Terroristan - 4th Jan 2018

[Bart S]

So, It Is Either Black List Or Grey List For Pakiland Re: FATF

Pakistan may find itself on FATF blacklist after June

Pakistan was first put on the FATF grey list in 2012 but was removed in 2015, after the FATF certified that Islamabad had done enough to counter terror financing.Now, Pakistan will have to follow the same process that it did in 2015, starting with an action plan that Islamabad is required to submit in May. If the FATF approves the action plan in June, it will make a formal announcement about placing Pakistan on the grey list. Should Islamabad fail to submit an action plan, or if the FATF does not accept it, the group can place Pakistan on its black list, along with ( august company of ! ) North Korea and Iran.

This is interesting. So very much contrary to the idiotic Paki spin of it being a reprieve, the 3-month period is for Pakistan to come up with a plan to convince the FATF why they should not be blacklisted. In case they satisfy the FATF they will go on the grey list, if they don't it will be the black list for them.

This is actually worse than going straight to the grey list after last week's FATF meeting.

[anupmisra]

Paki is as paki does. More bakistaniyat on display and this time it starts from an early age.

12-year-old boy allegedly gang-raped by five teenage boys in Shangla

https://www.dawn.com/news/1391871/12-ye ... in-shangla

[anupmisra]

Immy the dimmy has lost it.

Funds for ‘jihad university’

At a time when Pakistan is regarded with suspicion for allegedly not having done enough to stop terror financing, KP’s PTI-led government is set to approve a grant of Rs277m for Maulana Samiul Haq’s Darul Aloom Haqqania, otherwise known as the ‘jihad university’.

The sobriquet is well-deserved, for the seminary — located in KP — has churned out thousands of militants since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

In fact, so many Afghan Taliban leaders have studied here that the maulana, who also heads his own faction of the JUI, is often dubbed the ‘father of the Taliban’.

Indeed, this is not the first but the second time that the madressah is to be the recipient of such largesse.

The flimsy pretext offered by the PTI then was that the money would go towards implementation of reforms by the Darul Aloom Haqqania to bring it into the educational mainstream.

Forget the black list. This one is taking pakhanistan to the platinum list - where no jihad financier has ever gone before!

https://www.dawn.com/news/1391733/funds ... university

By the way, a little bit about UJ.

Darul Uloom Haqqania[pronunciation?] (Urdu: دار العلوم حقانیہ‎) is an Islamic religious seminary located in Akora Khattak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The seminary propagates the Deobandi trend of Sunni Islam and was founded along the lines of Darul Uloom Deoband. It has been dubbed as The University of Jihad due to the methods and content of instruction along with the future occupations of its alumni.

The Chancellor of Darul Uloom Haqqania is Maulana Sami ul Haq of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami ul haq).[3] The seminary is also known for having many senior leaders of the Afghanistan Taliban among its alumni, including Mullah Omar, and its role in supporting the Taliban.

Distinguished Alumni
Jalaluddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani Network
Asim Umar, leader of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent
Akhtar Mansoor, former leader of the Taliban
Mullah Omar, former leader of the Taliban, received an honorary doctorate

Atta boy Immy. The bushra effect in play, no doubt.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darul_Uloom_Haqqania

[Peregrine]

Pakistan will follow UN resolution, ban JuD: Ahsan Iqbal

Federal Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan will follow the UN’s resolutions and ban the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF). An exercise in Taqqiya and Ktman!

Addressing the fourth International Conference on the Use of Space Technology for Water Management, he spoke on topics ranging from the prevalence of terrorism to improving Pakistan’s water system.

“Terrorism is a fatal poison for Pakistan,” Iqbal stated. “The National Action Plan is a programme of the Pakistani nation and is being fully implemented. Our measures are not directed to please any country,” he said.

Efforts to implement the ban on JuD and FIF were already underway with provinces following directives from the federal government, claimed the minister.

On February 14, the Punjab government banned these two charities linked to Hafiz Saeed.

The move came after Pakistan quietly amended its anti-terror laws to ban organisations listed as terrorist by the United Nations. The change was made by President Mamnoon Hussain on February 9 and notified by the law ministry on February 12.

Authorities have begun seizing control of offices and financial assets of the charities – JuD and FIF, an official said. In Rawalpindi, district officers had begun taking over the charities’ offices, a city official said. “We’ve taken over all the JuD and FIF assets. We’ve completed the takeover,” Rawalpindi commissioner Nadeem Aslam told Reuters.

Speaking about the water system, Iqbal stressed the importance of research in efficient water utilisation since 70 per cent of the earth’s surface is water, highlighting agriculture as a key field. Emphasising the rapid increase of population, Iqbal warned his audience of the worldwide water shortage and its impact on the global economy.

The interior minister said improving the water system of Pakistan has become top priority for the government. He pointed out improvements can be made through space technology and excellent management of water as well as working together.

Cheers

[RCase]

This made to the top of the news today. Doctor with Islamic sounding name arrested in Florida. Upon further investigation, said doctor is a hijabi from the Islamic Republic of the Land of the Pure. Will she use the defense that vaccination is haram?

Pediatrician arrested for giving partial doses of vaccines

... and here is the hijabi. Graduate from Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciense
https://www.floridahospital.com/doctor/ ... 1346357506

[Peregrine]

Pakistan measles crisis among worst in world

ISLAMABAD: On the verge of a measles catastrophe, the country is facing an increasing number of reported cases compared to 2016. For the previous and current year, a report by the World Health Organisation presents a dire picture of Pakistan’s weak surveillance.

The numbers reveal that Pakistan not only experienced a significantly higher number of cases than the entire region, but that cases rose by more than 100 per cent in 2017, compared to previous year.

According to the Measles-Rubella Bulletin, the data analysis on the region reports 6,494 cases in 2017, while in 2016 the reported cases were 2,845.

A total 10,540 suspected cases were tested in the lab from January 1 to December 31, 2017 and 6,494 of them were positive.

The report states that although all the suspected cases were tested in the lab, but none were investigated for further action and planned campaigns. The country reportedly received 367 Rubella cases for the same year.

War-ravaged Afghanistan tested 2,321 cases in the same period, with 1,511 confirmed measles cases.

In 2016, Pakistan tested 5,871 cases, 2,845 of which were confirmed positive. Measles incidence for the year was 16.06 per cent and has gone up to 36.67 per cent in 2017. The officials fear the actual number may be much higher.

Under the national schedule, children between the ages of nine and 15 months should be vaccinated, but the Expanded Programme on Immunisation failed to ensure this, even as the numbers crept higher. The administration not only failed to detect outbreaks but also did not respond to them on time.

