Terroristan - 29 September 2017

[SSridhar]

I am now confused, nothing unusual with me, with Pakistan's Khwaja Asif's statement. He said, referring to his meeting with Gen. Mattis (Secy. of Defense) yesterday, that it went very well but he said that the meeting today with Gen. McMaster (the NSA) didn't go that well.

We don't know what transpired in that meeting with Mattis but we know that Mattis said that the US would give one more chance to Terroristan to change. A positive news for Terroristan.

Now, as posted above, Mattis' has said some tough words about Pakistan in the Senate Committee after his meeting with Khwaja Asif. He probably went straight to the Senate Committee meeting after coming out of the meeting room with Khwaja Asif.

If Khwaja Asif is to be believed that meeting with Mattis was great, then one wonders what it would have been with McMaster. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, one is reminded of Richard Armitage.

However, I still believe that Terroristan will wriggle out of this situation as well.

[anupmisra]

Pakistan to Launch Its First Space Satellite Soon
PS: India has launched more than a hundred since 1975 !

Spoken like an idol-worshiping-in-dark-spaces kufr!! Don't you know that baki ispace taknology is waaaay ahead of the Indians? Have you forgotten this earth shattering pronouncement by hijrah-ul-frequenti al musharraf on January 26, 2003 timed to embarrass the SDRE Yindoos on their fake republic day?

Musharraf launches Paksat-I

Pakistan entered the space age with the formal launching of Paksat-I by President Gen Pervez Musharraf .

The satellite hired by Pakistan was relocated at 38 degree east

“I am really delighted to note that Pakistan’s space programme now is a reality and our scientists must build our own indigenous satellite within three years instead of five years” (by 2006)

“Pakistan’s space programme is now ahead of India after the formal launching of Paksat-I and this is due to the hard work of our scientists and I am sure Indians would take another 30 months to do the job” (heh..heh...heh...heh..)

The president told the higher education commission and the education ministry to dovetail their efforts with the ministry of science and technology to project Pakistan beyond its borders.

Yep! Pakhanistan has been "volatile" projecting itself beyond its borders since then. After all, they are way ahead of the Yindians. Everybody knows it takes real talent to rent taknology. Take that, joo SDREs. What do joo say to that? Hain? By the way, after making the above chankiyan prediction, mushy danced with his rakit shinetishts in al swat.



https://www.dawn.com/news/79439

[anupmisra]

That's the most diplomatic language I can use," Asif said.

Wait till he switches from pinglish to to Punjabi of the Saraiki variety. That should be colorful and, er..., expressive.

[SSridhar]

Pakistan genuinely concerned about India's role in new US strategy: Khawaja Asif - DAWN

Looks like the trip didn't go well for Khwaja Asif because from within the safe precincts of the Pakistani Embassy, he sings the old tune once again.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking about the new United States (US) policy in Afghanistan, told journalists at the Pakistan Embassy on Thursday that Islamabad is "genuinely concerned" about New Delhi's role in the plan.

Asif said that the Pak-US bilateral relationship had taken a new turn after the announcement of Washington's South Asia strategy.

"If on one hand, the US has its concerns about the future of Afghanistan, Pakistan seeks recognition of its legitimate security concerns in the region. We are genuinely concerned with respect to the role accorded in the strategy to India in general and its efforts, geared towards destabilisation in Balochistan, in particular.” {Pakistan can only show its frustration against Kulbushan Jadhav, unfortunately}

While announcing his strategy for the region, Trump had said the US appreciates India's important contributions to Afghan stability. But he also lamented that India “makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States.”

He had said he wanted India to provide more economic assistance and development to Afghanistan.

Asif said dividends of peace in the region would be elusive unless there is stability in Afghanistan. To achieve that goal both the US and Pakistan need to work closely, he stressed.

“On our part, we have completely wiped out all the hideouts used by terrorists and anti-state elements. However, this is an ongoing process with continuing intelligence-based operations by law enforcement agencies across the country,” he added.

“We have offered candid cooperation to Afghanistan during the recent visit of Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa and the foreign secretary to Kabul where they had successful and productive meetings with [Afghan] President Ashraf Ghani, the CEO Abdullah Abdullah and others in the Afghan hierarchy,” he said.

