Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-Jan 24, 2016

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 28 Jan 2016 18:45

Bakistan Army Thwarts Indian Terrist Invashun of LaHore Honour, Dignity and Sovirginity!

hoisting the Indian flag atop his home in Punjab Province

And u wonder where they recuit soosai bummers.. Could NaMo swap this RAA agint for the Majority Population of Godhra?

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 28 Jan 2016 21:48

American woman marries Facebook love in Daska,( Pakistan )

It is an almost surreal piece of news - unless:

(a)She is another Tafsheen Malik
(b) She is an illegal in Massaland and wants to "settle down" in Daska of all places
(c) She is "willing" to endure physical, psychological and other harassment from her in laws and extended family
(d) She is "happy" to go under purdah/burkha
(e) She is madly in "love"- whatever that means in an Islamic context
(f) Prospective "hubby" is angling for a US Vijja
(g) Reasons not known yet

Brad Goodman · Post by **Brad Goodman** » 28 Jan 2016 22:41

Blast near railway tracks damages Jaffar Express in Sibi

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 28 Jan 2016 22:46

Editor Of "Dawn" Complains To Indian Newspaper About Press Jingoism In Pakiland

‘We have been dubbed anti-state and anti-army’: Editor of Dawn on jingoism in the media

On April 18, 2014, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir was shot six times as he emerged out of the airport to broadcast a story for Geo TV. His family squarely placed the blame on Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI). While Mir survived the attack, the incident raised many questions on the dangers of practising journalism in Pakistan. According to some reports, 71 journalists have been killed in Pakistan since 2001. The country is ranked 159, in a list of 180 countries, on the Press Freedom Index. In such an atmosphere, Dawn, a Pakistani Daily, has managed to retain a reputation for fearlessness.

In the aftermath of the Pathankot attack, it published a clear-eyed piece on the Pakistani government’s attitude to terror. It stated: “It should not be impossible for Islamabad to realise that whenever any Pakistan-based terrorist group assaults India it threatens the integrity of Pakistan itself”.

It should be noted for the record that English Newspaper readership is very minuscule in Pakiland; such- if you want to call it - "balanced" opinion are probably unknown in the Urdu press!

We interviewed Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn, over e-mail, and asked him how they do it.

Owing to the strained relations between India and Pakistan, media in both countries compete over jingoistic coverage. In this environment, how does Dawn strive for fairness and balance in reporting?
Unfortunate as it is, jingoism is part of journalism practiced in most conflict zones. It is mostly driven by misplaced patriotism as most newspapers and journalism practitioners are easily influenced by the official stance of their respective governments and other state institutions. Although, very rarely, it happens in Dawn, too, since at times a reporter or two get carried away while reporting on issues related to cross-border issues. However, the situation becomes more alarming when editorials or op-ed articles also start to adopt jingoistic tones.
Unfortunately, this is the trend we have been noticing in many newspapers and television channels in both Pakistan and India. Conscious of this trend, we at Dawn have continued to make serious efforts to remain on course. At times, there is heated debate on such issues during the editorial meetings. Examples are given of coverage in other newspapers and on various television channels in Pakistan and India. But led by the Editor, the majority has remained of the view that we cannot become part of this ugly conflict and, as much as possible, will continue to express our views in a more rational and objective manner.

Tell us about the last threat your paper or one of your journalists received…
Religious extremist groups regard Dawn as their enemy, and from time to time we get direct or indirect threats from one or the other group. We continue to monitor the situation, and occasionally also take precautionary measures, but have so far not compromised on our journalism. Government and other state institutions not pleased with our editorial policy often express their displeasure, but there is no example from recent years of any direct threat to the paper or its journalists.
However, people sympathetic to governments often indulge in vicious campaigns against Dawn on social media, dubbing it as anti-state or anti-army newspaper. More recently, one of our assistant editors received a death threat on Twitter after she wrote an article about Baloch separatists. It is being investigated by the authorities.

While religious extremism has entrenched itself very firmly in Pakistan foreign and domestic policy, India has, relatively speaking, remained insulated from it. Our public institutions and media remain secular, much to the chagrin of religious extremists in this part of the sub-continent. And for the most part, the Indian media has been careful not to validate the activities of fringe groups, of any religion, ensuring that incidents like the Dadri lynching and the murders of rationalists was given the condemnation it deserved.

By no stretch of the imagination, can someone do an == between the media of India and that of Pakiland, if that is the impression being given in this piece.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 28 Jan 2016 23:00

Former foreign minister Sahibzada Yaqub Khan dies at 95

Pakistan’s former foreign minister Lieutenant General (r) Sahibzada Yaqub Khan passed away late Monday night at the age of 95.
Funeral prayers of the deceased were offered at Army graveyard in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. The funeral prayers were attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, a large number of high-ranking civil and military officials and people from all walks of life.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders offered condolences over the sad demise of Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, a high-profile figure and high-ranking general who held the most senior and prestigious military and government assignments and represented Pakistan for three decades at international forums.

Khan was born in Rampur area of India’s UP state in December 1920. He studied at Col Brown Cambridge School in Dehradun and the Prince of Wales Indian Military College, Dehradun. He served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US under the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government, and as foreign minister under the military government of General Ziaul Haq and later under the civilian governments of both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from 1982 to 1991. He then served as the caretaker foreign minister from 1996 to 1997.

Later, he was promoted to the post of Chief of General Staff of the Eastern Military High Command. In 1971 he was made commander of the Eastern Command. Later he was posted back to West Pakistan and all combatant corps against India in the 1971 war were placed under his command. Khan was also the founding chairman of the Aga Khan University board of trustees.

For whatever reasons, he was not "tainted" by the East Pakistan military operation, and was therefore rehabilitated by the subsequent military regime of Zia, who used his diplomatic skills in getting "more than peanuts" for Pakiland during the Afghan war. Fortunately or unfortunately, he belonged to the "wrong" sect.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 28 Jan 2016 23:37

That "India is blaming us onlee" khujli seems to be because of the steady stream of statements from foreign visitors asking Pakistan to do more against terrorism. Latest is from the French president.

In the same vein pakis have issued a statement that international arms deals should take local balance of power into account. Probably alluding to latest rounds of defence deals by the SDREs.

The best way to deal with pakis is to have such a big economy and industrial base that their statements look like dogs barking at cars.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 29 Jan 2016 00:03

Anujan wrote:The best way to deal with pakis is to have such a big economy and industrial base that their statements look like dogs barking at cars.

