Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan - Aug 21, 2013

[Nandu]

Wow. While the RATS GUBO to Unkil, Immy GUBOs to the terrorists.

Wonderful.

[Peregrine]

Wow. While the RATS GUBO to Unkil, Immy GUBOs to the terrorists.

Wonderful.

Nandu Ji :

While "Immy" flows the Terrorists are also washing their .....!

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Posting in Full :

The Pakistan-United States romance

On television last night, our former ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman summed up Pakistan’s attitude towards the US in one sentence. She said that we should understand that we are not “either a lost love or a hidden wife”. Truly, we have an almost romantic attitude towards the US, and sadly, this impression continues just as our prime minister is visiting the US. I shall leave comment on what Nawaz Sharif should do and not do for more qualified minds, but comment on some historically significant points.

First, Pakistan chose to ally itself with the US at the time of its inception. Initially, the US was not even interested in Pakistan and till the early 1950s, usually took the lead of the British Foreign Office in relations with Pakistan. The US did not even immediately appoint an ambassador to Karachi and took almost six months to send one. On the other hand, Pakistan immediately signalled to the US that it was willing to support it in the Cold War in return for aid. Jinnah, in his address of welcome to the US ambassador in February 1948 noted: “I am glad to learn that Your Excellency and the great country and people you represent, will give your cooperation to us in order to advance our economic and cultural relations for the mutual benefit of both the countries.” This was hoped because Jinnah exclaimed: “I assure you that my government and I will do all that lies in our power to give you every assistance in the fulfilment of what is our common desire and objective.” The subsequent trip of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan to the US in May 1950 cemented Pakistan’s tilt towards the Western bloc in return for significant economic and military aid. The invitation for this trip was prompted by Pakistani officials in the US, since the Soviet Union had already invited Liaquat, but the Pakistani establishment was keen on getting closer to the US and hence, obtained this invitation. Thereafter, beginning with the Mutual Defence Agreement of 1954, Pakistan became the most ‘allied ally’ of the West in this part of the world. We chose to ally ourselves with the US when we had the chance of either veering towards the USSR or staying neutral.

Secondly, we chose to support the US because we wanted their military and economic aid, and we go it — a lot of it. For example, by 1966, Pakistan had received over a billion dollars in US aid (several billion in current terms) and scores of our developmental programmes — from village aid programmes, to tractors, infrastructure, the building of the Punjab University new campus and the now Quaid-e-Azam University, were spearheaded using American money. In military terms, the primary reason we can stand up to India even after that country being over four times larger than ours and with a better economic base is due to US military assistance. US aid to Pakistan in total terms runs into the tens of billions and Pakistan ranks in the top five recipients of US aid over the last century. Furthermore, we have never given anything to the US free of cost. We charged the US for every logistical support we gave since the 1960s and continue to do so. The billions we get under the Coalition Support Fund are not merely to support us in our anti-terror activities, but are primarily payment for logistical support. Just a few days ago, we received $322 million under the Fund, not an insignificant amount.

Thirdly, and most importantly, we are not in a love affair with the US. I know this is common sense, but for some reason, it still escapes us. Pakistan is still somehow locked in a ‘brotherhood’, ‘friendship’ paradigm, which sadly does not exist. Any student of international relations learns on the first day of class that states act in self-interest, and that self-interest might lead to relations with one country one day and another, a day later. Interests guide countries, not family relations or love affairs.

Our lopsided relationship with the US is more a result of our actions than of the US need to interfere in our affairs. The US is a world power and as we also know, it only interferes in Pakistan when it is in its own interests. However, we even lament when it leaves us alone and are hurt when it interferes — perhaps, it is unrequited love indeed.

Cheers

[Joseph]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/619860/defl ... p-not-ttp/

Anti-peace elements behind blasts in K-P not TTP: Imran Khan

My mental image of IK is of him wearing a coat and no tie. The picture in the link suggests that his clothing style is changing.

[sanjaykumar]

[ramana]

Despite all the love shown by WKK, as AL-war as shown, these people are seen as Raw agents and eligible for Wajib ul Cattle. Something if it happens will make the Lutyens crowd to see the light and realise self monetary interests should not be above Interests of the nation

Bakis are wise and all(ah) knowing even if bakras are not.

[SSridhar]

Anti Peace Elements Behind Bomb Blasts in KP, not TTP : Imran Khan

Well looks like Immy will not stop at anything to ingratiate himself with the Talibs. He knows they are the future of Pacquistan.

Nothing of that sort works with the TTP. He may be given a long rope so that by his actions and words, he would allow the TTP more and more operational freedom. But, a day will eventually come.