Pakistan is extremely concerned about safe havens of terrorists which are mostly operating from ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan, which are more than 40 per cent of the total area of the country, he claimed.

The minister claimed that a number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent months had been traced back to elements operating from bases in Afghanistan.

“I would like to reiterate that Pakistan will continue to play a positive role in bringing peace to the region through measures agreed upon by all relevant stakeholders," he said.

Asif, who is currently on a visit to Washington at the invitation of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, termed his "cordial and useful" meeting with Tillerson an "important interaction".

“My visit is essentially in follow-up to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's meeting with Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of UNGA on September 19, 2017.”

“We want to build a relationship founded on mutual respect. We firmly believe that through consistent, structured and constructive engagement, at political and diplomatic levels, both the countries can continue to work together for the common goal of peace, stability and prosperity in South Asia.

“We also see enormous investment and business opportunities in Pakistan for corporate America, particularly after Pakistan's remarkable successes in the war against terror and significant reduction in terrorist incidents in the country," he told journalists.

Asif expressed the hope that international media, particularly US media, would play a positive role in Pakistan's efforts towards establishing regional peace and "reflect Pakistan's changing realities in its reporting".

[anupmisra]

Happy to note that the fine art of googling and plagiarizing is not lost among the paki youth. Bakistani suarco has discovered another budding scientist. They should hire her. She should have at least colored the parachutes green.

[anupmisra]

Mystery behind the "origins of the 2018 launch of paki indigenous satellite" solved.

China Boosts Pakistan, Venezuela with Remote Sensing Satellite

Symposium on Space International Cooperation symposium, held in November, in Beijing, was a joint effort put together by the International Academy of Astronautics and the China International Exchange Center for Astronautical Science and Technology.

China’s commitment to collaborating with developing countries in the areas of space-based navigation, manned and robotic space flights and data applications—namely with Pakistan and Venezuela (august company of fellow banana republics)

He also verified that a similar remote sensing satellite, to be used by Pakistan, would be finished in 2018.

Both the Venezuelan and Pakistani remote sensing satellites are being developed by the China Academy of Space Technology.

The successes the China Academy of Space Technology has had in working with the developing world can be attributed to their commitment to providing more than just the design and manufacturing of remote sensing satellites. They also incorporated launch, operations and training services into their business model.

Here's the clincher:

Pakistan is also a veteran to the world of space technology, establishing the Space Sciences Research Wing to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in 1961. The original project from the program, Rehbar-I, was launched in 1962 and became only the tenth of its kind in the world. Data from this original Pakistan Space Sciences Research project helped officials study weather, cyclones and cloud formations above the Arabian Sea.

Choke on that, Yindians.

https://borgenproject.org/remote-sensing-satellite/

[anupmisra]

Lying through his crooked teeth.
Quam ko khush khabri sunadi "Apna banaya hua satellite hoga!"

[anupmisra]

So, why are the chini shehaid and loha-birathers helping the pakis with a free satellite manufacture, launch and management? Perhaps this will help explain:

Suparco to provide satellite service to monitor CPEC
October 19th, 2016

The Pakis­tan Space and Upper Atmos­phere Research Commission (Suparco) will provide comprehensive satellite service to monitor the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and address its security concerns.

The meeting was informed that Suparco was providing complete geo sensing of the entire corridor from Gwadar to Khunjerab (Pak-China border).

A source in the presidency said that Suparco’s satellite service would help secure those CPEC areas which were vulnerable to terrorist attacks and criminal activities.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Hussain would have access to the satellite service and would be able to monitor CPEC projects on their computers.

The service would also help curb encroachments and land grabbing along the corridor, the source added.

Now joo know. There is no free (chinese) lunch!

https://www.dawn.com/news/1290894/supar ... nitor-cpec

[SSridhar]

So, the Chinese are trying to protect their fronts & backs and the Terroristanis are opportunistically telling their people that SUPARCO's space scientists, engineers & technicians (if these people exist at all) suddenly could build a state-of-the-art remote sensing satellite when all that Terroristan had ever built before was a 1-Kg Cubesat and a Sputnik-era Badr !!

[pankajs]

China seems to have done better. They are going to make Bakis pay for a satellite that the Chinese are going to use. They have just agreed to paint it green. Bhai wah! Kamal ki dosti!

