Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan - July 07, 2009

[Rohit_K]

Zaid Hamid muppet's latest video -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8IRRZ_4Fw

[SSridhar]

Pak claims to have foiled a suicide attack on National Assembly and ISI at Aabpara

Pakistan's security forces have foiled a plan to attack Parliament House and the headquarters of the country's spy agency and have arrested 36 terrorists, it was announced on Monday.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on the Interior in Parliament House, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Islamabad Police and intelligence agencies in a joint action had foiled the terror attempts.

Eight suicide jackets had been recovered from the arrested terrorists, Online news agency quoted Malik as saying.

[SSridhar]

Pak seeking civilian nuke deal with the US

Pakistan is seeking a civilian nuclear deal with the US to overcome its energy needs and this cannot be ruled out in future, a top official said on Monday.

Denying reports that Pakistan had signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a precursor to opening negotiations with Washington on a civilian nuclear deal, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Asif Ahmed Ali, however, said Islamabad was trying its level best to strike the deal.

[James B]

^^What happened to nuke deal with french??

[Hari Seldon]

Pakistan Inflation Slows, Bolsters Rate-Cut Hopes

[shiv]

Pak seeking civilian nuke deal with the US

Pakistan is seeking a civilian nuclear deal with the US to overcome its energy needs

Hmm interesting..

I am sure the US can offer them a deal that overcomes Pakistan's energy needs. The only question is whether an energy shortage can be overcome by the same deal...

[Rahul Shukla]

Pakistan Taliban Commander Says He, Mehsud Alive (NY Times)

A close aide to Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, believed by Pakistani officials to have been killed in a shootout with a rival, said on Monday both he and Mehsud were alive.

"Both I and our amir (leader) Baitullah Mehsud are alive," Hakimullah Mehsud told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Pakistani intelligence officials and media reported that Hakimullah was most probably dead.

Hakimullah said there had been no shura as Baitullah was alive. "I have proven the government's claim of my death wrong and I challenge the government to prove the death of our amir. Baitullah Mehsud is alive, safe and sound," he said. The Taliban, he said, would produce evidence within days to prove Baitullah was alive. "Let the interior minister prove he is dead. If the interior minister fails to prove Baitullah Mehsud's death, then I will produce evidence that he is alive."

Hakimullah echoed comments by another Taliban official that Baitullah, who suffers from diabetes, was ill. "Drones are still flying in the area. The government is provoking Baitullah to speak on the telephone so that he can be targeted and killed, but he will not do so," he said.

But Interior Minister Malik insisted on Monday that Baitullah was dead. "We may not have material evidence... but we have credible information from intelligence agencies that he has perished," he told the National Assembly, parliament's lower house.

So Hakimullah has risen from the dead and Baitullah has managed to super-glue his lower half to his upper half. Stuff of ledgends, says I.

[Rahul Shukla]

New loan insufficient for Pakistan: experts (AFP)

KARACHI — Pakistani economists on Saturday said an additional 3.2 billion dollar loan from the IMF would have little impact on the economic problems facing the cash-starved South Asian country.

I have said it before. Nothing short of Pakistan being handed the keys to Fort Knox and the Federal Reserve will solve the economic woes of the land of the pure... for about 3 months.

"It is just a temporary relief for our economy given the fact that we have to return the loan in a brief two-year period while our economy needs a decade or so to attain stability," economist A.B. Shahid told AFP.

Don't be silly Mr. Shahid! When was the last time Pakistan actually paid back a loan? Every loan given to Pakistan has been restructured, refinanced and then written-off.

It approached the IMF last year for the rescue package as it grappled with a 30-year high inflation rate and fast-depleting reserves that were barely enough to cover nine weeks of import bills.

Inflation is a kufr concept so kufr must pay to keep it under control. Fak-Ap's islamic economic model is much more advanced - no economy and therefore no inflation! AOA!

[Rahul Shukla]

Pakistan Premier Makes Unannounced Trip To Swat (RTT News)

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani made an unannounced visit Monday to the restive Swat valley in the country's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) where the troops are engaged in flushing out Taliban militants, reports say.

Soon after his arrival, Gilani, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharief, attended a briefing conducted by Operation Commander Major-General Ashfaq on the recently-completed military offensive against the Taliban insurgents in the district, and the repatriation of internally-displaced persons.