[partha]

Some Pakistanis (RAPEs) are claiming 'Waar' is the "best action movie" in the "region"

Give them a couple of months & they will start claiming that Lollywood produces the best movies in the world. There was a feature done for DAWN paper a few months back about the revival of the movie industry in Pakistan and some of the artists interviewed were of the opinion that Pakistani music >> Yindian music and that Pakistani movies have better stories yada yada. These comparisons will only get better and better.

[partha]

"Talibanization of Pakistan"

Modification on India

By Kamal Siddiqi
Published: October 20, 2013

There are high expectations from Modi and the BJP, the party many say will come into power in the first half of 2014, when general elections are most likely to be held.

The reaction to the possibility is telling. In some circles I visited during my stay in Delhi, heated debates ensued at the mention of the man. But at other places like Jamia-Millia, I was met with stony silence when I brought up this possibility.

You have to give it to these Pakis for making use of liberal visa rules to serve their interests. I wonder whether an Indian is allowed to visit Pakistani universities and pose them questions on secularism, oppression of minorities, Baloch insurgency etc.

There are some who seem to be in love with dictators, and India is no exception

So democratically elected leader in India = dictator. Desperate attempt to do ==.

But are Indians ready to have Modi as their PM? The Gujarat riots were ably portrayed in the movie “Parzania”, which readers would do well to see to better understand the extent of what happened in that state in 2002. Till then, we knew Gujarat as the home of Mahatma Gandhi.

Haha! invoke Mahatma Gandhi's name when it suits you.

The Gujarat CM, who employs the same PR firm that is retained by the state of Israel for its image building, is credited with helping Gujarat’s economy achieve average yearly growth in the double digits over the past decade. He is popular among many wealthy businessmen.

Hinting at Yindoo-Joo conspiracy?

One fears that after achieving so much, India will once again spiral into communal violence as this would be beneficial to some ahead of the 2014 elections. Should that happen, the gains made by the country in the past years may be lost. Perhaps forever.

Appreciate your concerns for India. Maybe you should spend your time and efforts in fighting talibanization of Pakistan.

[SSridhar]

Diamar-Basha Dam: Pakistan's New Achilles Heel - Priyanka Singh, IDSA
Excerpts

Since its inception, the DBD project has been afflicted by controversies. There are fundamental complications regarding the location of the dam in a disputed region. Moreover, there are other problems too — of unresolved boundary issues between the disputed Gilgit Baltistan and the Pakistani province of KP, which have led to contesting claims over their share in the royalty from the dam. The ecological impact of the project site being situated in a high seismic zone, which is prone to landslides and floods are added concerns. The region has witnessed colossal calamities in the past including the earthquake in 2005, the Attabad landslide in 2010 that created an artificial lake wiping out an entire village, and more recently the Gyari avalanche tragedy in April 2012.

The World Bank and the ADB have been approached by Pakistan for funds for the project. Other financial institutions include the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). The massive project cost can be administered only through a consortium as a single source/donor will not suffice.

Back in 2008, China was reported to be the lead financer of the project. While China is engaged in several infrastructural activities across the PoK, it is unlikely to invest a huge sum in a single project. After initial hesitation, the US has agreed to provide partial funding. The US ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, expressed his country’s support for the project in July 2013, and approximately $20 million has been approved for conducting a feasibility study. Russia and Japan have also reportedly shown considerable interest in the project. However, financial arrangements with both countries have not yet materialized.

The World Bank put forward the condition that Pakistan needed to obtain and furnish a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from India, as the proposed dam site falls in a region claimed by India. Similarly, the ADB in 2011 expressed reservations about the feasibility and overall implementation of the project based on three assessments — a fair and transparent land acquisition process, a comprehensive, amicable resettlement plan and due attention to ecological concerns.{The ADB simply cannot fund the DBD. It had backed out of an infrastructure project in Arunachal Pradesh after China objected to that stating that the area was under 'dispute'. The ADB claimed afterwards that thenceforth, it wouldn't fund any projects falling in 'areas of dispute'. What happened to that now ?}

The project is worrisome for India. It is a political setback if a mega dam is constructed with foreign assistance in a region claimed by India. At the same time, the ecological fallout of the project is of considerable concern to adjacent areas in India. Therefore, it is natural for India to raise its objections and convince donor agencies and countries like the US, Japan and Russia to stay away from the project.

In 2006, India, had in passing, objected to the construction of DBD (incorporated in a statement issued to appreciate Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance towards an Indian ship). In March 2013, news reports in Pakistan suggested that MEA had through a “verbal demarche” (from Pakistan’s High Commissioner in New Delhi) sought details of ongoing projects and the donor countries and agencies involved in PoK.3 Reports further suggested that Pakistan was asked to seek NOC from India for any project in the PoK.

