an idea which doesn’t stand much chance, given the state of bilateral relations obtaining at the moment. India’s presence in Afghanistan has already become a major source of instability and subversion in FATA, NWFP Province and Baluchistan. She is flooding these areas with arms and funds for the forces of disruption that are buffeting Pakistan with an unprecedented fury. The Composite Dialogue Process, which has an investment of five years of sustained negotiations, has all but come to a stand still. The perils of opening up Wagah – Khyber transit route to India for access into Afghanistan, under the circumstances, is fraught with unbearable costs. Much needs to be done before the Indian ambitions of a transit route to Afghanistan through Pakistan’s hinterland can translate into reality. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-56771943130725492152009-05-13T21:24:00.000-07:002009-05-13T21:29:24.891-07:00Hammer and anvil action in Swat by Sultan M Hali<div align="justify">The government finally took the decision to act against the miscreants in Swat with all its might. After resorting to negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi leader Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the provincial government of NWFP proposed the imposition of Nizam-e-Adl in Swat.<br />The Parliament endorsed it and the historical resolution was to bring peace to the troubled paradise on earth, the erstwhile scenic tourist resort. Despite acting in earnest in an effort to respond to the apparent desire of the people for seeking speedy justice, in continuation of the Nizam-e-Adl, the Dar-ul-Qaza or Qazi courts were also established. Unfortunately, the miscreants were never serious in their desire for peace or speedy justice or Islam or any other system to benefit the people. They had their own agenda. Instead of laying down arms, as stipulated in the peace accord, they swiftly moved to occupy Buner, when asked to vacate, they recruited youngsters from every house per force and spread into other areas, looting, plundering and behaving like marauding hordes of barbarians. They decried democracy, female education and even the constitution of Pakistan. The criminal nature of the miscreants, and the mala-fide and mischievous game plan they had devised was finally construed by the government, it also became clear that certain external forces were at play, who are funding, training and supporting the logistics of the miscreants. How else would they have the sophisticated communication infrastructure, unending supply of funds and the proficiency to match one of the finest armies in the world? Moin Ansari in his Op-Ed Indian RAW funded Swat terrorists: $650 million to destabilise Pakistan quotes a story carried by The Nation: "Three arrested members of a militants' gang especially deputed by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan have disclosed that RAW has been funding suicide bomb attacks in Pakistan and that the Indian agency has funnelled Rs 680 million through its links with the Afghan secret agency. The gang of three persons have brazenly admitted that they belong to the group of persons who had been deputed to 'destabilise democratic Pakistan' with the sole purpose of 'enforcement of Shariah' in the country. Operators of an intelligence agency, working beyond the call of their duty, came into contact with a source ready for a tip-off against a reward and led to the arrest of Khurram Ishtiaq, Ghulam Mustafa and Shamim. The persons had been working under Qari Hussain, second-in-command to Baitullah Mehsud. All the three had been arrested while they were on the prowl for a target. The militants had been arrested 'red-handed' as they possessed complete suicide kits, including two jackets and 70kg of explosives and detonators. The accused were hardened militants and took a lot of time to break in and make confessions. They revealed that Qari Hussain had been working to help three adjutants Farukh Usman alias Shahjee, Tayyab alias Baba; Ustad, the trainer to destabilise democratic government." The hardest hit are the peace loving people of Swat. Prior to the incursion by the miscreants, Swat had the highest literacy rate for women in the area. Its people were warm-hearted, broadminded and hospitable. Tourism being the primary source of earning, Swatis were an enlightened race. All this changed with the take over of the miscreants. The people became hostage to the terror groups. Their muted sighs of pain and anguish could not rise above the crescendo and din of the terrorists' gunfire. It is now becoming evident through information made available that each household was forced to provide young recruits for joining the miscreants. Many were drugged, doped or demonised into becoming suicide bombers. With the collapse of the law and order, the local population was forced to submit to the demands of the terror group. Even now the local population is being used as human shields, the territory has been mined by the miscreants to prevent them from leaving. The only recourse open to the local population is to flee on foot. This effort is fraught with peril because of the