Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan - September 15, 2009

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 13 Oct 2009 10:13

Couldn't but help notice the rhetoric directed at PRC.
This rhetoric has arisen in direct proportion to the muslim separatist problems that the chinese have faced.
Pakistan has caught on that it is now in a position to 'deliver' something to china. IOW china is now caught in the pakistani honeytrap just as the US is.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 13 Oct 2009 10:37

Japan about to call off its Navy's refuelling facilities in Pakistan

But, Pakistan wants it to continue because of the bakhsheesh. The PM himself is pleading with the Japanese.

Japan is all set to suspend its naval refuelling mission in Indian Ocean in January after the expiry of the legislation authorising the dispatch of ships, diplomatic sources said on Monday.

Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who was on an exploratory visit to Pakistan, discussed this issue with his Pakistani interlocutors during his meetings.

Pakistan Navy is the main beneficiary of the eight rounds of refuelling done by Japanese navy in support of the Nato-led mission in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Gilani in his meeting with Mr Okada hoped that his visit would facilitate a decision for continuing Operation Endeavouring Freedom — Maritime Interdiction Operation and supporting Pakistan Navy by way of refueling and water supply facilities.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 13 Oct 2009 11:49

The "Frankenstein Military" and its own monster.

Pakistan: Frankenstein military at war with its own monster - the Taliban
Declan Walsh

Armed soldiers take their positions at the gates of Pakistan's army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Photograph: Faisal Mahmood/Reuters

Pakistan seems to be tumbling back down the slope of chaos. After the heady successes of summer, when the Taliban were routed from Swat and the militant warlord Baitullah Mehsud killed, autumn is becoming a season of bloodshed.

Four militant spectaculars in eight days have killed more than 120 people. On Monday a suicide bomber disguised as a soldier killed five officials in a United Nations office in Islamabad. Friday saw a giant bomb in central Peshawar that killed 53 shoppers, traders and commuters.

A day later 10 militants stormed army headquarters, sparking a 22-hour standoff that left 23 people including two senior officers dead. Today a suicide bomber exploded himself as an army convoy passed through a sleepy mountain bazaar, adding another 41 to the death toll.

Not for the first time, Pakistan seems to be teetering on the brink of a greater disaster. Yet breathless predictions that the country is being destabilised to the point of collapse, or that its nuclear weapons risk falling into Islamist hands, are wide of the mark. While Pakistan has a democratically elected government, power is anchored in the military, whose generals have ruled the country for over half its 62-year history. Certainly, they have not been good for stability.

Over the past three decades the military nurtured the jihadist monster that has now, like Frankenstein's monster, turned on the state.

But the viciousness of the militant threat has produced a new resolve among the military leaders. After years of half-hearted efforts, the military has firmly focused its firepower on the Taliban – which has in turn sparked the recent wave of attacks. Having run the Taliban out of Swat, the army is now preparing for a drive into the main Taliban lair of South Waziristan, a perilous operation that promises to be costly in men and treasure.

But what about Islamist infiltration? The army is not a political monolith and some low and middle-ranking troops are fundamentalist sympathisers, such as the leader of this weekend's headquarters assault, who is a former soldier.

But the previous army chief, Pervez Musharraf, flushed the fundamentalists from the higher ranks after 2001, which leaves the prospect of an Islamist coup or a takeover of the nuclear weapons remote.

Yet Pakistanis cannot afford complacency.

Relations between the army and the civilian government, led by President Asif Ali Zardari, have been badly strained by a proposed $7.5bn (£4.7bn)American aid package.

And the increased co-ordination between militant outfits of varying hues – from the Taliban to sectarian killers and Punjabi extremists – has upped the stakes dramatically. Pakistan's war against militancy, deeply engrained in society after decades of official ambivalence, is only beginning.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 13 Oct 2009 16:14

Pakistan voices concern over strategic imbalance in the Indian subcontinent

‘We expect extra-regional powers to adopt even-handed policies in South Asia and avoid steps that undermine the regional strategic balance,’ Ambassador Zamir Akram, the Pakistani delegate, told the General Assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament and security issues.

‘Our vision for South Asia is anchored in a security architecture based on preventive diplomacy, confidence building and conflict resolution,’ said Akram, who is Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN's European offices in Geneva.

Another reality was the regional disputes, which continued to fester around the globe, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East.

In parallel with negotiations on nuclear disarmament, the Pakistani delegate said, there was an urgent need for negotiations on the balanced reduction of armed forces and conventional armaments.

As agreed, those negotiations should be conducted with particular emphasis on militarily significant states. The disturbing trend of escalation in the number and sophistication of conventional weapons had to be arrested, as that had a causal relationship with the continuing reliance on nuclear weapons, he said.