Last year, a meeting conducted by the Pakistan Health and Population Strategic Forum, chaired by Federal Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, took notice of the measles situation. She agreed to launch a measles vaccination campaign in high-risk areas in April, and a nationwide anti-measles drive in October 2018. They also decided to release a plan of action with mutual consultation among all provinces.

Health experts admit that a nationwide measles campaign should have been launched in the second half of 2016 or the first quarter of 2017, but due to the poor status of regular immunisation in all provinces except Punjab, it was never achieved.

According to WHO standards, 95 per cent coverage is the necessary rate to avert an outbreak as the disease is highly infectious. Even reaching the 80 per cent coverage threshold will avert large-scale outbreaks. Except for Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, all other provinces and territories report 50 per cent or less vaccine coverage.

Cheers

[Falijee]

Pakistan to be put on terror watchlist after diplomatic farce in Paris

By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid Paki Journo working for Pro- China Daily !

Pakistan looks set to end up on the global terror watchlist again after its diplomatic maneuvering ahead of last week’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting in Paris proved fruitless.The United States called for an unprecedented second meeting to review Pakistan’s position, two days after Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif announced in a self-congratulatory tweet that Islamabad had received a ‘three-month reprieve’. Asif had claimed that Pakistan’s “efforts have paid (off)”. IMO, this "loose tongue" FM should be "let go" by the Deep State !

Multiple diplomatic sources confirmed to Asia Times that the second meeting on Pakistan was called up after the minister ‘openly leaked’ details of the meetings. “The US officials were outraged by the clear breach, and decided to call up a follow-up meeting to discuss the matter to review Pakistan,” a senior diplomat told Asia Times. This Minister, if kept in this portfolio is unlikely to "keep his mouth shut" in the future

The biggest setback came through China and Saudi Arabia who, in their second vote, backed out from supporting Pakistan from being put on the ‘grey-list’. Pakistan treated like a "pariah" by the two mai-baaps

Islamabad made several efforts to muster support from FATF member states in the lead-up to the meeting. Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif made a trip to Moscow to meet his counterpart Sergey Lavrov during the Paris meeting. Sources confirmed that the two discussed support for Pakistan during the FATF meeting, apart from counter-terror cooperation and military deals.

A similar request was also made to Saudi Arabia as Pakistan agreed to send military troops to the kingdom before the FATF meet. Saudi Arabia did vote against Pakistan being grey-listed, but was later talked out of it by US officials. The Saudis, inspite of all their so called "economic clout" are entirely dependent on Massaland for their security !

“The US officials went out of their way to convince the Saudis, while China backed out from supporting Pakistan afterwards because the Chinese vote wouldn’t have sufficed since three votes are needed to block the move and Pakistan only had Turkey’s,” a Foreign Office official told Asia Times. Ditched by "tallel than mountain fliend"

Pakistan now risks being blacklisted unless it can present a convincing action plan which will be scrutinized at the next FATF meeting. Since Islamabad did not present its proposals at last week’s meetings, it temporarily avoided being placed on the grey-list, where it was placed from 2012 to 2015.

“The Asia Pacific group that takes action over the list has been kind to Pakistan [when the country was last on the list], but there is a lot more stringent scrutiny now,” Muhammad Amir Rana, a security analyst and director of the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), told Asia Times.

Pakistan’s former foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri has described the developments in Paris as a “diplomatic shambles”.“Pakistan can no longer sell its narrative because the world is clearly watching us,” he said while talking to Asia Times. “Pakistan needs to start taking action against militant groups, not because there is international pressure to do so, but simply because it is in Pakistan’s own best interests.”

[Gagan]

The Govt of Pakistani Punjab pays the Lashkar-e-toiba / FIF. They donate land for their facilities
What about JEM? Who gives them money? The ISI does or the Govt of Pakistani Punjab does?

The govt of KP gives to Darul-uloom Haqqania

Wonder who the Govt of Balochistan pays? Quetta Shura?

And the Govt of Sindh? Do they pay the Binori Madarsa in Karachi (Jamia-uloom-al-islamia). That is another terrorist training hellhole with star terrorists as its alumini including:
Mullah Omar: Former Taliban Chief
Masood Azhar: JEM chief
Asim Umar: AQIS chief
Qari Saifullah Akhtar: HuJI chief
Azam Tariq: Chief of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP)
Fazlur Rehman Khalil: leader of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM)
Abdul Aziz Ghazi: leader of Lal Masjid
Abdolmalek Rigi: leader of Jundallah

What heppens to financing by the ISI to all these terrorist organizations? Will the terrorist attacks against India, Afghanistan, Iran and China stop suddenly come June? The ISI is in control of all these terror modules to varying degrees of deniability

[Peregrine]

Analysis: Placed on a watch list, Pakistan set for further economic dent

KARACHI: After an awful lot of confusion, it emerged that Pakistan would be placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) terror financing watch list.

In one week of developments, Pakistan was given a reprieve, according to its foreign minister, only for its neighbour to claim that it wasn’t the case. A day later, it transpired that Pakistan’s minister got it wrong. Pakistan would be placed on the watch list from June, and it would get three months to take action against money-laundering and terror-financing.

Experts now suggest that Pakistan will need to revisit its foreign policy – a neglected area – to win back a balanced relationship with the world. Out of its four neighbours, it has a friendly working relation with just one. Two of the four are vocally critical of Pakistan’s policies, while relationship with the fourth, Iran, has room to improve.

Additionally, experts believe, Pakistan would find it tougher to smoothly run financial and trade ties with many counterparts, which it successfully managed during 2012-15. Previously, the country remained on the watch list but found no difficulties in acquiring a $6.6-billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and running other businesses with the world. Furthermore, it also remained a major ally of the US in the war against terrorism.

“This time, Pakistan will find a different world. During those times (2012-15), Europe was not facing terrorist activities,” NUST Islamabad School of Sciences and Humanities Principal and Dean Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan told The Express Tribune.

Germany and France are among the European countries that strongly backed the US move to put Pakistan on the watch list, while China and Saudi Arabia – the countries with which Pakistan enjoys good ties – also agreed with US’s agenda.

“The likely impact of putting Pakistan on the list would be like a downward revision in credit rating by global financial institutions, and paying a higher cost and return on floating Eurobonds.

“Foreign direct investment may also take a hit due to the likely increase in investment-risk factor; the stock market may face a dip in foreign portfolio investment, opening letters of credit for imports may become expensive … in a nutshell, Pakistan’s cost of doing business, which is already on the high side, may increase further,” Khan remarked. National Bank of Pakistan President Saeed Ahmad anticipated at a press briefing last week that Pakistani banks would face difficulties in conducting financial transactions if FATF decides to put the country on the grey-list.