The visit also assumes significance with reports of the army being on the verge of wrapping up the operation, begun seven weeks ago.

Mission accomplished?

[kenop]

Mission accomplished?

Looks like it is ready to be declared thus.
With the difference that it was not declared from the deck of an aircraft carrier.

[Prem]

Pakistan Taliban Commander Says He, Mehsud Alive (NY Times)

dead and Baitullah has managed to super-glue his lower half to his upper half. Stuff of ledgends, says I.

Baitullah Meshud Jarasandh, too bad for Bakis, onlee we have Bhim.

[ramana]

Any updates for Aug 11?

[RayC]

August 03, 2009
Communal Violence in Pakistan: Toba Tek Singh

There has been a new wave of anti-Christian communal violence in Pakistan, with a riot involving as many as 20,000 people in the town of Gojra, west of Lahore.

We normally use the phrase “communal violence” in the Indian context, but reading the particulars of this story in the New York Times, the idea of “communalism” (a particularly South Asian expression of communitarian religious hostility) seems to fit. The recent riots were not on a huge scale — 100 houses belonging to local Christians were burned — but it’s still frightening and sad.

<snip>

One oddity in the Times coverage was the way they described the size of the Christian community in Pakistan, as comprising “less than five percent of the population.” I gather the number is more like 1.6% — why not simply say, “less than 2%”? Maybe that’s a nitpick.

As a response, the Christian schools in Karachi are on strike for three days. A number of arrests of those involved in the attacks have been made, and President Zardari has strongly condemned them. The Daily Times newspaper has a story with a subheader that the DPO (police chief) in the district has been “booked” as well, but the text of the story actually states that authorities are at this point just thinking about charging him with failing in his duty to keep the peace.

Incidentally, the town of Gojra is in the Toba Tek Singh District of Punjab, an area made famous by Sa’adat Hasan Manto’s story about Partition, “Toba Tek Singh.” Though we’re no longer talking directly about partition, that story about the madness that can sometimes overtake people in the name of religion still feels relevant.
Qudo Vadis Pakistan?

[Dmurphy]

US bigger threat than India

[RajeshA]

Any updates for Aug 11?

It is either

1. a Thud - an expression of feelings and hope, without much in political and military measures to back up those words.

2. a Non-Occurence - nothing happens

3. a well-prepared Script with Declarations and other countries extending some form of recognition. In fact besides Oman, one could expect some response from Qatar as well. If USA has given tacit support to this plan, then the Gulf countries may like the idea of Iran being put under pressure by USA from a different side, other than through the Gulf, as any tensions in the Gulf can ruin their economies. If USA puts pressure from Baluchistan, then Iran would be forced to move troops away from the Gulf and towards its eastern border, and everybody can continue to bathe and party in crude, while the stand-off between America and Iran continues on the nuclear question. Was Hillary pointing to this, when she said the Americans cannot wait forever for Iran to come to the negotiating table for nuclear talks?

4. a Tienanmen, an Urumqi - a military assault by TSPA on Baluchistan, using such a Declaration as an excuse to move the theater of battle away from FATA, where the Americans want the Pakistanis to stand up and fight - well with Baitullah dead ...

Less than a day. Let's wait and see.

Whatever happens, at least the Indian Media should give it due prominence. Alas !

[vera_k]

RAW behind recent terrorist acts, says Lahore commissioner

the recent incidents in Gojra, Sheikhupura and the attack on the Rescue 15 building in Lahore had been carried out by the Indian spy agency and other foreign agencies

[RajeshA]

RAW behind recent terrorist acts, says Lahore commissioner

the recent incidents in Gojra, Sheikhupura and the attack on the Rescue 15 building in Lahore had been carried out by the Indian spy agency and other foreign agencies

So there is no reason for all those involved from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi et al. in the massacre to go scot-free. Being agents of the R&AW they should be identified and punished.