Akram called for focusing on conventional arms control, which was not limited to controls over only trade in conventional arms, but also included measures for arms reduction, limitation and restraint.

Any future arrangement on conventional arms that addressed their transfer, but not their development, production and deployment would be inequitable against countries that did not themselves produce such weapons.

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 13 Oct 2009 17:12

Gilani invites Chinese investments in defence sector

Beijing, Oct 13 (PTI) Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today invited Chinese defence industry to invest in setting up joint ventures in Pakistan for the production of military wares like naval ships and fighter jets, terming it an important step to fortify their all-weather strategic ties.

During his meeting with Chen Qiufa, Administrator of China's State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND), Gilani expressed his views about enhancing defence ties with Beijing.

Now even green paint for Bandars will have to be made by tarrell than mountain fliends?

Nihat · Post by **Nihat** » 13 Oct 2009 17:31

We give TSP too much importance: Rahul Gandhi

Shimla: Pakistan doesn't deserve "half the importance" it was being given in India, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday while stressing that the two countries could not be compared.

"We are giving too much importance to Pakistan. It is just a small piece of land. India can't be compared with Pakistan," Rahul told reporters in Shimla.

He was on a day-long visit to the hill state to woo students for the party's student wing - the National Students Union of India (NSUI).

"Pakistan's internal issues do affect us, but we are giving too much time and importance to Pakistan in our minds. To my mind, it deserves not half the importance we are giving it," he said.

"If you see, the attitude of the world has changed towards Pakistan. It's not a one day job. It's a long process. India has created pressure (on it) and the entire world is putting pressure on Pakistan. Certain issues related to Pakistan have to be managed, which is already being done. We are on a comfortable position. There is no comparison between India and Pakistan," he added.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/we-are-givin ... ml?from=tn

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 13 Oct 2009 17:33

Nihat wrote:We give TSP too much importance: Rahul Gandhi

Good statement coming from him. Good job RG!

kmkraoind · Post by **kmkraoind** » 13 Oct 2009 18:56

Posted in full, thought worth of reading full.

Pakistan bombs militants in South Waziristan

By Alamgir Bitani

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Pakistani aircraft bombed militants in the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border on Tuesday as government forces prepare for a ground offensive against the militant hub, security officials said.

The government says most attacks in the country -- including four major ones over the past week that killed more than 100 people -- are plotted in South Waziristan, the main bastion of al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban and their allies.

"There's been a heavy bombardment. They targeted some militant hideouts as well as pro-Taliban tribal elders," said an intelligence agency official in the region, who declined to be identified.

Two ethnic Pashtun tribal elders were said to have been killed, he said.

Later, militants attacked a nearby military camp in the North Waziristan region, triggering a clash, residents and intelligence officials said.

Pakistani Taliban fighters made advances towards Islamabad early this year, raising fears about the stability of the nuclear-armed U.S. ally.

But government forces have made gains against the militants in recent months, largely driving them out of the Swat valley, northwest of the capital, and their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a missile fired by a U.S. drone aircraft in August.

Militant attacks have intensified as the army prepares to launch a ground offensive in South Waziristan, with 41 people killed in a suicide bomb attack on Monday after a brazen weekend raid on the tightly guarded army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

A Taliban spokesman who earlier claimed responsibility for the assault on the headquarters, said a Taliban bomber carried out Monday's attack to avenge "the blood of our martyrs".

"Wait for more," spokesman Azam Tariq said by telephone.

TOUGHEST TEST

The offensive in South Waziristan could be the army's toughest test since the militants turned on the state.

The army has not said when it would begin but Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said it was "imminent".

"They are enemies of Islam and Pakistan. They're hired killers. Their sole target is to destabilise Pakistan, to bring misery to the people but we'll rout them," he told reporters.

The military has been conducting air and artillery strikes for months, while deploying troops, blockading the region and trying to win over factions among various groups.

About 28,000 troops have been put in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hardcore Taliban, army officials said earlier.

Monday's blast in Shangla district, just to the east of Swat, the fourth big attack in a week, triggered selling on Pakistan's main stock market , which fell 1.3 percent.

The benchmark index edged up on Tuesday, but investors remained wary.

The army said Pakistani Taliban commander Wali-ur-Rehman was behind Saturday's attack on its headquarters in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad.

Commandos stormed an office building near the headquarters on Sunday and rescued 39 people taken hostage by gunmen after an attack at a main gate of the headquarters. [ID:nSP366408]

Nine militants, three hostages and 11 soldiers were killed.

The raid on the heart of the military establishment by militants disguised as soldiers followed a warning that just such an assault was being plotted.

That has led to accusation in the media of an intelligence failure but Malik defended the security agencies.