curfew imposed, the aerial bombardment and above all the fear of being caught in the open when curfew breaks are over. The Taliban are loath to let the locals escape to freedom, because they are their bargaining chip. Thus the local population is caught between the hammer of the military action and the anvil of the miscreants. Once they manage to escape, survival is not an assurance. The refugee camps hurriedly set-up to house the "IDPs" or Internally Displaced Persons are bursting at the seams and lack basic amenities. The crops ready to be harvested have been abandoned, the academic session, which had already been disrupted by the miscreants means a loss of many years. Their businesses abandoned, their houses in ruin and family members missing, the IDPs are in dire straits. The human tragedy, which is unfolding before us has many dimensions. Many religious and political parties are being critical of the use of force. This speaks of double standards. It is imperative that the operation be supported wholeheartedly to purge the region of the miscreants. Earlier efforts to eliminate the miscreants did not succeed because there were outcries against the use of force and the security agencies had to be withdrawn without completing the task. This time if the government means business, it should support the armed forces, more importantly, the people have to be wholehearted in championing the cause. The plight of the refugees requires international support. The IDPs must be sheltered, fed, and aided to overcome the trauma of the last few years of suppression, terror and fear. If the IDPs are not supported in their moment of need, they can be exploited by circumstances or the miscreants to turn to terror. The world owes it to them to save them from the hammer and anvil of misery and death. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-10012817416752858812009-05-13T21:03:00.000-07:002009-05-13T21:15:58.551-07:00Indian roadmap of extended strategic neighbourhood by Dr. Raja Muhammad Khan<div align="justify"><br />From Alexander the Great to Mahmud Ghaznavi and Zaheer ud Din Baber to Ahmed Shah Abdali, all conquerers and assailants from Europe and Central Asia had moved to India through Afghanistan.<br />Therefore, in the ensuing history, the nature of relationship between Afghanistan and Indian subcontinent emerged as an inevitable fastening. During the nineteenth century, Afghanistan experienced the prominent ‘Great Game’, a mêlée between the British India and the rapidly expanding Tsarist Russian Empire. Although direct Indian involvement in Afghanistan ceased momentarily since that time, however, due to common religious, ethnic, cultural and linguistic affiliations, the destinies of Afghanistan and North-West India remained bound together. After the partition of the subcontinent it was expected that Pakistan due to geographical contiguity, common religion, ethnic and linguistic ties would be nearer to Afghanistan as compared to India. But unfortunately, this did not happen. Rather, the issue of Durand Line and implicit role of India assisted by former Soviet Union (USSR) shoddily affected our relations to a considerable level. From then on, the diplomatic, trade, transit and bilateral relations remained at lowest ebb in most of the time during our common neighbourly history. With the connivance of India, then Afghanistan administration under late king Zahir Shah, created many complications for the newly born state of Pakistan. In the subsequent years, India, Afghanistan and USSR did not let pass any chance in destabilizing and weakening Pakistan by promoting nationalistic and anti Pakistan sentiments in Balochistan and some parts of NWFP through their infamous intelligence network within Pakistani territory. India adopted the policy of mysterious silence and covert support to USSR, once it invaded Afghanistan in 1979. This decision benefited her in the subsequent years, once it received a huge sum of military hardware from the former Communist superpower. However, on the other hand it deprived itself of maintaining meaningful relations with the mujahedin, as a fleeting hiatus, which kept it away from the Geneva negotiations, arranged under United Nations for the resolution of Afghan problem in late 1980s. Being a non party to these negotiations, India made an effort at the level of the Non-Aligned Movement to resolve the Afghan problem but remained abortive. It was assumed at that time that the future role of India in Afghanistan would be insignificant. But this did not happen, and immediately after the exit of Russia from Afghanistan, India resumed its lost role with the recommencement of colossal shoring up of the puppet Najibullah regime in a big way. However, this time India was more selective and finicky in determining its potential ally in the future Afghan politics, once it chosen the non-Pashtuns; Uzbeks, Tajiks and Ismailis in the north and the Shia faction in the central Afghanistan as its latent ally. Thus it would be very pertinent to say that India was the first country who implanted the seeds of ethnicity, sectarianism and factionalism in the traditional harmonious