While the Pakistan government may not have abandoned the DBD but the prospects are challenging and possibly insurmountable.

[prahaar]

Modification on India

The Gujarat CM, who employs the same PR firm that is retained by the state of Israel for its image building, is credited with helping Gujarat’s economy achieve average yearly growth in the double digits over the past decade. He is popular among many wealthy businessmen.

The above claim has been parroted many times in our media, so it has got a life of its own. I do not remember exactly where and by whom, but the PR firm oft-quoted is a firm given contract by Government of Gujarat for Vibrant Gujarat PR work. And it was stated on record, that Modi had not taken services of any PR firm in his personal capacity or as a CM.

[SSridhar]

Strong Evidence Pakistan Military Approved US Drone Strikes : UN Report - DAWN

A recently released UN report suggests there is “strong evidence” that top Pakistani military and intelligence officials approved US drone strikes on Pakistani soil during 2004 and 2008.

That year, 2008, is corroborated from other sources.

The US admitted startlingly in March 2009, as part of the policy review initiated by the new President Barack Obama, that the returns from Pakistan were not commensurate with the aid given and the Pakistani establishment continued to play the ‘double game’ by maintaining contacts with the Taliban and Al Qaeda and even tipping them off of the impending US drone attacks.

It appears to me that the TSPA had extracted a promise from the CIA that as a quid-pro-quo for the Pakistani permission for drone strikes, North Waziristan would be spared. The US kept scrupulously to this and there were no attacks on NWA. However, towards end of 2008, the US began pestering the TSPA to launch offensive ground operation there presumably as it still wanted to keep its end of the deal with the TSPA.

Circa 2008 saw the attack on Indian embassy in Kabul that was carried out by the Haqqani & LeT groups with the direct involvement of the ISI. The US had incontrovertible proof and they knew attacks on US interests were only a short distance away. The slew of high-profile statements, which obliquely and directly referred to North Waziristan in the period between last quarter of 2008 and extending into 2009 is an indication. The incoming President, Barack Obama, said, "if Islamabad is ‘unable or unwilling’ to take militants out, then the US should go after the targets into Pakistan" in September 2008. Michael Hayden, Director, CIA said in November 2008, "Let me be very clear. Today, virtually every major terrorist threat that my agency is aware of has threads back to the tribal areas". And, in February 2009, Robert Mueller, Director, FBI, said, "Our primary threat continues to come from the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.” Within a few days, the US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, said very bluntly, "I think it's the safe haven on the Pakistani side of the border, not just for Al-qaida but for the Taliban for the Hakani network, for Gulbaddin Hekmatyar and other affiliated groups that are all working together -- they're separate groups, but they're all working together, and I think as long as they have a safe haven to operate there, it's going to be a problem for us," Within a few days, the US Secreatry of State, Hillary Clinton, said, “We are very conscious of the fact that much – not all, but much – of the planning of terrorist activity is coming from a network that is primarily based in Pakistan and Afghanistan . . .” But, the TSPA weathered the storm and requests for action under one pretext or another.

[Lalmohan]

Unkil: I'm gonna drone yo' musharraf boy
TSPA: ji sirji mai-baap, but... but...
Unkil: don't go whingeing none, ya'hear
TSPA: sirji... please to give some baksheesh, have compunctions and complications sirji
Unkil: sho' thing boy, here, have some goodies
TSPA: payein-lagoon mai-baap

[Prem]

Poqawn

With Independence, the metamorphosis of Khanewal started. Gurudwara Bazar was named Akbar Bazar and Nanak Bazar was renamed Liaqat Bazar. The wells were converted into water pumps which gave way to mosques, and subsequently the madressahs along with their residential quarters. The primary school Sardar Pur said its farewell to Master Lala Kishan Ram and welcomed Maulvi Ghulam Rasool. The orchard of Jodh Singh near Marzi Pura and the adjacent arena were soon isolated. Colonies of Jodhpur and Sham Kot were so quick to disappear that within a decade no one knew if they ever even existed. The same was the case of men like Jeevan Das and families like Ram Singh’s. When so much had happened, Gol Bagh too had little reason to exist. Within a few years, its floral beds were leveled and it was made the seat of DCO.At the junction of Baans Bazar and Liaqat Bazar, there stood an old well guarded by heavy chains. Eventually the well was turned into a mosque. With the increase in population, the rifts between cycle riders and car drivers also grew. In 1958, the mosque was demolished to construct a crossroad and regulate traffic. Because of the chains, the crossroad was called Sangla wala chowk. As Deobandi influence grew, the chowk was renamed Ya Rasool Allah Chowk. Soon the Ahl-e-Hadees school also gained prominence, registering their objection on the name. Shortly, new signboards of the names of all four Sahaba also appeared at the chowk. Despite all this, the locals still refer to it as Sangla wala chowk, with a naive smile.
A road joins Kabirwala with Raipur, where a Patwari named Khurana maintains the revenue records. When he was blessed with the son, he named him Har Gobind Khurana. Little did he know about the records his son was going to set. Graduating from the Punjab University and ending up at MIT, this Nobel Laureate, was a genius in genetics.

