Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - Apr 22 2015

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 26 Apr 2015 17:55

Science and Technology Additional Secretary Muhammad Ejaz Mian brought forward the recommendation of the Pakistan Halal Authority,

Comment: Job description of the Science and Technology (?) Additional Secretary in the Land of the Pure

menon s · Post by **menon s** » 26 Apr 2015 18:07

Increasing Number Of Afghans, Pakistanis Killed In Syria Buried In Iran
http://www.rferl.org/content/persian-le ... 77907.html

ranian hard-line media has reported that Pakistanis killed in the fighting in Syria and buried in Iran were members of the Zeynabiyoun Brigade, which has reportedly been established by Pakistanis fighting in Syria.

On April 9, seven Pakistanis killed in Syria were buried in Qom.

The hard-line Mashreghnews.ir website identified them as Taher Hossein, Jamil Hossein, Javid Hossein, Bagher Hossein, Seyed Razi Shah, Ghader Ali, and Ghabel Hossein, and said they were from Pakistan's Parachinar region.

Two weeks later, on April 23, Iranian media reported that five more Pakistanis killed in combat in Syria had also been buried in Qom. The reports said a large number of citizens, including Pakistanis residing in Qom, had attended the procession.

The names of the two brigades that include Afghans and Pakistanis have relatively recently popped up in Iranian hard-line news sites.

Ali Alfoneh, senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, says establishment of the Fatemiyoun and Zeynabiyoun brigades suggests that the number of Afghans and Pakistanis who have joined the fighting in Syria has increased.

what was the brief that Iranian FM carried to islamabad?

Rajagopal · Post by **Rajagopal** » 26 Apr 2015 18:19

What the Chinese investment in Pakistan really means (courtesy of shaneeza)

China will plant a MANGO TREE in Pakistan with the condition that a Chinese expert will plant the tree and the location will be selected by China. It's the responsibility of Pakistan to save the tree and the fruits from all kind of threats. The fertilizers and pesticides to be sourced from China. China will pluck all the fruits and take them back to China Free of Cost and Pakistan will keep paying the installments for the Mango Tree given by China. When you ask a Pakistani and Chinese what Pakistan will get from it? Both the Pakistani and the Chinese will gracefully answer that Pakistan will get the MANGO TREE and a Friendship which is Higher, Deeper, Sweeter and Stronger than anything available on earth.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 26 Apr 2015 18:39

Govt helped Weinstein's family deliver $250,000 to his captors: sources

The two added that the actual money was passed to the group holding Weinstein through a Pakistani intermediary with close links to the group.

According to the sources, the intermediary promised to deliver Weinstein after the money was received, but failed to do so.

Comment: The "intermediary" surely applied for "Canadian Vijja" !

Comment: Any connection with the recent arrests by the Italian Police !

Mihaylo · Post by **Mihaylo** » 26 Apr 2015 19:25

arun wrote:Najam Sethi with regard to the targeted killing of social activist Sabeen Mahmood says “foreign hand’s involvement cannot be ruled out, as India isn’t happy due to the Chinese investment and also making noise over the issue”.

I am trying to figure out, presuming Najam Sethi is right, why India would choose to have Sabeen Mahmood assassinated.

Was it because Sabeen Mahmood was actually from the Peoples Republic of China and an important cog in getting Chineses investment going in the Islamic Republic ?

Or was it that she was an important functionary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan making her an important cog in getting Chinese investment to hit the ground in the Islamic Republic?

Or something so conspiratorially convoluted that only someone born and bred in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan can even dream up?

Foreign hand can be behind Sabeen’s murder: Sethi

Does this mean that some left leaning activists from India will be targeted.

-M

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 26 Apr 2015 19:50

Already, I am seeing the ebbing of the euphoria. Quite a few articles have already appeared. I especially liked this one as it comes from a Pakistani Marxist himself.

Pakistan China friendship: between whom? — I

The Chinese are not making this investment for a utopian and sentimental friendship, as the intelligentsia and the media would have us believe, but for naked, exorbitant profits and strategic hegemonic designs in the region. China’s investment aims at opening up Balochistan and developing Gwadar as a strategic and commercial port. This in turn is likely to increase China’s presence in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The economic corridor will open up new business and commercial/military opportunities for them. The development of an economic corridor linking to Gwadar will obviously increase the presence of the Chinese fleet in the region. Gains for China include the opening up of the relatively less developed western region that will benefit from shorter access to the sea. China’s potential of forward deployment of its naval assets in the Gwadar and Karachi ports will materialise. At the same time, these projects could lead to greater integration of Pakistan’s natural resources and markets with Chinese economic, expansionist plans.

