Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan - July 07, 2009

[shynee]

India stung by Pak's back-stabbing

Stung by Pakistan stabbing it in the back over Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, India has decided to suspend talks with Islamabad, says there is enough proof against Saeed. Highly placed government sources have told TIMES NOW that New Delhi has decided to suspend the dialogue with Pakistan till Islamabad takes action against the 26/11 mastermind.

Sources say that though post the bi-lateral exchange at Sharm-el-Sheikh, the government can't go back on its formal commitment to resuming dialogue with Pakistan, informally, however, it will now not engage with Pakistan.

The decision has been taken by the government after Pakistan decided to indefinitely postpone the appeal against the Pakistan High Court let off to Saeed.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, has however, condemned Pakistan for stopping just short of issuing an ultimatum

[Bhima]

Excerpt from an article that appeared in the Seoul Times:

Reading this article is like the pleasure of seeing a child's eyes open wide in discovery of knowledge that was known long before. Good article. May there be many more across the globe in every language in every major newspaper. Ameen!

[shynee]

If Pakistan collapses... - Amulya Ganguli

[MurthyB]

I thought that the word "Dhimmitude" was a BRF connotation. Apparantly such a word exists, and "Dhimmi" means protected, the -tude adds a suffix as in servi-tude.

No, it's used widely, especially in right-wing neo-con circles:

Why Dhimmi

[sanjaykumar]

If Pakistan collapses-


Of the two Islamic countries that emerged in the subcontinent in 1947 and 1971, Bangladesh has acquired an element of stability because it never chased the chimera of parity with India. Its gentle Bengali culture with its leitmotif of somnolent villages and waterlogged paddy fields also nurtured a benign form of Islam far different from the sanguinary tribal concepts of war and revenge, which have long been characteristic of the deserts and mountains of the northwest. In all probability, Bangladesh will prove more durable than ‘moth-eaten’ (Jinnah’s words) Pakistan even if the Quaid-e-Azam’s focus was more on the latter.




Now that is a swift one to the nuts.

[Mihaylo]

Excerpt from an article that appeared in the Seoul Times:

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Letters from Tokyo

Pakistan and Burning Alive of Christians

By Lee Jay Walker
Tokyo Correspondent

………………Turning back to Pakistan and the latest massacre of six Christians in Gojira (the figure may be higher) it is clear that burning women and children in order to protect a book, is deemed to be both logical and Godly in the eyes of these Sunni Muslim fanatics. Yet of course it is not logical and it is certainly not Godly because it is an act of mass barbarity against innocents.

Remember, if you close your eyes and visualize the area of modern day Pakistan in the past you would have seen a world of many religions. Buddhists would have wandered this land in the past to preach about the Buddha and of course Hinduism is the very fabric of the Indian sub-continent. While other faiths, for example Jains, Zoroastrians fleeing Islamic persecution in Persia (Iran), and Sikhs, would have wandered far and wide.

Yet in modern day Pakistan you have virtually no Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and other minorities left because they all either fled because of persecution or to escape dhimmitude. While in the distant past, massive persecution and countless massacres eroded this rich diversity.

Therefore, in modern day Pakistan this Sunni Islamic madness continues and now they are killing each other in the north of the nation, while causing mayhem in Afghanistan. At the same time, they are killing minority Christians, Shia Muslims and Ahmadiyya Muslims. It is like a state of madness with no end game apart from complete Sunni Islamization and then an internal Sunni Islamic war on the grounds of who is the most radical.……………

Nothing that BRF doesn't know already, but may I suggest that this article be archived.

[pgbhat]

US security plans

Providing security to foreign missions and diplomats is the responsibility of every host government although one can understand if the American embassy and other foreign missions in Islamabad supplement local efforts with their own security arrangements.

However, the report in Saturday’s edition of this paper about the State Department’s plans for the US embassy go beyond legitimate security needs and contain elements which are not only astonishing but scary.

The Foreign Office has understandably raised its eyebrows. According to the report, the embassy has acquired 18 acres of land, intends to have 1,000 more personnel, including 350 Marines, plans to build 250 housing units and, to cap it all, wants to have hundreds of APCs.

The US embassy already has a staff of 750 people. The proposed surge will raise its strength to 1,750. Given the Obama administration’s commitment to a long-term relationship with Pakistan, one can appreciate a slight increase in the number of American diplomatic personnel and the consequent expansion of building activity.
<SNIP>

The State Department should look at the plans from another point of view. Will this festung America endear itself to the people of Pakistan or will it add to the misgivings that already exist among large sections of Pakistanis who may not necessarily be the Taliban’s friends? A force of 350 soldiers belonging to the elite Marine corps with APCs at their disposal is a strength that goes clearly beyond the legitimate requirements of security and raises a question or two about its intentions.