Afghan society. During this period, India provided all technical and financial support to some of the prominent heads of Afghan factions like Rabbani and Masoud in order to establish an anti-Pakistan government in Kabul. The collapse of Soviet Union once again sent alarming indicators into the corridors of Indian foreign office and policy makers, especially its intelligence setup (RAW). Indians were worried that now it would be difficult to extricate Pakistan from Afghanistan’s internal affairs and more so they were foreseeing an Islamic bloc emerging on the horizon in shape of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics (CARs). Since long India has been keen to maintain strong relations with Afghanistan, to sideline Pakistan, and subsequently to deny her a secure backyard having access to Central Asian Republics (CARs). The fall of Taliban and assumption of power by the Northern Alliance (NA) provided her a much awaited opportunity to re-establish its lost foothold in Afghanistan. Thus started helping Afghan government through assistance programmes and achieved significant doorway in its civil and military hierarchy. Indeed Afghanistan is not the limit of Indian ambitions; she is looking beyond Afghanistan towards CARs and its cold war ally, the resurgent Russian Federation. The worldly and unbiased nature of CARs supplemented with immense richness in natural resources compelled India to have strong ties with these nations and the shortest route available to her was through Afghanistan. Since their independence, Indian relations with the newly emerged states have come a long way. Indian officials have made conscious efforts to strengthen and diversify relations with CARs and refer Central Asia as their ‘extended strategic neighbourhood’. The vacuum left by soviets and US was filled by warring factions and power struggle continued till the birth of Taliban. Taliban being Pashtun dominated were considered as Pakistan friendly who could provide it the strategic depth against India with subsequent facilitation for influence in the energy rich CARs. This situation was not at all acceptable to India as she feared that Pakistan would use the Afghan soil and Jihadi groups in Kashmir, thus picked up the pace to support the non Pashtuns in Afghanistan in all spheres as a counter measures to Pakistan. A vast majority of the Northern Alliance leaders and youth were taken to India for their brainwashing and training on military aspects. Besides the families and kids of the majority of the Northern Alliance leadership were and are still being provided with free of cost living and education in the Indian universities and other related institutions. Despite generous support from Iran, India and Russia, Northern Alliance (NA) could not make any real headway against the Taliban, until the occurrence of the unfortunate incident of 9/11. The events brought a dramatic change in the region thus sealing the fate of Taliban rule and paved way for an interim administration to take over. This interim government had a Pashtun President but the cabinet was dominated by the NA, openly hostile towards Pakistan and gracious with India. Since the establishment of Interim Administration in November 2001, Indian active participation in all important international efforts aimed at political reconciliation and economic rebuilding of Afghanistan. The last visit to Kabul by an Indian prime minister was in 1976 when Indira Gandhi visited Afghanistan. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first Indian head of government to visit Afghanistan in 29 years. Since then, the exchanges of high level visits including ministers and prime ministers from both sides are normal phenomena. Besides the economic dimensions of the situation, India has started a more coercive role and taking the advantage of the present environment is covertly fuelling the internal security situation in FATA and Balochistan. It has support of its previous and new ally in promoting the insurgency and anti state elements in Balochistan and FATA through its capillary type intelligence network. The main aim is to make Pakistan economically crippled, bled from inside and to prove it as a failed state so that US and West can highjack its strategic assets through a pre-planned strategy. The ongoing insurgency being fueled by India and its allies has stained the soft image of Pakistan and undermined our credibility as a peaceful nation. Militancy in the name of Islam is further denting the image of Islam and Pakistan. India is vigorously pursuing her economic objectives and developmental strategy in Afghanistan while hurting interests of Pakistan. Besides mellowing down its image as enemy, she is using our western border by supporting militants to create internal instability. India has provided technical, material and financial assistance to Iran in the construction of its Chabahar deep sea port, the shortest possible route now available to India for an access to CARs. Indian manoeuvres in the region have far-reaching implications for Pakistan whereby we could be confronted with a situation in which India would succeed in its bid to