[Prem]

'Wali denies shooting'

PESHA WAR (Reuters) - A Pakistani Taliban commander on Sunday denied reports of a deadly shootout with a rival, saying there had not been any fighting or a meeting to decide on new leadership for the group.
The comments by Waliur Rehman add to a volley of unverifiable claims and counter-claims by the government and the Taliban that have surrounded the reported death of Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud in a US missile attack last Wednesday.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday that Waliur Rehman had been involved in a shootout with a rival for the Pakistani Taliban leadership, Hakimullah Mehsud, and that there were reports one of them had died. Hakimullah Mehsud had earlier denied that Baitullah Mehsud was killed by the US drone strike in the first place. Waliur Rehman, speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location to a Reuters reporter who had spoken with him several times before, also denied that any tribal council meeting, or shura, had taken place to decide on a successor to Baitullah Mehsud.
“There are no differences. There was no fighting. We both are alive, and there was no special shura meeting,” he said.
Hakimullah would call journalists soon to prove he too was alive, Wali said
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news- ... s-shooting

[ramana]

CNN was showing on Sunday some video footage from drone of strike with breathless reporting as if its a video game.

[shravan]

^^Link

[Prem]

If Baitullah is indeed in the company of Mortals onlee, Cnn, Paki, Uncle etc will loose further credibility. Lets hope CNN do the same running commnetary on Baluchi Freedom Declaration.CNN is nothing but Chaiwala News Network atatched to SD.

[Anujan]

I hereby present the lota of lahori logic to this week's equal equal contest winner Jawed Naqvi

Will India, Pakistan stop playing pot and kettle?

So Indians should first canvass to change the colonial-style judiciary and the blind faith in their courts. And then perhaps they would be justified in questioning the integrity of Pakistani judges. {Ya, I know. Indians should first install a dictator, who dismisses all the judges, makes them pledge allegiance to an order promulgated by him, place the CJP under house arrest - then maybe they can question the integrity of Pakistani judges}

{He does a equal equal on Hafiz Sayeed too. Hafiz Saeed released by pakistani court == Terrorist release by India after the Kandahar hijacking} One of the fellows thus freed in Kandahar went on to fund the group that slammed hijacked planes into the World Trade Centre in New York. He then proceeded to brutally slit the throat of a fine journalist, partly because he happened to be a Jew. The other fellow released by India is believed to have staged the December 2001 attack on India’s parliament. What were the compulsions for India to free these people?

Mr Naqvi is a contender for the lifetime lota. Only someone with 3 feet wide musharraf can pull an article rivaling his.

[Prem]

Ja wed Naqvi is one of those Pakistani Indians who ate the salt of mother India paid it back by rubbing the same salt in Her wounds so that Ummah service can be rendered without the prick of conscience with little help from Dhimmiz. This guy leaves no stone unturned to promote Paki interests at the cost of India. Which patriot Indians will ever work for Pakiland ?

[sanjaykumar]

What is it in India that cripples the intellect of many of its Muslim commentators?

The contemptuous atmosphere of Brahmins?

[Prem]

Paki Tragedy,Comedy ,Tragedy,Comedy continue...


Now, we are told that far from the Americans sharing any video-feed, the Yanks are saying they were told by the Pakistanis that BM was dead and they are no wmulling over evidence!

Meanwhile, Rehman Malik insists BM is dead and that fire exchange did take place.

So, what we have can be summed up thus: BM is dead; BM is not dead. The TTP has had three shura sessions to decide on a successor; the TTP has had no sessions to decide on anything because BM is not dead. There has been fire exchange between rivals Wali and Hakim and one or both are dead; there has been no fire exchange and both are alive. Qari Hussain is severely wounded; he is dead; the Qari is alive.

Rehman Malik says if BM is not dead the Taliban should give evidence that he is alive. This one sure takes the cake. It’s almost like saying the onus of proving that he is alive is on the Taliban because we “know” he is dead! But why the hell would the Taliban give evidence of whether BM is or is not dead? The suspense works to their advantage, especially if the government cannot give conclusive proof of his death. Even so we now have reports suggesting BM is planning his own video release to prove he is alive and kicking!
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 2009_pg3_2

[rajsunder]

Zaid Hamid muppet's latest video -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8IRRZ_4Fw

when did this muppet become Dr????

His name appears as Dr. Zaid Hamid

[Mahendra]

Zaid Hamid muppet's latest video -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8IRRZ_4Fw

when did this muppet become Dr????

His name appears as Dr. Zaid Hamid

Ever since he returned from Mogadishu University of Pakiness, Pimping and Extra Terrestrialism

“In the station, I met several men and women whose dentures were being pulled out by a masked man they called a doctor. The doctor used a pincer or his gloved hand depending on the strength of the tooth

[archan]

What is it in India that cripples the intellect of many of its Muslim commentators?

The contemptuous atmosphere of Brahmins?