"Stop hitting our intelligence agencies. Nobody works harder than they do. They foil 100 attacks which you don't notice but if one incident happens you all start criticising them," he said. (Additional reporting by Hafiz Wazir; Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 13 Oct 2009 19:50

Nation has not fully rejected Kerry-Lugar bill: Assef

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali has said that the nation has not fully rejected the Kerry-Lugar bill.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said that the people of Pakistan have reservations over some clauses of the Kerry-Lugar bill, and the government will follow recommendations of the parliament and media {media? wtf?!!}in this regard.

Allah ke nam pe dedo baabaa.. par thoda H&D sambhalke de do..

manjgu · Post by **manjgu** » 13 Oct 2009 20:26

On the KL bill...the US president has to certify that there is no cross border movement from Pakistan into its neighbours .... say if the US president does certify ( out of his compulsions) , then the indian stand on cross border infiltration takes a beating??

Sriman · Post by **Sriman** » 13 Oct 2009 20:31

manjgu wrote:On the KL bill...the US president has to certify that there is no cross border movement from Pakistan into its neighbours .... say if the US president does certify ( out of his compulsions) , then the indian stand on cross border infiltration takes a beating??

Reagan certified year after year in the 80s that the Pakistanis were not developing nukes..

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 13 Oct 2009 20:33

manjgu wrote:On the KL bill...the US president has to certify that there is no cross border movement from Pakistan into its neighbours .... say if the US president does certify ( out of his compulsions) , then the indian stand on cross border infiltration takes a beating??

Well.. only if you consider POTUS as the supreme authority to recognise Indian claims on cross border terrorism from TS of P. For those who dont agree with that POV, it will be just another instance of GUBO between unkil and TSP.

Vivek_A · Post by **Vivek_A** » 13 Oct 2009 21:04

IMF projects Pakistan’s 09/10 GDP flat at two pc

KARACHI: Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to remain unchanged at two per cent in the 2009/10 fiscal year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said.
The government’s GDP growth target for this July-June fiscal year is 3.3 per cent.
GDP growth is expected to rise to three per cent in the 2010/2011 fiscal year, the IMF said in its Regional Economic Outlook posted on its website (www.imf.org).
Pakistani growth was 5.6 per cent in the 2007/08 fiscal year but it slowed to two per cent the following year because of macroeconomic imbalances, deteriorating law and order and an uncertain political scene.
‘In Pakistan, the economic slowdown began before the global crisis,’ the IMF said.
The US ally which is fighting a Taliban insurgency was kept afloat by a $7.6 billion IMF emergency loan last November.
The loan was increased to $11.3 billion in July.
The IMF has projected inflation to ease to 9.4 per cent in the 2010/11 fiscal year.
According to official data, average inflation from July to September rose 10.66 per cent from a year earlier, compared with 24.52 per cent in the same period last year.

Rangudu · Post by **Rangudu** » 13 Oct 2009 21:05

Today is October 13th.

People in the US do not miss tonight's Frontline episode on your local PBS TV station

Review

The true enemy of the U.S. is lurking not in Afghanistan but in Pakistan, "Obama's War" suggests. "In Afghanistan, we know what to do; we just don't know if we have the resources or the time available to do it," says David Kilcullen, counter-insurgency expert and advisor to the U.S. military. "The problem in Pakistan is we're not really sure what to do."

Historically, the Pakistan military and intelligence service have shown an affinity for the Taliban and Al Qaeda as allies in the Pakistanis' struggle with their arch-enemy: India. The U.S. has sent billions of dollars to Pakistan in hopes of changing that mind-set.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. officer in Afghanistan, thinks the Pakistanis have found the resolve to attack the Al Qaeda strongholds. But one of McChrystal's top advisors, Andrew Exum, adds a discouraging nuance. The Pakistanis, he said, are ready to attack Al Qaeda when it threatens the stability of their government but "they do not share our interests as of yet in taking an aggressive stance against the groups that are seeking to destabilize Afghanistan."

The normally talky Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, goes mum when Smith asks him for proof of his assertion that the Pakistanis are serious about attacking a powerful Al Qaeda stronghold in north Waziristan.

John Nagl, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who wrote the foreword to the military's latest counter-insurgency manual, is unrestrained when asked about the Pakistanis and their truthfulness or lack of it . "I absolutely have to hold my nose when I work with the Pakistani government," he said.

New Yorker writer Steve Coll summarizes: "This could not be a more complicated war. If you think about it, the United States is essentially waging a war against its own ally. The Taliban are a proxy of the government of Pakistan. We are an ally of the government of Pakistan. We are fighting the Taliban."

manjgu · Post by **manjgu** » 13 Oct 2009 21:14

in a way that will be good for India... in the sense the US duplicity ( of which we all are well aware will be very evident).. i hope ( quite in vain) that this may waken the indian leadership when they implore the intl community to act against the napakis... interesting times ahead.. !!

i read somewhere that the TTP is threatening groups like LeT, HM etc..???

