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Senior cricketers of the Pakistan national team were left fuming and unhappy at a function of the Pakistan Cricket Board after comedians ridiculed them before a live audience.
Now Pakistan should be confronted with a clear and harsh update of that choice: confront the international community and be turned into a sanctioned pariah, like Iran, in which case the country will lose ground economically and militarily to its arch-rival India. Or, embrace fully anti-Taliban measures and be rewarded with more economic assistance, such as Clinton’s New Silk Road, which seeks to turn the region into a commercial hub once again.
Well there you are. Clear as crystal. Kicking India's ass is a juicy option - a "carrot" for Pakistan to cooperate with the West.
Now Pakistan should be confronted with a clear and harsh update of that choice: confront the international community and be turned into a sanctioned pariah, like Iran, in which case the country will lose ground economically and militarily to its arch-rival India. Or, embrace fully anti-Taliban measures and be rewarded with more economic assistance, such as Clinton’s New Silk Road, which seeks to turn the region into a commercial hub once again.
Well there you are. Clear as crystal. Kicking India's ass is a juicy option - a "carrot" for Pakistan to cooperate with the West.
You are right. Yet more confirmation that India needs to be circumspect in its dealings with the US and needs to look the US Gift Horse in the mouth very carefully.
X Posted from the Oppression of Minorities in Pakistan thread.
In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, supposedly created as a safe haven for the Mohammaddens of the Indian Sub-Continent, persecution of minorities have ratcheted up to such levels that even Mohammaddens, albeit of the minority Shia sect, are being forced to seek asylum that to in Kaafir countries:
Now Pakistan should be confronted with a clear and harsh update of that choice: confront the international community and be turned into a sanctioned pariah, like Iran, in which case the country will lose ground economically and militarily to its arch-rival India. Or, embrace fully anti-Taliban measures and be rewarded with more economic assistance, such as Clinton’s New Silk Road, which seeks to turn the region into a commercial hub once again.
Well there you are. Clear as crystal. Kicking India's ass is a juicy option - a "carrot" for Pakistan to cooperate with the West.
It is the US aim to further its own geopolitical, geostrategic and trade aims in the region and in Asia by ensuring that it can do business with both India and Pakistan at the same time without one being offended by the US transactions with the other. The purported discontinuation by Pres. Bush Jr of the equation between India and Pakistan being practised up until then was only to ramp up the US-India equation which was languishing way below the US requirement for historical reasons. The constant advice by the various players of the US administration, from Obama, Hillary downwards, to India to engage more muscularly in Asia-Pacific is not only to balance China on behalf of the US but also to defocus India from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The constant and deep attention that various US officials pay to minute details in the India-Pakistan equation, the alacrity with which they welcome various moves etc. are meant to nudge the two countries in a certain way that would protect American interests.
Three others wounded as gunmen open fire on Swabi-bound bus on National Highway
* All those killed are non-Sindhis; * Sindhu Desh Liberation Army claims responsibility for attack; * Pamphlets found on site say attack in revenge for JSMM leader’s killing
SSridhar wrote:
It is the US aim to further its own geopolitical, geostrategic and trade aims in the region and in Asia by ensuring that it can do business with both India and Pakistan at the same time without one being offended by the US transactions with the other. The purported discontinuation by Pres. Bush Jr of the equation between India and Pakistan being practised up until then was only to ramp up the US-India equation which was languishing way below the US requirement for historical reasons. The constant advice by the various players of the US administration, from Obama, Hillary downwards, to India to engage more muscularly in Asia-Pacific is not only to balance China on behalf of the US but also to defocus India from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The constant and deep attention that various US officials pay to minute details in the India-Pakistan equation, the alacrity with which they welcome various moves etc. are meant to nudge the two countries in a certain way that would protect American interests.
Very good post and timely which was never put so eloquently.
The entire India Pakistan current belligerence has been designed by the US foreign policy over the last 40 years as part of the cold war. They can reverse everything else in their policy accept the deep Islamism and jihad of Pakistan (compared to 70s). This is the greatest dilemma.