EFG Hermes Chief Executive Officer Muzammil Aslam said the government needs to fix its foreign policy and do more on rebalancing its relationship with the world rather than doing more on FATF’s front as the decision is influenced by international political motives.

“When Pakistan acquired an IMF loan in 2013, it was enjoying comparatively better ties with the US … China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has improved things in Pakistan, but lowered its reliance on the US,” he added.

On the regulations side, Aslam said that government institutions in Pakistan have been tightening the noose around local and foreign financial transactions for a long time.

“I am the CEO of a company … the State Bank of Pakistan and SECP [Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan] have regularly been issuing instructions regarding AML (anti-money laundering) and acquiring details about our clients and we also submit affidavit in this regard,” he said.

He suggested that if Pakistan was planning to float Eurobonds in a bid to boost its foreign exchange reserves higher, then it should do this in the next three to four months, before June. “This is time for a change in [elected] governments … the outgoing government should acquire another $2-2.5 billion through Eurobonds,” he said.

Pakistan is feared to face an import payment crisis by June 2018 as foreign exchange reserves are depleting fast due to the widening current account deficit.

An informed source claimed Pakistan’s name was put on the future grey-list in the second round of FATF session due to wrong moves made by newly-appointed inexperienced ministers and advisors. Otherwise, the task force was convinced not to do so in the first round.

“FATF got irritated at their [Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Miftah Ismail] congratulatory messages on twitter, which were in violation of its norms … the FATF usually announces its decisions via a press releases,” the source added.

Cheers

[anupmisra]

One of the complaints the paki dumbass MoD has made is to someone at FATaFut on Indian media skulduggery:

2/2 FATF

iii.We have officially complained to FATF on Indian media speculations which they claim are on basis of information provided by “top Indian government sources”

https://twitter.com/PakMnstrDefence/sta ... 6134681600

[abhijitm]

One of the complaints the paki dumbass MoD has made is to someone at FATaFut on Indian media skulduggery:

2/2 FATF

iii.We have officially complained to FATF on Indian media speculations which they claim are on basis of information provided by “top Indian government sources”

https://twitter.com/PakMnstrDefence/sta ... 6134681600

That top government source is FATF member, representing India. What pakistan expect? We can't have minute by minute report of whats going on in there?

[abhijitm]

Pakistani reaction after 1st vote
"victory!! Our stand is vindicated. We dont have terrorists. We do not fund terrorists. In fact we are the victim... bla bla bla"

reaction after 2nd vote
"we will ban terrorist outfits"

[abhijitm]

Analysis: Placed on a watch list, Pakistan set for further economic dent


He suggested that if Pakistan was planning to float Eurobonds in a bid to boost its foreign exchange reserves higher, then it should do this in the next three to four months, before June. “This is time for a change in [elected] governments … the outgoing government should acquire another $2-2.5 billion through Eurobonds,” he said.

Experts, is this how bond market work??

[CRamS]

Guys, can't trust Jyothi Malhotra who is another fraud along the lines of PS, AS, MKB etc, but she is reporting that ModiJi has invited some Paki minister for some trade talks and hails it as a major 'breakthrough'. Hope its not true.

[Kashi]

There were some reports about invitation for a WTO meeting, not bilateral talks.

[Kashi]

x-post from the CPEC dhaaga

So if Cheen is directly negotiating with the Baloch liberation movement activists, can it be assumed that they being in very good touch with ground realities in occupied Balochistan, probably have come to the conclusion that TSPA has failed in containing the movement and they have little faith in the TSPAs ability to keep a lid over things for much longer.

This must be one of the biggest indicators of the state of events in Balochistan.

[arun]

More pakis being paki news from the land of pakhanistan.

Lahore teenager accuses cleric of rape

Johar Town police on Saturday registered a first information report (FIR) against a cleric at a local madressah in Lahore on the complaint of a 16-year-old boy who alleged he was raped by the suspect a year ago.

he and a few other boys studying at the seminary had allegedly been abused multiple times by the cleric but had remained quiet out of fear.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1391643/suspe ... ted-police

When Mohammadden belief based Shariah strictures in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan cloisters away women, it is inevitable that male homosexual rape with paedophile overtones crops up.

Meanwhile this the second case within a fortnight of a Mohammadden Cleric in Punjab Province getting involved in paedophilic homosexual rape. Clearly if these two Mohammadden Clerics die and make it to Jannat, given their sexual preference for little boys, they would will be greatly disappointed with being supplied virgin Houri’s:

Cleric held for rape of minor boy

Further this is the third case within a fortnight where an incident related to homosexual rape with paedophile overtones has cropped up in Punjab Province. That case involved the recovery of the cadaver of a raped 8 year old boy:

Missing boy found strangled after rape

This deviant behaviour of paedophile homosexual rape is clearly not restricted to Pathan / Pushtun areas under occupation of the Punjabis of the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan as the Islamic Republics Punjab based residents would have us Kaafir Dhimmis believe given that both above incidents have taken place in Punjab Province.

Further this deviant behaviour constitutes no stray event in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Similar incidents of paedophile homosexual rape have been frequently reported. Indeed I suspect that the incidents of this nature, by standards of prevalence of deviant behaviour, are quite widespread in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan making it the Paedophile Homosexual Rape Capital of the Indian Sub-Continent. News articles from 2018, which is not even two months old, reporting incidents of paedophile homosexual rape in the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan follow to demonstrate the point.

February 6, 2018:

8-year-old boy allegedly raped by labourer in Jhelum

February 2, 2018:

Seven-year-old boy found ‘raped, killed’ in Karachi

January 28, 2018:

Police offical arrested for 'raping, blackmailing' 15-year-old boy in Haripur

January 24, 2018:

Teenage boy held captive, raped for 3 days in Rawalpindi

January 12, 2018:

13-year-old boy intoxicated, sexually assaulted by two men in Sargodha[/quote]

[arun]

Guys, can't trust Jyothi Malhotra who is another fraud along the lines of PS, AS, MKB etc, but she is reporting that ModiJi has invited some Paki minister for some trade talks and hails it as a major 'breakthrough'. Hope its not true.

There were some reports about invitation for a WTO meeting, not bilateral talks.