)

KaranR · Post by **KaranR** » 13 Oct 2009 22:17

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Asif Ahmad Ali has said that the nation has not fully rejected the Kerry-Lugar bill Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said that the people of Pakistan have reservations over some clauses of the Kerry-Lugar bill, and the government will follow recommendations of the parliament and media {media? wtf?!!}in this regard.

Allah ke Nam pe dedo baabaa.. par thoda H&D sambhal ke de do..

][/quote]

Mountbatten first met Jinnah on 5 April and their conversations! continued every day from 7 to 10 April. Jinnah demanded that power be handed over, province by province, with the provinces themselves choosing how they would form themselves into groups, and 'those with a Muslim majority forming a new State'. He threatened that' 'an attempt to maintain the unity of India would lead the Muslim! League to resort to armed force to resist it'. Mountbatten argued, that, logically, the same principle would have to be applied to areas; of Bengal and the Punjab, where non-Muslims made up nearly half of the population, and, as a result, these two provinces would be partitioned. It was on 10 April that Mountbatten finally brought Jinnah to his knees, proving once more that his strength lay in direct proportion to the support he received from the British. 'I do not care how little you give me as long as you give it to me completely', he , said. And then: 'I do not wish to make any improper suggestion to you but you must realize that the new Pakistan is almost certain to ask for Dominion Status within the British Empire.'23

Old habits of Pak give me! Now you know where they got their begging habits.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 13 Oct 2009 22:49

Dilbu wrote:Nation has not fully rejected Kerry-Lugar bill: Assef
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali has said that the nation has not fully rejected the Kerry-Lugar bill.

Talking to Radio Pakistan, he said that the people of Pakistan have reservations over some clauses of the Kerry-Lugar bill, and the government will follow recommendations of the parliament and media {media? wtf?!!}in this regard.
Allah ke nam pe dedo baabaa.. par thoda H&D sambhalke de do..

Well, they accept the AID part of the bill, but not the conditions part

shynee · Post by **shynee** » 14 Oct 2009 00:35

Soldiers turning rogue Pak's new terror headache TOI

Ilyas Kashmiri survived last month's airstrike in Pakistan - LongWarJournal

shravan · Post by **shravan** » 14 Oct 2009 00:38

Pak rolls out F-16 combat jets

Islamabad: The first batch of 18 F-16 combat jets ordered by Pakistan were on Tuesday rolled out during a ceremony in the United States that was attended by Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman.

After the testing and integration of new systems, the first batch of F-16 C/D aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan in June next year. The delivery of all 18 jets is planned to be completed by December 2010.

shynee · Post by **shynee** » 14 Oct 2009 00:52

What's wrong with Pakistan's Army? A former officer's (Agha H. Amin) perspective - LongWarJournal

The attack on Pakistani GHQ [General Headquarters] raises more serious questions about Pakistan Army’s military effectiveness and potency than answers.
The most crucial and grave question is that the Pakistani military seems to have lost in a great degree its coercive value and moral deterrence. Something which is the foundation of any political system and on which all agree starting from Freud, Aristotle, Plato down to Marx, Lenin, Mao, and Khomeni.

Once General Musharraf decided to make a U turn under coercion by USA the army lost its moral credibility in the eyes of a large section of Pakistani populace, not the majority but a sizeable minority far more effective in tangible potency than a far larger minority.

The first most serious question is not from where the threat originated but how did a small minority of a few handpicked young men developed the resolution to attack the citadel of Pakistani military, the GHQ ? Its an intangible question but far more serious than whether these men had their organisational centre in Waziristan or Afghanistan.

The second serious question is the response to the attack.Or one may say the lack of response !

If ten or so armed men can terrorise and paralyse a half a million plus army’s headquarter for 22 plus hours the issue is strategic rather than tactical ! If ten civilians trained by irrational mullahs can penetrate a citadel hitherto considered impregnable and impenetrable and 1600 officers inside it are like chicken in a barbed wired coup at mercy of ten armed and highly motivated men then the situation is grave, not routine.

In a nutshell the serious aspects of the issue are :--

1. The most serious threat to Pakistan is internal and not external.
2. The military has lost its strategic and coercive deterrent value.
3. That ten armed civilians penetrated a military headquarters guarded by an infantry battalion and a similar number of DSG soldiers is a serious strategic imbalance.
4. That 6 plus armed men were roaming the GHQ for many hours and had the opportunity to kill many generals, an opportunity that they for some mysterious reasons chose not to exercise is a cause of grave strategic concern.
5. The fact that the perimeter guarding battalion 10 Punjab although it killed some four intruders failed to hold the few attackers from penetrating the GHQ is a grave matter.
6. The fact that the battalion plus DSG soldiers although armed with G 3 and SMG rifles just bolted away is a grave matter.
7. The fact that it took more than 18 hours and the fact that SSG troops had to be brought from some 70 miles away to redeem the situation is ironic par excellence.
8. The fact that Pakistan’s enemies both state and non state are so ineffective still is the only consoling part of the issue.