China is also the largest investor in Afghanistan, as well as the biggest arms supplier to Pakistan’s armed forces. China’s interest in Afghanistan appears to be increasing as US forces withdraw from the region. Initially, its involvement in Afghanistan was securing strategic materials, such as copper, iron, etc. The US and other western countries have been complaining that China was taking undue advantage of the security umbrella provided by NATO and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They wanted it not only to be a consumer but also a provider of security. Now that NATO and the US are pulling out of Afghanistan, China is showing greater willingness to be more proactive in helping maintain the region’s security. Moreover, it realises that Afghanistan’s stability will have a positive impact on the restive Xinjiang province. China’s strategy is to negotiate and engage with the Taliban leadership and play a more proactive role in Afghanistan for these very economic and commercial interests.

China’s main interest is to use the Pakistani military machine for these hegemonic purposes. Another favour that Chinese rulers want to excerpt from their dear friends in Islamabad is to use them as a counterweight in their covert rivalry with India, which is wrapped in the usual hypocrisy of diplomatic gestures of being partners in trade and commerce. However, the Chinese president was miserly when it came to mutual equality in its relations with Pakistan. Ever since Barack Obama attended India’s National Day Parade as the chief guest on January 26 this year, Pakistani rulers had vainly hoped that Mr Xi would attend theirs on March 23. At the same time, the Chinese rulers will host Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi for an official visit to China next month. And these are just some of the long list of benefits that the Chinese want to extract from their subservient Pakistani colleagues.

Perhaps it was for these material and strategic reasons that Xi Jinping was playing the Pakistan-China friendship card so vigorously. What we are also witnessing is that China is projecting its soft power in this region through economic prowess and sophisticated diplomacy. Another element of China’s soft power, which is less talked about, is its political stability. But it is doubtful that the largest investment package of $ 45 billion dollars announced for Pakistan will actually materialise, due to fledgling economic growth and its bleak prospects. It simply will not have the economic muscle to carry out these strategic policies and economic investments.

The writer is the editor of Asian Marxist Review and international secretary of Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign.

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 26 Apr 2015 20:30

SSridhar wrote:Already, I am seeing the ebbing of the euphoria. Quite a few articles have already appeared. I especially liked this one as it comes from a Pakistani Marxist himself.
...

Lal khan is an old museum piece RAPE commie from the days when some RAPEs went around pretending that Z A "Indians are dogs but Indira Gandhi is my sister " Bhutto was TSP's socialist savior. He has some analytical and writing skills like elite communists in India but remains a political eccentric.

What intrigues me is why Daily Times keeps him around. IIRC it belongs to Jihadi Sethi. I think it is because in Sethi's RAPE mind, it looks good and Western-ish to have an old Marxist around. There is probably also the studied in vilayat connection.

We have our own DIE version of Lal Khans in the Indian Anglosphere, except ours have a lot more leeway and influence. And of course our Lal Khans love their Lal Khans, because good english.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 26 Apr 2015 21:33

Jihad Sethi is himself a former Marxist.

He took part in the Baloch insurgency in it's early days but has now obviously made his peace with the RAPE establishment and become a key conscience keeper.

A_Gupta · Post by **A_Gupta** » 26 Apr 2015 21:57

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/figh ... 32120.html

China will provide 110 latest JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Pakistan as the two countries forge closer defence cooperation following President Xi Jinping's visit to Islamabad earlier this week.

China will deliver the first batch of 50 jets over a period of three years, PTI reported citing Radio Pakistan.

Quoting the head of Chinese Aircraft Industry, the report further said that under the contract signed between the two countries, Pakistan will receive a total of 110 JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from China.

The JF-17 Thunder is also built in Pakistan as China has already transferred its technology. But Pakistan needs more fighter jets at faster pace due to its fight against Taliban militants.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/figh ... 32120.html

member_28911 · Post by **member_28911** » 26 Apr 2015 22:21

A_Gupta wrote:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/figh ... 32120.html
China will provide 110 latest JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Pakistan as the two countries forge closer defence cooperation following President Xi Jinping's visit to Islamabad earlier this week.

China will deliver the first batch of 50 jets over a period of three years, PTI reported citing Radio Pakistan.

Quoting the head of Chinese Aircraft Industry, the report further said that under the contract signed between the two countries, Pakistan will receive a total of 110 JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from China.

The JF-17 Thunder is also built in Pakistan as China has already transferred its technology. But Pakistan needs more fighter jets at faster pace due to its fight against Taliban militants.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/figh ... 32120.html

According to another news report it was 10 for test and evaluation + 50 Block-1 (delivered)+ 50 Block-2 (to be delivered in 3 years time) = 110 JF-17 in total.

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 26 Apr 2015 23:39

Falijee wrote:As a citizen of Pakistan, I demand to know more about Balochistan

...... As a citizen of Pakistan, I demand to know more about Balochistan.