[krithivas]

Very good news -
India conveys strong concerns to Pak about ceasefire violations
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 555049.cms

This is remarkable for Shree. Man-a-mohana Singh, who just met his Pakistani counterpart, to have issued this strong message bypassing the well established protocol of first issuing a "normal" then "somewhat-of-a-concern" and finally a message of "concern".
Though it is not clear if he marked his email with the "important" tag.

[rgsrini]

^^Perfect. Stage setup perfectly to lob a dosier to the other side, in retaliation for all the bombs from the uniformed terrorists of Pakistan.

[Peregrine]

IMF team arriving : Pakistan lags far behind in foreign reserves target

ISLAMABAD : As an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is arriving in Islamabad next week to assess the country’s performance against agreed targets before releasing the second loan tranché of $550 million, Pakistan has missed the target by about $800 million on the indicator of building foreign currency reserves.

Talking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, renowned economist and former finance minister Dr Hafiz Pasha said balance of payments position was worsening compared to what had been projected by the IMF for the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

Against the requirement of increasing gross foreign currency reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan to $5.64 billion by the end of September, the reserves actually stood at $4.824 billion, showing a gap of $816 million, he said.

IMF documents also confirm that the Fund would like to see gross reserves at $5.64 billion by September-end.



Since September, the gross reserves position has worsened and by October 11 the reserves came down to slightly over $4.1 billion, according to the SBP.

“The worrisome aspect is that hæmorrhaging is going on despite the country being in the IMF programme,” said Pasha.

He predicted that November would be a terrible month as the country was going to return
$700 million to the IMF in five tranches and there would be no new release of loan from the lender to Pakistan.

“I suspect the reserves will be at $3.3 billion by the end of November, much less than the one-month import bill,” he added, saying the big question was whether the country was entering a financial crisis despite an IMF programme, like Greece.

Pasha said net foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank had become negative at $3 billion. The IMF requirement is to keep net reserves (excluding forward contract liabilities and IMF liabilities) at $2.499 billion, according to the IMF documents.

An IMF review mission is arriving on October 28 for holding first review meetings, according to sources in the Ministry of Finance. The mission will review progress on targets, both quantitative and performance criteria, before sending a request to its executive board to release the second tranche of $550 million in December, they say.

Overall, Pakistan has met almost all performance criteria, qualifying for the next loan tranche, they add. Building the reserves is a quantitative target, having no adverse impact on the next tranche.

However, the SBP will have to give a plausible explanation to the IMF. If the IMF did not agree with the argument, it has the authority to upgrade the condition to a performance criterion for the next review meeting.

The adverse implication is that the SBP may have to increase market intervention in an attempt to mop up dollars for building the reserves, which is likely to put the rupee under further pressure.

In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, the rupee shed 7% of its value against the US dollar and experts forecast that it would depreciate at least 7% more by June 2014, taking the parity to Rs113 to a dollar.

Pasha suggested that the government should seek upfront release of IMF tranches to avert balance of payments crisis. Unlike the previous programme when the IMF gave $3.1 billion upfront, this time the lender has divided the $6.7 billion programme into 12 equal tranches.

Pasha differed with the IMF projection that the current account deficit would widen to only 0.6% of gross domestic product in the current fiscal year. His assessment was that the deficit would widen to 1.7% as reducing CNG consumption would increase the oil import bill by $500 million.

He said unlike the balance of payments position, public finances were largely on track and the government achieved the first-quarter budget deficit target. He, however, was the view that the country could miss the full-year target of 5.8% of GDP and the gap could widen to 7%.

He claimed that the government had placed Rs158 billion worth of deficit outside the books that would have to be taken into account at the end of the year.

Cheers

[nachiket]

He said unlike the balance of payments position, public finances were largely on track and the government achieved the first-quarter budget deficit target.
He claimed that the government had placed Rs158 billion worth of deficit outside the books that would have to be taken into account at the end of the year.

In other words the government has indulged in Shanghai Statistics and not achieved the budget-deficit target.

