Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-Jan 24, 2016

[Peregrine]

Delusion, in its full glory

SSridhar Ji :

You missed the following portion by Wife Beater :

RECENTLY, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter reportedly opened a meeting with senior Pakistani military leaders by declaring: “I must tell you, I am a friend of India.”

The statement, besides being gauche, was superfluous. Carter’s closeness to the Indians is all too evident. The US defence secretary has met four times in the last year with his Indian counterpart, as noted in the joint communiqué issued after his recent visit to India.

The joint communiqué outlines the vast scope and depth of the present and planned Indo-US military relationship; including co-production of advanced defence articles, joint research on advanced jet engines and aircraft carrier technologies, and strategic cooperation on maritime security.

Most significantly, India endorsed the US stand on the South China Sea islands dispute with China by reaffirming “importance of freedom of navigation and over-flight throughout the region, including in the South China Sea” and vowed support for “a regional security architecture”.

The US has opened all military and technology doors to India, and encouraged Israel and other allies to do so as well. For the past eight years, India has been the world’s largest arms importer, buying over $100 billion in weapons each year, two-thirds of which are deployed against Pakistan.Moreover, US military and political support encourages India in its bellicose behaviour towards Pakistan.

It is not merely that Pakistan suffers ‘collateral damage’ from the US arming of India against China. The US has imposed — formally and informally — severe and discriminatory restraints on Pakistan’s acquisition of advanced and dual-use technologies and weapons systems from the US or allied sources.

It opposes Pakistan’s defensive responses to India’s build-up: fissile material production, theatre nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Pressure has even been exerted on China not to transfer advanced weaponry and technologies to Pakistan. Unless this dynamic is changed, Pakistan’s capabilities for conventional defence and nuclear deterrence against India could be significantly eroded.

The latest confirmation of the Indo-US alliance comes at a time when Pakistan’s limited convergence with the US on Afghanistan may be fading. According to Indian press reports, Ashton Carter conveyed to the Indians that the US has given up on Pakistan’s cooperation to stabilise Afghanistan, and wants India to play a larger role there.

Worse, the US appears to be encouraging closer ties between India and the GCC states, especially Saudi Arabia, which Modi’s visited recently. There may be an Iranian gambit as well. Given India’s close relations with Iran and informal US-Iranian cooperation against the militant Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, collaboration between the US, India and Iran to ‘stabilise’ Afghanistan cannot be ruled out.

Lets hope the USA "Allaince" with India fulfills Wife Beater's Fears.

Cheers

[Falijee]

Immy Takes Credit For Ganja's Discomfiture
Imran says first time any Pakistani PM made answerable

LONDON: In an exclusive interview with the British Channel 4 News, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has stated that, due to the Panama Leaks, it was for the very first time that a Pakistani Prime Minister has been made answerable to the allegations against him.
During his talk with British news channel, Khan reiterated his stance that an investigation commission for probing into the Panama Leaks should be headed by the Chief Justice of the country.
According to the details, Khan stated that before the Panama Leaks revelations, the rulers of the country used to say that these all the issues were only allegations by the Opposition. He added that PM Nawaz Sharif is facing the accusations of money laundering, tax evasion, corruption and not declaring his assets.

Imran not hesitating, not for the first time, in using his "good relations" with the British media to tarnish the image of Pakistan, in a foreign country !

Khan further stated that he wants that an inquiry be held under the Chief Justice. In answer to a question, Khan stated that as a cricketer, he had earned money throughout the world, but all of his finances were in Pakistan, adding that he did not have any bank account in any foreign country. This "fact" is hard to digest !

In relation to London’s Mayorship campaign, Khan stated that he had encouraged Zac Goldsmith to step into politics. He added that Goldsmith would prove to be a good Mayor ("soft" endorsement instead of "hard" endorsement. Diplomatic response ! )

[saip]

They didn't explain how they concluded that these were all R&AW funded.

They were found in a shopping bag with the receipt from RAW.