COMMENT: Slowly, but surely an East Pakistan like situation is developing here

India needs to negotiate a corridor to Balochistan through coastal Sindh with the provincial Sindh govt. so that Indian tanks and battalions can be sent to liberate Balochistan as we did in 1971 to liberate Bangladesh.
If the SIndh govt. does not agree to it then we should simply annex the coastal Sindh to establish a corridor.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 26 Apr 2015 23:48

Sharif Must Know State Heads Don't Make False Promises

G Parthasarathy

Published: 25th April 2015

Sharif Must Know State Heads Don't Make False Promises

Nawaz Sharif is, to many, a bundle of contradictions. He has charmed Indians with his knowledge of Bollywood music and films, acting as a gracious host to PM Vajpayee and cultivating PM Gujral with sweet talk in Punjabi. He is often attired in Savile Row suits. But, at the same time, he has an Islamist streak, which makes him comfortable with the leadership of groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the anti-Shia Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the Mullah Omar-led Afghan Taliban. Pakistan’s foreign policy has traditionally been based on strengthening the “Muslim Ummah” and making the OIC a forum to denigrate and undermine India in the Islamic world. The affinity of Nawaz for the House of Saud and Wahhabi causes has, however, landed his country in deep trouble with its “core constituency” in the Islamic world—the monarchies of the oil-rich Arab Gulf, on the western shores of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s relations with Shia-dominated Iran have been steadily deteriorating ever since Nawaz assumed charge. Iran was furious when Nawaz unilaterally annulled a signed contract for a gas pipeline on which construction on the Iranian side had progressed. Iranians were infuriated when Sunni fundamentalist, Pakistan-based groups, like the Jundallah and the Jaish-e-Adl attacked Iran, prompting Iranian retribution and even a reference to the UN. Pakistan now has tensions on its borders with all three neighbours—Iran, Afghanistan and India. The Pakistan army has its hands full tackling Pashtun tribals on its borders with Afghanistan, while promoting infiltration on the border near Jammu and the LoC. The Pakistan army, understandably, has no appetite for war in distant lands.

The Pakistanis have sworn to defend Saudi Arabia, which has been a generous contributor of financial assistance and concessional oil supplies. Nawaz is also beholden to the Saudis for their intervention and hospitality, after he was jailed by General Musharraf. Most observers acknowledge that Nawaz agreed to militarily join the Saudi intervention in neighbouring Yemen, by providing troops, air power and naval ships, when he met the Saudi Royalty in Riyadh on March 3. All hell broke loose when Saudi Arabia announced this Pakistani commitment. The Pakistan army had no appetite for such misadventures and public opinion was hostile. The Pakistan Parliament unanimously passed a resolution, asserting, “Pakistan should maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict, so as to play a pro-active role to end the crisis in the Arabian Peninsula.” It added:”Pakistan should play a mediating role and not get involved in fighting in Yemen.”

The Gulf Arab monarchies reacted with fury. Warning that Pakistan would pay a “heavy price” for its “ambiguous stand”, the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs demanded Pakistan should take a clear position “in favour of its strategic relations with the six-nation Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)”. In a front page editorial, the influential and authoritative Al-Seyassah of Kuwait observed: “The GCC can defend its security, particularly following the alliance with countries like Egypt and Jordan. The Pakistani stance adopted by its Parliament’s decision to remain neutral drops the mask about sharing ‘common destiny’ with Muslim countries.” A senior Saudi official told Pakistan’s Geo TV that Pakistan’s talk about “mediation” was a “’joke”. Referring to the comments of the UAE minister, he remarked, “You are admonished by those who love you.”

Members of the Sharif team had briefed the press that Pakistan’s participation in military operations in Yemen would be conditional on Saudi assurances that they would act against the two million Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia if Pakistan’s relations with India became tense. Pakistan’s enthusiasm for undermining Indian interests in the Arab world has long been clear. What is shocking is that it could stoop to such a low level to damage Indian interests and the livelihood of ordinary Indians in Islamic countries. Sharif should, however, learn that heads of government do not make promises they cannot keep, even in relations with “brotherly Islamic countries”.

[email protected]

The writer is a former diplomat

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 27 Apr 2015 00:22

Fifi Haroon @fifiharoon · 11h 11 hours ago

SO blatantly done - could have tried harder nai?! RT @omarali50 Mashallah. What unanimity of views #SabeenMahmud

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 27 Apr 2015 00:26

Husain Haqqani @husainhaqqani · Apr 24

Husain Haqqani retweeted چرسی بھنگی

Threat of violence?...They threaten with impunity! @twitter @Support @twittermedia

@nomaankhan111

@fispahani @bilalfqi A quick lesson to learn for @husainhaqqani , Insaan ban jao ya Goli khao

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 27 Apr 2015 01:32

Members of the Sharif team had briefed the press that Pakistan’s participation in military operations in Yemen would be conditional on Saudi assurances that they would act against the two million Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia if Pakistan’s relations with India became tense.
Pakistan’s enthusiasm for undermining Indian interests in the Arab world has long been clear. What is shocking is that it could stoop to such a low level to damage Indian interests and the livelihood of ordinary Indians in Islamic countries. Sharif should, however, learn that heads of government do not make promises they cannot keep, even in relations with “brotherly Islamic countries”.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 27 Apr 2015 02:07

^^^ I wonder what will happen to the 40,000 odd Pakistanis in the gelf hainji?
Can almost visualize the Saudis saying, "Ab tera kya hoga kaalia???"