After one UK politician, of Paki origin, said that there must be something wrong with the Pakis if there is an exceptionally large # of Pakistanis convicted for Child grooming, Pakis protest and chant "Pakistan ka matlab kya La Ilaha Illa Allah" on the streets of London.
I'm telling you, if Pakis stay away from the west, the common westerner will feel that Paki culture is different and we should respect that. On the other hand, if Pakis keep showing their true colors, it'll be absolutely clear that Paki culture is not only different but bad and immoral!
^^^
Pakistani community in Londonistan should declare a Jihad and protest for a Sharia system under which they will all be regarded as peaceful and law abiding.
Londonistani theologians have already been demanding imposition of sharia for muslims in Londonistan for a start, and some want to "gift" sharia for non-Muslims too - as a solution to sundry British problems like law-and-order, thieving/robbery, breakdown of family etc. Open lashings or amputation was declared to be sufficiently deterrent for the onlee crucial problems before humanity - stealing, and adultery.
They have had apparently some sympathetic utterances from a few eminent non-Muslim "white" British judicial and theological minds. But the latter have been careful to clarify that they onlee considered possibility of sharia in a limited/"civilian" context onlee - after criticism. Even the cricticism was interesting - since the critics were worried that such "sympathies" would only lend political strength to the "lunatic fringe" (hence not Islamic) from the right. There was no criticism at all about the reality of sharia.
I dont know about you guys but I hardly take the yellow cab in NYC. I usually opt for the town cars most often driven by Africans or Dominicans. If ever I take the yellow, I would hail it only if I see a Sikh is driving it. If I see a bearded dude without a turban....its a give away that its a Yemeni, Paki or BD islamist driving it. Anyways, there were times when I had company to take home from downtown parties and so happened to the unfortunate fate of giving my money to Paki drivers. And when that happens, I never lose the chance to implicitly insult Pakistan or their deen. I once had an encounter with a SFTA (short fair tight a_ _) Paki who was selling binoculars etc in the street fair. He was not happy to see a SDRE with a Scandinavian in my arms as I was checking out his binoculars. He asked me if I was from Bangladesh. I told him that I am not from Bangladesh and he asked me if I was Muslim to which I said loudly "No way...you think I am that stupid?" I asked him directly if he was a Punjabi Mussalman which made him very uncomfortable. My girl saw it and mentioned that I probably insulted him to which I said loud enough for him to hear "My pashtun grand daddy hated Punjabi mussalmans too".
Lately, I have been having some ball of a time insulting Pakistan and all these imbeciles with beards can do is sulk and swallow the false pride. I think time for being nice is long over. It is time to be offensive.
Avram
Though India came here prepared for signing the agreement that provides for group tourism visa and visa-on-arrival for the elderly and children, besides easier business visas, Pakistan from the first day of talks, on Thursday, indicated that while it agreed with all that had jointly been decided at earlier meetings, it needed more time.
We all groan about the galloping illiteracy that has all but finished Pakistan. In thousands of schools and colleges across the country, millions are emerging with barely an education worth the name. These hordes, largely illiterate are then reduced to seeking any employment, howsoever menial it might be. Others resort to quicker means of making a living and crime follows soon after. It is frightening to confront the overall dismal situation in Pakistan where vested interests have usurped whatever meagre resources we might have had, taking massive chunks of the budgets and reducing the ‘education’ drive to a mere farce.We spend just 1.5 percent of our GDP on education and we all know who takes the lion’s, tiger’s and leopard’s share. I think their medals cost more than what this nation spends on education but then who is going to ask the boys to give back the toys they have and who is going to tell them that there won’t be any country left to defend if things carry on like they do. The answer to that too is well known but seldom voiced. Such lopsided thinking can only produce tragic and ugly results. With millions being added to our galloping population, Pakistan is now faced with such daunting and frightening problems that even Attila the Hun would think twice before venturing here.