India is truly secular in this regard. You will find brain-dead among just about any community. That is the gift the Brits left us and we didn't bother pruning.

[sanjaykumar]

http://pakobserver.net/200908/11/news/topstories10.asp


How convenient.





http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/opin ... 878167.cms


A good overview-must read.

[pgbhat]

India's Baloch connection ---- Momin Iftikhar
Same old allegations of Indian "connection".

Rethinking Pakistan ---- Syed Jawaid Iqbal
Now for some crazy talk.

Pakistan is a brand; and every brand has its life cycle. Pakistan's positioning within and outside Pakistan has deteriorated sharply. Before it falls below the danger level, it is essential that we redefine its attributes, utility, packaging and positioning.

The first thing that we need to do is to increase the literacy rate and reduce our population. This means providing universal free education. Parents who don't send their children to school should be penalised. 'Food' banks should be set up in places where there are many impoverished families and help from NGOs, the private sector and charitable organisations should be taken in this regard. On the population front, only two children should be allowed per family. The law should be made applicable after one year of its announcement. Those with more children should be made to pay a higher tax burden.

The second step is to dissolve all provincial boundaries and use the old system of divisions. The latter should be treated as autonomous states, each with its own state government. Foreign affairs, currency and defence should be under the federal government, while the rest should be administered by the respective state governments. This would not only help overcome the issues of cultural animosity, language and ethnic discrimination, but would also be in the greatest interest of Punjab, which is accused of being responsible for the 1971 dismemberment of East Pakistan and for capturing the country's major resources since 1947.

The third essential element would be the redefinition of our identity. If we are uncertain of what it should be, we should go by the old Chinese proverb, "If you don't know where to go further, go back to where you came from." To recognise our identity, we need to revert to our origin and recognise the ideology whereupon Pakistan was founded.

Sure fire way to dismember P'stan by P'stani.

[BijuShet]

From Hindu : Niaz A. Naik dead

ISLAMABAD: Niaz A. Naik, a pioneer of “Track 2” and backchannel diplomacy between India and Pakistan, was found dead at his home here on Saturday.

Police were treating the death of the 82-year-old former Foreign Secretary as suspicious after an autopsy on his body found that his ribs and jaw were broken.

Mr. Naik, who lived by himself, is believed to have been dead for three or four days. His body was found after neighbours complained of a foul smell from the house.

Considered an outstanding diplomat, Mr. Naik represented his country in Paris, Moscow, New Delhi and the United Nations. But he was more famous in his post-retirement role as Nawaz Sharif’s back channel negotiator with India in 1999.

Over five days from March 27 to April 1 that year, he and R. K. Mishra, the late chairman of the Observer group of newspapers, the back channel emissary of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, secretly brainstormed on a solution to the Kashmir problem.

The mission was not known to anyone except the two Prime Ministers. News about it emerged much later. It is another matter that the effort bore no fruit. The Naik-Mishra back channel was also active during the Kargil crisis.

Even before he donned the role of the secret emissary, Mr. Naik was involved for several years in the India-Pakistan Neemrana dialogues, which brought together former diplomats, civilian and military officials and scholars from both sides, in an effort to foster better understanding between the two sides.

The Track 2 dialogues are credited with some of the most important advances in the peace process following the 2001-2002 standoff. They are widely held to have formed the basis for the 2003 LoC ceasefire and the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service of 2004.

[BijuShet]

From Dawn : Niaz Naik may have fallen from stairs

ISLAMABAD: Police sought an opinion on Monday from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences about the broken ribs found during the autopsy of former foreign secretary Niaz A. Naik.

The police asked the medico-legal officer of Pims to look into speculations that Mr Naik’s death followed a fall from stairs.

A private security guard posted in the street where the former diplomat lived all alone had earlier told police that he saw him fall from the stairs in his house. ‘I did not see him after the incident,’ he added.

Police asked the MLO to review the autopsy report, which suggested that a possibility of murder could not be ruled out, in light of security guard’s statement.

Sources in Pims said that the possibility of injuries caused by falling from stairs could not be ruled out. However, a board is likely to be set up to look into the matter and give a final opinion, they added.