Ignoring the conspiracy theorists one cannot but see this development in the light of periodic reports in the American media that the Pentagon has contingency plans for taking hold of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. The surge and the construction plans are unacceptable. During the Shah’s rule in Iran, Tehran was America’s base of operations in the region. Islamabad is not ready for such a role. Maybe Washington could think of having such a base of operations in Kabul or New Delhi, both its friends.

Looks like they will also have a bunch of SF personnel (apart from Marines and intel people) stationed just in case.

[SwamyG]

If somebody asked me to name few things that came to my mind at the mention of South Korea, it would be Samsung, Seoul and Christian Missioinaries. Any tears shed by South Korea media needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. After all that country sends loads of money and Christian missionaries out - so IMO they are annoyed with the takleef being caused to them.

[sanjaykumar]

I think that piece was written by a Brit (pronounced bright!).

[Vikram_S]

^^
"Lee" Jay Walker --- I think Korean, also note english does not flow well

[putnanja]

Saeed trial acid test for Pakistan: Krishna

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s real test that it is acting against India-specific terror will come when it acts “decisively” against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, foreign minister S M Krishna said.
..
...
In an exclusive conversation with TOI, Krishna indicated that foreign secretaries’ talks would be “futile” if Pakistan did not create a “favourable” atmosphere. The sentiment is a marked departure from the controversial joint statement that said foreign secretaries would meet “as often as necessary”.

“Unless they address our concerns on terror and as the PM put it, create a favourable atmosphere for talks, talks will be futile. For any talks you have to build a favourable atmosphere, trust needs to be built up. In its absence, regardless of how many times the PMs or foreign ministers meet or foreign secretaries meet, it will have no impact. Pakistan should address our terror concerns, move decisively against those people named by India, and then tackle them accordingly. This will be the first indication to the government of India that they are moving decisively to tackle terror,” the minister said.

...
...
As Saeed walks out a free man again, there is little surprise in the Indian security establishment about his release, or the adjournment of hearings against him. It was on July 28 that interior minister Rehman Malik said in an interview that Saeed would remain free. “We cannot arrest him till adequate proof is provided. There is no proof,” Malik told a private TV channel in an interview.

Security officials said Pakistan had little capacity to go after known terrorists. In the last few weeks, apart from Saeed, Pakistan government has also released Maulana Abdul Aziz, of the Red Mosque, who had been jailed after the 2007 July crackdown. Given the terror attack by Islamist jihadis against Christians in Gojra, Punjab, the Pakistan government will be wary of nail Saeed who has a huge following in Pakistan.

[shiv]

Saeed trial acid test for Pakistan: Krishna

As the oldest man in the cabinet, Krishna may not mind committing political suicide. Why does he say this?

Did his leader not say

the Prime Minister said India would follow a policy of “trust and verify” on commitments by Pakistan

Why put Pakistan through the embarrassment and difficulty of an "acid test" when you can trust them?

Saeed is not guilty. Pakistan says so. Let us trust them and see if we can verify it later in case Saeed is involeved in any more activities that are detrimental to the entire subcontienent ad peace and prosperity of Pakistan and India.

[shynee]

Not the end of the road - Rahimullah Yusufzai

A high-ranking military officer operating in the NWFP denied the involvement of his troops in hanging bodies of slain militants from electricity poles or bridges in Swat and Malakand Agency, the general impression is that this could not have happened without the army's blessings. Eyewitnesses and villagers have reported how bearded militants after being killed were strung up from poles at Utror near Kalam in Swat and at Thana and Batkhela, among other places in Malakand following the military action in these areas. In a few cases, a note was left with the bodies carrying the message that this would be the fate of all Taliban or those fighting the state. In one or two cases, the messages warned that the bodies shouldn't be removed until a specific time, something the Taliban used to do at the peak of their power in Swat. It is like repaying the militants in the same coin.

Extrajudicial killings will set the wrong precedent and further complicate the situation. Killing a militant in action is permissible as he is ready to kill a soldier or a cop, but those taken prisoner or the ones who surrender ought to be dealt with under the laws of the land. Another controversial practice is demolition of the houses of wanted militants. The government and the security forces have now made it a policy to dynamite, bulldoze or put on fire the houses and properties of not only ranking Taliban militants but even Taliban foot soldiers. This policy must be revisited as houses built with hard-earned money are often homes to large families, and which in Pakhtun society are jointly owned by brothers and their children. Blowing up a house to punish a militant in most cases punishes the whole family, including his brothers, parents, the womenfolk and children.