The statistics make for horror reading and not the kind of thing that you want to wake up and read on a Sunday morning without any electricity but with mosquitoes galore. In this the new century a country which cannot get rid of mosquitoes does not deserve to exist. This is no citadel of Islam – at best servant quarters. Where we are going can drive a chill up anyone’s spine but because the culture now is ‘loot now, abscond later,’ no one truly cares what happens to Pakistan. At school level, mechanically the system churns out robots – ill-informed, ill-prepared and ill-equipped to join others already in the sewers. Those who are able to get a little further up, greasing their way forward or supported by the guess papers and tuition centres, take the illiteracy mega notches ahead.My generation grew up on Messers Ghaznavi and Ghauri, lauded as some kind of Islamic visionaries, whereas in reality they were no more than marauding thieves who repeatedly attacked rich India and looted, enslaved and made off with all they could find. Razing Hindu temples glorified their looting. It was years later, long after college, that one read the truth. But falsehood or not, what is scary is the quality of the instruction that is being poured into young and impressionable minds. The examination of the 7-year-olds is objectionable becauWe have an army – excuse the pun of illiterates and they are growing. When the criterion of literacy is what we have fashioned here, it is not a surprise that the nation is blank. Our so called Matric is laughable as is our FA/FSc. Meaningless exams with nothing of consequence. Those who make it to the graduate or post graduate level cannot put two sentences together. Our country refuses to buy books or go to a library – the few that we have. Pretty soon we won’t even know how and where to affix our thumbs but our arsenal will be awesome.e if Pakistan History is largely a matter of anthem singing and whatnot, those who are supposedly responsible are guilty of misguiding their young students. That is not simply unfortunate but downright criminal.
X posted from the “Pakistan Arms Sale, Ops, Doctrine, etc.” thread.
Former Corps Commander Bahawalpur, Adjutant General of the Pakistan Army and Chairman Army Welfare Trust, Lt Gen (retd) Imtiaz Hussain found dead.
Intelligence agencies and police of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan have started investigation to ascertain if the cause of death was suicide or murder.:
Though India came here prepared for signing the agreement that provides for group tourism visa and visa-on-arrival for the elderly and children, besides easier business visas, Pakistan from the first day of talks, on Thursday, indicated that while it agreed with all that had jointly been decided at earlier meetings, it needed more time.
This is predictably so Pakistani. First of all, they give all indications of a deal having been made and in the last minute throw a spanner in the works. We have just recently seen this in the MFN fiasco. Indian newspapers and analysts continue to say falsely that Pakistan has already given India the MFN status.
On this liberalized visa issue (which I am dead against and from that position, this delay from the Pakistani side is welcome), GoP wants Chidambaram to visit Islamabad to conclude the deal. They want it to be done at a political level rather than at bureaucratic level. For one, the beleagured PPP may project that as a concession by India to garner political mileage. But, IMHO, the idea may be to extract more concessions from India when one-on-one meetings take place. Just after the 26/11 incident, Rehman Malik was uncomfortable meeting Chidambaram and now the same Rehman Malik is toying with Chidambaram. What a turn of events.
Once again, GoP converts its position of weakness (it need liberalized visa more than India) to a position of strength (unless P.Chidambaram comes to Islamabad, we won't sign the deal). India should say simply, 'Take it or leave it'. But, they won't because the US would be displeased.
Duffer-e-Pakistan Council won't Pak to Indian market: Saeed
Pakistan is a sauvirgin state and the Defa-e-Pakistan Council will not allow the country to become an "Indian market", Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed said on Saturday.Saeed, described by India [ Images ] as the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ], made the remarks while addressing a news conference with other leaders of the DPC in the southern port city of Karachi. He alleged that both the US and India were "interfering" in Pakistan's affairs.At a series of rallies and protests organised by the DPC in recent months, Saeed has opposed the Pakistan government's plans to give Most Favoured Nation-status to India by next year.aeed said the DPC had decided to postpone a proposed "long march" against the reopening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation supply routes to Afghanistan because the leaders of the regrouping had decided to launch the protest at the appropriate time. The DPC is an alliance of over 40 religious and extremist groups that was cobbled together by Saeed last year after a cross-border NATO air strike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The DPC has organised a string of rallies and protests against the US and India. The news conference in Karachi was also addressed by Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hasan, who said any attempt by the government to reopen the NATO supply lines would be resisted by the DPC.He accused the US of wanting to destabilise Pakistan and carrying out more attacks like the NATO air strike."We are ready to pay any price but will not allow the US and NATO to get their supplies through Pakistan," Hasan said.