[Amber G.]

... Terroristanis are opportunistically telling their people that SUPARCO's space scientists, engineers & technicians (if these people exist at all) suddenly could build a state-of-the-art remote sensing satellite when all that Terroristan had ever built before was a 1-Kg Cubesat and a Sputnik-era Badr !!

SSridharji - This is not just coincidence. There is no infrastructure, schools to produce scientists. Even though 70 years ago they had schools as good as India, now there are virtually none. As Perverez Hoodbhoy said number of physicists which can get a job in an IIT or a MIT can be counted on fingers of one hand.

No world class mathematicians, I know of, are in Pakistan. Except PH I can name two or three other physicists of Paki origin but some of them live outside Pakistan. Xerox Kahn is worshipped as nuclear physicist ( ) while Abdus Salaam was ignored.

Recent discovery of Gravitational waves was a big deal. PM Modi was happy, and all newspapers in India carried the news - were proud of 70 odd Indian scientists who were part of LIGO team and their names were celebrated. Even brf physics dhaga had pictures of Modi with some from this team.

But I know of only one Pakistani origin person in the group. She was a student of Weiss -
she herself is respected/well known prof in MIT, has been and is in news in US and India, won many awards, but googling shows no mention of her in any news in any Paki paper. From what I know, she has not visited Pakistan in last 30 years (that is when she came to US). Googling tells me that Dawn did have a story about her in 2016 , showing how advance Pakis scientists were that one was involved in LIGO. (One newspaper story says that Paki amby called her to congratulate and invited her to visit Pakistan ).

[pankajs]

Btw, per one sane baki jurno, at least one of the sanest of the lot, is saying that US has conveyed to baki mil that at least some of ISI operatives will be named as helping terrorist and put in some kind of a sanctions list. I think the jurno is Nusrat Jawed.

The opening shot was fired during the senate hearing when ISI was especially mentioned as helping the terrorist. Per this jurno, If bakis do not start moving on the task list handed over to bakmil naming and shaming of ISI officers will start soon.

FWIW and all that rest ...

Added later: Seems to be the reason for the recent 7 hour long core kammandu meeting..

[yensoy]

But I know of only one Pakistani origin person in the group. She was a student of Weiss -
she herself is respected/well known prof in MIT, has been and is in news in US and India, won many awards, but googling shows no mention of her in any news in any Paki paper. From what I know, she has not visited Pakistan in last 30 years (that is when she came to US). Googling tells me that Dawn did have a story about her in 2016 , showing how advance Pakis scientists were that one was involved in LIGO. (One newspaper story says that Paki amby called her to congratulate and invited her to visit Pakistan ).

IIRC, she is a Parsi, here you go: https://www.dawn.com/news/1239270

[Falijee]

No - Naam-O- Nishan Of ISIS In Pakiland

Daesh claims responsibility for Jhal Magsi’s shrine blast

[Falijee]

Chini-fication Of Pakiland In Full Swing

Air China announces increase in flights for Pakistan
The Express Tribune > Pakistan

PS: Pakistan is persona-non-grata for international airlines. ( Ummah airlines excluded !) Therefore, Paki airports (Krachi, La-Whore, Isloo ) are avoided like a "leper" by the international airline industry. ( to need to know the reason !) Therefore, good to know that Chini-blothers are picking up the slack

[Amber G.]

But I know of only one Pakistani origin person in the group. She was a student of Weiss -
she herself is respected/well known prof in MIT, has been and is in news in US and India, won many awards, but googling shows no mention of her in any news in any Paki paper. From what I know, she has not visited Pakistan in last 30 years (that is when she came to US). Googling tells me that Dawn did have a story about her in 2016 , showing how advance Pakis scientists were that one was involved in LIGO. (One newspaper story says that Paki amby called her to congratulate and invited her to visit Pakistan ).

IIRC, she is a Parsi, here you go: https://www.dawn.com/news/1239270

Yes, but the news is one year old. This year her adviser gets a Nobel, and there is no news in Paki papers..No congratulations (that I can see) from Paki PM etc..

[Amber G.]