Sad is the story. Hilarious are the praises being heaped on the military’s response. Where is the honour and dignity of danger in overcoming six well motivated irregulars by a commando force outnumbering them by 100 to 1. This is not a criticism. I am not a paid journalist. This is a call for reflection .Serious reflection and serious inner thinking that may be the spur to serious reorganisation in the Pakistani military. The enemy is not in Waziristan or Afghanistan. The enemy is our own damn inefficiency and complacency. It merits serious thinking at all plains, tactical, operational and strategic.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 14 Oct 2009 00:57

4. That 6 plus armed men were roaming the GHQ for many hours and had the opportunity to kill many generals, an opportunity that they for some mysterious reasons chose not to exercise is a cause of grave strategic concern.

Is the bolded part true? Then it must be an insider job.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 14 Oct 2009 01:23

News for Paki lurkers.
A little bridie humming about the troop addition in FakPak theatre .Good news is they will be stationed in Balochistan to take care of Quetta Suars. If Pakistan dont welcome their arrival then Balochistan will declare independence and ask for International force to protect the sovereignty. Soon Kiyanahi will resign to save his own H&D and new chief will be appointed.

shynee · Post by **shynee** » 14 Oct 2009 03:15

If fired, Haqqani threatens to unveil 'reams' of Pakistan's secrets

The latest development in this story is that the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine is now quoting sources close to Ambassador Haqqani that he is contemplating going public with embarrassing Pakistani official documents that he laid his hands on during his official capacity if he was fired from his job for playing a deliberate role in inserting anti-military and nuclear-related clauses in the Kerry-Lugar bill.

Bill Rogin, a correspondent for the Foreign Policy magazine covering Pentagon and the State Department, interviewed Mr. Haqqani on Tuesday over telephone for the online version of the magazine as the ambassador attended the rollout of the first of the 18 F-16 fighter planes being sold to Pakistan at Forth Worth, Texas.
After several ‘exclusive’ quotes on the record from Ambassador Haqqani, Mr. Rogin went on to quote ‘sources’. One quote is quite ominous and damaging for Pakistani interest and appears as if a serving government officer is blackmailing his employer:
This is how Mr. Rogin has phrased this quote, “These sources also say that Haqqani has reams of documents that could embarrass the forces aligned against him and sacking him could open up a Pandora’s box of controversy that the government would not appreciate, which he might do if forced to defend himself after being fired.”

Vivek_A · Post by **Vivek_A** » 14 Oct 2009 03:20

Shrill rants on the K-Y-Gel bill...

The cost of conditionalities

Shireen M Mazari

Vivek_A · Post by **Vivek_A** » 14 Oct 2009 03:23

Shrill abnd Bheja-KHali on the same day...nuttiness twofer

GHQ-attack: whodunit?

By S.m. Hali | Published: October 14, 2009

Some bloggers think foreign security agencies like Inter-Risk, DynCorp, may have a possible link with the attack alluding to the two Dutch diplomats, who were apprehended the same week at a police check post in Islamabad carrying sophisticated weapons including four hand grenades, two smoke equipments and two flash bombs, two handguns, four magazines and six bullet-proof vests in their vehicle. The diplomats were later released, reportedly on the intervention of top diplomatic officials from Netherlands and the US Embassy since they enjoyed immunity. Some analysts have opined that India may have orchestrated the copycat attack to avenge the Mumbai attacks last year.

jrjrao · Post by **jrjrao** » 14 Oct 2009 03:36

Great article by Christine Fair in the WSJ:

Pakistan's Partial War on Terror --
The deadly results of cooperation with terrorists.

By

C. CHRISTINE FAIR

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... #printMode

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 14 Oct 2009 03:58

Vivek_A wrote:Shrill abnd Bheja-KHali on the same day...nuttiness twofer

GHQ-attack: whodunit?

By S.m. Hali | Published: October 14, 2009

Some bloggers think foreign security agencies like Inter-Risk, DynCorp, may have a possible link with the attack alluding to the two Dutch diplomats, who were apprehended the same week at a police check post in Islamabad carrying sophisticated weapons including four hand grenades, two smoke equipments and two flash bombs, two handguns, four magazines and six bullet-proof vests in their vehicle. The diplomats were later released, reportedly on the intervention of top diplomatic officials from Netherlands and the US Embassy since they enjoyed immunity. Some analysts have opined that India may have orchestrated the copycat attack to avenge the Mumbai attacks last year.