outflank us and undermine our newly constructed deep sea Gwadar port. Incorporated into Tsarist Russia later Communist USSR, in late 19th/ early 20th century, the iron curtain could not allow the access of neighbouring/regional countries including India to approach CARs. Instantaneously upon their independence in 1991, India realized the importance of CARs and established diplomatic relations with them. The Indian strategists were of the opinion that it was necessary to prevent Pakistan from developing an anti-India coalition with the CARs. In this regard, India strove to form a common front with Russia and Iran against Pakistan and used the bogey of so-called Pakistan sponsored Islamic militants to frighten the leadership of CARs to maintain distance from Pakistan and to keep ties with India. Indian adherence to democracy and so-called secularism were the other contributing factors in this regard. Social, diplomatic, security and trade relations are the major Indian goals in relations with the CARs. Through the idea of ‘extended strategic neighbourhood,’ New Delhi attached so much importance to the newly independent region that it immediately opened embassies in all capitals of CARs by early 1992. A number of pacts and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have been signed or are under consideration between both countries ranging from fields of energy, science/technologies and oil/gas sectors including bilateral mechanisms to exchange information on terrorism and counter terrorism training. Turkmenistan and India signed MoU for cooperation in the oil and gas sectors, creating an opening for Indian companies to enter the nation’s hydrocarbon market. It had a military base in Tajikistan and presence of its intelligence network all over the CARs. Afghanistan is a country where now Indians are feeling much comfortable as compared to the past. They have benefited a lot since the ouster of Taliban, achieved significant influence in the government and are in a position to secure vital foothold in Central Asia. While on the other hand Pakistan’s role is diminishing with every passing day. The distressing level of internal instability is getting worse and resultantly our secure western borders are becoming more and more vulnerable. However, geographic, socio-economic, religious and ethnic compulsions still favour us, provided we have the will to convert challenges into opportunities. Pakistan still remains closest route to Afghanistan and CARs through sea and enjoys an obvious advantage over any other country in the regional geo-politics. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-2816265963699431782009-05-13T21:01:00.000-07:002009-05-13T21:03:08.659-07:00This is no solution by Muhammad Jamil<div align="justify">Pentagon has replaced the top American commander in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, less than a year after he took over.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />This change in military leadership is reflective of frustration on the part of US leadership and of course indication of gravity of the situation. He is to be replaced by Lt General Stanley, a former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command who recently ran all special operations in Iraq. But this is no solution and there is no guarantee that general who could produce somewhat better results in Iraq due to different reasons will be successful in Afghanistan, which is described as graveyard of the ruined dreams of the adventurers and invaders. The decision, announced by Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reflects a belief that the war in Afghanistan has grown so complex that it needs a commander drawn from the military’s unconventional warfare branch. As regards much-touted new strategy, there seems to be nothing new, as President Obama continues with the policy of pressuring Pakistan to do more, and a bigger and important role to India in Afghanistan. But this can prove a sure recipe for disaster and no amount of forces in Afghanistan or change of army commander will do the trick. If Pakistan’s security concerns are not addressed, no cajoling, threats or sanctions against Pakistan could force it to ignore its eastern borders to produce fruitful results for America. After 9/11, the UNSC through a resolution had allowed the US to punish Afghanistan and to take out Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders. But the US had drawn flak from the people throughout the world for having invaded Iraq on the false pretexts and concocted evidence about weapons of mass destruction, import of uranium from Nigeria and Saddam’s contacts with al Qaeda. Later, all these charges proved to be wrong. But people had also condemned attack on Afghanistan on the grounds that those involved in 9/11 events were Arab nationals and none of them was Afghan national. Anyhow, the right course for Obama administration is not ‘staying the course’ but let the people of Iraq and Afghanistan look for solution to their problems. President Obama seems to be well versed in history and other disciplines, and he must be aware that people of Afghanistan could not be tamed by the British in the past. In the recent history, former Soviet Union had bitter experience. And perhaps America could lose its status of sole super power if it insists on having a permanent foothold in Afghanistan, as it happened in case of former Soviet Union. Anyhow, President Obama should reinvent American ideals of human rights and right of self-determination of nations and let people of other countries decide the way they want to live, so long as they do not impose their will on others. It is hoped that President Obama would not like to be counted with the likes of former president George W Bush and Harry Truman etc. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-41981663318881477462009-05-13T20:46:00.000-07:002009-05-13T20:48:43.894-07:00Inside Balochistan Crises by Zaresh Khan<div align="justify">Since the inception of Pakistan in 1947 the province of Balochistan has been the hot bed of crisis emanating mostly from the qualms of disgruntled baloch feudal lords. The issue of Balochistan is not a new one rather an age old movement which has never gained the support of general public on lines as mass movements going on through out the world since days immemorial. In fact from the days of yore till today upheavals and tranquility in Balochistan have largely been dependent upon the caprice and whims of self-centered baloch chieftains and feudal lords. A probe into history makes it obvious that as far as the baloch leadership was being bestowed upon by the ruling elite, never was heard some one chanting slogans in favor of the misery stricken and poverty ridden masses. On the contrary the history of Balochistan is replete with many a number of upheavals and rebellions as soon as a privilege of any formerly blessed feudal lord was infringed. The general tribesmen kept as slaves had to ascend mountains in obedience of the independence call heralded from the castle of the feudal lord and had to fight till the feudal lord was given his privileges back.<br /> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />On 26 February 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his letter, addressed Mir Ahmed yar khan, khan of Kalat, to annex kalat with Pakistan and assured him that his status of khan would be retained. On Quaid's honest assurance Ahmed Yar khan announced annexation of kalat with Pakistan but before long in march 1948 his brother prince karim seeing his governorship of Makran in peril revolted against the government of Pakistan and in sheer disobedience to his own brother Ahmed yar khan, compelled his poor followers to take arms against the government and himself took refuge in Sarlet area of Afghanistan. Prince karim revolted for his seat and status on the backing of soviet union and Afghan government but, as said in preceding lines, as soon prince sensed things going against his future pomp and grandeur, he accepted the terms of government and concluded a peace truce to the misery of his followers.<br /><br />In 1961 Mari tribesmen led by Sher Muhammad Marri and in Jalawan, Mengal tribsmen led by sardar Attaullah Mengal declared guerilla warfare with the government. Reason being the initiative of government to disarm the general masses and initiate educational and developmental schemes in their respective areas. The government program of disarming the general tribesmen and taking measures for their education and development were resented by the feudal lords as they saw their survival and pomp in their masses being downtrodden and illiterate. The resistant movement occupied areas from kohlo to Baila and main support was obtained from Afghanistan a station of anti Pakistan players. The movement died its death when General Yahya khan restored the status of disgruntled Nawabs in 1969 and bestowed upon them the privilege they were fighting for.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Much from the history, the recent insurgency in Balochistan is part of the same chain which starts with the demands of Nawabs and ends with their fulfillment regardless of the sufferings of the general Baloch masses who are in fact peace loving and industrious. There is no denying the fact that the stand of Baloch nationalists on the gas royalty issue is genuine but the death of Baloch veteran Nawab Akbar Bugti on 26 august 2006 brings forth some other crucial factors of the on going Baloch insurgency. Till the time the gas royalty was going to the pocket of Nawab and jobs in Sui Gas plant were in the hands of Nawabs, no voice was raised for the suffering of the poor Baloch masses. As soon as Nawab Akbar Bugti was deprived of the undue privileges of decorating mountains for himself with the amount gained in lieu of gas royalty, the hapless Baloch masses were once again betrayed on the call of fight for the rights of baloch. After the death of Nawab his grand son Brahamdagh is fighting a war of his survival in Dera Bugti where hostile regional players are cashing upon their own evil aims in Pakistan. The situation in Dera Bugti revolves around the main claimants of seat for future Nawab which apparently is called a war for the rights of the baloch. Brahamdagh