One has heard stories of extended families being rendered shelterless because one errant son had joined the Taliban. In one case in a village near Matta, a weeping woman and her young children saw their house being demolished because she had no control over her son who became a Talib in the absence of his father working in Saudi Arabia. No doubt the Taliban militants in Swat, Buner and Lower Dir also destroyed the houses and properties of their opponents, most of whom were rich landowners, and dynamited government installations, but the orders to do so came from their commanders, who must be brought to book and punished. There is a tradition of demolishing houses of tribesmen in the tribal areas for anti-state and anti-social activities, but the decision to do so is taken unanimously by jirgas comprising elders and then carried out jointly by lashkars, or armed tribal forces. Extending this practice from the tribal areas, which adhere to peculiar customs and traditions and where the country's police and courts have no jurisdiction, to the districts where Pakistani laws are applicable, isn't the right way of tackling the situation. Also, destroying a militant's house precludes any chances that this person could be reformed. It is like closing the door for him to repent and provoking him to continue on his destructive path.

[Hiten]

Robin Raphel gets key job in Pakistan

Monday, August 03, 2009
By By Qudssia Akhlaque

Excerpt from B. Raman’s article on the appointment of Robin Raphael. As is evident quite an India hater:

Robin Raphel: Old Anti-India Hand to Join Holbrookes Team?

And the hits just keeeeeep on coming, for India that is

[arun]

X Posted.

Presumably it would not have been kosher for the Government of the worlds first “Ideological Muslim State” and one of the worlds few “Islamic Republic’s” to intervene during the burning to death of Christians by a Muslim mob for allegedly desecrating the Muslim holy book, the Koran :

Pakistani Christians: Police did not stop carnage

‘Govt remained inactive during Gojra tragedy’

[Prem]

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/daw ... ects-qs-01

GOI should offer asylem to all Non Muslims of Napakistan= essence of Islam, home of the sick animals , and no doubt about it.

[shravan]

Another seminary blown up in Lakki

LAKKI MARWAT: Security forces blew up another seminary in Bachkan Ahmadzai area here Monday, officials and eyewitness said.
.
Security forces first directed the students and teachers to leave the seminary and then razed several rooms through explosions. On Sunday, security forces and police had demolished five rooms of Jamia Siddiqia in Lakki city.
.
He said the forces did neither recover any weapons nor arrested any militant from the seminary. He argued that the action on their part to raze the building was without any justification.

[Singha]

WSJ

Citizenship Plan in U.K. Stirs Ire

By ALISTAIR MACDONALD and PAUL SONNE

The U.K.'s proposals to tighten its citizenship process and make prospective Britons act more British brought renewed criticism from some immigrant and business groups, which accused the government of seeking populist headlines that will make it harder to attract talent.

In what the country's Home Office described as another step in the biggest shake-up of U.K. immigration law in 45 years, ministers proposed that foreigners would have to score a certain number of points to become British citizens -- a requirement also recently applied to people entering the country to work or study.

Growing unemployment, overstretched public services and the terrorist threat have in recent years prompted the U.K. to restrict the surge in immigration that helped to fuel a decadelong economic boom.

Industry sectors as diverse as catering and banking have complained that recent rounds of tightening have already made it harder to attract staff that aren't available in the U.K. Amit Kapadia, executive director of HSMP Forum, a migrant-rights group, said the measures would discourage highly skilled migrants from coming to Britain.

The proposed system laid out Monday explains how points toward citizenship could be earned through positive contributions to U.K. life. But points would be deducted for bad behavior.

For example, the proposals would mete out rewards based on how much potential citizens earn. Specific "artistic, literary or scientific" talents would earn more points. Points would be awarded for English-language proficiency and for "community involvement," a move designed to encourage integration.

Anyone breaking the law or being "antisocial" would have points deducted. Displaying disregard for British values would result in deductions.

Still, the government may receive applause from one section of the U.K.: the public. Many Britons believe Prime Minister Gordon Brown isn't doing enough to stem the flow of immigrants.

[arun]

X Post.

Economic Times finds that our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s conclusion that a “consensus against terrorism” has evolved in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is belied by the release of terrorist Hafiz Saeed.

I now wait with bated breath as to what explanation the Dr. Manmohan Singh led Government is going to conjure up.

Will the release of Hafiz Saeed be found to be “Bad Drafting” of the judgement by Pakistan’s Supreme Court or would it be the case that in the judgement, the Pakistan Supreme Court permitted the defendants “Unilateral” view to be inserted . Hmmm …….... maybe neither as the Supreme Court of Pakistan released Hafiz Saeed on "Trust" and will susequently "Verify" if he was worthy of the ''Trust" :

Look what consensus on terror means in Pakistan!
4 Aug 2009, 0518 hrs IST, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: In yet another blow to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Pakistan's policy, Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the attack on Mumbai, has been allowed to remain free.