I think by next year,annual growth in Indian economy will exceed that of whole Paki Gross Domestic Product though Paki will remain world leader in Gross G..U Products and G..D Displaying People.
Pakistan will be shrinking smaller and smaller every year till it get tear in rear and split in violent fit. For short while,Mama China may hold this sh..t but wont let it drink milk from her T..ts, waiting for mental growth of this 69 year old Munna.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 00:26

"Deep State" Deflecting Pathankot Investigations Away From Its Proxy - Jaish -e- Mohammad
The Pathankot crime scene: How not to investigate!

Pakistan wants to send its investigation team to India to not only visit the Pathankot crime scene but also examine the bodies of terrorists involved. While India’s external affairs ministry has welcomed the move, its media has quoted military sources ruling out any such visit to the base.

The Indian Air Force is seemingly opposed to Pakistanis visiting the ‘strategically sensitive location’ of the crime scene ie a residential area near an air base, which can be easily sketched using Google Maps. But the investigations can’t be credible without establishing certain facts on the ground. As per Premier Nawaz Sharif’s commitment to his counterpart, Pakistan has conducted raids and arrested some suspects too.

But the prime suspect by the name of Maulana Azhar is only under "protective custody"

When the US President or his French counterpart pressurise Pakistan for quick action in investigations, they deliberately tend to presume that Islamabad should believe the Indian version of the story, the authenticity of DNA tests of the attackers, the recorded telephone conversations and the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) letter the attacker carried along for the comfort of traditionally laid back security personnel at the air base.(Pakistan should provide contrary evidence otherwise; due to their track record for lying, no body believes them )

Rewind to 1965 and you’ll know that the Pathankot base security forces were caught napping in the middle of the war. In what turned out to be a cakewalk, the Pakistan Air Force’s two Starfighters and eight F-86 Sabres destroyed a dozen modern fighter jets on the ground. There was no consolation prize for India as all aircrafts returned unscathed.

Pathankot’s depressing history notwithstanding, India holds a very weak case for a fair and transparent probe into the attack. Let Indian media reports and statements or leaks by officials be the guide, the entire anti-terror operation is marred with confusion and contradictions. For example, two terrorists killed while crawling towards the hangers on the second night turned out to be pigs. The Indian leadership alleges that terrorists came from Pakistan but its Border Security Forces deny any infiltration. The Indian media has extensively covered attack-related raids conducted in the Punjab province, with suspects mostly being Sikhs, including police officials. The gulf between the claims and actions of the Indian side is becoming too hard to bridge with credible facts.

This is the line of defense most likely to be parroted by the Deep State

Given the extent of vendetta and mistrust on both sides, such investigations require a proper mechanism for joint probe. No such confidence building measures (CBMs) exist that allow the other side access to a crime scene in case of suspected involvement from across the border. The Mumbai terror attack investigation too fell prey to India’s refusal to let a Pakistani team study the crime scene independently. As for the Pathankot episode, it’s already too late for joint investigations to start.

Typically, India is pressurising Pakistan to accept its evidence as legitimate and follow the leads. It’s puzzling that India refuses to accept that a set of Kashmiri organisations teamed up to launch the attack on a strategic air base. Countless times, Indian military installations have come under attack from Kashmiri militants. Probably, the Modi government is bidding to deny limelight to the disputed Jammu and Kashmir state by acknowledging the United Jihad Council claim. It is instead blaming it on JeM which serves Delhi’s foreign and security policy interest better.

The NGOs promoting track-II diplomacy and central Punjab’s trade lobby have been quick to buy the Indian verdict as live coverage of the Pathankot operation began. Preoccupied with domestic terrorism, the Pakistani media too has not delved deeper and conveniently covered the allegations against JeM militants. Little effort was made in listing other likely perpetrators.

The Pathankot attack investigation is facing problems similar to the Mumbai probe. India blamed Pakistan and exerted every pressure possible to impose its version. There has been no closure of the Samjhota Express case either.
Depending on which side of the border you are from, accusing ISI or RAW for attempting to derail resumption of composite dialogue – recently named as comprehensive dialogue – comes handy. In reality, there can be no denial of extremist outfits and hyper-nationalist figures on either side, who can take matters into their hands.

(attempt at an ==?)

Islamabad and Delhi need a special set of CBMs directed at probing terror attacks such as the Samjhota Express, Mumbai attacks, PNS Mehran, PAC Kamra, Pathankot or Bacha Khan University. Else, the dialogue process will continue to be hostage to clandestine non-state actors, intelligence agencies and media trials. The biggest CBM will be institutionalisation of the bilateral dialogue lest an all-out war breaks out.

Naveed Ahmad is a Pakistani investigative journalist and academic with extensive reporting experience in the Middle East and North Africa. He is based in Doha and Istanbul. He tweets @naveed360( Foreign based Deep State sympathizer "offering an so called independent assessment")

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » 29 Jan 2016 01:11

We are giving in to terrorists by shutting down schools: Chaudhry Nisar

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday urged all provincial governments not to shutdown schools over fear of terrorist attacks as he compared the closure of educational institutions with bowing down to terrorism.

Cheers

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 29 Jan 2016 01:12

Falijee wrote:American woman marries Facebook love in Daska,( Pakistan )

It is an almost surreal piece of news - unless:

(h) She is a he/it.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 29 Jan 2016 02:28

Before India complains about Pakistani terrorists, they should realize France, Spain, Canada, Norway, Tunisia, US, Britain, China, Russia, Bosnia, Iran, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Dagestan, Tajikistan, Philippines, Afghanistan, Maldives, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Indonesia, South Korea are also victim of Pakistani terrorists.

Pakistani terrorism is a worldwide problem and Pakistan is doing everything to keep the world safe.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Jan 2016 04:49

26/11 trial a test of Pak sincerity on combating terror: MEA - ToI

The 2008 Mumbai attacks again took centre stage in Indo-Pak bilateral ties with New Delhi declaring on Thursday that 26/11 remained a test case for Pakistan's stated commitment to fighting India-specific terror groups.