Bugti is presently in Afghanistan where he is funded enormously by Indian Raw and Afghan RAAM to continue terrorist acts in Balochistan. Presently the BRA network of Brahamdagh is working on two lines. Firstly, in service to the Indian players stationed in Afghanistan, the activists of Brahamdagh undertake terrorist activities in Balochistan where their main target is the Punjabi settled population because the target is much easier and poses nil resistance. Secondly, to gain control of the Dera Bugti, where the followers of Talal Bugti and other pro government population is targeted. The Indian diplomacy and intelligence have been keen since 2002 on finding ways to drive a wedge between Washington and Islamabad and Brahamdagh proved to be the right person for the right job. What is beyond doubt is that Mr. Solecki was kidnapped by terrorists trained and financed by Brahamdagh Bugti. Brahamdagh and his handlers knew that the three captors of Solecki were in direct contact with Pakistani security officials and could compromise the security of the terrorist activity and the routes of secret funding from across the border and the terrorist hideouts inside Pakistan. But what they did not expect was that the kidnapping would backfire and blow the cover of the terrorists and their links all the way inside Afghanistan. Mounting evidence indicates that Brahamdagh or his handlers in Afghanistan ordered the elimination of the three Baloch politicians. India’s diplomatic actions in this regard are well known but the British and the American media have been silent on growing evidence of Indian covert activities in Afghanistan under an American nod.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Thus it becomes clear that none is fighting for the rights and miserable condition of the poor baloch masses contrarily the age old demand of tribal supremacy and countless powers and rights are the cause for which the Baloch Nawabs very often resort to guns at the expense of general population. However, the game doesn’t end, in this whole affair an ample ground is open and intelligently utilized by Indian RAW, Afghanistan RAAM and American CIA for treading on aims of destabilizing Pakistan. The baloch miscreants are enormously paid by India and British MI6 to materialize their long standing design of destabilizing Pakistan. Despite the heavy funding, training and support of hostile countries baloch miscreant groups have never succeeded in realizing the evil aims of India. Reason being that except some segments of general public hijacked, the remaining are indifferent to the struggle of Nawabs for their own vested interests. Each tribe has its own armed group to extract maximum support, funds from hostile regional players and to maintain tribal supremacy at the expense of general masses who in the age of modern science and technology drink from puddles and hardly get their both ends meet. For instance, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) represents Marri tribe, Baloch Republican Army (BRA) represents Bugtis, Laskar-e-Balochistan is the armed group of Mengal tribe and Baloch Liberation front (BLF) represents many tribes.<br /> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Analyzed from every angle insurgency in Balochistan has always been for the vested interests of selected few feudal lords and chieftains supported by Indian RAW and safe heavens provided by pro Indian governments. The general masses are kept in dark. Education and every kind of development is strongly opposed by local Nawabs because with development and mass awareness their control will die its death as it happened in Pushton belt of Balochistan where education and development is rampant.<br /> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Need is to apprise the peace loving and law abiding baloch masses of their fundamental rights of liberty and freedom. Freedom from the crafty and cruel clutches of land lords, feudal lords and chieftains who are anti state elements and are acting on the whims of those who have always been hostile to the existence of Pakistan. The province of Balochistan and all its resources belong to the law abiding Pakistani baloch citizens. Through education and provision of open fields of healthy competition they can excel like any other developed nation. Through land reform, extensive development projects and government sponsored free education only; the fate of baloch people can be changed. </div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6811750204388285230.post-34486946120471777652009-04-28T00:57:00.000-07:002009-04-28T00:58:35.885-07:00Grabbing Water Resources by Zaresh Khan<div align="justify">In 1990, an analyst remarked in his report that, "by making water the main issue of contention, we could undertake to resolve other contentious issues. For example, by treating the Chenab River as the frontier we could establish the geographical boundaries of Kashmir. The analyst concluded his report by citing two sentences, whose interpretation is nearly the same; the first sentence was, “The Rivers hold the keys to the future conflict” and the next sentence was “The issue (Indus Waters) has the germs of future conflict.” Last summer, in agricultural heartland of Pakistan, farmers began to notice that the level of water in the river and groundwater is decreasing to a great extent. The waterways, which bisect the Punjab are fed with glacial melt waters from the Himalayas and for centuries has provided crucial irrigation for the region. According to Pakistan India is withholding millions of cubic feet of water upstream in Indian-administered Kashmir and storing it in the massive Baglihar dam in order to produce hydro-electricity.