……………… It was only last week that Manmohan Singh told Parliament that there was a consensus in Pakistan against terrorism. He had said this "consensus against terrorism, would strengthen the hands of its leaders in taking the hard decisions that will be needed to destroy terrorism and its sponsors". ……………….......

Economic Times

[Rishi]

TSPA watchers:

Complete Paki Orbat http://www.irantracker.org/related-thre ... r-province

Forces deployed in current conflicts:

* 37th Mechanized Infantry Division, I Corps – Swat (based out of Mangla)
* 19th Infantry Division, X Corps – northern Swat (based out of Rawalpindi)
* 7th Infantry Division, XI Corps – North Waziristan (based out of Peshawar)
* 9th Infantry Division, XI Corps – South Waziristan respectively (based out of Peshawar)
* All Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary units in NWFP, FATA and Baluchistan, based in theaters of operations.


Order of Battle for entire Pakistani military:


Forces under Army command:

GHQ[2] – Rawalpindi[3] (Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani)

I Corps[4] – Mangla (Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed[5])

6th Armored Division – Kharian

17th Mechanized Infantry Division[6] – Kharian (Maj. Gen. Nasser Khan Janjua[7])

37th Mechanized Infantry Division – Gujranwala (Maj. Gen. Ashfaq Nadeem[8]); operating in Swat after taking over 17th Mechanized Infantry Division responsibilities[9]

II Corps[10] – Multan (Lt. Gen. Sikandar Afzal[11])

1st Armored Division – Multan

14th Infantry Division[12] – Okara (Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ijaz Chaudhry[13])

40th Infantry Division – Okara

IV Corps[14] – Lahore (Lt. Gen. Ijaz Ahmed Bakhshi[15])

10th Infantry Division – Lahore

11th Infantry Division – Lahore

3rd Independent Armored Brigade – Lahore

212th Independent Infantry Brigade – Lahore (Brig. Syed Amjad Shabbir[16])

X Corps[17] – Rawalpindi (Lt. Gen. Tahir Mahmood[18])

Force Commander Northern Areas – Gilgit

12th Infantry Division – Murree

19th Infantry Division – Jhelum (Maj. Gen. Sajjad Ghani[19]); operating in northern Swat[20]

23rd Infantry Division[21] – Gujrat (Maj. Gen. Khadim Hussain[22])

111st Independent Infantry Brigade – Rawalpindi

XI Corps – Peshawar[23] (Lt. Gen. Mohammad Masood Aslam[24]); Responsible for NWFP, Baluchistan, Afghan border, and, previously, reinforcement of eastern formations along border with India[25]

7th Infantry Division – Mardan (Maj. Gen. Naweed Zaman[26]); involved in operations in North Waziristan[27]

9th Infantry Division – Kohat (Maj. Gen. Khalid Rabbani[28]); involved in operations in South Waziristan[29]

XXX Corps[30] – Gujranwala (Lt. Gen. Nadeem Taj[31])

8th Infantry Division – Sialkot

15th Infantry Division – Sialkot

XXXI Corps[32] – Bahawalpur (Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yousaf[33])

14th Infantry Division[34] – Pano Aqil (Maj. Gen. Mohammad Nawaz[35])

35th Infantry Division – Bahawalpur

105th Independent Brigade Group

Frontier Corps (FC) – The FC is one of five Paramilitary Forces, which are subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior in peacetime and to the GHQ in war; it consists of 14 units based in the NWFP and 13 units based in Baluchistan.[36]

FC in NWFP[37] – Peshawar[38] (Maj. Gen. Tariq Khan[39]); responsible for the Afghan border and the FATA[40]

Bajaur Scouts – Khar, Bajaur Agency[41] (Col. Nauman Saeed[42])

Chitral Scouts[43] – (Col. Suhail Iqbal[44])

Dir Scouts[45] – Balambat, Dir Agency[46]

Khushal (Khan) Scouts[47]

Khyber Rifles – Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency[48] (Col. Qaiser Alam[49])

Kurram Militia – (Col. Qazi Riaz[50])

Mahsud Scouts – (Col. Mujahid Hussain[51])

Mohmand Rifles – (Col. Saif Ullah[52])

Orakzai Scouts[53]

Shawal Rifles[54]

South Waziristan Scouts – Wana, South Waziristan Agency

Dargai[55]

Jandola[56]

Manzai[57]

Seplatoi[58]

Serwakai[59]

Tiarza[60]

Zalai[61]

Zam Chan[62]

Swat Scouts[63]

Thall Scouts[64]

Tochi Scouts[65] – Mir Ali[66]

FC in Baluchistan[67] – Quetta (Maj. Gen. Salim Nawaz[68]); responsible for the Baluchistan border