While there has been much speculation about when the foreign secretaries are going to meet, the foreign ministry said the two countries have not yet agreed upon a mutually convenient date for the talks which Pakistan sees as essential to carry forward the engagement process. "We see Mumbai terror attack trial in Islamabad as a test of Pakistan's sincerity in combating terrorism directed against India," said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

"The planning, training and financing of the Mumbai attack was done in Pakistan where 99% of the evidence is. It is Pakistan's responsibility to unearth and present the requisite evidences so that the perpetrators are brought to justice," he added.

As it sought a re-engagement with Pakistan late last year, the Centre seemed to shift focus from the ongoing trial of the 26/11 accused, including mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, to more topical humanitarian issues and religious tourism {We have not been vocal about 26/11 at all. Every opportunity, we need to remind the Pakistanis and the rest of the world about how there is no progress in the 26/11 case after we have given all possible evidence to Pakistan. For the last few years, we have totally stopped speaking about that. Somehow, Pathankot seems to be the 'be all, end all'. While Pathankot is a very serious matter indeed, there is a more serious 'urban guerrilla warfare' incident of 26/11 pending for eigt years now with absolutely no progress! We cannot allow 26/11 to go the Gilgit-Baltistan way.}. The Pathankot attack though has made it difficult to have any engagement with Islamabad without terror as the main agenda.

Swarup said even when the foreign secretary S Jaishankar travels to Islamabad to meet his counterpart, he was going to take up the issue of terror emanating from Pakistan against India in the light of the Pathankot attack. Originally, after the two sides declared resumption of talks in December, foreign secretaries were meant to work out the modalities, leaving the issue of terrorism to be addressed by the NSAs. On the progress of probe by Pakistan in Pathankot terror strike, he said the two governments were in "continuous communication".

Pakistan though is likely to seek more evidence for carrying out Pathankot investigations. Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz Thursday was quoted as having said that the ball for foreign secretary talks was in India's court and that Pakistan was waiting for India to propose a date. Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit suggested that the talks could take place in the first or second week of February. But, as India and Pakistan haggle over dates, the fact is that a fresh spurt in neighbourhood diplomacy by India next week may leave little time for an engagement with Pakistan. Jaishankar now is preparing to welcome his Bangladesh counterpart, Shahidul Haque, for foreign office consultations on Sunday. The following weekend foreign minister Sushma Swaraj travels to Colombo for the next round of the India-Lanka joint commission.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Jan 2016 05:03

NIA chargesheet on Udhampur attack details LeT plot against India - Bharti Jain, ToI

The National Investigation Agency, in a chargesheet filed on Thursday against Pakistani national Mohammad Naveed and eight others in the Udhampur terror attack case, has described the August 2015 ambush on a BSF convoy as part of a larger conspiracy by Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) to wage war against India.

"It is part of this overarching conspiracy that terrorists are recruited and trained in Pakistan and PoK by the LeT and then infiltrated into India to commit terrorist acts. The ends of the conspiracy are furthered by local terrorists, facilitators and supporters who provide a variety of logistic support to terrorists once they enter Indian territory," states the chargesheet while nailing the role of the Pakistan-based terror outfit.

The nine accused named in the chargesheet are Naveed, Khursheed Bhat, Showkat Bhat, Shabzar Bhat, Fayaz Ittoo, Khursheed Ittu, Setha, Ashiq Bhat and deceased attacker Abu Noman. The chargesheet records Mohammad Naveed, one of the two Udhampur attackers captured alive, as a Pakistani national and resident of Street Number 3, Rafiq Colony, Ghulam Mohammad Abad, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. His accomplice Abu Noman, who was killed in retaliatory fire, is also listed as a Paksitani.

According to the chargesheet filed in a special NIA court in Jammu, Naveed was recruited into LeT in 2011 at a local mosque through Bashir Moulvi, resident of Faisalabad. His training at Muzaffarabad, took place between late 2011 and May 2015.

Naveed and his aides Abu Noman, Mohammed Bhai and Abu Okasha were launched from 'Halen Det', a PoK camp used by LeT. They travelled from Forward Kahuta, PoK and crossed the LoC on June 2, 2015, after cutting the fence. They headed for Baba Reshi in Baramulla, using grid references and GPS, and reached a pre-determined tree where they were asked to meet a receiving party comprising Ashiq and Showkat.

The receiving party went checking for Naveed, using GPS to find the pre-determined tree on both occasions. This data has been found on the recovered GPS device.

The vehicle in which Naveed travelled from Baba Reshi has been seized. Also, the Pulwama house where Naveed and others stayed between June 14 and July 23, 2015 was identified. A Samsung mobile recovered from the site contained several videos, photos and text that establish the terror link.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 06:04

After Charsadda, Paki authorities scramble to close schools,colleges and universities due to security threats and /or lack of adequate security:

Army Public Schools, Garrison Board Colleges closed for three days

Three Lahore varsities closed due to poor security

Attempt to blow up school in Peshawar foiled

Schools in Punjab Province facing terror threat: Rana Sanaullah

Army schools closed amid security concerns

At the very least, the "miscreats" responsible for the Charsadda Attack, have succeeded in their goal of installing psychological fear

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 06:35

Pakis Play Favourites In Massa Election
‘Hillary Clinton better equipped to deal with the challenges, Donald Trump a danger to American society’s fundamentals’

LAHORE (Umer Shami) – The rise of candidates like Donald Trump manifests a dangerous trend challenging the basic fundamentals on which American society is based. However every society in the world has a certain percentage of extremist elements and US is no exception.

People supporting Donald Trump does not represent the sentiments of the mainstream. These views were expressed by Mr Shahid Khan while addressing a media roundtable titled “Current Political Climate in the United States of America” organized at the residence of US Consul General Lahore. ( US consul general residence" used" for the purpose of making a partisan remark about US election? )

Mr Shahid Khan, a distinguished member of the Pakistani-American community in Boston, Massachusetts and a prominent businessman, is also known for his close ties with the Democratic Party. He worked on the election campaigns of Senator John Kerry and Hillary Clinton and is well versed with the intricacies of US politics.

The "distinguished member" may also know Hilary's inner circle adviser - Ms. Huma Abedin of Paki origin whose parents in Saudia are well known for espousing a Wahabi strain of Malsi

Mr Shahid also said that Hillary Clinton is perceived to be better equipped to deal with the challenges faced by the US society and as things stand right now her nomination by the Democratic Party is almost certain. When asked whether Hillary Clinton would like Donald Trump as an opponent, he replied that in that case Hillary has a definite chance of winning the presidency.