800% correct. The invitation to attend has nothing to do with bilateral issues. It is one of some 50 invitations sent out to Trade Ministers around the world to an informal meeting for “discussing issues which are creating hurdles in progress of negotiations in the multi-lateral body {WTO}”. Any suggestion of a bilateral breakthrough is bogus.:

India invites ministers of over 50 countries for informal WTO meet in March : The issues which are not moving forward includes finding a permanent solution for food security purposes

Meanwhile the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan is trying to act self-important by saying they have not yet decided whether to attend or not. I hope I am lucky enough to see the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic decide that their Honour and Dignity will be affronted by attending and pull out of the informal WTO meeting. Unfortunately, I think the Islamic Republic will do some downhill skiing, tuck their tail between their legs and turn up as unwanted guests :

Pakistan yet to decide participation in WTO moot in India

[Prem]

x-post from the CPEC dhaaga

So if Cheen is directly negotiating with the Baloch liberation movement activists, can it be assumed that they being in very good touch with ground realities in occupied Balochistan, probably have come to the conclusion that TSPA has failed in containing the movement and they have little faith in the TSPAs ability to keep a lid over things for much longer.

This must be one of the biggest indicators of the state of events in Balochistan.

Its Russian helping Cheeni.

[yensoy]

x-post from the CPEC dhaaga

So if Cheen is directly negotiating with the Baloch liberation movement activists, can it be assumed that they being in very good touch with ground realities in occupied Balochistan, probably have come to the conclusion that TSPA has failed in containing the movement and they have little faith in the TSPAs ability to keep a lid over things for much longer.

This must be one of the biggest indicators of the state of events in Balochistan.

I think the Chinese want to buy peace with cash in order to quickly move ahead with their project. Negotiations, army actions, all these are unknowns which could take any amount of time and have unforeseen outcomes; the Chinese would rather have stability and pay for it in cold hard yuan. So yes, they probably have assessed that they can buy their way out, and they don't think the "authorities" have what it takes to get the job done. Much like how they bring their own labour - to reduce uncertainty of the project "do what it takes to get the job done".

[CRamS]

Not to nit-pick, but if we are serious about isolating TSP, why should they be invited even for a multilateral meeting. After all in the past India has cancelled even multilateral meetings like SAARC.

[Kashi]

the Chinese would rather have stability and pay for it in cold hard yuan. So yes, they probably have assessed that they can buy their way out, and they don't think the "authorities" have what it takes to get the job done.

That's the ticket here. This is very far-fetched and probably bordering on tin-foil hat territory, but I would not be surprised if the powers that be in Cheen have concluded that-

a. TSPA actions, despite increasing brutality are incapable of "stabilising" Balochistan either in the short-term or longer term. The situation will increasingly slip out of TSPA control.

b. They feel a pressing need to prepare for a post-TSP Balochistan a la Bangladesh, to safeguard their naval base at Gwadar, which is all that they are interested in.

It will be interesting to see how TSPA reacts, or maybe the recent attacks on Cheeni engineers and workers in Bakistan were TSPA shots across the bow.

[Kashi]

Not to nit-pick, but if we are serious about isolating TSP, why should they be invited even for a multilateral meeting. After all in the past India has cancelled even multilateral meetings like SAARC.

SAARC is about "South Asia" (how I despise the term!!), therefore Terroristan gets to play a much bigger role and also stymie any agreements that require an all party consensus- as they are wrought to do. But events such as Heart of Asia and WTO meetings are on a global scale and Terroristan is but an insignificant entity, so not only do they have little leverage, but being creatures of habbit, their shenanigans are visible to a much wider audience.

The presence of Terroristani minister at WTO gathering where mutual trade and MFN agreements will be discussed, will also raise the heat on Terroristan, who
a. Refuses to honour their international obligations such as granting MFN to India or transit facilities to Afghanistan
b. Try and link economics to politics in the form of Kashmir.

Perhaps this is why the Terrorirstani minister is still "undecided" on whether to attend.

Having said that, Bakistanis are nothing if not shameless, so will not be surprised to see the Terrorirstani minister eventually attend and attempt to link trade with Cashmere issue and talk about losses suffered by Terrorirstan and how rest of the world must compensate them.

[arun]

X Posted from the Analyzing CPEC thread.

Bloomberg via South China Morning Post on the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s much bragged about “Next Dubai” , “Next Singapore” , “Next Hong Kong” (Clicky), Gwadar Port in Punjabi Occupied Balochistan:

Heavy security and a ‘climate of fear’ surround China’s flagship port in Pakistan : ‘It doesn’t feel like a normal investment location or an enabling business environment if that level of protection needs to be provided’

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 27 February, 2018, 8:24am
UPDATED : Tuesday, 27 February, 2018, 8:24am

For the thousands of attendees it was meant to be a conference to showcase China’s flagship Belt and Road project in Pakistan – the port in southwestern Gwadar that gives Beijing access to the Arabian Sea.

In the evenings the almost 8,000 delegates were wowed with cultural shows and a firework display at the newly opened five-story Gwadar Exhibition Centre which was host to about 100 companies last month.

Yet what really caught the attention of some investors were the hundreds of Pakistani troops patrolling the roads and guarding high-end hotel lobbies.

“Nobody will come and invest in this climate of fear,” said Muhammad Zafar Paracha, director at the Pakistani partner of MoneyGram International Inc.

With national elections due in July, Pakistan’s government is keen to trumpet the commercial viability of the deep seaport in the once sleepy sea town of about 200,000 people in a province long racked by separatist insurgency. To secure Beijing’s funding of more than US$50 billion in infrastructure projects, Pakistan has raised a special 15,000 strong security force.

The port is scheduled to start transshipment on March 7. Yet for all the fanfare, some question Gwadar’s prospects amid heavy security. Balochistan is mostly off limits to outsiders and there’s no visible foreign presence beyond the Chinese. Journalists and visitors are closely monitored by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.

“It doesn’t feel like a normal investment location or an enabling business environment if that level of protection needs to be provided,” said Andrew Small, who has written a book on Pakistan-China relations and is one of a handful of westerns to have travelled to Gwadar.

Beijing has become increasingly vocal over the risks in Pakistan. In December, its embassy in Islamabad warned of imminent terror attacks on Chinese targets. This month a Chinese manager at Cosco Shipping Lines Co, was gunned down in an upmarket area of Karachi. Following the murder, China called on Islamabad to take more measures to ensure security.

“It’s our commitment to the Chinese companies or other investors coming there to provide security,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in an interview. “The security situation has significantly improved” in Balochistan.

Security challenges come from long-standing grievances of the local Baloch people. Many claim they have been discriminated against by Islamabad, which they say plunders their natural resources and gives little back to Pakistan’s least populated and developed province. More than 2,600 people have been killed or wounded in suicide attacks in the Balochistan since 2003, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

Despite the Chinese influx “locals get no jobs, nothing,” said Hameed Rasheed, a dealer of Honda Motor Company Ltd in Gwadar. Rasheed was also concerned about security in the province after two of his trucks were set ablaze by unknown assailants on the coastal highway in October.