All that looks like personal protection equipment in TSP land of jihadis! Note how he brings in India.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 14 Oct 2009 04:11

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8296245.stm

What awaits the PA in South Waziristan...

What might be a deciding factor is the militarised psyche of society in Waziristan. The Wazir and Mehsud tribes are often described by analysts as "born soldiers" willing to fight to the death.
What is the manpower of the army versus the Taliban?
TALIBAN ARE LIGHTLY ARMED BUT HIGHLY MOBILE AND ADAPTABLE

1. Main weapon: AK-47 assault rifle
2. Improvised explosive devices can be deadly
3. Toyota Hi Lux pick-up light transport. Here Taliban guerrillas are armed with RPGs

There are two divisions - or 28,000 soldiers - of Pakistan's army already deployed on the edge of Waziristan. In addition the Frontier Corps - the paramilitary force made up of recruits from tribal areas - is likely to support army operations.
The number of militants is far harder to estimate. An army spokesman recently estimated their strength at between 10,000 and 20,000 fighters.
In South Waziristan Hakimullah Mehsud heads what is thought to be the largest militant force with an estimated strength of more than 15,000 armed men - although the "hard core" of his fighters is much smaller.
The western stretch bordering Afghanistan is the territory of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribe. But the operation discussed at the moment is confined to the Mehsud area.
Analysts say estimates for the number of Uzbek fighters in South Wazirstan varies from 500-5,000.
What would the likely tactics be?
If the military goes in with full force, the militants are likely to disperse rather than attempt to hold territory, analysts say.
They will almost certainly engage in guerrilla warfare. With their knowledge of the terrain they are likely to launch ambushes as has been the case in previous years.
But a lot depends on military tactics. Previously, the military has not had a clear strategy when venturing into Waziristan.
This time round - after the success in Swat - troop morale is likely to be high.
For the army's part it would have to hold the roads and the main towns. Currently the Mehsud-dominated centres of Ladha, Makeen and Sararogha are virtual no-go areas.
A primary military target would be to take control of the heights and put up outposts. They will also go after mid- and high-ranking Taliban commanders.
What has happened in past encounters?
Waziristan was just as dangerous for the British from the 1860s onwards.
British forces would make gruelling expeditions into the area following audacious attacks from Waziristan tribesmen in British-ruled territory.
More than a century later and it was not much easier for the Pakistani army.
In 2004 the Pakistani army suffered heavily at the hands of Wazir-affiliated militants.
There is also the possibility that action against the Mehsud group in South Waziristan could draw in to the conflict militant groups based in the Wazir tribal areas of South and North Waziristan.
These groups are currently part of an al-Qaeda-affiliated network who have so far concentrated on fighting inside Afghanistan. They have "peace agreements" with the Pakistani army.

Rahul Shukla · Post by **Rahul Shukla** » 14 Oct 2009 04:11

Vivek_A wrote:Shrill rants on the K-Y-Gel bill...

The cost of conditionalities

^^^

The Americans love to claim, “there is no free lunch”, but no one in Pakistan thought that the cost of supporting the US in its War on Terror would be so high for the nation… the most lethal cost has been in terms of the destruction of our society’s social fabric with the polarisation, the violence and the extremism.

… the US has simply not comprehended what Pakistan is all about.

The KLB is in a way a culmination of their neoimperialist approach to Pakistan which ironically increased in pace after the Obama takeover.

… it is good to understand the inherent imperialist trait that forms part of the American psyche… And the best way of understanding this is to see how the US continues to behave towards some of the states in Latin America which it has regarded as its own backyard since the days of the Monroe Doctrine…

… let us look at the case of Colombia for instance… the aid for Colombia was largely military… the aid flow for each fiscal year was dependent upon the certification by the US secretary of state… those in his (Columbian) armed forces who had committed violations of human rights would be brought to justice in Colombia’s civilian courts, in accordance with the 1997 ruling of Colombia’s Constitutional Court regarding civilian court jurisdiction in human rights cases.

The certification also required that the chief of the armed forces had immediately suspended from duty any Colombian armed forces personnel against whom there was credible proof that they had committed gross human rights violations or had aided or abetted paramilitary groups… It was also required of the Colombian government that it ensures the prosecution of militant leaders and fighters as well as those armed forces personnel who were aiding or abetting these groups.

… The Colombian aid bill also contained another most intrusive conditionality clause that actually demanded that the Colombian armed forces develop and deploy in their field units a Judge Advocate General Corps to investigate Colombian armed forces personnel for misconduct.

Nor is it just Colombia that has had to suffer US conditionalities. Mexico, which is battling drug and crime cartels, saw a single US Senator, Patrick Leahy, in August 2009, hold up US anti-drug aid to Mexico because he felt that, “Mexico has not yet met human rights requirements laid down in US law for the release of millions of dollars in US anti-narcotics aid.”