Commenting on the current state of Pak US relations he said that Pakistan must make diplomatic efforts to portray itself as a modern and robust democracy in US. “The term AFPAK means that Pakistan is clubbed with Afghanistan which is a war theater. That means we are being viewed in a context which relates more to ~~security~~terrorism . We need to change that”.

He also said that Pakistani community in US is very enterprising and vibrant but the need of the hour is to organize and utilize their potential for the good of the country. A cohesive policy needs to be devised to engage the community.(no mention of "discrimination against Pakis, Pakis being singled out for "special treatment" at ports of entry, etc etc )

Mr Khan also said that Pakistani State has shown willingness and intent to face the menace of terrorist organizations at home, the capacity to do so is however questionable. Much more effort will be needed to satisfy the international community about our resolve to do away with terrorism in all its forms.

It is nothing but a "feel good" lecture by a local Paki who has "made good" in Massaland

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 29 Jan 2016 06:42

Pakistanis should issue a strong statement that if Donald Trump wins the elections, Pakistanis will stop emigrating to the US and emigrate to Canada and Australia instead.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Jan 2016 10:30

LeT hiring vulnerable Pak. youth, says NIA - Vijaita Singh, The Hindu

Terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is recruiting “vulnerable young men in Pakistan,” as part of a larger conspiracy to wage war against India, especially in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, a chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Udhampur terrorist attack case has said.

The NIA said the LeT “recruited these impressionable young men and put them through various training regimes with the twin objectives of radicalising their worldview and providing them with ‘military’ skills and they were then illegally pushed into India to join their colleagues and commit terrorist acts.”

The outfit recruited “guides” to help “trained terrorists” infiltrate into India through Helen Det — a launch pad being operated by the outfit in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) near the Line of Control (LoC), says the chargesheet pertaining to the attack on a BSF bus in Udhampur in J&K last year when two jawans were killed and 13 were injured.

To establish that the terrorists who infiltrated into India were Pakistanis, the NIA has mentioned the address of the captured infiltrator Mohammad Naveed in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Naveed is one of the two attackers who opened fire on the BSF bus and arrested later on.

Before the attack, a Pulwama resident, Khursheed Ittu (36), along with his wife and infant child, escorted the truck carrying the terrorists in his personal Maruti Alto car to the spot where the incident took place. Ittu had received instructions from Abu Qasim, the LeT commander in South Kashmir.

The chargesheet has been filed against a total of nine persons.

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » 29 Jan 2016 15:20

Major power breakdown plunges Karachi into darkness

KARACHI: More than 70 percent areas of Karachi plunged into darkness after 500KV transmission line, supplying electricity to the metropolis, tripped near Jamshoro.

According to K-Electric, 500KV high transmission line tripped near Jamshoro around 5:45AM, resulting major areas of Karachi plunged into darkness.

Cheers

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » 29 Jan 2016 16:03

Govt advised to be cautious while pursuing normalisation with India

ISLAMABAD: Former defence secretaries want the government to be extra cautious in pursuing a normalisation process with India because they do not see a major shift in Delhi’s policy on its ties with Pakistan.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) on ‘Impasse in Pak-India ties – Implications for Regional Diplomacy and Strategic Stability’, former defence secretary retired Lt Gen Asif Yasin Malik called for “open and extensive” debate within the country on its relations with India.

“There has to be a people-driven national vision, not a government-driven [one],” he added. The seminar was held on the third anniversary of the Islamabad-based think tank which specialises in security and strategic affairs.

Pakistan and India are on the verge of resuming their peace dialogue under the tag of ‘Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue’. The talks were delayed by the Pathankot attack, but high-level contact between the two countries — which began with a meeting between prime ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Summit in November last year, has given the impression of new momentum in bilateral ties.

However, Mr Malik cautioned that no radical shift in ties was expected, although there could be minor improvement caused by expediencies of the international environment.

For Pakistan, “bending is not an option; either forward or backwards. We bend and we get a kick,” Mr Malik, who retired as defence secretary in 2014, said.

He recalled Prime Minister Modi’s belligerent posture towards Pakistan during his election campaign, when he talked about making Pakistan irrelevant in a geo-political context at both the regional and national levels. He said India continued to play “cat and mouse” in ties with Pakistan.

Mr Malik listed a number of measures he expected the government to undertake — both internally and externally — in order to effectively deal with the challenge posed by India: de-linking Pak-Afghan ties from the Pak-India relationship, safeguarding the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from sabotage, tackling political fissures over CPEC, pursuing water security more seriously, and appointing a full-time foreign minister.

Retired Lt Gen Naeem Lodhi, another former defence secretary, echoed Mr Malik when he noted that there was no détente in sight.

In his view, the answer lay in the leadership of both countries ending the “blame game” and approaching the relationship with fresh and open minds.

“The imbalance of size and political clout highly in favour of India begs third party facilitation to veer these two nuclear powers away from confrontational mode. There seems to be no other option,” he said.

The director of Quaid-i-Azam University School of Politics and International Relations, Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, suggested that the countries’ leaders “act rationally and thwart the agenda of radicalised transnational terrorist groups for the prosperity of their people”.

He warned that “limited war between India and Pakistan could escalate to full scale nuclear war”.

SVI president Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema said the biggest obstacle to normalisation with India were its designs for hegemony and dominance.

He believed that India was dragging its feet when it came to meaningful negotiations with Pakistan, in a forlorn hope that Pakistan would not be able to sustain itself in the process.

Defence production secretary retired Lt Gen Syed Mohammad Owais launched SVI’s flagship publication, the Journal of Security and Strategic Analyses (JSSA), which will be published biannually and will contain research articles on contemporary issues of security and strategic studies.

Cheers

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Jan 2016 17:35

Peregrine wrote:Govt advised to be cautious while pursuing normalisation with India

“The imbalance of size and political clout highly in favour of India begs third party facilitation to veer these two nuclear powers away from confrontational mode. There seems to be no other option,” he said.

But, conventional wisdom and empirical evidence are contrary to the above, aren't they?