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 27 Apr 2015 02:41

Basically what happened was that Badmash had agreed to send troops. But then Bad Sharif refused. Badmash then showed tactical brilliance by taking the issue to the parliament (where everyone had been told Bad sharif didnt want to send troops) and the parliament passed a resolution saying Pakis wont send troops.

Obviously for anyone watching, it was clear that it was a cop out by Badmash who had tried to cleverly blame the parliament. Saudis and UAE responded by saying "we have your testimonials in our hands, please dont try to act smart". Hence the recent flurry of visits. First by Badmash's brother, then by Badmash, Bad Sharif, Finance minister and DGMO.

There are two things that came out of this: First thing is that the Saudis are going slow: Their initial shock and awe of bombing followed by ground invasion is getting tempered (because Pakis wont commit enough troops for a large scale ground invasion). On top of that the new King's munna is leading the Yemen charge and wants to polish up his resume. Pakis are going to convince them that the taliban route is a better route: Train some terrorists (phreedom phyters) and then give them moral, political, diplomatic support for their legitimate struggle for freedom of Saudi Monarchs from the oppression of some rag tag militia. For doing this, Pakis are going to get their pound of flest: Money and action against India. Maybe a few resolutions on Cashmere, maybe financing for terrorists in JK.

Saudis arent in a good bargaining position either. They financed the bomb, but just like how Pakis dumped Gaddafi (after Gaddafi financed the bomb), they are going to dump the Saudis and run into the arms of the Chinese. Saudis cant get the bomb from anyone else apart from the Pakis (maybe NoKo if they agree to smuggle some oil into NoKo, but they need Chinese blessing for that). Saudis cant get men to fight from anyone apart from Pakis and Egypt. All the other Mid east countries are munnas. For all the TFTA that the Arabs think that they are, they wont last a week in battle. Pakis hold Saudi testimonials, Saudis hold Paki testimonials. All depends on who can squeeze harder and who squeals first.

Now, if Pakis go the taliban route in Yemen, Iran is going to try some mischief in Pakistan. Already Saudis and Pakis are killing Shias in Pakiland. If they want to kill more in Yemen, Iran is going to be mighty pissed. We should give moral, political and diplomatic support to Iran in their legitimate struggle against oppression in Pakistan.

On a larger note, Iran has been a massive failure for GOI, primarily through apathy. India could have played a constructive role in the rapprochement of the west with Iran. We could have invested in infrastructure in Iran to get access to Central Asia.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 27 Apr 2015 02:48

http://tribune.com.pk/story/876062/yeme ... re-attack/

In a series of meetings with the Saudis authorities on Thursday, the top civil and military leadership developed consensus on executing all future plans regarding the Yemen situation after consulting with all the stakeholders, including Pakistan. “Saudi Arabia’s next move in the region, including any possible offensive, will materialise only after mutual consultation.”

The country’s military leadership has told Riyadh that the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm was carried out hastily. “It was conducted without adequate preparations and the selection of targets was also off beam.”

Sources have claimed that Pakistan has abandoned its earlier stance of remaining neutral on the Yemen issue, as well as done away with the impression that there were differences between the two countries.

The Pakistani military leadership has briefed Saudi authorities about possible ground operations in Yemen as well as other alternatives. “Without ground operations, no one can establish the government’s writ in the conflict zone.”

PM Nawaz’s meeting with Yemen’s beleaguered President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in Saudi Arabia has been termed a “most significant meeting”.

Both leaders discussed the post-operation situation in Yemen and President Hadi’s possible reinstatement, said the sources. “They also talked about the Pakistani armed forces’ role in Yemen after Hadi is [properly] reinstated.”

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 27 Apr 2015 03:00

http://www.wsj.com/articles/former-u-n- ... 1430081791

Yemen’s warring political factions were on the verge of a power-sharing deal when Saudi-led airstrikes began a month ago, derailing negotiations for a national unity government, the United Nations mediator said.