“The main challenges, as I see them, are posed by the security risks of sustaining a large Chinese presence in Balochistan,” said Joshua White, a former director for South Asian affairs at the US National Security Council. “China has demonstrated that it is highly sensitive to threats against Chinese citizens abroad, and even a small number of attacks or kidnappings could constrain the ambitions of China’s state owned enterprises operating in the area.”

Nonetheless some Pakistani companies are investing. Conglomerate Engro Corp. plans to build more than US$700 million of wind and solar power plants in Balochistan. Present at the expo’s stands were major Pakistani lenders Habib Bank Ltd and United Bank Ltd, along with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd.

With more than half a dozen cranes mostly idle, port authorities at Gwadar are also hoping to siphon millions of tons of cargo currently shipped through Dubai. Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Mir Hasil Khan Bizinjo said the government is looking to shift Nato cargo bound for Afghanistan from Karachi to Gwadar. China is expected to start work in June on a US$1.2 billion port expansion, said Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini.

Some locals see the benefit. Muhammad Wasim Baloch has seen sales of his traditional shoes soar in the past year thanks to Chinese buyers. “Our business has increased about 60 per cent,” he said.

[SSridhar]

x-post from the CPEC dhaaga

So if Cheen is directly negotiating with the Baloch liberation movement activists, can it be assumed that they being in very good touch with ground realities in occupied Balochistan, probably have come to the conclusion that TSPA has failed in containing the movement and they have little faith in the TSPAs ability to keep a lid over things for much longer.

This must be one of the biggest indicators of the state of events in Balochistan.

Kashi, I have a different take on that.

The Balochistan situation in the last decade has not been as problematic for the GoP as it was before. Akbar Bugti's entombing in that cave in 2006 by Musharraf, the movement has lost a lot of steam. No doubt, there were a few attacks here and there but these never shook the government as Akbar Bugti did. For example, we no longer hear the Sui gas pipeline being blown away as they used to occur earlier plunging the Punjab households, industries and power-stations into darkness. No blowing away of railway tracks either, another common occurrence.

The Chinese are playing it extremely safe for two reasons. One, there have been some increased targetting of the Chinese within Pakistan. Two, I presume that the western corridor of the CPEC which passes through central Balochistan is on the anvil. The 15000 strong CPEC protection force of the PA is utterly insufficient. Remember that the entire stretch from Karakoram to Gwadar needs to be protected (two corridors) for 24X365 which even a 100,000 strong force cannot protect. The Chinese have to take the practical way out as CPEC is indeed a flagship project of BRI. A decade back, the Godless communist Chinese entered into an agreement with Jama'at-e-Islami in order to 'handle' Xinjiang.

[Peregrine]

Can't say Beijing didn't cooperate with Pakistan in FATF meeting: Chinese envoy

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Islamabad Yao Jing on Tuesday said he can't say his country didn't cooperate with Pakistan during Financial Task Force during which US sought to put Pakistan on the so called "grey list". Indeed China Co-operated, but, by Shafting Terroristan!

He was addressing a seminar on Challenges and Opportunities facing Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"I don't know yet what happened in Paris, it is quite technical issue," he was quoted as saying by Geo News.

Yao Jing said China has always appreciated Pakistan's efforts against terrorism and always extended its full cooperation at every forum. Let this be a Lesson Terroristan Darling - Never trust the Chinese Night, Evening, Noon or Morning!

The week-long meeting of FATF was to decide on a US-led motion seeking to put Pakistan on list of countries not doing enough to stop terror financing.

Though Indian media claimed that Pakistan has been put on the list, the FATF didn't mention such a move in a statement issued after the meeting.

According to Pakistani officials, the country has been given three-month time till June to take necessary measures to avoid the action.

Cheers

[arun]

The Peoples Republic of China’s Foreign Ministry on Higher than Himalaya’s, Deeper than Indian Ocean, Sweeter than Honey, As close as Lips to Teeth Iron Brother, the Mohammadden Terrorism Fometing Islamic Republic of Pakistan getting hit with a FATFa from FATF :

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on February 27, 2018 ….

Q: Pakistan has been at the forefront of the war against terrorism. How do you see the role of the international community in supporting Pakistan in its efforts to counter terrorism?

A: As my colleaues and I have said many times, the Pakistani government and its people have contributed and sacrificed enormously for the fight against terrorism. Their hard efforts, both in terms of ground operations and in the field of terrorism financing, are there for all to see.

Meanwhile, we’ve been calling on all relevant parties of the international community to view and evaluate Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts in an objective and fair way, instead of just pointing fingers at Pakistan out of bias. As an all-weather strategic cooperative partner for Pakistan, China will continue to enhance communication, coordination and cooperation with Pakistan on counter-terrorism.

Q: Reports say that China has not opted to bail out Pakistan in the recent Financial Action Task Force meeting, resulting in a kind of situation where Pakistan has to face sanctions. Can you comment on this?

A: I just talked about China’s take on Pakistan’s efforts and contributions on international counter-terrorism, so I won’t repeat it. As I specifically pointed out, the efforts and contributions made by Pakistan can also be seen in the field of terrorism financing. In recent years, Pakistan has made important progress in actively strengthening financial regulations to combat terror financing. China highly recognizes that and hopes all relevant parties of the international community could arrive at an objective and fair conclusion on that.

Clicky FMPRC

China highly recognizes that and hopes all relevant parties of the international community could arrive at an objective and fair conclusion on that.

India also hopes that the PRC highly recognizes that PRC as a relevant party of the international community could arrive at an objective and fair conclusion on the matter of the solid track record of its Higher than Himalaya’s, Deeper than Indian Ocean, Sweeter than Honey, As close as Lips to Teeth Iron Brother, the Mohammadden Terrorism Fometing Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in fomenting Terrorism.

MEA Spokesman Raveesh Kumars Tweet:

Congratulations to China on its election as Vice President of Financial Action Task Force at the #FATF plenary mtg. on 23 February 2018. We remain hopeful that China would uphold & support the objectives & standards of FATF in a balanced, objective, impartial & holistic way.

Clicky MEA Tweet

[Falijee]

Imran Khan not a ‘strategy guy’, says Asad Umar
Saeed Niazi ( obviously from the Kaptaan's Niazi biradiri !)
The News International

LONDON: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice president Asad Umar has said the party chief Imran Khan is not a strategist, has never worked in an institution and doesn’t know how to work in an institutional setting.

The PTI’s vice president spoke to The Times on Sunday for a profile interview of Imran Khan in which Imran Khan mainly featured and Asad Umar was asked questions about Imran Khan’s claims on turning Pakistan into a “China model”. WTF is the "Chini model"

In the same piece, The Times quoted Asad Umar as saying that Imran Khan is not a “strategy guy”. The Times reporter said that Imran Khan keeps promising to “bring the China model to Pakistan” to fight poverty but “in the car he is unable to explain to me what this means beyond: We have a lot to learn from what they did with industry.” For the China model to succeed , the Aam Abduls of Pakiland, will have to let of the "opium of Malsi," are they ready for that sacrifice !