Under normal circumstances, the preponderant state, in this case India, should have been able to set the course for the conflict and probably should have brought it to a quick conclusion. Usually, the conflict prolongs, interminably in some cases, only when the two opposing states are equally poised. In the India-Pakistan situation, India was always (and oncreasingly so in the last two decades) far superior to Pakistan in almost every factor that can be set to define the strength of the nation, namely, demographiy (National and Urban Population), production of Iron and Steel, military strength and expenditure, and energy consumption. These variables define one measure of the capability of a nation, the Composite Index of National Capability (CINC). The overall CIN Capability has been consistently at a 4:1 ratio in favour of India at a minimum and even reaching a 7:1 ratio at times and yet India was unable to translate such a superiority into a tangible resolution of its conflict. The status quo power, India, has generally tended to allow the revisionist power Pakistan to set the agenda for the conflict and has been satisfied with being merely reactive, thus defying the generally accepted principles of conflict resolution. Pakistan has always mistaken such an Indian attitude as cowardly and has launched misadventures that generally brought it only misery.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 29 Jan 2016 20:11

Falijee wrote:American woman marries Facebook love in Daska,( Pakistan )

It is an almost surreal piece of news - unless:
(a)She is another Tafsheen Malik
(b) She is an illegal in Massaland and wants to "settle down" in Daska of all places
(c) She is "willing" to endure physical, psychological and other harassment from her in laws and extended family
(d) She is "happy" to go under purdah/burkha
(e) She is madly in "love"- whatever that means in an Islamic context
(f) Prospective "hubby" is angling for a US Vijja
(g) Reasons not known yet

She marries to an electrician. She met him on facebook. Electrician lives in a village without electricity

. Am confused. How this guy was able to use facebook without electricity?

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 29 Jan 2016 20:16

rsingh wrote: She marries to an electrician. She met him on facebook. Electrician lives in a village without electricity . Am confused. How this guy was able to use facebook without electricity?

rsinghji, This is what the lack of faith in Islam's greatness does to you -- you ask silly questions like "how can you use facebook without electricity?".

You do not understand Djinn Physics, and how Maxwell's fifth law works only in countries with strong faith in islam. It is no wonder that the western civilization and kaffir countries are in permanent decline, while islam countries are rising like yennything.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 29 Jan 2016 20:41

Falijee wrote:Former foreign minister Sahibzada Yaqub Khan dies at 95
Pakistan’s former foreign minister Lieutenant General (r) Sahibzada Yaqub Khan passed away late Monday night at the age of 95.
Funeral prayers of the deceased were offered at Army graveyard in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. The funeral prayers were attended by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, a large number of high-ranking civil and military officials and people from all walks of life.
President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders offered condolences over the sad demise of Sahibzada Yaqub Khan, a high-profile figure and high-ranking general who held the most senior and prestigious military and government assignments and represented Pakistan for three decades at international forums.
Khan was born in Rampur area of India’s UP state in December 1920. He studied at Col Brown Cambridge School in Dehradun and the Prince of Wales Indian Military College, Dehradun. He served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US under the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government, and as foreign minister under the military government of General Ziaul Haq and later under the civilian governments of both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from 1982 to 1991. He then served as the caretaker foreign minister from 1996 to 1997.

Later, he was promoted to the post of Chief of General Staff of the Eastern Military High Command. In 1971 he was made commander of the Eastern Command. Later he was posted back to West Pakistan and all combatant corps against India in the 1971 war were placed under his command. Khan was also the founding chairman of the Aga Khan University board of trustees.
For whatever reasons, he was not "tainted" by the East Pakistan military operation, and was therefore rehabilitated by the subsequent military regime of Zia, who used his diplomatic skills in getting "more than peanuts" for Pakiland during the Afghan war. Fortunately or unfortunately, he belonged to the "wrong" sect.

In 80's India Today used to be a big fan of him.Remember his pic on front page in 1983 (IIRC).During Non-Alianged Movement conference he played role of co-host........welcoming guests (Arafat,Castro and others) with proper muslim adab and taur trike.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 20:53

Anti-Shia Maulana Aziz Says That He Is "Negotiating With Agencies"

I am negotiating with agencies, claims Maulana Abdul Aziz

ISLAMABAD: Deposed Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz has alleged that an officer from the country’s premiere intelligence agency “was conspiring against him”, while other officials were in contact with him in an effort to sort out the differences between the two sides.

Only in Pakiland (or maybe in Saudia) can a "religious leader " be so powerful to dictate to govt agencies! or as an special case,in this instance, the Saudis (due to their clout ) will "dictate" the fate of this Maulvi to the Pakis; no wait, I retract my hypothesis; this radical maulana, from earlier press reports has shifted his allegiance to more "greener pastures" i.e. ISIS

“I have been told by one of my followers that a brigadier in ISI, who belongs to the ‘other sect’ is conspiring against me,” he said, adding, “I know they are making false videos about me [accusing me of] taking extortion money...”

He also claimed that the intelligence authorities were promoting extremism in the country with their attitude.(neutral stance in the Iran-Saudi standoff?)

“A major recently called and I invited him for a meeting so that we can understand each other,” Maulana Aziz said in the video.
But an ISI spokesperson Dawn spoke to rejected the cleric’s claims of meeting a major belonging to the agency, terming it “propaganda”.
“Maulana Abdul Aziz has a track record of fabricating stories and there has been no contact between him and any agency personnel,” the spokesperson said.

(so the Deep State and its protege are "fighting it out" in the court of (Paki) public opinion)

But ICT officials, on condition of anonymity, said that Islamabad police personnel and members of the civic administration had visited the cleric and tried to persuade him to obtain pre-arrest bail from the courts.
“This is strange; we have seen him visiting various parts of the city, buying fruit from street vendors on the sidewalk near the vacant plot that used to be the Children’s Library,” an ICT official said.
In the video, Maulana Aziz also made sectarian remarks, claiming that people with names such as ‘Shah’, ‘Haideri’ and ‘Shaheedi’ were involved in the killings of clerics from the Ahle Sunnat school of thought, including his own father.

“First a false case was registered against me and now they want me to obtain bail,” the cleric said, adding, “since the istakhara (divine guidance) is unfavourable, I am reluctant to post bail now.” (talking in "tongues" as they say !)

he issue of posting bail arose after PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar sought to move a privilege motion against the interior minister,( a dedicated follower of the maulvi) who had earlier claimed in the Senate that there were no cases against Maulana Abdul Aziz. But Senator Babar showed documents that included an Islamabad High Court arrest warrant, issued around 11 months ago.