[Prem]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/621209/sout ... ront-page/
South Asia tensions: PM to go ‘extra mile’ for peace with India
( Miles to Nowhere)

WASHINGTON: A day before his much awaited meeting with US President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced his government’s soft foreign policy stance vis-a-vis its eastern neighbour, India, promising that he would go the “extra mile” to make peace with India.In the same vein, the premier described Pakistan’s relations with the United States ‘vital’, but called CIA’s drone campaign in tribal regions a ‘major irritant’ in the bilateral ties.Relations between Pakistan and India have soured since the killing of five Indian troops in a deadly ambush in August that triggered skirmishes between their militaries along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir.However, Premier Nawaz said the archrivals can resolve all issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue. “I wish to assure this august audience that Pakistan desires to live in peace with its neighbour,” he said at the US Institute of Peace, a think tank. “If we sit down together, if we seriously address these issues, I don’t think we will face any problem.”“Kashmir, of course, is a very difficult issue and very difficult to resolve but I think, by sitting and talking, we will be able to find some way of resolving that, too,” he added. “Because that is a flashpoint not only in the region, but the whole world,” he said of Kashmir.Potential of Pakistan-India friendship and cordial relations between the estranged neighbours has been a favourite topic during the premier’s meetings with US authorities in Washington.“Had our countries not wasted their precious resources in a never-ending arms race, we would not only have avoided the futile conflicts, but also emerged as stable and prosperous nations,” he said.
Drones ‘detrimental’ to CT efforts
Prime Minister Nawaz said drone strikes were detrimental to Islamabad’s efforts at eliminating terrorism. “This issue has become a major irritant in our bilateral relationship – I would, therefore, stress the need for an end to drone attacks.”
But the premier positively added that contrary to perceptions, Pakistan-US relations had stood the test of time. Despite occasional hiccups, the solid foundation of this vital relationship has always weathered storms and turbulence, he added.“As democracy takes root in Pakistan, there is scope for building a strong and stable partnership between the two countries. They should be based on mutual respect and mutual interests as clearly articulated by President Obama in his Cairo speech.”Despite the planned US drawdown in Afghanistan, there would be a continuing need for close cooperation, he said.The prime minister also renewed his call for greater trade access for Pakistan to the United States and invited American entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan’s energy and other sectors.The United States, meanwhile, reciprocated the call for warmer ties. The White House described Pakistan-US relationship as ‘enormously valuable’, saying that despite differences, Washington wants the ties to proceed on a positive trajectory. “The president looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Sharif to the White House on Wednesday,” said Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney in a statement on Tuesday..”
Matters of defence
The US defence leadership, including Dr Ashton Carter, the deputy secretary of defence, and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, called on the prime minister. Matters related to bilateral defence cooperation and regional security were discussed during the meeting, according to the Pakistan Embassy.
He informed the US defence leadership that Pakistan looked forward to an enduring and broad-based defence cooperation with the United States in the future.Dr Ashton Carter expressed satisfaction that Ground Lines of Communication, GLOC, were facilitating movement of the US/ISAF retrograde and sustenance cargo through Pakistan.The two sides noted that substantial progress had been achieved in the areas of counter-IEDs, counter-terrorism and border coordination mechanism with Afghanistan and ISAF

[Prem]

http://tribune.com.pk/story/621216/qata ... -attacked/
Thirdtfather Qatari minister’s camp attacked

QUETTA: Gunmen stormed a hunting camp set up for a Qatari minister in the Zamuran area of Buleda, in Kech district, on Tuesday. One Levies force official was killed in the attack on the camp of Qatari Petroleum Minister Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah.According to Kech Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed Abro, gunmen attacked the camp in the early hours of Tuesday and killed a Balochistan Levies officer. “The minister hasn’t arrived from Qatar yet,” Abro told The Express Tribune.According to a constable of the Balochistan Levies, the gunmen also took away weapons, including two Kalashnikov assault rifles, and two vehicles. “They also torched the camp and a private vehicle,” he said.The local administration has launched a search in the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. In February last year, Ali bin Abdullah was robbed in the same area.

[Peregrine]

He said unlike the balance of payments position, public finances were largely on track and the government achieved the first-quarter budget deficit target.
He claimed that the government had placed Rs158 billion worth of deficit outside the books that would have to be taken into account at the end of the year.

In other words the government has indulged in Shanghai Statistics and not achieved the budget-deficit target.

nachiket Ji :

Does the Scorpion Stops To Sting?

Does the Skunk Stops to Stink?

Thus, far be from it any such Pakistani intentions not to partake in such shenanigans!

As Sherlock said “Elementary, my dear Watson!”