Jamal Benomar, the U.N. envoy who spearheaded those negotiations until he resigned last week, told The Wall Street Journal the bombing campaign against the Iran-linked Houthi rebels has hardened positions on a key point—the composition of an executive body to lead Yemen’s stalled transition from dictatorship to democracy. This will complicate new attempts to reach a solution, he said.

“When this campaign started, one thing that was significant but went unnoticed is that the Yemenis were close to a deal that would institute power-sharing with all sides, including the Houthis,” said Mr. Benomar, a Moroccan diplomat.

Mr. Benomar is scheduled to address the U.N. Security Council behind closed doors on Monday and report on the suspended political talks.

This round of U.N.-brokered talks—which began in January and included 12 political and tribal factions—represented a crucial part of a mission to install a unified government in Yemen, the poorest of Arab countries and home to al Qaeda’s most dangerous offshoot.

The Houthi rebels, who have overrun significant parts of Yemen in the past eight months, had agreed to remove their militias from the cities they were occupying under the deal that had been taking shape. The U.N. had worked out details of a new government force to replace them, Mr. Benomar said.

In exchange, Western-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who has since fled the country, would have been part of an executive body that would run the country temporarily, Mr. Benomar said.

The Houthis had agreed to that reduced role for Mr. Hadi—possibly as a member of that executive council—until the Saudi military intervention began on March 26. At that point, the Houthis hardened their position on this key sticking point and opposed any role for Mr. Hadi in government, Mr. Benomar said.

Its getting more and more clear that the Saudis are freaking out about the Iran deal and want a diminished role for Iran in the middle east. They think that now is the right time to make moves, because once the sanctions come off, Iran will be on the ascendance.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 27 Apr 2015 04:31

Anujan wrote:B
Saudis arent in a good bargaining position either. They financed the bomb, but just like how Pakis dumped Gaddafi (after Gaddafi financed the bomb), they are going to dump the Saudis and run into the arms of the Chinese. Saudis cant get the bomb from anyone else apart from the Pakis (maybe NoKo if they agree to smuggle some oil into NoKo, but they need Chinese blessing for that). Saudis cant get men to fight from anyone apart from Pakis and Egypt. All the other Mid east countries are munnas. For all the TFTA that the Arabs think that they are, they wont last a week in battle. Pakis hold Saudi testimonials, Saudis hold Paki testimonials. All depends on who can squeeze harder and who squeals first. Now, if Pakis go the taliban route in Yemen, Iran is going to try some mischief in Pakistan. Already Saudis and Pakis are killing Shias in Pakiland. If they want to kill more in Yemen, Iran is going to be mighty pissed. We should give moral, political and diplomatic support to Iran in their legitimate struggle against oppression in Pakistan.

India must send right signal to Adbullah that they are ready save his Chullah in case of DarPoaqullah ditch them to face Hallagullah. One step by India can spoil paki game.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 27 Apr 2015 05:19

India should do no such thing.

India should gently tell the Saudis, that if the Saudis participate in any of the Paki schemes to provoke India, India will have no choice except to increase the temperature in the border. Which means all the Pak army will get back home from Saudia. So it is in Saudis interests to not participate in Pakistan's hairbrained schemes if they want steady supply of troops from Pakiland. Ofcourse India is interested in Peace with Pakistan and will not venture on any adventure even if all of Paki troops are deployed in Saudi. Provided Pakis behave and Saudis tell them to behave and concentrate on their Dekhonomoney.

India could also offer to purchase oil from Saudis instead of Iran and participate in joint ventures for peaceful use of Nuclear energy if the Saudis are interested.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 27 Apr 2015 06:39

Anujan wrote:India should do no such thing.
India could also offer to purchase oil from Saudis instead of Iran and participate in joint ventures for peaceful use of Nuclear energy if the Saudis are interested.

Nuclear energy is their Chullah. Saudi having their own Chullah to bake bread means 4 Dore fighting to be Supreme Khalief. If iran is check on Saudi then Saudi can be check on iran .

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 27 Apr 2015 08:14

Indian workers constitute about 7 % of Saudi population. I estimate that at least 50% are Indian Muslims. Soothis simply cannot send away 7% but they can please Shitlanders by kicking out a few. In any case so many Indian Muslims will get kicked out from Soothi that it should be therapeutic for the ummah at large.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 27 Apr 2015 08:44

Paki are s.. big time, They have given 18% guarantee to CHina and that too sovereign warranty in us $$.
[youtube]HOVysjU7P0I&sns=tw[/youtube]

Agnimitra · Post by **Agnimitra** » 27 Apr 2015 09:36

^^^ Sethi actually seems very positive about it if one watches the whole interview. At one point he launches into a lengthy 'Hamd' for China.

I wonder if China is making this statement for short-term effect, or whether it will be backed up with real changes in the nature of the qabila state's relations with its neighbours.