“The violations are related to hate speech, fanning militancy, instigating sectarianism, inciting terrorism and challenging the state again,” he said, adding that either the government, including the interior minister, were complicit, or they were afraid of one man.( Saudi arbitration will most likely solve the problem )

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 21:09

After Saudi-Iran trips, PM boasts of Pakistan's 'improved image'

Saudi FM denies Pakistani mediation in row with Iran: report

The above TWO reports are from the same Paki newspaper ; the new and young Saudi FM appears to be a "straight shooter", and going by his above statement, new to diplomatic nuances

so, readers can make their own judgement on the "new and improved " image BS being peddled by Ganja

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 22:06

Pashtuns are being killed in the name of 'national interest'

My friend was once asked by a Baloch friend of his, “We know why we are killed, but why Pushtoons are being killed?” Can the state provide answer to this question?

Franz Kafka was a brilliant author. His novel, The Trial, traces the life of a person who has been caught in a huge, opaque, tightly sealed bureaucratic machinery of justice system. There are things about the justice system that are absurd and the law that guides the behavior and workings of the justice system is completely inaccessible to people outside of the court, even to the accused and to their lawyers. One day, officers from the court arrive at the home of Mr. K., the main character, and confine him to his home in the name of investigation. He is not told on what charges...

The book is not as much about human attraction to conformity as it is a critique of bureaucratic decision making. Why do I look around myself and find a materialization of the story in my country? The difference here is that instead of the accused being one person, it is a whole nation or nations, of Pashtuns and Balochs. Pushtuns are blamed, but they are not told about the charge sheet against them. Trials are held behind closed doors in corridors of powers and open fields of the Taliban, but Pashtuns are not provided with an opportunity for their defense. And yet they are found guilty; guilty to the extent to be either declared collateral damage or touted as Sharia-complaint targets of suicide attacks and brutal massacres.

And then the Aam Abduls of Pakiland are wondering why the "miscreants" are targeting schools and colleges

Every time we are hit by the Taliban, the Pakistani state externalizes the blame. The responsibility is delegated to someone else and the war of attrition begins between the federal government and the provincial government. The media all of sudden finds some compelling evidence that totally obfuscates the matter and outsource the blame to foreign hands. DG ISPR always finds some mobile SIMs at the place which are traced back to Afghanistan; and DG ISPR is so efficient as to know their complete itinerary from Afghanistan to the place of massacre within hours of the attack (someone should really ask whether they left some travel itinerary at the place of attack or has the DG ISPR suddenly become Sherlock Holmes?). Prime Minister appears and renews his unwavering commitment to root out terrorism and make lives of people safe, till the next massacre whenever and wherever that happens to be.

...The massacre of sitting ducks is lionized, the pain of the bereaved families is presented in a melodramatic way, and the horrors are recounted in such an insensitive way that further adds to the trauma. What is unsettling is the fact that instead of our heads being lowered in shame and mourning, the massacre of hapless children is declared as a cause for pride and their mourning is converted into a nation-wide celebration. Their slaughter is peddled as a sacrifice for the future of Pakistan, which makes one really thinking what the future of Pakistan is if not those kids? The fact is, they didn’t sacrificed themselves, but were slaughtered like chickens in a poultry farm.

The temper of people of Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa can be gauged from the reaction of students at Bacha Khan University after the attack. They have not left the university, despite the situation and are there to turn away any visiting leader. People are realizing that when it comes to CPEC and development they are told that their demands do not make economic sense. But they are now asking in return what sense it makes to allow their massacre and continue business as usual. Resounding voices can be heard amidst the shrill clamor of glorifying the dead and haranguing about the resilience of the nation, which seek answers and demands peace and security. My friend was once asked by a Baloch friend of his, “We know why we are killed, but why Pashtuns are being killed?” Can the state provide answer to this question or will it take more than protests and peaceful walks to make the state listen to Pashtuns of Pakistan?

As said before, by their warped policies, the Pakjabi Jernails and Kernails are slowly and surely are alienating each and every ethnic minority in Pakiland and a repeat of the East Pakistan situation .

ArmenT · Post by **ArmenT** » 29 Jan 2016 22:18

Falijee wrote:Pakis Play Favourites In Massa Election
People supporting Donald Trump does not represent the sentiments of the mainstream. These views were expressed by Mr Shahid Khan while addressing a media roundtable titled “Current Political Climate in the United States of America” organized at the residence of US Consul General Lahore. ( US consul general residence" used" for the purpose of making a partisan remark about US election? )
Mr Shahid Khan, a distinguished member of the Pakistani-American community in Boston, Massachusetts and a prominent businessman, is also known for his close ties with the Democratic Party. He worked on the election campaigns of Senator John Kerry and Hillary Clinton and is well versed with the intricacies of US politics.
The "distinguished member" may also know Hilary's inner circle adviser - Ms. Huma Abedin of Paki origin whose parents in Saudia are well known for espousing a Wahabi strain of Malsi
Mr Shahid also said that Hillary Clinton is perceived to be better equipped to deal with the challenges faced by the US society and as things stand right now her nomination by the Democratic Party is almost certain. When asked whether Hillary Clinton would like Donald Trump as an opponent, he replied that in that case Hillary has a definite chance of winning the presidency.

Commenting on the current state of Pak US relations he said that Pakistan must make diplomatic efforts to portray itself as a modern and robust democracy in US. “The term AFPAK means that Pakistan is clubbed with Afghanistan which is a war theater. That means we are being viewed in a context which relates more to ~~security~~terrorism . We need to change that”.
He also said that Pakistani community in US is very enterprising and vibrant but the need of the hour is to organize and utilize their potential for the good of the country. A cohesive policy needs to be devised to engage the community.(no mention of "discrimination against Pakis, Pakis being singled out for "special treatment" at ports of entry, etc etc )
Mr Khan also said that Pakistani State has shown willingness and intent to face the menace of terrorist organizations at home, the capacity to do so is however questionable. Much more effort will be needed to satisfy the international community about our resolve to do away with terrorism in all its forms.
It is nothing but a "feel good" lecture by a local Paki who has "made good" in Massaland

Shahid Khan has quite a shady record too.

Vayutuvan · Post by **Vayutuvan** » 29 Jan 2016 23:15

rsingh wrote: Electrician lives in a village without electricity . Am confused. How this guy was able to use facebook without electricity?