The Times said that Imran Khan said he wants to give Pakistan “a sovereign foreign policy”, “an Islamic welfare state” and “the China model” but he glazed over his eyes when asked for details. The Times said Imran Khan’s aides admit “the boss is not great in this department”. Except in the "bedroom dept"

Asad Umar told the paper: “He (Imran Khan) is not a strategy guy, let’s put it that way. He has never been in an institution, and doesn’t know how to work in an institutional setting.” Imran Khan told The Times on Sunday that his party’s lawmaker Ayesha Gulalai has been paid to say that he has been sending inappropriate text messages to her. His prayer beads flick faster and faster at the mention of his accuser, Ayesha Gulalai Wazir, an MP from his own party, who alleges he sent her “inappropriate” text messages and has called for a parliamentary investigation, said the paper. Imran Khan rubbished her claims: “She’s been paid for that.” Imran is a firm believer of "conspiracy theory" !

The newspaper said that Imran Khan has emerged as a man both the Taliban and some powerful quarters “would like to see installed as the country’s next leader”. “People laughed at me,” Imran Khan said, adding: “But I always thought I’d win. Whatever happens, I’ll win. OK?” He has "solid backing" from the Deep State . He is in bed with the Taliban and the Islamists . These are the two powerful actors on the Paki political field. No doubt, he is so "confident"

The Times said that Imran Khan loathes Donald Trump but its “hard not to compare the two” .

“Khan, like Trump, emerged from the moneyed elite, riding high on a personality cult, purporting to be the voice of every forgotten man, railing against effete liberals and the corruption and nepotism of the political class. And just like Trump, this ageing, hair-obsessed star is accused of sexual harassment. Khan is the subject of a Pakistani #MeToo claim” by Ayesha Gulalai MNA. Imran came late to Islam . On the other hand, POTUS Trump has got his own religious constituencies, but has not shown much interest in the "opium of the masses"

According to the newspaper, Imran Khan had demolished his father's house in Zaman Park, Lahore. His father died in 2009. His father was not on speaking terms with his wife. Imran had also expelled his father from the board of Shaukat Khanum hospital. This kind of dirty linen should not be washed in public.!!!

The newspaper, citing people from former skipper’s family, Imran was not on speaking terms with his father. He (Imran) himself said his relation with his father were quite formal. Imran Khan criticised Pakistani liberals who support Nato’s war on the Taliban as “thirsty for blood”.

The PTI chief said: “They have absolutely no idea. They sit in the drawing room. They read the English-language newspapers, which bear very little resemblance to what is real Pakistan. I promise you, they would be lost in our villages.” The man who was once married to the daughter of a Jewish billionaire now accuses Israel of “controlling the United States” and American aid of “enslaving” Pakistan, said the paper. Hypocrite to the core !!!

Imran Khan blamed America for pushing Pakistan into the war on terror. “They pushed us into a hysteria of blood-letting. We ended up sending our army into our tribal areas at the request of the Americans. And our areas got devastated. We had, more or less, a civil-war situation there,” he snarls. “The aid was minuscule compared to the loss of billions and billions and the blood our country spilt.” Many Pashtuns considered Immy a full-fledged Pakjabi and /or a pseudo Pathan !

When asked about how Taliban came to request that he should represent them in talks with the government, Imran Khan said: “All terrorism is politics. All this nonsense of religious terrorism. There’s no such thing as religious terrorism. It’s politics behind it. The political injustice. Perceived injustice is why people pick up arms -- throughout history. My tradition is of a more Sufi style of Islam.”

And that is why he has married the Pirni of Pakpattan

He told the paper that he wouldn’t be in politics if he hadn’t turned towards spirituality. The Times noted that Imran Khan makes references to British politics all the time. The reporter added: “I am reminded of something the vice-president of his party told me -- that at these rallies he prays Khan won’t bang on about British politics. He’s so incredibly English. I don’t know anybody else in Pakistan who will go ‘gosh’. He’ll quote Shakespeare, the Magna Carta. He’ll talk about English politics at rallies in front of half a million people, 98% of whom don’t give a rat’s ass about what happens in England. I have to say, ‘For heaven’s sake, stop quoting what happens in England.’”

[Bart S]

^Is this Asad Umar guy still the vice president of Dimran's party or is he some disgruntled ex?

His interview to The Times seems rather like the evergreen scene from Sholay where Amitabh Bachchan 'tries to convince' Mausiji that Dharmendra would be a good groom.

[jaysimha]

Special court to resume hearing of Musharraf treason case on March 8

[Falijee]

Pakis Sulking

Indian reports rejected: Pakistan says minister’s visit to India not decided
The Express Tribune

KARACHI :
Pakistan has rejected the Indian media reports that Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik has agreed to attend an informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting taking place in Delhi on March 19-20 and said no such decision has been taken in this regard.“It has yet not been decided if he will be able to attend the meeting,” Commerce Ministry’s spokesman Muhammad Ashraf said in a press statement on Monday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Ashraf said the ministry takes such decisions in consultation with the Foreign Office. The consultation usually takes place if there is a plan to go to attend the forum. Since there is no such plan to attend the meeting, so no such consultation has taken place so far, he added.

“Bilateral trade ties are linked with comprehensive dialogue. While the process [of comprehensive dialogue] is stalled since long then what is the point to attend the informal meeting?” “Mr Malik will not attend the meeting as per the decision in place at this point of time,” he added.

However, the Pakistan Business Council Chief Executive Officer Ehsan Malik said India’s invitation to the Pakistan Commerce Minister is a welcome development, particularly at a time when Pakistan is threatened by economic isolation. In Pakistan, the "Echendee factor" is very, very important

[SSridhar]

China's flagship port in Pakistan shackled by heavy security - Bloomberg

For the thousands of attendees it was meant to be a conference to showcase China’s flagship Belt and Road project in Pakistan -- the port in southwestern Gwadar that gives Beijing access to the Arabian sea.

In the evenings the almost 8,000 delegates were wowed with cultural shows and a firework display at the newly opened five-story Gwadar Exhibition Center which was host to about 100 companies last month. Yet what really caught the attention of some investors were the hundreds of Pakistani troops patrolling the roads and guarding high-end hotel lobbies.

“Nobody will come and invest in this climate of fear,” said Muhammad Zafar Paracha, director at the Pakistani partner of MoneyGram International Inc.