^^^ Also, I can see her being mentioned in recent news items like this, or in Boston Globe, or even local Indian papers from New England but it apparently did not make a big news in Pak. Most Pakis (except a few scientists) probably don't even know her name.

As a Paki-origin blogger/scientist in US rightly said : "Her phenomenal achievements in the United States aren't a symbol of Pakistan's success. They are a symbol of Pakistan's failure."

[Prem]

Will Chinese made, Chinese launched Paki Paid Remote Sensing Satellite (RSS) be beaming After dusk, before dawn Mujahid extra curricular activities directly to Paki homes?

[SSridhar]

India, EU for joint effort to fight terrorism - ToI

Underlining their common concern over the threat from terrorism and extremism, India and EU on Friday adopted a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism with a view to deepen their strategic and security cooperation. The 14th India-EU summit here saw the two sides expressing strong commitment to combat terrorism "in all its forms and manifestations, based on a comprehensive approach".

The statement condemned terror attacks across the world from Pathankot, Uri, Nagrota, Anantnag (Amarnath Yatra) and Srinagar to Paris, Brussels, Nice, Berlin, London, Stockholm, Manchester, Barcelona and Turkey.

It also recalled the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai and called for the perpetrators of these attacks to be brought to justice.

The joint statement on terrorism was issued following the meeting between PM Narendra Modi and EU representatives - Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission.

While it did not name Pakistan, it mentioned that the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation to take decisive actions against globally proscribed terrorists and terror entities, including Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Dawood Ibrahim, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul-Mujahideen, Haqqani Network, al-Qaida, ISIS (Da'esh) and affiliates.

"The leaders called for the effective implementation of existing international commitments on countering terrorism, including the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and targeted sanctions relating to terrorism,'' said the statement.

[vnms]

This Wednesday, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announced at World Space Week 2017, that Pakistan’s first remote sensing satellite called PRSS-1 will be launched in March 2018.

http://suparco.gov.pk/pages/rsss.asp?rssslinksid=1

The satellite is envisaged to be designed, developed and launched in a low Earth orbit by 2015/16, through cooperation/ collaboration with reputed international satellite manufacturers.

In other words, they are buying a satellite from China Great Wall Industry and paying them for a launch. A gallon of green paint will be their contribution to the collaboration.

Wouldn't be surprised if they painted over the solar panels...

[Falijee]

" Loose Mouth" Asif Critizes Senator McCain , Staunch Supporter Of Pakistan

Senator McCain has poor sense of history, says Pakistan minister

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has slammed powerful Republican Senator John McCain for comparing the war in Afghanistan with that of Vietnam. “Senator McCain was drawing parallel between Vietnam and the war in Afghanistan. Let me remind him through this forum, he has a poor sense of history,” Asif said in Washington while speaking at the US Institute of Peace, a Congress supported think-tank. Asif is well known for "loud mouth and loose talk". IMO, he is not fit to be Paki FM !

Asif’s remarks surprised the audience mainly because McCain has often come to the defence of Pakistan and has been opposed to taking any punitive measure against the country. Such remarks will not go well with his hosts .

McCain, the Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, is known as a friend of Pakistan. A former Republican presidential candidate, McCain is widely respected across the political spectrum and in the American military establishment. The reason for Asif’s outburst against McCain was not immediately clear. Asif said that when the Americans took over the Vietnam War, they had actually lost the war from day one.

“Because in Indo-China the French were too clever for the Americans. They handed over a lost war, a losing war to the Americans. And the Americans were too happy to fight for one and half decade a war which had no end,” he said. And then they had to bomb Laos and Cambodia for having sanctuaries, he added. POTUS will definitely take note

“There were many many other causes. So let’s not play to the galleries. Let’s not play to your constituents. Let’s face the verdict of history. The verdict of the history was that you perused a folly in Vietnam and you lost it,” he said. The verdict of history will be that if the way the Afghan problem is being pursued, the United States will lose Afghan War also, Asif said as he expressed his opposition to the new South Asia Strategy of the Trump Administration.

In fact, the US has already lost the war, he said. “You are just trying to salvage the situation over there.” Asif also warned that pursuing a military solution will force the Taliban and ISIS to join hands. “That will be the biggest curse for us to face, for the region to face. We don’t want to see that situation happening in our region. So that is why we want to cooperate with the Americans with full vigor, honesty and commitment,” he said. Asif also claimed that Pakistan is the only country which is fighting and winning the war against terrorists. Such bravado may go well with the Abduls "back home in Pakiland". But it will not "go well" in DC !