That is where there will be max demand for electricians, no? I am not saying the story has holes but probably this is not one of them. Just honey trapping the female who end up in a burkha or worse - white slave in some Sheikhs harem or in pindi.

member_29325 · Post by **member_29325** » 29 Jan 2016 23:28

A woman who voluntarily leaves a life in a first world nation to settle down in Pakistan. Likely story, though if the family was ultraconservative in the US, regular religious brainwashing from childhood can achieve such things.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 29 Jan 2016 23:52

Armen T- ji: Thanks for posting a pic of the Bollywood ~~hero~~ villain (AKA Shahid Khan) ; come to think of it, in the light of the Flint, Michigan Water Controversy in the press, this Paki may well be an absconder from (impeding) US justice

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » 30 Jan 2016 00:30

Finance ministry delays release of $300 million for Gwadar pipeline

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Finance appears to have spent the entire cess collection from gas consumers to bridge the budget deficit and is reluctant to provide $300 million to the petroleum ministry for executing the $2 billion Gwadar liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline project, an official says.

Cheers

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 30 Jan 2016 00:33

Falijee wrote:"Deep State" Deflecting Pathankot Investigations Away From Its Proxy - Jaish -e- Mohammad
The Pathankot crime scene: How not to investigate!
...
Pathankot’s depressing history notwithstanding, India holds a very weak case for a fair and transparent probe into the attack. Let Indian media reports and statements or leaks by officials be the guide, the entire anti-terror operation is marred with confusion and contradictions. For example, two terrorists killed while crawling towards the hangers on the second night turned out to be pigs. The Indian leadership alleges that terrorists came from Pakistan but its Border Security Forces deny any infiltration. The Indian media has extensively covered attack-related raids conducted in the Punjab province, with suspects mostly being Sikhs, including police officials. The gulf between the claims and actions of the Indian side is becoming too hard to bridge with credible facts.
...

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 30 Jan 2016 00:38

ThiruV wrote:A woman who voluntarily leaves a life in a first world nation to settle down in Pakistan. Likely story, though if the family was ultraconservative in the US, regular religious brainwashing from childhood can achieve such things.

You are obviously a dhoti-wearing kafir who worships in dark places. AoA.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 30 Jan 2016 00:40

From Aligarh to Charsadda

As if the state’s own criminal negligence was not enough to keep us one of the most illiterate nations on earth, a faction of the TTP has declared war on our students and educational institutions. While Islamic State is taking roots in the land, a Pakistani version of Boko Haram is already flourishing here, threatening security and the future of millions of students and the whole education system. -

In a chilling video released by the TTP two days after the attack on the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, Khalifa Umar Mansoor, head of a faction of the TTP, repeats a familiar narrative but gives it a sinister twist to justify attacks on institutions of learning.

A lacklustre figure except for his oversized pirate beard, Khalifa Mansoor repeats what most Taliban and their many extremist cheerleaders have said already – that democracy and the country’s ‘system’ is based on kufr (apostasy) because it does not recognise Allah’s sovereignty.

So long as "Allah's sovereignty" is intact in the Paki constitution, the uneducated mullahs will always claim a "monopoly" in this dept and it is considered "blasphemy" to think otherwise

Bacha Khan University… because this (education institutions) is the place where lawyers are made, this is the place that produces military officers, this is the place that produces members of parliament, all of whom challenge Allah’s sovereignty”.

Now "live" with the monster you created !

On an ideological level, rejection of the modern education system in the name of religion and linking it with all ills may sound familiar to many South Asian Muslims. After all Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was declared a kafir by many ulema for his struggle to bring Western education to Muslims in the middle of the 19th century.

The ulema were infuriated with him for his religious views which they termed as naturalism (nechariyat), declaring it a travesty of the teaching of the Holy Quran and against the consensus of the ulema. Facing this opposition, Syed Ahmad relented on his views allowing the ulema to control the department of theology and Islamic studies in his college and announcing that he would not interfere with its functioning. -

So, he gave in to the mullahs

Soon Aligarh and Deoband entered into a compromise. Deobandi teachers were offered jobs at Aligarh to teach Islamic studies, a compulsory subject for Muslim students. An arrangement was also reached, allowing Aligarh students to attend lectures at Deoband. Aligarh, on its part, started enrolling Deoband graduates to learn English. Where the so-called Pakistan Ideology was born

Almost a century later, on the eve of Independence, the two institutions stood face to face on the opposite sides of history. Even as Aligarh was claiming credit for its crowning glory – the state of Pakistan ...-

This adjustment between the secular ruling elite and the Deobandi scholars appears like a soft version of the alliance between the Al Saud family and the Wahabi scholars and has not only continued but strengthened in the last 65 years – often at the cost of other schools of thought and liberal democracy.( not to mention the devastating results and the brainwashing of the whole society !

It is no coincidence that, except for one jihadi organisation, almost all good and bad jihadis, including the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban, belong to the Deoband school of thought. The way Ziaul Haq turned this adjustment into a Faustian bargain for the state is only one ominous twist to this long story, and is the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Interestingly, in India Deoband has kept clear of any involvement in extremism and strongly supports secularism in its homeland. -

...Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, head of the Council of Islamic Ideology and a leading Deobandi scholar refused to declare Pakistan a Dar-us-Salam (Land of Peace for Muslims) while Darul Aloom Deoband in India has bestowed this status on their country on the ground that Muslims are free to worship and live according to their beliefs and conscience in that country. -

nterestingly, Maulana Sherani was appointed to his position by former president Asif Ali Zardari, grandson of Hasan Ali Effendi, a towering figure of the Aligarh movement and founder of the Sindh Madressatul Islam. /quote] probably belonging to the "wrong" sect
he battle hardened and well-armed students of these ulema are today at war with the educated elite, their institutions and the state itself while the ulema themselves are playing a double game – much in the manner of the elite. While they remain within the system, taking all the benefits that the state can bestow, they refuse to dissociate themselves from these unholy warriors.