With national elections due in July, Pakistan’s government is keen to trumpet the commercial viability of the deep seaport in the once sleepy sea town of about 200,000 people in a province long racked by separatist insurgency. To secure Beijing’s funding of more than $50 billion in infrastructure projects, Pakistan has raised a special 15,000 strong security force.

Off Limits

The port is scheduled to start trans-shipment on March 7. Yet for all the fanfare, some question Gwadar’s prospects amid heavy security. Balochistan is mostly off limits to outsiders and there’s no visible foreign presence beyond the Chinese. Journalists and visitors are closely monitored by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.

“It doesn’t feel like a normal investment location or an enabling business environment if that level of protection needs to be provided,” said Andrew Small, who has written a book on Pakistan-China relations and is one of a handful of westerns to have traveled to Gwadar.

Beijing has become increasingly vocal over the risks in Pakistan. In December, its embassy in Islamabad warned of imminent terror attacks on Chinese targets. This month a Chinese manager at Cosco Shipping Lines Co., was gunned down in an upmarket area of Karachi. Following the murder, China called on Islamabad to take more measures to ensure security.

“It’s our commitment to the Chinese companies or other investors coming there to provide security,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in an interview. “The security situation has significantly improved” in Balochistan.

Security challenges come from long-standing grievances of the local Baloch people. Many claim they have been discriminated against by Islamabad, which they say plunders their natural resources and gives little back to Pakistan’s least populated and developed province. More than 2,600 people have been killed or wounded in suicide attacks in the Balochistan since 2003, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

‘Security Risks’

Despite the Chinese influx “locals get no jobs, nothing,” said Hameed Rasheed, a dealer of Honda Motor Company Ltd. in Gwadar. Rasheed was also concerned about security in the province after two of his trucks were set ablaze by unknown assailants on the coastal highway in October.

“The main challenges, as I see them, are posed by the security risks of sustaining a large Chinese presence in Balochistan,” said Joshua White, a former director for South Asian affairs at the U.S. National Security Council. “China has demonstrated that it is highly sensitive to threats against Chinese citizens abroad, and even a small number of attacks or kidnappings could constrain the ambitions of China’s state owned enterprises operating in the area.”

Nonetheless some Pakistani companies are investing. Conglomerate Engro Corp. plans to build more than $700 million of wind and solar power plants in Balochistan. Present at the expo’s stands were major Pakistani lenders Habib Bank Ltd. and United Bank Ltd., along with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd.

With more than half a dozen cranes mostly idle, port authorities at Gwadar are also hoping to siphon millions of tons of cargo currently shipped through Dubai. Pakistan’s Maritime Affairs Minister Mir Hasil Khan Bizinjo said the government is looking to shift NATO cargo bound for Afghanistan from Karachi to Gwadar. China is expected to start work in June on a $1.2 billion port expansion, said Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini.

Some locals see the benefit. Muhammad Wasim Baloch has seen sales of his traditional shoes soar in the past year thanks to Chinese buyers. “Our business has increased about 60 percent,” he said.

[Falijee]

POTUS Aide Arrives In Isloo To Mollify Munna

FATF move ‘unjust’, Trump aide told
The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD:
Just days after the United States successfully managed to win the support of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) against Pakistan, a senior aide of the Trump Administration travelled to Islamabad on Monday for crucial talks. Lisa Curtis, the senior director for South Asia and Central Asia at the National Security Council of the US met Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua at the foreign office. The visit remained low key as the foreign office spokesperson simply issued a tweet saying that Curtis met the foreign secretary.

.

Even the usual statement suggesting that the two sides discussed issues of mutual interests and bilateral ties was missing. This all suggested a new low in ties between the two countries and frustration on part of Pakistan for being placed on the global terror financing watch-list after the US moved a motion with the FATF.

A senior official while requesting anonymity confirmed that Pakistan would indeed be placed on ‘grey list’ from June. The challenge now is to avoid getting blacklisted, something that will have far more serious repercussions, the official admitted.

Pakistan felt it was hard done by as the FATF placed it on the ‘grey list’ without the final assessment of a ‘mutual evaluation,’ which was “an unprecedented move,” lamented the official. Aid suspension, grey listing . What is next !!!

[anupmisra]

Indian reports rejected: Pakistan says minister’s visit to India not decided

Want to have some fun with the packees? Give them a drop-dead date, like this week Friday 4:00 PM (IST) - after that time it will be too late because all the babus go home. After that deadline, the invite will be automatically withdrawn.

Sit back and then watch them jump.

[arun]

Press Release of the US Embassy in Islamabad regards visit of Deputy Assistant to the President and the U.S. National Security Council’s Senior Director for South and Central Asia, Lisa Curtis, to the Mohammadden Terrorism Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan post FATFa aka FATF Fatwa.

After the now obligatory Honour and Dignity aka H&D preserving salute to the Major Non NATO Ally aka MNNA aka MUNNA’s self-inflicted victimhood by taking note of “considerable sacrifices fighting terrorism” which was created by the Mohammadden Terrorist Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the first place as an attempt to intimidate neighbours like India, the bottom-line was that “Ms. Curtis urged the government of Pakistan to address the continuing presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups within its territory, and reiterated the international community’s long-standing concern about ongoing deficiencies in Pakistan’s implementation of its anti-money laundering/counterterrorism finance regime.”:

Deputy Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for South Asia Lisa Curtis visits Pakistan

Islamabad, February 27, 2018 – Deputy Assistant to the President and the U.S. National Security Council’s Senior Director for South and Central Asia Lisa Curtis visited Islamabad February 26-27. Senior Director Curtis met with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and the Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Bilal Akbar.

In her meetings with Pakistani officials, Ms. Curtis said that the United States seeks to move toward a new relationship with Pakistan, based on a shared commitment to defeat all terrorist groups that threaten regional stability and security as well as on a shared vision of a peaceful future for Afghanistan. She acknowledged Pakistan’s considerable sacrifices fighting terrorism and emphasized that the U.S. South Asia strategy represents an opportunity to work together to bring about a stable, peaceful Afghanistan which would enable the dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland; the defeat of ISIS in South Asia; and the elimination of terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States. Ms. Curtis urged the government of Pakistan to address the continuing presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups within its territory, and reiterated the international community’s long-standing concern about ongoing deficiencies in Pakistan’s implementation of its anti-money laundering/counterterrorism finance regime.

February 27, 2018

Contact: U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section (051-201-5427, 051-201-4723)

12/ 2018

US Embassy & Consulates In Pakistan

[Peregrine]

China praises Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts

BEIJING: China on Tuesday said global community should shed bias and take an "objective" look at Pakistan's efforts on counter terrorism, days after it backed out from supporting its all weather ally at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting which placed Islamabad on terrorist financing watch list.