Our terrorist-supporting "ally" Pakistan has outdone itself again.
The point is that giving in to extortion from a reprehensible and adversarial government is wrong for reasons of principle, but also pragmatism. The practitioners of our foreign policy then knew what those of ours today do not: that acquiescing to extortion leads to more extortion and rewards the corrupt.
This would also be better economically and politically for Afghanistan, orienting its economy and interests — and ultimately its future — away from Pakistan. It would stymie Pakistan's imperialist adventure in Afghanistan -- the reason it supports terrorists and insurgents there.
Exasperated with Pakistan's refusal to act against Hafiz Saeed, Home Secretary R. K. Singh offered that India would even be ready to pay Rs.56 crore to Pakistan in case Saeed is handed over to them.
Singh's remark came at the conclusion of the two-day talks in Islamabad on Friday where the much-anticipated signing of the visa agreement between both countries did not happen.
Singh, however, maintained that there was enough evidence provided by India against Saeed and that added to the proof collected against Saeed by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
He said it was adequate to arrest and prosecute Saeed for the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
When asked if India would in that case pocket the Rs.56 crore bounty offered by the US for providing evidence leading to conviction of Saeed, Singh said that India would be more than happy to give Pakistan that amount if they handed over Saeed to India.
Chidambaram rejects Malik's invite to visit Pak over its inaction in 26/11 case
This might explain Pak's decision.
partha, thanks for that piece of news. I wasn't aware that Chidambaram had earlier rejected the invitation. But, it makes no difference to my conclusion. Let's also wait and see how it develops in the coming weeks. I still remember the SAARC Home Ministers' Conference in c. 2009 when there were similar brave words spoken only to be swallowed hard in the last minute by P.Chidambaram. He also triumphantly announced that TSP had promised to send voice samples very soon. That was 2009 and we are already in the middle of 2012.
OTOH, SM Krishna has been saying that the trust deficit between India & TSP has shrunk and that he will visit them soon. I am not sure if there is coordination among the different branches of GoI.
When asked if India would in that case pocket the Rs.56 crore bounty offered by the US for providing evidence leading to conviction of Saeed, Singh said that India would be more than happy to give Pakistan that amount if they handed over Saeed to India.
Muhahaha...love this!!!
Wish our DDM go to town with this quote and further increase TSP BP!!
Former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has said that the BCCI's top brass has assured him that the Pakistan players will be allowed to play in the next edition of the Indian Premier League in 2013.
harbans wrote:I have a gut feeling that the next 'Abottabad style' operation will be to get Afridi out. Obama will be working on this one hard for sure.
No chance of that happening. Afridi is a small fry. Ombaba is unlikely to risk any American life, specially in an election year.
Kanishka Ji, no Afridi is not a small fry. To the average American he is becoming a Hero. Someone who helped nab Osama. Irony is Obama cannot afford to leave him in an election year. All said and done, America has it's positive points. It is not for no reason it is the most powerful country today. It is my opinion that they would risk even half a dozen American lives to get him out.
harbans wrote:Kanishka Ji, no Afridi is not a small fry. To the average American he is becoming a Hero. Someone who helped nab Osama. Irony is Obama cannot afford to leave him in an election year. All said and done, America has it's positive points. It is not for no reason it is the most powerful country today. It is my opinion that they would risk even half a dozen American lives to get him out.
The amrekis will simply buy his freedom. The pakis have a price for everything. That is the very tragedy of that nation. They know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
The stage is being set for price negotiations and an acceptable H&D solution.