The mullahs, pirs and maulvis (Maulana Fazlul Rehman is a prime example ) are available for sale to the highest bidder; without state and foreign (Saudi, Iran) patronage, they would not be able to make a living from the "poor awam" of Pakiland; so this whole business of "Islamic Ideology" is all BS, IMO

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 30 Jan 2016 02:29

Deletious

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 30 Jan 2016 02:29

http://nation.com.pk/blogs/29-Jan-2016/ ... proxy-wars
Don’t make our schools battlefields for your proxy wars

"Kalma parh lo!" - these would probably have been the last words that the children of APS and Bacha Khan University would've heard.Thirteen ( Freedom Fighter)bombers entered Pakistan from Afghanistan, resulting in all the schools of Punjab having been closed. The news channels are constantly updating us about the red alert. Recently, Bahauddin Zakkaria University, UET, BNU and LCWU have decided to shut down as well, since they cannot risk the precious lives of the youth of this country. I have a question for all the institutions that are still not closing down, what do they actually want? Do they want the prime minister's statement "Iss saanhay ki PM Nawaz Sharif shadeed muzzamat kartay hain" again, or do they want more ‘martyrs’?What about the social media hype created by putting up display pictures saying "they went to study, and never returned"? Or the news channels discoloring their logos? How about announcing a holiday to celebrate the grief of another black day? Education is our right but we are not bound to fight for our lives to get it. We are not at war. Where is the system? Whose responsibility is it to make sure that horrendous incidents like these won't be repeated?How can we prosper? Where is the thing called "peace of mind"? How can we study in such circumstances when we are not sure that what's going to happen the very next moment? How would we grow, as individuals – as a nation? ( More Islam will is the solution to solve/dissolve Pakistan)We deserve better. We want the authorities to ensure a secure future for us and the upcoming generations. And by ‘securing future’ I don’t mean to get rescued by the West – like they did in Malala’s case. Why couldn’t we provide security to Malala in her own homeland? Was sending her to UK the only possible solution? Certainly not.We don’t want to be ‘martyred’ as cover up for state failures. Don’t make our schools battlefields for your proxy wars.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 30 Jan 2016 05:39

According to Hajam Sethi's Newspaper - Friday Times - Pakistani Embassies in the Gulf have a "Houbara Section" to exclusively cater to the hunting needs of the Gulf Emirs and their hanger-ons :
Houbara Hunters
We hear the Office that is Foreign has been taking such an avid interest in the welfare and fun ’n games of our brethren from the lands of sand, that it sent its highest official to the law guys. Apparently, the For Sec implored the Att Gen not to stand in the way of Houbara Hunters, for it would impact our foreign policy most negatively. Our mole also informs us that we’ve gone so far in our pandering to the brethren that our Gulf embassies actually have Houbara Sections which facilitate Houbara Hunters.

"Houbara Hunting" has now become a pillar of Pakistan Foreign Policy

spokesman FO

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 30 Jan 2016 05:46

Another "interesting" from Hajam Sethi's Such Gup

Female Sexual Harassment Is Very Much Alive At Paki Missions Abroad !
Plea For Help

A young British woman, bitten by the travel bug, decided to visit Pakistan and towards that went to our High Commission in London and applied for a visa. She spoke highly of the top official and said he was a thorough gentleman. But one of his juniors appalled her with his behavior. When escorting her out, and in the lift alone with the young woman, he began harassing her and she told him off in no uncertain terms. She was relieved to get out of the potentially nasty situation and being the brave person she is, she still travelled to Pakistan but told our source her story, in the hope that someone in the corridors of power will take notice.

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 30 Jan 2016 06:17

No Strong Case Exists Yet For Bad Sharif's Extension - Najam Sethi
General in his labyrinth

COAS General Raheel Sharif is making headlines again. He says he is neither seeking nor will accept any extension in service beyond retirement in November 2016. He has also responded swiftly to the terrorist attack last week on the Bacha Khan University campus by ordering military intelligence to track down the planners, abettors and originators of terrorism and then called up President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul to present evidence of Afghan complicity. Both responses call for appropriate comment.

General Sharif’s decision to step down this year as scheduled has received a resounding welcome from all. It is just as well that the PMLN government has quickly disclaimed rumours that it was even thinking of some such thing. General Sharif felt the need to make a statement because of late the media had begun to speculate on the subject and make it controversial. In view of the unsavoury controversies(allegations of financial corruption by the ex chief ) triggered by the extension granted to his predecessor, General Ashfaq Kayani, by the PPP government,...

Some people think he should have ignored the speculation and carried on regardless because he has 11 months to go before retirement. They argue that he might become a “lame duck” in the middle of a critical campaign against terrorism... -

Others have clutched at the need for “strategic continuity” at a time when Pakistan is confronted with multiple geo-political challenges in which General Sharif’s input is vital. (-the "glorification of Raheel" segment )

The “lame duck” argument doesn’t wash. An army chief is an army chief until he doffs his uniform...

The “continuity” argument was trotted out in the case of General Kayani by the then prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, even though what was urgently needed was not continuity in the military doctrine in practice at the time (that had become part of the problem rather than the solution) but continuity of the PPP government that was reeling from challenges to its authority from multiple sources and the extension was given to forestall any presumed latent ambitions of General Kayani’s. ("you scratch my back and I will scratch your back" argument )

General Sharif has two bigger challenges to deal with this year. The first is to bring the Taliban to the table and nudge them to participate in a peace process in Afghanistan. The second is to stitch up some sort of stable relationship with India(what about Ganja's input on this !) so that Pakistan can get on with confronting the challenge on its western border which is posing serious internal problems.

Afghanistan, however, is going to be a long haul. The internal power struggle within the Taliban following the death of Mullah Umar will not allow any faction to take a “soft” or opportunist position vis a vis the Kabul regime. Equally, the ability of the Ghani regime to beat the Taliban to the negotiating table is decreasing by the day in view of the internal squabbles between the factions representing the Pakhtuns, Uzbeks and Tajiks.

Similarly, India is not about to bend over backwards to accommodate Pakistan. Following Pathankot, it will demand concrete action against the Jaish-e-Mohammad in general and Maulana Masood Azhar in particular. This is easier said than done. General Sharif will have to think twice before taking on the jihadis frontally at the behest of India. To add to his woes, the international community led by the US and EU are breathing down his neck to take stern action against the Lashkar-e-Tayba as well. -

So, according to Hajam Sethi,, Raheel is caught between a rock and a hard place !

If General Sharif( and it is a big If ) can effectively tackle these issues, a strong case can be made out for his extension even if he is personally disinclined because so much is genuinely at stake in the national interest. But the time for that assessment has not yet come. - See more at:

Kashi · Post by **Kashi** » 30 Jan 2016 06:42

Hajam has truly become a TSPA lapdog..not that he wasn't always one, but any pretense has been torn off and tossed aside completely..