Cheers

[anupmisra]

The pakis are now complaining that apparently the (bad) tellibunnies, the ISI protégés, have upped the ante by using chemical-based suicide bombs. Use of toxic chemicals in suicide bombs new worry.

The Taliban are now using more toxic chemicals in their explosive devices to inflict lethal injuries on the survivors of their bomb and suicide attacks, according to officials

Survivors of the Taliban’s bombs suffer from chronic wounds that leave scars on skin and don’t respond to antibiotics with proven efficacy in other surgical infections

Taliban have now mastered the science of manufacturing bombs that cause more than the intended casualties as they are imparted training regarding use of potassium, nitrogen, sugar, urea and glycerine etc in the bombs

Officials said that the Taliban manufactured bombs locally

These bombs and explosives weren’t as deadly eight years ago when all this began

[abhishek_sharma]

Discussing the Future of U.S.-Pakistan Relations

[krishnan]

one more soldier killed in cross border firing by paki

[SSridhar]

New 'Protection of Pakistan' Ordinance to Fight Terror - Meena Menon, The Hindu

Is it to fight bad terror and protect good terror ?

Close on the heels of amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, the President has promulgated a new Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, 2013, with enhanced powers for security forces, stringent punishments, special federal courts and a provision to detain suspects for three months.

A government background note said about 40,000 lives had been lost to terrorism, which inflicted a monetary damage of over $100 billion on the country. Borrowing from similar laws around the world, including the Homeland Security Act of the United States and the repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act in India, the new also Ordinance provides for high-security prisons and separate police stations for specific crimes with federal prosecutors to argue cases.

Under it, trials can be conducted out of the jurisdiction where the crimes were committed and the minimum punishment is 10 years imprisonment.

The Ordinance also targets “millions of non-Pakistanis” living in the country “for any reason including distressful conditions in their parent country, especially those since 1979” and they “shall not be allowed to abuse the temporary liberty to commit depredation”.

It gives police and armed forces power to act without warrant while arresting a suspect, searching any premises or taking someone into preventive custody. The crimes covered by the Ordinance include waging war or threatening the security of Pakistan and crimes against ethnic, religious and political groups or minorities including offences based on discrimination and hatred.

[Anindya]

Much of the content in the article is standard material for people here at BRF, except the quoted lines - anybody know if this is true...

Persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan

Never heard of the following...

Faced with such terrible conditions the aforementioned communities are looking at India. Reports indicate that Pakistan is covertly facilitating the same. There are reports to suggest that certain out posts in the Pakistani side of the India-Pakistan border, especially in the Rajasthan sector, have deliberately been kept vacant to facilitate the movement of the Pakistani Hindus, Sikhs and Christians into India.

Always hear the following - Standard practices of any demographically dominant Islamic community...

It seems that Pakistan is determined to exist as an Islamic state, comprising only of Sunni Muslims. The unwritten policy to attain this objective is based on five prongs. First, subject the minorities to terror attacks and pogroms. Second, allow terror to sink in enough to cause a general exodus, mainly towards India. Third, convert and marry the female population of the minorities into the Muslim fold. Fourth, impose stringent laws that force the weak minded to convert voluntarily. Fifth, make sure that the government and other institutions make the right noises about protection of minority rights so as to keep international scrutiny at bay.

With these prongs in place, Pakistan has been carrying out the most insidious ethnic cleansing over the last six decades right under the eyes of the world.

At the time of partition, Pakistan had 11 to 12 percent Hindu/Sikh population. When considered in terms of the existing population levels of the country, the present strength of the Hindu/Sikh community should be around one crore fifty lakhs; on ground it is a miniscule thirty lakhs which is barely 1.5 percent of the population.

One crore thirty lakh people have vanished in thin air. According to the Pakistan Hindu Council, about 20 cases of kidnapping of Hindu girls above 15 years of age are reported every month in Karachi alone.

If the families of such girls approach the courts, hundreds of people gather outside and shout "Allah-o-Akbar" in an attempt to intimidate the judges.

It is being said that millions of Hindus/Sikhs were killed by the Pakistan army in the early 1970's when tension between India and Pakistan was at a peak. The Enemy Property Act of Pakistan 1965, legitimised confiscation of the property of Hindus and Sikhs including their homes and temples.

The Islamic law implemented by Zia-ul-Haq in 1977 sealed the fate of the minorities by tacitly excluding them from constitutional and legal systems of the country. Hindus cannot get jobs, Hindu women cannot wear their "Bindi or Mangal Sutra" and dress according to Hindu tradition; the list of insults and persecution is endless.

[SSridhar]

Much of the content in the article is standard material for people here at BRF, except the quoted lines - anybody know if this is true...
Persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan
Never heard of the following...