The Mexican Army was again targeted despite the fact that it has been in the forefront of the fight against cartels. Why are militaries particularly targeted? One, because they tend to have a more indigenous perspective on national issues which may come into conflict with US agendas; and, two, because they tend to be the most powerful institutions in most of these states. So unless the US can tame them and bring them into line, their interests can suffer setbacks.

IOW: How dare the US ask for Columbian/Mexican Army’s human rights violators to be punished in exchange for aid, eh? That just defies all logic, no?

… if we concede the present conditions, it will get worse the next time round…

IOW: This is not the last time Pakistanis are begging for aid. Therefore, Pakistan must impose its own set of conditions on the US before it is allowed to declare/distribute aid.

… it is critical for Pakistan to declare “enough is enough” and rid ourselves of the miniscule 3 percent of the budget that KLB would contribute to if the whole $1.5 billion actually went into national development rather than into the pockets of consultants, advisers, firms, individuals and others of their ilk!

Vivek_A · Post by **Vivek_A** » 14 Oct 2009 04:33

j2r2: long time no see.

Amber G. · Post by **Amber G.** » 14 Oct 2009 04:45

Vivek_A wrote:j2r2: long time no see.

Miss all those photos ... Now what is non-green (light blue/white) flag here?

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 14 Oct 2009 05:04

Prem wrote:News for Paki lurkers.
A little bridie humming about the troop addition in FakPak theatre .Good news is they will be stationed in Balochistan to take care of Quetta Suars. If Pakistan dont welcome their arrival then Balochistan will declare independence and ask for International force to protect the sovereignty. Soon Kiyanahi will resign to save his own H&D and new chief will be appointed.

Saar are you serious? Where did this news come from, foggy bottom?

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 14 Oct 2009 05:35

We are giving too much time and importance to Pak: Rahul

Vivek_A · Post by **Vivek_A** » 14 Oct 2009 05:38

WASHINGTON DIARY: Not so helpful, this aid! —Dr Manzur Ejaz

Our investigation shows that, presently, a small percentage of the aid amount reaches Pakistan. After the Pakistani elites take their own cut from the small amount, not much is left. Therefore, as far as Pakistani masses are concerned, US aid is irrelevant: its continuation or termination does not make an iota of difference.

Courtesy of an economist friend I have seen a list of organisations or NGOs through which the aid money is channelled into Pakistan. Most of these organisations have their head offices in Washington and they claim expertise in solving the economic problems facing developing countries like Pakistan.

It should be interesting to mention a few names of NGOs through which the projects worth USD1192 million aid for Pakistan are being implemented. The largest receiver of funds are NGOs like CDM construction, Winrock International, Care International, Chemonics, US Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP), American Institutes for Research (AIR), Academy for Educational Development (AED), John Snow Research and Training Institute Inc. (Prime) and Population council. Even the recipient of smaller amounts is 99% US NGOs like Urban Institute, Asia Foundation, Democracy International ET ell.

In Washington such organisations, wrongly or rightly, are sometimes known by the nickname, Beltway Bandits. The key persons in these organisations gain influence on the Hill and in the White House through massive lobbying or through networking with Republican and Democrat parties. There are reports that they play some role in pushing aid to needy countries for their own gains.

To start with, the cost of implementing an aid project in a country like Pakistan is inherently expensive. The employees at these organisations, from the lower to the highest levels, are paid salaries and benefits according to the US standards. For example, office assistance will be paid around $40,000 annually, which in Pakistani currency denomination would amount to 3,240,000. In Pakistan, similar personnel will get around Rs144,000 to 240,000 on an annual basis.

The market price or salary of Pakistani personnel is what that country’s economic system can afford. Anything paid beyond that is uneconomical and unsustainable. In our hypothetical example the US personnel are paid 135 times more for working on projects implemented in Pakistan. Logically, Pakistan’s net gains of such projects, run by officials being paid US-level salaries, are going to be minimal.

This example is about Pakistani projects run by US-based personnel and targets salaries and benefits at the low levels. Yet, it clearly shows that such an approach is absolutely infeasible. But, if one includes the middle and higher level US experts, working in these organisations for projects in countries like Pakistan, it is easy to see that the recipient countries get almost nothing.

Not only are these experts paid very high US salaries (USD100,000-500,000 annually) they also travel in business class and stay in five star hotels when they visit the recipient countries. The business class air fares are about four to five times more expensive than economy class tickets that a common passenger uses. Similarly, five star hotel costs are so high that even a higher Pakistani official cannot afford staying in them if he uses funds from his own salary.