Frontier Constabulary[69] – Peshawar (Commandant Zafarullah Khan[70]); responsible for the border between FATA and NWFP and, while independent, associated with the Frontier Corps[71]

Army Aviation Corps – Rawalpindi (Maj. Gen. Tanveer Ullah Khan[72])

9th (Composite) Squadron – Peshawar[73]

Military Police Corps – Dera Ismail Khan[74]

Armored Corps – Nowshera (Maj. Gen. Najeeb Uz-Zaman[75])

Service Corps – Nowshera[76]

Corps of Artillery – Nowshera[77]

Corps of Engineers[78] – Risalpur (Maj. Gen. Muhammad Asif[79])

Corps of Signals – Kohat[80]

Special Services Group (SSG) – Cherat[81] (Maj. Gen. Muhammad Haroon Aslam[82])

Division Troops[83]

Akbar Company (Combat Diver Unit)

Iqbal Company (Communications Unit)

Zarrar Company (Counter-Terrorism)

1st Brigade[84]

1st Commando Battalion

Ayub Company

Liaqat Company
Kamal Company
Mitha Company

2nd Commando Battalion

Ghazi Company
Tipu Company
Quaid Company
Bilal Company

4th Commando Battalion

Shaheen Company
Jungju Company
Yaqub Company
Yusuf Company

2nd Brigade

3rd Commando Battalion

Hamza Company
Ibrahim Company
Zakria Company
Easa Company


Forces under Air Force command:

AHQ[85] – Islamabad (Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman[86])

Northern Air Command[87] – Peshawar[88] (Air Vice Marshal Faaiz Amir[89])

No. 36 (Tactical Attack) Wing – Peshawar

No. 16 Squadron[90]

No. 26 Squadron[91]

No. 81 Squadron[92]

[Hari Seldon]

Thats a good lot of PA forces deployed in NWFP.

I hear that ~27% of TSPA is pushtu in origin. ANd then that PA is precipitating genocide in pakhtunkhwa. Why then no revolt yet from the paktuns in the PA? Or all the PA pakhtuns sarkari?

Just wondering only.

[csharma]

Interesting talk by some Pakistani scientist on nuclear stuff. They are openly talking about sharing nuclear technology amongst Islamic countries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_I83qvWVKM&NR=1

[James B]

PIA is technically bankrupt, concedes MD

Managing Director Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Captain Ijaz Haroon Monday conceded that the airlines has technically gone bankrupt. Responding to questions in the popular Geo News programme “Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath”, while referring to an article published in newspapers proving with documentary proof that the corporation had gone bankrupt, the MD said, “That’s true. I will not try to deny the fact. I concede that PIA has technically gone bankrupt. But all this did not happen in a day or overnight or a month or a year and a half. The airlines had technically gone bankrupt since 2000. The government has been assisting the corporation. In 2001, PIA sustained a loss of Rs13 billion. The government injected money into the corporation so as to bail it out. In 2003 also the government injected money into PIA but halted the practice. As a result, the ‘patient is now on the death bed’.”

[archan]

^^ Replace PIA with Pakistan and Government with America, and the story would read the same.

[Rishi]

See the Sky video!

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World- ... 8115352539

Taliban Leader Umer Khalid Alive And Well

11:16am UK, Monday August 03, 2009

Alex Crawford, Asia correspondent

Sky News has obtained exclusive and conclusive proof that one of Pakistan's most feared Taliban leaders is alive - contradicting government claims that he was killed months ago.

The Pakistani Government said Khalid died months ago. Umer Khalid, who is also known as Abdul Wali, was thought to have died in the Pakistani government's crackdown against extremists. But our pictures show him not only alive and well, but with four hostages whom he is threatening to kill unless the authorities free Taliban prisoners they are holding.

Khalid allowed himself to be filmed to disprove the official claims and apparently to initiate negotiations with the authorities. The Interior Minister Rehamn Malik told reporters in January that Khalid was among those killed in an attack on militant extremists in the Mohmand Agency, part of Pakistan's tribal areas. The claims were denied by the Taliban at the time.

The footage - which was filmed within the last few days - shows Khalid relaxing and smiling with a group of young, armed men who form his fighting group. He says he has 35,000 fighters under his control but this figure is impossible to verify.

Sky's cameraman is allowed to film the militant leader signing a paper giving his access to the four hostages. The four hostages are sitting together in a line still wearing their security uniforms. They belong to the Frontier Constabulary, which is the security force operating in the tribal areas.

One of the men addresses the camera and says they have been held for three months. He appeals to the government to release Taliban prisoners in exchange for their freedom.
Khalid tells Sky News that he has already killed two of his hostages but is willing to free the remaining four if five Taliban prisoners are let out of custody. He appears to indicate he is ready to negotiate with the authorities.