Inder Sharma · Post by **Inder Sharma** » 27 Apr 2015 09:41

OTOH, Indians can try to negotiate a limited truce between KSA and Iranians in Yemen (only). This will place India in her natural position as the main power and arbiter in IOR, earn Arab and Iranian gratitude; and put Pakis in a doghouse.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 27 Apr 2015 10:20

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/04/2 ... 4B20150427

The chief of Pakistan's main spy agency is spearheading a campaign to wrest control of the teeming port city of Karachi from a powerful political party, the military's latest, and some say boldest, foray into civilian life in recent years.

According to military officials, police officers and members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party which has traditionally dominated Karachi, Rizwan Akhtar has decided the time for policing the city from the sidelines is over.

"There is a quiet, creeping takeover of Karachi by the military," said a government official close to Akhtar, head of of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, which traditionally acts as an extension of army power in Pakistan.

"Karachi is just too big ... too much land, too much business, resources. No one party will be allowed to rule Karachi from now on," added the official, who declined to be named.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Apr 2015 10:47

Agnimitra wrote:^^^ Sethi actually seems very positive about it if one watches the whole interview. At one point he launches into a lengthy 'Hamd' for China..

True, though he starts with spilling the beans on the 18% return (cannot be any less), FDI, non-transparency etc., he goes on to say that when no other country is willing to invest in Pakistan, China is issuing a statement of belief in the successful future of Pakistan whom others call a failed state. In fact he turns to India and asks how much China has invested there !

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Apr 2015 10:50

Taliban denies responsibility for activist’s murder - PTI, The Hindu

The Pakistani Taliban on Sunday blamed government agencies for the killing of prominent social rights activist Sabeen Mahmud, as the outlawed outfit denied its involvement in the murder.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani, in a statement sent to media houses, categorically denied the involvement of the outlawed outfit in Mahmud’s targeted killing in Karachi. He alleged that investigation by the TTP’s intelligence wing suggests government agencies are behind the killing of Mahmud (40), which took place on Friday night.

Meanwhile, acting President Raza Rabbani described Mahmud’s assassination as an attack on freedom of speech and expression, and her death as a big loss for Karachi as he gave the provincial Sindh government three days to arrest the killers {Let's check back on Apr 30th} .

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 27 Apr 2015 10:59

I havent watched the video but if Hajam is willing to state on TV that the Cheenis are being given 18% return I will bet the return is not less than 18x2 = 36%. What with the highly inflated capital cost and the fuel supply agreement that will allow the Cheenis to hike the price at will.

But first the Cheenis have to be willing to invest even with these inflated return numbers. The declaration of pious intentions might just be to thumb their nose at the US and to cause a lot of heart burns in India in preparation to Modi's China visit. In any case it is heads the Bakis loose and tails the baki loose unless a future Baki goberminds have the balls to corner the cheenis and renegotiate the deal.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 27 Apr 2015 11:11

So the bargaining has started

Given Pakistan’s dependence on the Gulf states, turning down the Saudi request for military support for its campaign against Houthi rebels was fraught with the risk of losing a ‘trusted ally’, said two key officials during informal chat about the crucial foreign policy step.

During a flurry of high-level huddles prior to the key decision, the country’s civil and military leadership had candid discussion on the possible consequences of saying ‘no’ to the Saudi monarch with whom Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also has ‘personal relationship’.

But what really helped Pakistan ‘weather the storm’ was a Chinese assurance of economic investment and assistance to the tune no Arab country —let alone Saudi Arabia—could match, said one official.

The officials, who requested not to be identified, said the unveiling of $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor by President Xi Xinping was one of the factors that helped Islamabad to persevere despite immense pressure from Riyadh even after a unanimous resolution of parliament.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/876495/defy ... ver-yemen/

Remember the "If US doesnt give money, Pakistan will have no choice but to take money from China" blackmail?

The Chinese leader even suggested Pakistan realised its true potential and pointed out that if Islamabad maintained unity in their ranks and implemented the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, then it would not have to look up to outside help either from the West or Arab countries.

Idiot Pakis dont recognize that China wants to be the sole Pimp of Pakis and dont want Pakistan to work on the side for Saudis or US. But making Pakistan pick up fights with Saudis and US, CHina wants to be the sole benefactor of Pakistan.

Dipanker · Post by **Dipanker** » 27 Apr 2015 11:47

Wow, that is amazing amount of BS Sethi is espousing. China does not need Pakistan/Afghanistan to access Central Asia. China has a long border with Central Asia, China already is linked to Central Asia. I don't see how a Kashgar - Gwadar corridor will help Pakistan access Central Asia which had been a Paki grandiose plan for over 20 years but has failed to materialize. This corridor will primarily help China reduce cost of Oil import from ME i.e. if this thing get going in the first place. Sethi is making such a big deal out of a purported investment of $3.5 billion/year for the next 15 years, if that at all happens in the first place. Beside bulk of the $3.5 billion will go to the Chinese companies working on the projects, with a small amount trickling to the Paki. US has been pumping over $2 billion /yr for the past 10+ years, how much development did that bring to Pakistan? And this was all free money!