[symontk]

India too has done nothing to publicize the massacre and the fact that 75% of refugees and a similar percentage of murders by the Pakistani army in Bangladesh was of Hindus - a fact that has appeared in the Blood telegram from official documents. When you hide the nature of Pakistani hatred for India from the Indian public we get hyper pseudosecularism that reads the Pakistani version of history, does not know about genocide but knows only about Hindu perfidy.

Any attitude has its own advantages and disadvantages. You are just saying the disadvantage portion, but you also need to look at the advantage portion (think like a Paki). Due to the Bangladesh genocide which is being recognized as being done by Muslims against Muslims, it weakens the Pak argument that Kashmir belongs to them just because the population has more Muslims

Also there are other instances in Pakistan where Pak Army regularly kills its own citizens. So the argument acquires validity if that is required

I am not saying that the aspect that Hindus are killed in Bangladesh genocide is not purposefully hidden, but every stance should be used for your advantage. There can be other possibilities for every thing

[Falijee]

Study: Public School Textbooks in Pakistan Teach Intolerance of Non-Muslims

Not the first and will not be the last" study" on this "much commented upon topic"

Brainwashing of impressionable minds!

Implementation wanted ; Paki educational curricula studied to death !

Some of the choice snippets:

A passage in an eighth grade Islamic Studies book published in 2015 as part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Curriculum describes jihad in a positive light.
“Prophet (PBUH) said that ‘Jihad will continue till the end of times’. Jihad is going on in different parts of the world. Many Mujahidins of Islam are participating in Jihad for sake of Allah, for protection of their religion, to help their oppressed brothers, and to get freedom from tyranny,” it read. “As a student if you cannot practically participate in Jihad you can at least financially help in preparation of Jihad.”

Already being done by way of cash donations and goat, cow hides donation to Jamaat E Daawa AKA Lashkar- E-Toiba

Another Punjab curriculum textbook for sixth grade Islamic studies reads, “Christians learned tolerance and kind heartedness from Muslims. The fair treatment and good governance of Muslims improved the living standard of the region. They started to live prosperous and peaceful lives under the patronage bullying and discriminatory attitude of Muslims.”

A passage from a tenth grade Punjab textbook, also published in 2015, states, “Because the Muslim religion, culture and social system are different from non-Muslims, it is impossible to cooperate with Hindus.”

What they are teaching these young minds is that the Muslims of Pakistan are not "comfortable" living with non - Muslims among their midst! By this same token, the legal and illegal "export" of Muslim Pakistanis to foreign shores should be banned forthwith by their Islamic govt !

[partha]

In London digs, Zardari calls Nawaz

PPP has denied any chance of a meeting between the two. PHOTO: INP
Former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday evening and inquired after his health with the two leaders staying in close proximity in London.
Zardari, who arrived in London earlier on Friday, is staying at Grosvenor House which is located just a few blocks down Park Lane to where Nawaz is staying.
Zardari not meeting Nawaz in London: Bilawal
However, the PPP has denied any chance of a meeting between the two.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted a rebuttal on Friday to a news report stating that the two could meet. “Zardari is not meeting Nawaz.”
It was followed up with a statement from the PPP information secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira that the two will not be meeting in London nor back in Pakistan.
When Nawaz arrived in London on Wednesday, he had told reporters that while he had good ties with Zardari, he too dismissed speculation of any impending meeting.
But late on Friday, Zardari made a video-call to Nawaz and inquired about his health.
Pakistani people will have to decide whether Nawaz should resign: US
In the past both have held meetings in London but these have almost always been officially denied by both sides.
Earlier in the day, Nawaz had gone for another check-up at the hospitals but doctors have yet to provide a definitive diagnosis.

Also earlier in the day, Nawaz got himself suited and booted for the video call from Dus - Perccenti !