The pictures of the Taliban leader coincide with concerns voiced by the US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan over the success of the military operation in the Swat Valley.
Richard Holbrooke said he was not sure whether the operation had achieved its aim of driving the Taliban out of the former tourist spot.

There are increasing worries that the militants may have just shifted to other areas in the country or gone underground. Holbrooke is the first high-profile member of the Obama administration to voice doubts over the operation in public. The new US administration has up until now given great support to Pakistan's attempts to curb extremism in the country.
The pictures showing Umer Khalid alive are likely to heap further embarrassment on the government.

[James B]

Pakis happiness didn't last longer

Sri Lanka beats Pakistan to clinch one-day cricket series win

[RajeshA]

Why not a military option against Pakistan? by Vivek Gumaste: Rediff

India's naivete and Pakistan's deceit have inadvertently conspired to produce a stalemate that maintains a dangerous status quo between Pakistan aided terror and India's inertia. To break this logjam, we need to be pragmatic. A military option kept hanging like a Damocles sword in tandem with an ongoing dialogue is vital to ensure results.

[archan]

With Vivek K's assertion, let there be no more posts on this issue in this thread. Aditya_V admitted he made a mistake and we can all see that. So relax.

[ramana]

Deleted all self goal posts. Please dont repeat. Thanks, ramana

[abhijitm]

Afghanistan says Pakis are lying

As usual

Afghanistan on Sunday firmly rejected reported claims by a Pakistani minister that President Hamid Karzai had admitted that "terrorist" training camps in this country were operating against Pakistan.

"This is absolutely not true. This is baseless," Interior Minister Hanif Atmar said at a press conference, also denying that Karzai had further told his ministry to take action against these training grounds.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik reportedly told Pakistan's GEO TV station that Karzai had made the admission during a meeting in Kabul last month.

Malik was also quoted as saying: "Karzai directed his security adviser and interior minister to destroy and close down all training camps working against Pakistan."

Rejecting this claim, Atmar said the president had rather pledged "firm action" against threats to Pakistan from Afghanistan should he receive evidence.

Atmar also disagreed with the Pakistan minister's reported claim that ninety per cent of militants arrested in Pakistan were of Afghan origin.

Kabul had "strong evidence" that Afghan as well as Pakistani, Central Asian and al-Qaida-linked militants of various nationalities were operating from safe havens across the border, the minister said.

These besharam pukies are going completely out of control. First nuclear deal with France, next dossier to MMS and then this incident. No credibility left of pakistani diplomats and I think UN should (can they?) serve Pakistan a notice to adere to the political ethics.

[pgbhat]

Destroying ourselves with a little help from the US ---- Shireen M Mazari

However, the other cause for chaos can be resolved more readily – that of the growing intrusiveness and questionable role of the US within Pakistan. For some time now one has been raising questions about the strange US presence in areas around Tarbela and in Peshawar. Then there was the news of the assassination squads controlled by the US Department of Defence rather than the CIA, of which the new US commander in Afghanistan, General McChrystal was a central actor. This information helped to link up differing pieces of a growing puzzle about the increasing US personnel in Pakistan. A cause for concern, given these developments, is the US plan to spend $1 billion to expand its presence in Islamabad – especially, since central to this plan is the importation of almost 400 Marines with hundreds of APCs. There is absolutely no logic to this, but who will tell our rulers who seem hell-bent on kowtowing before Washington? Incidentally already the US contingent in Pakistan is way over the sanctioned strength of 350 but does anyone in the corridors of power in Pakistan care?

Nor is the US Marines presence restricted to Islamabad. As some of us had been writing much earlier, they had been spotted in and around Tarbela also – where our military's Special Operation Task Force is located. It now transpires that there are already 300 plus US military personnel in this area – the so-called "trainers". Of course, given the poor counter insurgency record of the US, heaven knows what training they will impart to our much better trained army! {ofcourse pakis are much better at genoci ... err COIN} Also, if they were only "trainers" why would the US buy a large plot of land around Tarbela and send twenty large containers there according to an investigative Asia Times Online report (3August 2009)

The centre of these suspicious covert operations is Peshawar, and the central organisation is Creative Associates International Inc. (CAII – as opposed to CIA), which refers to itself as an NGO on its website but on further investigation it transpires that the organisation is registered as a private incorporated company in Washington D.C – not an NGO! A 27 July 2009 report by Sarwar and Yousafzai for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) reveals that CAII has been terrifying the residents of University Town Peshawar because of its US security guards – ostensibly from that notorious US security contractor Blackwater (now renamed Xe Worldwide) whose employees already face charges of murder, arms smuggling and child prostitution in Iraq.