Shaktimaan · Post by **Shaktimaan** » 27 Apr 2015 11:58

Anujan wrote:http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/04/2 ... 4B20150427

The chief of Pakistan's main spy agency is spearheading a campaign to wrest control of the teeming port city of Karachi from a powerful political party, the military's latest, and some say boldest, foray into civilian life in recent years.

According to military officials, police officers and members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party which has traditionally dominated Karachi, Rizwan Akhtar has decided the time for policing the city from the sidelines is over.

"There is a quiet, creeping takeover of Karachi by the military," said a government official close to Akhtar, head of of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, which traditionally acts as an extension of army power in Pakistan.

"Karachi is just too big ... too much land, too much business, resources. No one party will be allowed to rule Karachi from now on," added the official, who declined to be named.

So the PakJabi military has finally declared war on the Muhajirs of Sindh. Could this be a step on the way to full blown civil war?

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 27 Apr 2015 12:45

You know what would be really funny? Given that the proposed route passes pretty close to the India border, what if the Chinese decide that it might be cheaper for them to just build a connector through to the Indian side of Punjab and use Indian highways to ports in Gujarat and/or Maharashtra. It'll be less expenditure for them, plus transport safety issues will be much less. On top of that, they can still get Pakistanis on the hook to repay the loan!

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 27 Apr 2015 13:06

The following news article is a week old, but I don't think this news was posted here (quick search for the name received no hits), so here it is:
Dawn Marketing Director killed in Karachi

What is interesting is the location and the modus operandi:

Mr Masood Hamid, Director Marketing, Pakistan Herald Publications Private Limited (PHPL), was found murdered in his car in Defence Housing Authority’s phase-8 on Friday night, The Dawn Media Group said in a statement.

Mr. Hamid was killed by a single shot, and apparently died on the spot. The unknown gunmen also left the weapon used in the murder in his car before fleeing the scene.

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 27 Apr 2015 13:13

Regardless of the specific terms and details of china's pakistan deal, one thing stands out for me: pakistan has, in effect become China's colony. The deal is a way for China to squeeze out pakistani and probably afghan raw wealth using china's surplus as a lever. Infrastructure will be built to facilitate the transport of this wealth--mineral, consuming power, and the vaunted benefits of pakistan's geostrategic location--to china. There will be secondary benefits to Pakistan 's enterpreneurial classes (if any) from this infrastructure (like there were for Indian entrepreneurs from british built railways), but it won't benefit paki masses who will be paying globalized prices without having the corresponding education and attitude adjustment needed to be able earn enough to afford those prices.

Paki military will become a fully owned but independently operated subsidiary of china inc. By extension the same will be the state of Islam paki-ishtyle. There will be no dancing Mullahs or imams (which anyway seems like the act of a local functionary) but the paki mullahs will be gently guided by China to dance out of china's way.

All this will happen with a continued pretense of paki sovereignty thus giving China plausible deniability over paki actions which will be solely in the interests of china.

What are the implications of this realignment for India? Should we start going after chinese interests in response to further provocations by freedom fighters in cashmere for example?

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 27 Apr 2015 13:32

ArmenT wrote:You know what would be really funny? Given that the proposed route passes pretty close to the India border, what if the Chinese decide that it might be cheaper for them to just build a connector through to the Indian side of Punjab and use Indian highways to ports in Gujarat and/or Maharashtra. It'll be less expenditure for them, plus transport safety issues will be much less. On top of that, they can still get Pakistanis on the hook to repay the loan!

Indian entrepreneurs would be in a position to benefit and grow from that kind of transportation channel, and for that reason China won't do it, IMO. I think they feel reasonably safe gambling on pakjabis getting a grip on Balochi militancy; anyway if pakjabis fail, it is still only pakistan paying the costs and not china.

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 27 Apr 2015 13:51

China’s mega move

Looks like this RAPE has more or less the same view as me on this issue, though being a paki, he doesn't think it is colonization, and being a RAPE he is quite thrilled about it.

China has made its move. Typically, it is mega, long-term, and splendid. The large-scale investment in Pakistan through over four-dozen agreements is not notional. Nor is it just a continuation of the old strategic ties that Beijing and Islamabad have spent decades in developing. Through this move China is looking to open (to borrow a phrase from Riaz Khokar, Pakistan’s former foreign secretary) a big back-door through Pakistan onto seas, oceans and continents for energy, for business and for asserting itself as a superpower in the making.