[Falijee]

Foreign Minister Asif Talks B.S. Title Of Farticle Says It All !

Pakistanis ‘living in hell’ since joining US fight against Soviet Union: Asif

Foreign Minister says 'We will continue to work for peace and stability'
Says India will meet befitting response on any misadventure against Pakistan
He warns 'hallow allegations' levelled by the US are not acceptable

[ArjunPandit]

^^hallow allegations? or hollow allegations?
they really speak better english

[ArjunPandit]

" Loose Mouth" Asif Critizes Senator McCain , Staunch Supporter Of Pakistan

Senator McCain has poor sense of history, says Pakistan minister

Seems like he's counting on either or both of two things
1. McCain has less time on this earth, given his health issues
2. he has less time in govt of Pakistan

[Prem]

Rumor of Retd. Gen Ashfaq Nadeem being made interim PM by Paki Fauj. Abbasi and Khwaza Do Pyaza etc will all be gone soon.

[SSridhar]

Senator McCain has poor sense of history, says Pakistan minister

The reason for Asif’s outburst against McCain was not immediately clear.

No, the reason is quite clear. McCain told Mattis in the Senate hearing two days back that he was not optimistic that the 'one more chance' given to Pakistan would change their behaviour at all !

[anupmisra]

Open admission.

Jehad, Fatwa right of state only: govt

Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said only the state has the right to declare Jehad and issue Fatwas in an Islamic country and no citizen has the right to call for killing of other citizens.

those issuing decrees declaring others as non-Muslims on social media would be booked and tried under the Cyber Crime Act

“No Maulvi of any street has the authority to declare anybody as non-Muslim”

About the finality of the Prophethood, he said that the text of nomination papers in the Elections Bill, 2017 had been restored to its original shape. He made it is clear that there had been no bad intention of the Election Reforms Committee. “Finality of Prophethood cannot be compromised by the Muslims,” he added.

Paki shias and ahmedis, please take note. Also, can the army declare jihad? After all, TSPA's goal is "Iman, Taqwa, Jihad fi Sabilillah"

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/235192 ... -only-govt

[JohnTitor]

" Loose Mouth" Asif Critizes Senator McCain , Staunch Supporter Of Pakistan

Senator McCain has poor sense of history, says Pakistan minister

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has slammed powerful Republican Senator John McCain for comparing the war in Afghanistan with that of Vietnam. “Senator McCain was drawing parallel between Vietnam and the war in Afghanistan. Let me remind him through this forum, he has a poor sense of history,” Asif said in Washington while speaking at the US Institute of Peace, a Congress supported think-tank. Asif is well known for "loud mouth and loose talk". IMO, he is not fit to be Paki FM !

Quite the contrary actually.

He's the perfect FM. It would be great if he becomes PM. More like him will be great for India.

[SSridhar]

Jehad, Fatwa right of state only: govt

About the finality of the Prophethood, he said that the text of nomination papers in the Elections Bill, 2017 had been restored to its original shape. He made it is clear that there had been no bad intention of the Election Reforms Committee. “Finality of Prophethood cannot be compromised by the Muslims,” he added.

This is the second time I have heard, in the last couple of days, about Khatam-e-Nabbuwat being 'restored to its original shape'.

As far as I know, it was in c. 1977 that ZAB's Second Amendment was passed unanimously in the National Assembly ex-communicating the Qadianis.

To my limited understanding, being the shameless kafir that I am and hence having limitations, the above Amendment necessitated Muslims (Qadianis have been ex-communicated and are not Muslims) to say “I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Quadiani to be an imposter nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to the Lahori or Qadiani group to be Non-Muslim” whenever they applied for passport or filed nomination papers in elections.

I was trying to find out what is riling up everyone now and what this 'restored to its original shape was'. Everyone was saying that without clarifying what had changed and what was the original shape. Now, after diligent search, I am enlightened as follows.