What is very suspicious is that CAII's website shows no identification of its owners although its staff is identified. Also, although it is supposed to be a private corporation, all its work around the world is totally funded by USAid and the US government and the projects are all in sensitive areas only – Sri Lanka, Gaza, Angola, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. CAII is working supposedly on a strange-sounding project in FATA – FATA Development Programme Government to Community. In reality, its staff goes around escorted by the killer Blackwater guards, meeting militants and other suspect people being sought by the Pakistani authorities in FATA and the Peshawar environs. Of the 30 job openings listed on its website presently, at least half are for Pakistan.

During the latter half of July, a US citizen, Craig Davis, was arrested from the CAII house in Peshawar, his visa cancelled and deported. Interestingly, when a journalist sought to verify this information from the US embassy, its spokesperson first declared that Davis had nothing to do with the US embassy but then stated that the embassy knew nothing about this man. So if they knew nothing of the man's existence, how was it known that he did not work for the US embassy?

[pgbhat]

A history of Kahuta ---- A Q Khan

"The sad part of the whole story was that, unlike China, India had no such serious security problems (it had a Friendship Treaty with the USSR) and that it violated a sacred trust by clandestinely using the Canadian reactor and American heavy water to make this weapon. Nothing damaged the NPT as much as the Indian nuclear explosion did. {as always everything was India's fault}

"As far as Pakistan was concerned, the whole story now started. As a result of the Indian betrayal of trust, the Canadians abruptly cut off all nuclear cooperation with us. Fuel and heavy water were refused for KANUPP and internationally made solemn agreements were turned into useless litter. We were penalised for the mischief done by India. All efforts by the government of Pakistan to impress upon the Canadians to honour their solemnly made pledges failed. Pakistan was left high and dry.

Gopichand Narang's plagiarism, etc. ---- A Q Khan .... talking about plagiarism

[pgbhat]

Double standards in Pakistan’s anti-terror campaign ---- Praveen Swami

In another veiled attack on the former President, Pervez Musharraf, Saeed asserted that “Muslim rulers have disappointed the Ummah [worldwide Muslim community]. It is time to wage jihad against them. They are not Muslims. They are the agents of Jews.”

His lieutenant, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, launched an even more acidic attack on retired General Musharraf at the Madrasa Ayesha, near Rawalpindi. Pakistan, he asserted, “is ruled by Ahmads” a reference to a heterodox sect officially proscribed in Pakistan, and long subject to persecution by Islamists. “Most of the top Generals and bureaucrats,” he continued, “are Ahmadi.”

In order to counter this pernicious influence, Makki called for “jihad and martyrdom to be made part of the curriculum. They should be taught in textbooks at school, college and university levels.” {wait, what the feck is he talkin'?? Pakis are not pure enough ?? }

[pgbhat]

Hamid Gul speak

“As a professional soldier I can tell you [the Nato-led forces in Afghanistan] stand defeated tactically, and it is just a matter of them accepting their defeat . . . I predict that in October they will begin talking [to the Taliban], irrespective, and towards the end of next year they will be calling it quits.”

But what about the conundrum presented by the fact the insurgency in Afghanistan has become far more fluid, containing different factions and groupings? Who do you talk to if you want to talk to the Taliban? “Mullah Omar,” Gul replies. “He is still the unquestioned leader. Symbolically he is the only one.”

Gul praises the record of that Taliban government, but also criticises it. “They did many good things: they brought peace; they de-weaponised Afghanistan; they finished off poppy cultivation; and they gave a central authority to that unruly nation,” he argues. “But they did bad things too, such as the treatment of women and forcing people to do things. That was all un-Islamic.”

[kenop]

Some gaurded baloon floating

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has acknowledged that some elements in Pakistani intelligence agencies were sympathetic to terrorists and disclosed they had resigned or were arrested.

Some of these persons were officers of the rank of Major and had wanted to target Army Generals, Malik said while talking to a Pakistani TV channel.

There were some elements in intelligence agencies who had links with terrorists, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
chief Baitullah Mehsud and commanders Qari Ilyas and Qari Hussain, he said, adding these elements also had links with banned groups.

How many days before there is a retraction followed by a udpated comment followed by a partial-admission followed by ...
In any case, these people are bad only because they wanted to target Army Generals.

[shiv]

by Vivek Gumaste[/color][/i]

Blast from the past? This guy may be my classmate.

[RamaY]

Hamid Gul speak

But what about the conundrum presented by the fact the insurgency in Afghanistan has become far more fluid, containing different factions and groupings? Who do you talk to if you want to talk to the Taliban? “Mullah Omar,” Gul replies. “He is still the unquestioned leader. Symbolically he is the only one.”