The 37-nation FATF at its plenary meeting in Paris last week placed Pakistan on a watch list of the countries where terrorist outfits are still allowed to raise funds.

Though Pakistan has not been named, it has to submit the action plan to implement UN Security Council resolutions on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism by April, failing which it would figure in the list.

"Pakistan government and people have made enormous sacrifices for counter terrorism," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here today. After Shafting Terroristan Good & Proper the Chinese are now “praising” Terroristan!

China which earlier opposed the move along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey later backed out after Riyadh under pressure from the US withdrew its opposition in view of the rule that at least support of three members was required to stall the resolution against Pakistan.

"At this stage, the Chinese informed Islamabad that they were opting out as they did not want to 'lose face by supporting a move that's doomed to fail'," Pakistan's daily Dawn quoted a Pakistani official as saying.

Asked about China's stand at the Paris meeting, Lu said Pakistan's efforts (on counter terrorism) also reflected in the financial areas.

"In recent years Pakistan has taken measures to enhance finance regulations and combating financing for terrorism. China highly recognises this," he said.

"We call on the relevant parties of the international community to view Pakistan's efforts in an objective and just way, instead of criticising it with bias," he said.

"As the all-weather partner of Pakistan, China will continue enhancing close coordination and communication with Pakistan in counterterrorism," Lu said.

The US officials said Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader and Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and his "charities" were top on the list of the groups that the FATF wanted Pakistan to act against.

The stand by China and Saudi Arabia, which were Pakistan's closest allies, evoked strong comments in Pakistani media.

"Now that the news from the just-concluded round of meetings of the Financial Action Task Force held in Paris has been digested, it is important to focus on the fact that two countries that we are repeatedly told to think of in brotherly terms -- China and Saudi Arabia -- both abandoned Pakistan during the proceedings, opening the way for the motion advanced by the US to grey list the country's financial system," an editorial in Dawn said.

"If there is one thing to learn from this episode, it must be this: in ties between countries, there are no 'friends' and no 'brothers'. There are only interests and bargaining positions," the editorial said. China is well aware of Lord Palmerston's statement and it is following it to the lats letter. Hard Luck Terroristan!

Cheers

[Falijee]

Saazish ( AKA Conspiracy) Against Pakistan
Pakistan raises serious concerns with US over FATF move

SLAMABAD - Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua has raised concerns with the visiting US top National Security diplomat Liza Curtis about the FATF <link> issue and insisted that US move was ‘unjust’, Tribune has reported. The inclusion of Pakistan in the ‘grey-list’ is seen as part of broader US strategy to pressurize Islamabad to do more in the fight against certain militant groups. Haqqani Network ( let us call a spade a spade )

Discussions were candid and frank as Curtis – prior to joining the Trump administration – has authored a policy paper along with former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani suggesting a new approach towards Pakistan. So, there is a joint conspiracy between the "Good Haqqani" and Liza to defame Pakistan

The new approach envisaged tough measures including seeking Pakistan’s international isolation if it continued to use militant groups as proxies to advance its strategic objectives. And that is exactly what POTUS is doing

The recent US move at the FATF <link>appeared to be in line with that policy as Pakistan was even abandoned by its closest allies – China and Saudi Arabia.

A senior official while requesting anonymity confirmed that Pakistan would indeed be placed on ‘grey list’ from June. The challenge now is to avoid getting blacklisted, something that will have far more serious repercussions, the official admitted. IMO, it will be the BLACK LIST unless the Pakis give "something in writing" ( AKA "The Action Plan" ) by the end of June !

Pakistan has already amended the Anti-Terrorism Act allowing authorities greater powers to move against groups that are designated as terrorists by the UN Security Council under its resolution 1267.

Pakistan felt it was hard done by as the FATF <link> placed it on the ‘grey list’ without the final assessment of a ‘mutual evaluation,’ which was “an unprecedented move,” lamented the official. IMO, it is a foregone conclusion that PAKISTAN WILL NOT MEND ITS WAYS ! hence the blacklisting is inevitable !

[anupmisra]

Ganja Sharief jailed for life.

PML-N elects Nawaz as 'Quaid for life'

Heart rending scenes at party hq.

PML-N bigwigs on Tuesday, during a meeting called to choose an interim party president, elected Nawaz Sharif as "[the party's] Quaid (leader) for life".

https://www.dawn.com/news/1392062/pml-n ... -president

[anupmisra]

China praises Pakistan's counterterrorism efforts

BEIJING: China on Tuesday said global community should shed bias and take an "objective" look at Pakistan's efforts on counter terrorism, days after it backed out from supporting its all weather ally at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting which placed Islamabad on terrorist financing watch list.
...

"Pakistan government and people have made enormous sacrifices for counter terrorism," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here today.
...

"As the all-weather partner of Pakistan, China will continue enhancing close coordination and communication with Pakistan in counterterrorism," Lu said.

Cost of that special tube of Burnol - $60 Bn.

[Peregrine]

US offers Pakistan new partnership but with caveat

ISLAMABAD : A senior aide of President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States wants to move toward a new relationship with Pakistan, based on a shared commitment to defeat all terrorist groups that threaten regional stability and security as well as on a shared vision of a peaceful future for Afghanistan.

But the Deputy Assistant to the President and the US National Security Council’s Senior Director for South and Central Asia Lisa Curtis also delivered a message to Pakistani civil and military authorities to address “continuing presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups within its territory”.

Curtis was in Islamabad this week and held meetings with Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Bilal Akbar.

Her visit came amid fresh strain in ties between Islamabad and Washington after the US successfully moved the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan on the global terror financing watch-list.

Pakistan described the move as politically motivated, with the aim to undermine its economic progress.

But despite Islamabad’s protest, Curtis reiterated the international community’s “longstanding concern about ongoing deficiencies in Pakistan’s implementation of its anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism finance regime”.

However, she acknowledged Pakistan’s ‘considerable sacrifices’ fighting terrorism and emphasised that the US South Asia strategy represents an opportunity to work together to bring about a stable, peaceful Afghanistan which would enable the dignified return of Afghan refugees to their homeland; the defeat of ISIS in South Asia; and the elimination of terrorist groups that threaten both Pakistan and the United States, according to the statement issued here by the US embassy. What about the Terroristani Based Terrorists especially those Terrorists whom the Terroristani Army & Government consider as Terrroristan's Strategic Assets?

Before joining the Trump administration, Curtis along with former ambassador Hussain Haqqani had authored a paper, suggesting a new approach to deal with Pakistan.

The paper had envisaged a series of steps to raise the cost for Pakistan if it continued to harbour certain militant outfits. The current strategy being pursued by the Trump administration appears to be in line with that paper.

Cheers