The oath to be taken by every Muslim when filing nomination in an election used to read as follows: "I solemnly swear in the absolute and unqualified finality of Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the last of the Prophets, and that I am not a follower of anyone who claims to be a Prophet in any sense of the word or any description . . . . . nor do I belong to the Qadiani group or Lahori Group or call myself an Ahmedi"

Apparently, some mischief maker in the Election Commission (should have been a Qadiani) changed that part "I solemnly swear" to "I believe". Now, what a sacrilege! Apparently, they have now restored that to "I solemnly swear . . . (blah, blah)" and saved the Fortress of Islam from going asunder.

Praise be to Alla'h for showing the mard-e-momin the right way.

[Prem]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1362283
CPEC passes through disputed territory: US

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has informed Congress that it too believes the China-Pakistan Econo­mic Corridor (CPEC) passes through a disputed territory — originally an India claim aimed at thwarting the development plan.The $56 billion CPEC passes through Pakis­t­an’s northern areas, which India claims is part of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir territory.“The One Belt, One Road also goes through disputed territory, and I think that in itself shows the vulnerability of trying to establish that sort of a dictate,” US Defence Sec­retary James Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee.ecretary Mattis said the US oppo­sed the One Belt, One Road policy in principle because in a globalised world, there were many belts and many roads, and no one nation shou­­ld put itself into a position of dictating One Belt, One Road. And it opposed the one going through Pakistan also because it passed throu­­gh a disputed territory.The new US position on CPEC will further strain already tense rel­ations between the US and Pakistan, which also opposed the greater role Washington has assigned to India in Afghanistan in a strategy President Trump announced on Aug 21.“As far as Afghan­is­tan goes, as we try to separate out variables where, in some areas, we work with China, for example, terrorism — I think there are areas where we can work — find common ground with China when it comes to counterterrorism, and we should exercise those areas pretty fully,” said the US defence chief.“But we should be under no illusions,” he warned. “There are areas where, also, strategically, we need to confront China where we think it’s unproductive — the direction they’re going in.”

[Peregrine]

Trump sends lieutenants to Pakistan with tough message

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump will dispatch his top diplomatic and military advisers to Pakistan in the coming weeks, turning up the heat on a nuclear-armed ally accused of harboring terror groups.

Weeks after Trump angrily accused Islamabad of providing safe haven to "agents of chaos," secretary of state Rex Tillerson plans to depart for Pakistan late this month.

He will be followed by secretary of defence Jim Mattis, according to US and Pakistani sources.

The one-two punch is designed to drill home Trump's message that Pakistani state support for jihadist groups has to end, according to officials briefed on the visits.

Washington has long been frustrated by Pakistan's willingness to offer cross-border safe havens to Taliban factions and armed jihadist groups fighting US troops and their Afghan allies.

The relationship reached the breaking point in 2011, when president Barack Obama sent commandos into Pakistan in 2011 to kill al-Qaeia leader Osama bin Laden, who was living in a military garrison town.

With little change since then, Trump came to office indicating that Washington's frustration had reached the point where something had to give.

"We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists that we are fighting," he said in an August address.

But in the six weeks since Trump signaled that tougher tone, there have been precious few signs that the calculus in South Asia has changed.

Mattis told Congress this week that he will try "one more time" to "see if we can make this work."

"To this point, we have not seen any impact on military-to-military relations," said one Pentagon official, suggesting any change would not happen after Mattis's visit.

Visiting Washington, Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif appeared unwavering.

He lashed out at "hollow allegations" about Pakistan harboring terrorists as "not acceptable."

"That is not the way you talk to 70-year-old friends," Asif said bitterly. Terroristan has NEVER been a Friend of the USA

"Instead of accusations and threats we should cooperate with each other for the peace in the region," he added in confirming Tillerson's visit.

While professing anger in public, Pakistani officials in private complain about receiving no concrete requests to target the Haqqani network or other groups.

US officials have been reticent to share some intelligence for fear of tipping off targets with links inside Pakistan's government.

Earlier this month, a US drone killed three suspected militants in an attack on a compound in Pakistan's tribal region.

Pakistani officials also complain of receiving mixed messages from the Trump administration, which is still struggling to find its feet under a mercurial commander-in-chief.

A September meeting in New York between Vice President Mike Pence and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was said to be cordial, despite Trump's fire and brimstone rhetoric.