[pgbhat]

Rental power misgivings ---- Daily Times edit

Our attitude towards dams is suicidal. India has 3,000 of them and has a chance of filling the energy gap by building more of them. We can’t build one without a civil war on our hands. If that is the case why complain about expensive but ready power? Sure, we must evaluate the rate at which rental power is going to be made available and put pressure on the government to get the best rate in the national interest. Equally, we must ask for explanations why existing power plants are not operating at full capacity, and if the government is to blame in any way for this? We must also offer credible and practical solutions to the power crisis. It is not enough to say: “stop line losses; stop subsidising some regional consumers; stop delaying payments to IPPs” if the financial and administrative and political framework for doing all this doesn’t exist in the first place. *

[BijuShet]

Only in Pakistan : From Dawn : Travel agent and wife to be handed over to S. Arabia

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to hand over to Saudi Arabia a travel agent and his wife who were arrested for their alleged involvement in a drug-trafficking case in order to secure the release of a group of Pakistanis held by the Saudi authorities in the same case.

If the swapping takes place, Pakistan will possibly be the first country to hand over its citizens to Saudi Arabia in a case of drug-trafficking which is punishable with death in the kingdom.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Monday that every possible step would be taken to save the lives of ‘innocent’ Pakistanis.
...

[BijuShet]

Daal meh kuch Kala hai

From Dawn on Sat, Aug 08 : ‘Millions wasted on 2007 petroleum policy’

ISLAMABAD: Millions of rupees were paid to foreign and local experts to formulate the Petroleum Policy 2007-08, but the document remained shelved till the current government came up with its own policy this year.

Replying to a question in the National Assembly on Friday, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain said that $414,900 had been spent on preparing the 2007-08 policy (over Rs34 million at the current exchange rate).

He said the new policy issued on March 20 had been prepared by the ministry without any additional expenditure.

In response to a supplementary question, the adviser said his ministry was identifying those responsible for wasting the huge amount of money and they would be held accountable.
...

From Dawn on Sun, Aug 09 : Petroleum adviser Dr Asim Hussain resigns

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the prime minister on petroleum and natural resources Dr Asim Hussain had resigned because of some personal reasons, official sources confirmed here on Saturday.

Special secretary for the ministry of petroleum and natural resources G.A. Sabri said: ‘Yes, the adviser has tendered his resignation and definitely due to some personal reasons.’

He said that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had handed over the additional portfolio of ministry of petroleum and natural resources to Syed Naveed Qamar.—APP

[shiv]

From Dawn : Niaz Naik may have fallen from stairs

Yes, and a little handle sticking out from the edge made a hole in his head, killing him. I am sure Scotland Yard, those always respectable firangis will vouch for this.

[Gerard]

Revealed: Jihadis thrice attacked Pakistan nuclear sites

[Rishi]

Revealed: Jihadis thrice attacked Pakistan nuclear sites

I reported this 2 pages back! Mebbe chiddu has been browsing brf...

[Rahul Shukla]

Pakistan holds up start of UN nuclear disarmament talks (Dawn)

Pakistan on Monday held up the resumption of nuclear arms control negotiations at the UN Conference on Disarmament as it asked to reopen a work plan already agreed on by the main nuclear powers.

The Pakistan delegation, which on Friday asked for more time to consult with Islamabad, on Monday said it wanted fresh discussions on procedural questions in a draft text detailing the various heads of negotiating groups and the timetable for the talks. ‘I was told by the Pakistan (delegation) that they have received instructions and the instructions are to reopen the text that I thought we had agreed on,’ said Caroline Millar, the Australian chairwoman of the conference.

Disarmament negotiations have been stalled since 1996 but a thaw in US-Russia relations following Barack Obama’s arrival in the White House, and a renewed superpower pledge to back the separate Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, generated fresh momentum. In May, the nuclear powers agreed to restart talks by agreeing on a work plan for 2009 which would cover the issue of full nuclear disarmament, a ban on fissile material and the arms race in outer space.

[Rahul Shukla]

India, Pak need to move beyond stereotype rivalry: US (Business Standard)

"We have a very strong and growing partnership with India. We have a partnership with Pakistan that we're trying to improve on. We need to get away from these views of if we are a supporter or we have a good relationship with India, that impacts the relationship with Pakistan," State Department Deputy spokesman Robert Wood said at his daily press briefing.

Wood was responding to questions about growing anxiety among the people of Pakistan because of the strengthening relationship between India and the US. "I understand that that is how people in the region see it, but I think we really need to move away from this type of view in the 21st century," Wood said, adding that the people of the region have some very difficult challenges to face.