To cut it short, the salaries and expenses of the US NGO personnel end up consuming the better part of the aid money. Consequently, at the most, 20-30 percent of the aid money is actually spent on the projects undertaken in Pakistan.

jrjrao · Post by **jrjrao** » 14 Oct 2009 05:44

Vivek_A wrote:j2r2: long time no see.

Yeah, have been lurking here somewhat but have been distracted a fair bit (this is what happens when one takes ones Amrikeean-ness too seriously, and then tries to transfer old "kirket" fundas to "baseball coaching" fundas, and then gets too involved and busy with coaching little league baseball for the kid

)....

But now that I hear KGoan has been spotted and corralled back, I think a good ol' reunion is in order...

Meanwhile, some more chai-biskoot reading from a nutty Paki:

Pakistan Army stood up to its reputation of being one of the best professional army in the world when its power hub, GHQ, was attacked on Saturday. (even though) The militants used a unique strategy. They were wearing military uniform and were highly trained and brain washed.

Who could be the beneficiary of this episode? A simple brain storming hints towards US, India and Israel.

India is very cleverly taking the revenge of Kargil episode by bleeding Pakistan slowly but continuously so they have pitched the same Mujahideen of Kargil against Pakistan Army by providing them the money, sanctuaries, training, incentives and weapons through Indian Consulates spread all along the Afghanistan’s Eastern borders.

http://thefrontierpost.com/News.aspx?ncat=ar&nid=565

KLNMurthy · Post by **KLNMurthy** » 14 Oct 2009 05:54

Rahul Shukla wrote:Shrill rants on the K-Y-Gel bill...

The cost of conditionalities
^^^

the US has simply not comprehended what Pakistan is all about.

Well and correctly put by Shrilleen.

shynee · Post by **shynee** » 14 Oct 2009 06:00

Qureshi may return empty handed from US

Deputy head of the US mission Gerald Feirsten, head of the political section Byran Hunt and head of the press section Richard Snelsire also attended the dinner. A diplomat said that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi might not be able to convince the top guns of Washington at this stage when both houses of parliament had already passed the bill.

The diplomats believed that if the bill was referred back to Congress by President Obama, it would take years to be approved. It implied that it was too late to accommodate the concerns of Pakistan in the bill. Even, someone observed that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi might not be able to convince the top guns of Washington at this stage when both houses had already passed the bill.

It was clear from the discussion that three options were available with regard to the bill. First, President Obama vetoes the bill, which they felt was unlikely. Secondly, the bill should be sent back by President Obama for review of the objectionable clauses. They said it was possible but it might take years to get it passed from the legislature.

One American diplomat said that US senators in the Congress were accountable to their voters and needed strong justification to review their earlier opinion. The third option was to introduce a new bill in the US parliament, which, they said, was highly unlikely.

jrjrao · Post by **jrjrao** » 14 Oct 2009 06:00

I guess the CS Monitor is reduced these days to these type of inane op-eds penned by idiot graduate students:

"The road to stability in Afghanistan runs through Pakistan and India"
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1013/p09s01-coop.html

We cannot stabilize Afghanistan without addressing the insecurities of the Pakistani military elite. That said, a harder line on Pakistan will only be effective if it is accompanied by reciprocal pressure on India.

Recent efforts to pilot a nonproliferation resolution in the UN Security Council might have ruffled feathers in New Delhi, but they calmed the generals in Islamabad. The administration should take the extra step of insisting that the US military contractors looking to cash in on the $100 billion modernization of the Indian military pack up and come home. Massive sales of US military technology to India could upset the region's fragile balance of power.

... the US should empower Special Representative Richard Holbrooke by expanding his mandate to encompass India.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 14 Oct 2009 06:23

To start with, the cost of implementing an aid project in a country like Pakistan is inherently expensive. The employees at these organisations, from the lower to the highest levels, are paid salaries and benefits according to the US standards. For example, office assistance will be paid around $40,000 annually, which in Pakistani currency denomination would amount to 3,240,000. In Pakistan, similar personnel will get around Rs144,000 to 240,000 on an annual basis.

The market price or salary of Pakistani personnel is what that country’s economic system can afford. Anything paid beyond that is uneconomical and unsustainable. In our hypothetical example the US personnel are paid 135 times more for working on projects implemented in Pakistan. Logically, Pakistan’s net gains of such projects, run by officials being paid US-level salaries, are going to be minimal.

madarsa math at work. 3.2 mil is ~135 times of 144k

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 14 Oct 2009 06:35

nane op-eds penned by idiot graduate students:

JFK even has a panel of such indian graduate students to 'debate' and write op-eds. subalterns no doubt headed
for places like harvard, columbia and georgetown followed by thinki tank and media jobs.

CSmonitor ceased printing sometime ago due to lack of funds. now its a online rag - one of lakhs .