The move is also part of China’s counter to US-pampered Indian power projection, and Washington’s crass attempts at creating a ring of pivots and engagement spots that could dissipate Beijing’s prowess by embroiling it in its near-abroad.

This plan had been a long time coming. While it culminated in the recent visit, the effort to take this partnership to the next level had been in the works for years. Clearly Pakistan, its army and the present government, have been, at different levels, at it consistently and quietly. I can recall many meetings with senior military officials and diplomats last year in which different elements of this partnership were mentioned in much detail. Clearly, therefore, Pakistan too has made a strategic calculation to go the whole hog with China on this path. It is an alliance for the coming decades. It is a handshake that can potentially shake regional politics and reshape global affairs.

Foremost is stability. China’s engagement with Pakistan hinges on the assumption that our domestic scenario would remain calm and not suffer the kind of trauma that has defined most part of our history. Political protests boiling over into the streets, agitational politics that destroys economic growth, absence of consensus on governance that stymies reform, and poverty that translates into discontentment and disorder are items that have to be off the list of Pakistan’s internal matters.

Not that the Chinese would pull out if these things were to happen in Pakistan – the Chinese never pull out – but these distractions (as they call them) would slow down their march forward. It would create exactly the kind of a situation that they are investing in here to avoid elsewhere. They don’t want a swamp. They want a fast track. They want smooth sailing through this route. Plus they want profit on their money as well as its safe return. They will help like they always do in enabling the state of Pakistan to do some of this work but the burden of maintaining long-term order clearly lies with us.

Pakistan will also have to create a political buy-in for this partnership. This is the second requirement. The partnership cannot be the ‘achievement of one party’ of the sort that does not get the same priority by another party in case of change in government. In other words, the Chinese expect to see the same kind of model in business and investment transactions that they have developed in the field of defence. Projects that start now are going to roll on for decades. The government that is starting them today may not be in power when these finish – and that should not matter at all. That is how the Chinese have planned their move. This is how they want Pakistan to embrace and execute the planned move – a business deal of strategic proportions that is beyond and above politics and, all else failing, guaranteed to bear fruit by the Pakistan Army, the permanent government.

We are also expected to raise our game as far as project completion capability is concerned. Whether it is infrastructure or trained manpower to manage the arteries on the map of the idea, whether it is dispute resolution mechanisms, and creating an enabling environment to speedily turn investment into productivity our system has to step up and deliver at the same pace as that of the Chinese. Now this is asking for something: we have a history of brilliance in executing projects, but it is patchy and inconsistent. Generally, we don’t fare well on most indices that clock different countries’ ability to optimise business opportunities by meeting deadlines. This time around we will have to improve our track record for some of the dreams that official hawkers are selling to us after the Chinese president’s visit to come true.

Seen collectively, what Pakistan needs to do to make use of the promised $45 billion worth of investment plus soft loans appears to be a tall order. A political system that cannot agree on how to hold elections and whose leaders dissipate more energies on belittling each other than on joining hands to craft a national vision might not look to be geared towards being speedy and productive. Or be in a situation to stay in step with the Chinese roller-coaster.

The rest is BS about mutual respect and open debate, also warnings about YYY conspiracy against Cheen entering pakistan, essentially boilerplate garbage for talking head jobs for him and his fellow RAPEs.

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 27 Apr 2015 13:56

Anujan wrote:http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/04/2 ... 4B20150427

The chief of Pakistan's main spy agency is spearheading a campaign to wrest control of the teeming port city of Karachi from a powerful political party, the military's latest, and some say boldest, foray into civilian life in recent years.

According to military officials, police officers and members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party which has traditionally dominated Karachi, Rizwan Akhtar has decided the time for policing the city from the sidelines is over.

"There is a quiet, creeping takeover of Karachi by the military," said a government official close to Akhtar, head of of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, which traditionally acts as an extension of army power in Pakistan.

"Karachi is just too big ... too much land, too much business, resources. No one party will be allowed to rule Karachi from now on," added the official, who declined to be named.

I think Cheeni uncle just ordered baki to stabilise karachi for investment atmosphere. I see no other reason for this takeover by security forces.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 27 Apr 2015 15:10

Puki army taking control of city management indicates total collapse of law and order and state machinery in Karachi. Given their track record, they are unlikely to give back control to civilians even if we assume that they succeed in bringing order and discipline to the running of the city. That said, the situation in Karachi is ripe for a civil war type situation. Puki army is not used to nuanced urban operations in midst of civilians. If any of the entrenched groups in Karachi were to attack army patrols, etc., there will be swift reaction and muhathirs and afghans in Karachi will bear the brunt of the impact. That will result in a visious cycle of more soosais attacking puki army.

If Karachi get into a civil way type situation with their army embroiled there, Pukis can say a final good bye to their economy regardless of any trillions of promised loans from their deepel than oceans ilon blothel.