The amrekis will never risk amreki lives to free this doctor.
harbans wrote:Kanishka Ji, no Afridi is not a small fry. To the average American he is becoming a Hero. Someone who helped nab Osama. Irony is Obama cannot afford to leave him in an election year. All said and done, America has it's positive points. It is not for no reason it is the most powerful country today. It is my opinion that they would risk even half a dozen American lives to get him out.
The amrekis will simply buy his freedom. The pakis have a price for everything. That is the very tragedy of that nation. They know the price of everything but the value of nothing.
The stage is being set for price negotiations and an acceptable H&D solution.
The amrekis will never risk amreki lives to free this doctor.
Americans have to give importance to his safe extraction else other pakis wont be of much help to them. What is surprising is why did they let him stay there for such a long time after the OBL operation. From what I recollect he was arrested during his escape to AF under the guidance of CIA. But there is still no complete clarity on the situation (if anyone can give a proper timeline it would be great).
Exchange of monies is on cards for sure. Pakis will even sell their own mothers for money.
I dont know how much the average Joe is concerned about this situation. Maybe some BRFites residing in Khanland can give a proper perspective.
No, it is not a kavi sammelan. This above gathering of the enlightened intellectuals of the "Dafaa ho Pa'aastan" was in response to the proposed opening of the NATO supply routes. DhC warns against restoration of Nato supply routes. Isnt that Sheikh Rashid, the self declared protector of kashmiri terrorists, in the background mixing up with Saeed and other bearded ones? Another statement that came out from that august gathering was this declaration:
Pakistan is a sovereign state and would never be allowed to become an Indian market
SSridhar wrote:
partha, thanks for that piece of news. I wasn't aware that Chidambaram had earlier rejected the invitation. But, it makes no difference to my conclusion. Let's also wait and see how it develops in the coming weeks. I still remember the SAARC Home Ministers' Conference in c. 2009 when there were similar brave words spoken only to be swallowed hard in the last minute by P.Chidambaram. He also triumphantly announced that TSP had promised to send voice samples very soon. That was 2009 and we are already in the middle of 2012.
OTOH, SM Krishna has been saying that the trust deficit between India & TSP has shrunk and that he will visit them soon. I am not sure if there is coordination among the different branches of GoI.
SSJi, several weeks ago, I saw that puke MKB on Arnab's show. And he was articulating the viewpoint that TSP has come around to accepting India's formula that relations must be developed across the board, trade, visa liberalization etc; and thats a "triumph" of Indian diplomacy and achieved by none other than the economist genius, patriot extraordinaire MMSJi himself. When probed about 26/11, MKB replied that why bother about these trivial things like 26/11, after all, India and TSP have been killing each other for decades. The important thing is to look forward and accept TSP's "olive branch". This is exactly TSP's thinking and of course MMS and his coteri's thinking. Having resumed bhai chara after 26/11, and with no leverage, TSP is saying why harp on this bogus 26/11 issue and keey irritating us just as MKB articulated. And I must say there is an element of reality here because after all, it was India that called for bhai chara to resume. So TSP is saying lets discuss more "important" issues that if resolved to TSP's benefit will completely eliminate future 26/11s. Have you puked yet? Not because this is TSP's thinking, but rather because this is exactly the US-endorsed roadmap being executed by its yes men in New Delhi. Hence a PC making a little noise here or there about 26/11 only evokes a prickly, contemptuous reaction from TSP, and rightly so. They are saying get real, you ain't gonna get jack s@it on 26/11.
harbans wrote:Kanishka Ji, no Afridi is not a small fry. To the average American he is becoming a Hero. Someone who helped nab Osama. Irony is Obama cannot afford to leave him in an election year. All said and done, America has it's positive points. It is not for no reason it is the most powerful country today. It is my opinion that they would risk even half a dozen American lives to get him out.
An average American has no clue on who Afridi is. That news is not being aired on prime time TV and unless this happens no one in America would know who Afridi is. If Obama or any American president wanted Afridi out of Pakistan by force, he would have to do some ground work such as informing American voters about who Afridi is and the role he played in taking out Osama by issuing white-house statements; only then American prime time media will start airing Afridi story.