"It was a very good meeting with the vice president," said Asif.

After that, Pakistan officials said, they were surprised at a tougher tone outlined in public by Mattis and in private by Trump's National Security Advisor HR McMaster.

Some optimists point to a visit by Pakistan's army chief to Kabul as evidence that Islamabad is moderating, after years of support propping up the Taliban.

But many, having watched this debate for decades, are less convinced.

The Taliban and groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, they argue, remain a potent tool in the hands of Pakistani intelligence.

"Of course they don't get the message" said Christine Fair, a South Asia expert at Georgetown University. HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED!

"Pakistan is not going to do anything different than its already doing unless the administration can figure out a way to do what no administration has previously done."

"That is basically to call Pakistan's bluff and impose some meaningful punishment."

Trump has warned that military aid — which was halved between 2012 and 2016 — could be cut further, a move that Fair dismisses as insufficient.

"It's basically saying that we're going to cut back the money the US taxpayer is giving to Pakistan," she said.

"That's not punishment. Pakistan is not entitled to our money. What they are really talking about is giving Pakistan less of an allowance."

Policymakers have considered revoking Pakistan's non-NATO ally status, with deep symbolic but limited practical impact.

Punitive economic sanctions — that could force Pakistan closer to China, Russia or Turkey — seem a long way off.

And Pakistan remains vital for the United States as a route to resupply its forces in Afghanistan and for supplying the Afghan army.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

At least 14 dead, 25 hurt as coach hits van in Mastung

QUETTA: At least 14 people were killed and 25 others wounded when a passenger coach collided head-on with a van in Dasht area of Mastung district on Saturday.

Police and rescue sources that the passenger coach bound for Quetta from Sibbi collided head-on with a van coming from opposite direction in Dasht area, killing 14 and wounding 25.

They added that the bodies and the injured had been shifted to the Civil Hospital Quetta, where condition of some of the wounded are said to be critical.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi expressed deep grief over the loss of innocent lives in the unfortunate road accident.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Mods : The "GDF" Cricket Thread is closed. As such posting here.

Empty seats in second Sri Lanka Test an eyesore as Pakistan toil[/b

DUBAI: Empty seats all round at the Dubai Sports Stadium comes no doubt as bad publicity for Test cricket. Not that this is something new for me or for those who watched a Test before, but rather disappointing for the fact that Friday being a public holiday, the attendance here was very poor.

This was a kind of anti-climax for me, after having come back from the English summer where seven Test matches held in the season were very well attended. Even the lowly-rated West Indians, after England’s sell-out series against South Africa earlier in the summer, were keenly followed.

No matter who plays here, the attendance will always be the more or less the same. A handful of people hanging round the dressing rooms of the players to have a close sight of them. That really is their only charm and not the standard of play which is on offer.

This day and night Test, the second one in Dubai, is once again as much a tedium for the fact that the atmosphere that makes an international event sizzle is more or less missing here. Perhaps, when limited over games are played, they attract bigger crowds, but not the Tests.

Pakistan’s sapped confidence in the series, after having lost the first Test,has no doubt put them in a tight corner while Sri Lanka has lifted themselves up to allow even two debutants — Sadeera Samarwickrama and Lahiru Gamage — to replace a batsman and a spinner.

Dinesh Chandimal, the Lankan captain, and the experienced Dimuth Karunaratne looked well in control of their innings despite losing three wickets as the visitors aimed for a sizeable score.

Cheers

[SSridhar]

Pakistan prepares to file plea in ICJ in Jadhav case - ToI

Sushma Swaraj comes to the rescue of two ailing Pakistanis within hours of their requests - ToI

We have misplaced sympathy.

Sarabjit Singh was and now Khulbushan Jadhav is being sought to be killed as retribution for the hanging of terrorist Ajmal Kasab. And, here we are trying to save Pakistani lives.

[anupmisra]

PIA flights to US to discontinue over Rs1.25b of annual losses

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to discontinue their flights to the United States from October 31. PIA officials told media that the airline is no longer booking flights to US through its reservation system after October 31 due to annual losses of up to Rs1.25 billion.