Faced with such terrible conditions the aforementioned communities are looking at India. Reports indicate that Pakistan is covertly facilitating the same. There are reports to suggest that certain out posts in the Pakistani side of the India-Pakistan border, especially in the Rajasthan sector, have deliberately been kept vacant to facilitate the movement of the Pakistani Hindus, Sikhs and Christians into India.

Anindya, could be true. Cleansing of religious minorities need not always be through a genocide.

[Anindya]

SS ji - you're right.

But here's a rhetorical question - given that we have most probably seen a visible increase in the inflow of persecuted people (Hindus, Christians, Sikhs) from Pakistan in recent times - how long before elements amongst these people openly start taking a WKK stance vis-a-vis Pakistani interests, and directly opposing the interests of those who have given them shelter in India?

[SSridhar]

Anindya, when there are far more powerful voices right from the very top to Mani Shankar Ayyar 'taking a WKK stance' and against Indian interests, how does the voice of these poor, displaced matter even if they do so ? But, as I have seen so far, the Hindu & Sikh refugees have, after coming over to India, so far only described the precarious situation of the minorities in Pakistan. They do not want to go back citing repression and reprisal. They have all come in the media, though not to the extent one would like them to be publicized. WKKs like Mani Shankar Ayyar have kept a tight and studied silence on this issue.

[SSridhar]

KP Patience Running Thin Over Delay in Taliban Talks - DT

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, on Tuesday, expressed concern over the “continuing inaction” of the federal government in starting “structured talks” with the Taliban as mandated by all the political parties of the country in the all-parties conference (APC).

In a statement issued from his office, the chief minister said the Taliban “continue to point out that there has been no formal offer of talks from the government side and we are also aware of this delay”. He went on to add: “Unfortunately, this inaction on the part of the federal government to operationalise the APC resolution and move forward in instituting dialogue is allowing those who wish to sabotage dialogue and peace to indulge in increasing acts of terrorism.” {But, the TTP itself has claimed responsibility for almost all of these acts of terrorism, Mr. Chief Minister. It is also very defiant about that.}

The chief minister stressed the importance of putting in place a structured dialogue so that talks were not conducted through the media, which allowed those opposed to dialogue and peace to spread disinformation. Khattak reminded that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with the provincial government were taking the brunt of the federal government’s “vacillation, with increasing acts of terrorism”, resulting in the loss of innocent lives.

The call for immediate talks with the Taliban comes after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur was assassinated in a suicide attack on October 16, the Eid’s first day, in Dera Ismail Khan District. “To expose the opponents of peace the APC-mandated dialogue must begin without delay,” the chief minister demanded, adding that the prime minister should move immediately on emergency basis to commence structured talks to give peace a chance.

[arun]

X Posted from the Pakistani role In Global Terrorism thread.

Our Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shashi Tharoor, on the topic of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan fomenting Mohammadden Terrorism to target India in an article titled “The terrorist next door”:

………………… The principal obstacle to peace has been Pakistan’s sponsorship of militancy and terrorism within India, culminating in the horrific attacks in Mumbai in November 2008, in which terrorist commandos killed almost 200 people.

In the late 1980’s, Pakistan backed an insurrection by some Kashmiri Muslims and supplied arms, training, and funds to militants who infiltrated across the LoC. ………………

……………… Pakistan’s strategy of “bleeding India to death by a thousand cuts” through insurgency and terrorism has accomplished little, while making its military an enormously powerful domestic player and spawning terror outfits (some of which have turned against their sponsors). ………………..

But it has always been India, a status quo power, that wishes to live in peace, while Pakistan, craving Kashmir, uses every means at its disposal to alter the status quo. ……………………..

It would help if Pakistan’s government—facing home-grown terrorists even as it exports terror to its neighbors—showed a little more willingness to join the quest for peace. The moment the Pakistani establishment genuinely disavows terrorism as an instrument of state policy, the prospect of peace will dawn on the subcontinent. Alas, that prospect is not yet even a glimmer on the horizon.

Web Link below:

The Terrorist next Door

[abhijitm]

one more soldier killed in cross border firing by paki

Dont worry. we will respond in a time of our choosing.

[Vipul]

Only after the Govt PSU stops supplying paper for making dossiers.

[Lalmohan]

Leave the Army alone to do its job

When I travelled to the LoC in early September with Barkha Dutt and met officers and soldiers deployed right on the LoC fence in Krishna Ghati, BhimberGali, Hamirpur in Poonch sector, the josh and morale was exemplary. A befitting reply to Pakistani mischief was being given every day--and night.