Gul praises the record of that Taliban government, but also criticises it. “They did many good things: they brought peace; they de-weaponised Afghanistan; they finished off poppy cultivation; and they gave a central authority to that unruly nation,” he argues. “But they did bad things too, such as the treatment of women and forcing people to do things. That was all un-Islamic.”

I am confused onlee.

If Taliban did un-Islamic thingies they should be beheaded for bringing bad name to Religion of peace.

If Hamid Gul was lying then he is a YYY agent and must be beheaded immediatly:

Yo paki lurkers, makeup your mind at once.

Resident brobhet (PBUM)

[kenop]

War not an option:Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Answering another query about information provided by Pakistan to India regarding alleged Indian interference in Balochistan province, Qureshi said the issue was discussed by the Prime Ministers and Foreign Secretaries of the two sides in Sharm el-Sheikh.

"I believe sensitive matters should be handled carefully and through diplomatic sources instead of handling (them) through the media," Qureshi said.

Why the rethink?

[arun]

X Posted.

Irrespective of the supposed support of the principle of religious equality by M.A. Jinnah it was always inevitable that a country that fixates on a single religion by claiming itself to be an “Ideological Muslim State” and an “Islamic Republic” will treat all non-Muslim citizens as second-class citizens:

Pakistans Silenced Minority

August 4, 2009
Rosheen Kabraji

So what is it like living as a non-Muslim in Pakistan? Well, it all really depends on which community you look at, especially regarding socio-economic conditions, and location. While the Christians and Hindus are the largest minorities they also come under persecution most often due to the history of conflict with Islam. They are largely impoverished and uneducated working in menial jobs in the Punjab. In urban areas some Christians are teachers and work as office administrators. There are also the Sikh, Buddhist and the Parsi-Zoroastrian communities. The Parsis in Pakistan are descendants of the Persian Zoroastrians who fled Persia to India when the Muslims invaded in the seventh century AD. The Parsi community is a tiny, urbanized, and mostly wealthy community that is engaged primarily in business and philanthropic activities. As Pakistan’s most liberal and westernised minority community they keep to themselves, often in gated communities and do not proselytize. Plus there are only about 1500 left in Pakistan who reside mainly in Karachi.

What all non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan share is being treated as second-class citizens. Non-Muslims cannot run for Prime Minister or President of the country as only Muslims can hold the highest post in public office. If Musharaff hadn’t come along and abolished the system of separate electorates for minorities in favour of the joint electorate system non-Muslims would still have a less powerful vote compared to other Muslim Pakistanis. Since 1985, religious minorities have been barred from casting a vote for general elections and were only allowed to cast their votes for limited reserve seats. It took a military dictator to give the minorities their voting rights. Not the “democratic” governments of Nawaz Sharif or Benazir Bhutto.

Yet it is not just non-Muslims but other religious sects such as the Ahmadis/Qadianis that are persecuted as well. Sectarian and ethnic violence is also rampant: Sunni against Shia, Mohajir against Sindhi, Punjabi against Baluchi; the list unfortunately is endless. And in this mix are also the Sheedis, descendants of slaves taken from Africa to Sindh by Muslim traders who now live primarily in Baluchistan and lower Sindh.

The Faster Times

[Pranav]

India to seek global help to check fake note menace
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news ... 858287.cms

Vishwa Mohan, TNN 5 August 2009, 02:25am IST

NEW DELHI: With huge seizures of fake Indian currency notes (FICNs) raising concern, India will soon take up the issue in a big way at global fora like Interpol and will also ask some European countries — including UK — to keep a close watch on importers of currency-standard printing paper and ink in Pakistan — the country which New Delhi suspects as the base of printing and circulation of FICNs by terror outfits like LeT.

Admitting to growing concern over the issue, the government on Tuesday said, “Available inputs indicate that high quality FICNs are printed in a neighbouring country (Pakistan) and pushed into India through neighbouring countries (Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).” In written reply in Lok Sabha, minister of state for home affairs Ajay Maken said, “Such inputs also indicate that LeT activists, organised criminal networks and syndicates are reportedly involved in infusion and circulation of FICN in the country.”

Although the role of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI in printing and circulation of FICN has never been a secret, Indian sleuths found that the agency had, of late, impressed upon the government in Islamabad to import additional currency-standard printing paper and ink from companies in the UK to pursue its nefarious designs in India.

Sources said though India had raised the issue with Pakistan and Bangladesh on several occasions, the government would now take up the issue with other countries to keep a watch on the companies which might be importing ink and currency-standard printing paper to Pakistan.

Home secretary G K Pillai is learnt to have discussed all issues concerning FICNs with cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar. The latter had asked the home ministry to brief him on Monday.