PIA, after stopping direct flights to the US, will enter into a code-sharing agreement with an American airline. US-bound passengers will be flown to London, where they will then be transferred to the American airline which will take them to the US.

http://nation.com.pk/national/07-Oct-20 ... ual-losses

[sum]

Is this another Unkil arm twisting tactic?
First habib bank, now PIA

[anupmisra]

Per capita water availability declines to 908 cubic meter

Pakistan can store only 10 percent of its annual water flows, sufficient for use of 30 days only. The per capita water availability in the country has gone down to 908 cubic meter in 2017 from 5,260 cubic meter in 1951, rapid increase in population being the major contributing factor behind the phenomenon.

It was informed that about 29 million acre feet (MAF) of water escapes below Kotri Barrage every year on the average. The delegation was briefed that the country needs to construct more dams to enhance its water storage capacity to cope with the water requirements.

AoA. Saudification of al bakistan is moving at breakneck speed. See the map below - same colors - red (not green).



http://nation.com.pk/business/07-Oct-20 ... ubic-meter

[anupmisra]

Is this another Unkil arm twisting tactic?
First habib bank, now PIA

Nah! It's just plain old fashioned mismanagement by the pakis.

[Falijee]

"Balochistan Situation" Gaining Publicity In D.C

UNPO Conference in Washington DC Sheds Light on Geopolitics Behind the Human Rights Situation in Balochistan

On 5 October 2017, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in collaboration with the World Baloch Organization (WBO) convened a conference on the deteriorating human rights and security situation in both the Iranian and Pakistani parts of Balochistan and the geopolitical complexities affecting the region. The conference entitled “Scales of Injustice: The Geopolitics of Business, State-Sponsored Extremism and the Fall of Democracy in Balochistan” took place at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital.

The conference heard speeches from Nasser Boladai (President of UNPO), Senator Paul Strauss (Sen. District of Columbia), Bhawal Mengal( "Agent" Of RAA ) (WBO), Christine Fair (Georgetown University) and T. Kumar ( "Agent" Of RAA ) (Amnesty International USA).

Opening the conference, Nasser Boladai welcomed the participants and gave an overview of the history of Balochistan, highlighting the region’s geopolitical importance and recent incidents of gross human rights violations perpetrated by Iranian security forces against Baloch civilians. Senator Paul Strauss (District of Columbia, Shadow) then commended the platform provided by UNPO for unrepresented nations and peoples to raise their concerns at the international level and to learn from each other’s struggles. He pointed out...

Bhawal Mengal then elaborated on the importance of raising the plight of the Baloch people in places such as Washington, DC, urging the international community to condemn state-sponsored terror in Pakistan and stand up for the human rights of the Baloch people.

The first talk by Christine Fair then looked at the geopolitics behind the Balochistan-Pakistan conflict and in particular at the impact of the China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which, according to her, is an “exploitative corridor” rather than an economic one and is implemented in a way that seems to benefit everybody but the people actually living in the area. Professor Fair also highlighted the fact that Islamabad uses forms of political Islam to undermine those strands of the Baloch national movement which try to peacefully advocate for change towards democracy, respect for human rights and self-determination in the region.

Following the instructive speech of Christine Fair, the floor was given to T. Kumar, International Advocacy Director at Amnesty International USA, who stressed that in Balochistan, Pakistani security forces do not even try to conceal their ruthless strategy of terrorizing the Baloch population – a behaviour, that despite getting worse over the past few years, hardly gets any domestic or international attention. Enforced disappearances in particular are being carried out in broad daylight, creating a constant sense of fear among the local population.

The event also allowed for a fruitful exchange of views following the official programme, including remarks on the similarly deplorable situation of other minority groups in Pakistan, such as Sindh and Pashtun populations. So,in the future, the plight of the Sindhis and the Pashtuns will also be internationalized

[Falijee]

Four ‘terrorists’ killed in Karachi encounter

Police gunned down four alleged terrorists affiliated with banned Al-Qaeda in the sub-continent outfit on Northern bypass.SSP Malir Rao Anwar said that the terrorists were killed in an encounter with a police party.

One person's "terrorist", could be another person's "freedom fighter". Who knows killed victims could be MQM, Baloch or Sindhi "miscreants" ( a favourite word to describe dissidents ) . Or they could indeed be Al Qaeda