<br /> </div><div align="justify"><br /> A treaty known as Indus Waters Treaty was signed between Pakistan and India on 19 September 1960 with World Bank as a signatory. According to this treaty, Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, termed the eastern rivers, will be under the exclusive right of India and Pakistan is entitled to unrestricted use of the rivers, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. However today that treaty is in tatters because India has repeatedly broken it, bent it, subverted it, and worked around it to reduce the amount of water to Pakistan and increase the amount of water to India. India never had any intention of living up to it or to allow any concessions to either Pakistan or Bangladesh. Water is not only a strategic resource, but also a lethal weapon which is being used and will be used in the future. India has used her dams to cause flood damage to Pakistan. According to Lt Gen (r) Hameed Gul, India has so far built 62 dams and hydro-electric units on Pakistani rivers to deprive Pakistan of water and render into a desert.<br /> </div><div align="justify"><br />Here two important question arises, firstly the water needs of Pakistan and secondly what will India gain from stopping the waters of Pakistan. As far as the first question is concerned, Pakistan is a successful agrarian society. Punjab province of Pakistan has been blessed with 30 feet of topsoil and a host of rivers to irrigate it. About 85% of this water originates in the Western Himalayas, in India and Tibet and the rest comes in small distributaries from Afghanistan and Kashmir. The Chenab River that flows through the heart of this fertile Pakistani Punjab area is the key to the prosperity of the region. But according to a recent report, the flow of river water in Pakistan is dropping precipitately, at nearly 7% a year. The country's vast irrigation network is silting up and agricultural output will reach a crisis by 2010, with two key commodities - food grain and cotton - badly hit. And the reward goes to India. Building dams and reservoirs in Kashmir could help irrigate Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan. The trouble is that the territory required for such construction lies in Indian Kashmir. And again courtasy India, Pakistan cant build dams to fulfill its water requirements. And now the second question what is India gaining? Analyst believe that low water flows and energy deficiency have forced India to increasingly manipulate the IWT to its advantage; secondly, Delhi wants to use water as political leverage against Pakistan; thirdly, keeping up ancillary issues as a wall to keep the core issue on the backburner and lastly, to prove to the Kashmiris that Islamabad is denying them jobs and opportunities which originate from the state’s very own resources.<br /> </div><div align="justify"><br />The Indus basin treaty in itself had the seeds of discontent as the World Bank solution violated the International Law which does not allow change of direction and the flow of the rivers anywhere in the world. River Ravi passing through Lahore was given to India. Subsequently Pakistan saw with open eyes India building dams and powerhouses on the three Western Rivers which were designed “for exclusive use of Pakistan.” this was yet another conspiracy planned against Pakistan. Pakistan has been apprehensive that in a dire need India under whose portion of Kashmir lies the origins and passage of the said rivers, would use its strategic advantage and withhold the flow and thus choke the agrarian economy of Pakistan. and the worst fears of Pakistan came true when on June 14, 2002, The Indian Minister for Power and Water, Chakravarty, said openly in a formal meeting of the IWT council held at Delhi: “When we abrogate IWT, Pakistan will be in a state of draught and Pakistanis will cry for drops of water”.<br /> </div><div align="justify"><br />India out of its hatred and revenge for Pakistan is leaving no stone unturned to damage the integrity of Pakistan. The implications of this move of India against Pakistan will be far reaching and disastrous. The water bomb needs to be defused. No nation should deprive another of a shared resource which, thanks to geographic design, collects in a basin within its borders. The Final Settlement calls for a cross-border body that will oversee the Indus water basin and treat water as a commodity to be shared equitably. Islamabad is acting mature and so should New Delhi.</div>zareshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09045940222012536033noreply@blogger.com0