[Pratyush]

Only after the Govt PSU stops supplying paper for making dossiers.

Why are you ignoring imports.

[Peregrine]

The pakis are now complaining that apparently the (bad) tellibunnies, the ISI protégés, have upped the ante by using chemical-based suicide bombs. Use of toxic chemicals in suicide bombs new worry.

anupmisra Ji :

Islam being a Religion of Peace it is mandatory on the Pakistani Islamic Religious Leaders to convince the Faithful & Pious partaking in Suicide Bombing Activities to ensure that they use NON-TOXIC Chemicals in their Bombs used by the Suicide Bombers.

In addition to obviating the ill effects on the Victims the use of Non-Toxic Chemicals in the Suicide Bombs will also help Pakistan's Environments by reducing the Toxic Levels in Pakistan's Air, Farmlands and Waters etc.

I hope that there is an injunction in their Religious tomes which prohibits the use of Non-Toxic Chemicals in Suicide Bombs.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Aman Ki Asha Circus Grounded and becomes Aman Ki Nirasha :

1. Nawaz Sharif parrots same old li(n)es in US — seeks parity with India

2. Angry Shinde tells troops to give fitting reply to Pakistan

Cheers

[Prem]

Pakistan offers potential for a better partnership
By Editorial Board,

Doing the same thing again and again,expecting different result IOW Jhota Chona

FOUR MONTHS after Nawaz Sharif launched a new government in Pakistan, little has changed in the security matters most important to the United States. Authorities continue to allow a Taliban-affiliated group to use Pakistan as a base to carry out attacks against U.S. targets in Afghanistan. Terrorists who target India also continue to operate openly. Rather than fight the Pakistan-based branch of the Taliban, Mr. Sharif has proposed peace talks with the group, and he continues to denounce U.S. drone strikes aimed at senior Taliban and al-Qaeda commanders.The Obama administration is nevertheless offering Mr. Sharif some carrots, including an Oval Office meeting this week; more than $1 billion in frozen aid will be released. The hope is that the new Pakistani leader will prove better able than his civilian predecessors at gaining control over the armed forces and intelligence services and that this will eventually lead to greater Pakistani cooperation in brokering peace in Afghanistan, as well as in combating extremism in Pakistan.
This is a reasonable strategy, even if it is, like all U.S. bets on Pakistan, a long shot. Mr. Sharif, who served as prime minister in the 1990s before being ousted in a military coup, has emphasized consensus-building and caution since returning to office. He sought support from a dozen political parties on talks with the Taliban, opened a dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is gently asserting some control over the military. Rightly focused on mending a stricken economy, he struck a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund and is taking steps to address a national power shortage.
This display of relative competence offers reason for hope that Mr. Sharif may eventually join with the military in adopting a more rational policy toward the Taliban and other Islamist militants. The proposed negotiations appear to be going nowhere: The Taliban has set extreme preconditions and recently carried out a series of provocative attacks. Mr. Sharif promised Mr. Singh a more vigorous investigation of Pakistani suspects in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. In response to a request from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, he presided over the release of a number of Taliban prisoners, though Afghan peace talks appear to be going nowhere.The gap between Pakistan and American ambitions for the country may be narrowing. Pakistan appears more ready to be solicitous of the Afghan government’s position on the Taliban and more aware of the danger the movement poses to its own political order. But Mr. Sharif must cope with powerful public hostility toward the United States as well as with military factions that continue to encourage Afghan and Kashmiri jihadists. Like much of the civilian political elite, Mr. Sharif would like to see the United States demonstrate that it wishes to have a partnership with Pakistan that extends beyond counterterrorism and Afghanistan to trade, economic development and broader security issues. The Obama administration is right to take steps in that direction. But in the end Mr. Sharif must be judged on whether he is willing to decisively side against Islamist extremism.

[Vikas]

Aman Ki Asha Circus Grounded and becomes Aman Ki Nirasha :

1. Nawaz Sharif parrots same old li(n)es in US — seeks parity with India

2. Angry Shinde tells troops to give fitting reply to Pakistan

Cheers

What is a fitting response in context of India-Pak firing match at the border. Is it a Envelope that can fit all the papers typed by Sh. Shinde ji ?

[Peregrine]

Pakistan bans three extremist outfits, on orders from China

ISLAMABAD : The Pakistani government on Wednesday decided to ban three international extremist organisations allegedly involved in insurgent activities in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, BBC Urdu reported.

The website quoted sources in the Ministry of Interior Affairs as saying that Chinese authorities and security agencies believed the three organisations were involved in extremist and insurgent activities in the Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang.

The outfits banned include the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and Islamic Jihad Union (IJU).

Cheers