Poor Paki civvies have to go to a foreign country to discuss sensitive political matters for everything in Pakistan including their bedroom is likely bugged by ISI Even in London, ISI has embedded its men in entourages of Nawaz and Zardari to snoop in on their video calls!
Only in Pakistan does a PM who is in the middle of a coup inviting corruption scandal, flies out to a foreign country in the middle of the night and goes on an expensive shopping trip. This reminds me of Kargil war when Nawaz Shariff invited himself to Washington DC to beg for Clinton's intervention to save his military's ass, brought with him a plane load of relatives and friends, making the Americans think that he would be seeking asylum

[Falijee]

They didn't explain how they concluded that these were all R&AW funded.

They were found in a shopping bag with the receipt from RAW.

Saip-ji :



Reminds me of Shades of "photo-chor" A.Q. Khan

[Falijee]

London Becoming The Battleground For Pakistan Politics !
PML-N workers protest outside Jemima's residence in London

Scores of PML-N workers gathered outside the residence of Jemima Goldsmith in London on Sunday and chanted slogans against PTI chief Imran Khan — who had reportedly went there to visit his children, DawnNews reported.
The protesters accused Imran Khan of investing donation sums in foreign businesses and demanded a probe against the PTI chief. quote]

It is pertinent to mention that earlier PTI workers had gathered outside PML-N leader’s residence in London, demanding investigations into the Panama Papers controversy.

So, it has now come down to "tit for tat"

“When is Imran Khan selling his house to make up for the lost SKMT charity funds, as he promised,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had questioned during a press conference earlier this month.
Know more: Maryam unhappy with PML-N response
Brandishing documents regarding SKMT ( Shaukat Khanum Trust ) finances, he claimed that an investment of $28m was made from the trust’s funds, but it was later discovered that the property was worth around $10m.

Ganja has "directed" his "chamchas" to fight the battle for him, in spite of him "studying" law (according to unsubstantiated rumours -probably more as "time pass") at Punjab University,

The information minister said that the prospect of the $18 million being returned was based on the assumption that the value of the property would hopefully increase beyond the $10m cost price. “Why didn’t SKMT invest this money in Pakistan, as they ask others to do,” he had asked, rhetorically.

I hope that the British authorities take action against the riff-raff of both political parties (PML-PTI) ; pretty sure that London City must have some sort of Bye-Law against "disturbing the peace and quiet of residential neighbourhoods"; if this "Paki problem" is not nipped in the bud, there is "tremendous scope" for violence, and all other things associated with Paki- style politics

[Kashi]

I hope that the British authorities take action against the riff-raff of both political parties (PML-PTI) ; pretty sure that London City must have some sort of Bye-Law against "disturbing the peace and quiet of residential neighbourhoods"; if this "Paki problem" is not nipped in the bud, there is "tremendous scope" for violence, and all other things associated with Paki- style politics [/color]

Falijee, just grab some chai-samosa and sit back and enjoy as the Brits grapple with their daily dose of Pakistaniyat.

Do remember the famous Hindi saying "Jo doosron ke liye gaddha khodta hai woh ek din khud usme gir jata hai"

or

"Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him."

[Falijee]

Lions, Tigers, Rhinos and Hanguls and Christians And Hindus have been wiped off from Pakistan

PS: They refused to convert to Malsi !

[Falijee]

Bahria Town Karachi: Greed unlimited
How land authorities and Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd colluded in violating multiple laws to facilitate a massive land grab.

KARACHI: There’s Bollywood music blaring from somewhere. The tables at an outdoor tea stall are packed and waiters rush back and forth with steaming cups in hand. A corncob seller does brisk business at his pushcart. The street is full of cars and people. Every evening, this section of Tauheed Commercial in Defence Housing Authority Phase V throbs with activity, with the anticipation of making an overnight profit. It is a casino of sorts – except that instead of roulette and blackjack, it is a game of real estate that is creating the buzz. The name of that real estate: Bahria Town Karachi (BTK), a sprawling, upmarket gated community being constructed off the Super Highway in the outer reaches of Pakistan’s largest city.

“A 125-square yard space in Midway Commercial has gone up by Rs.9 million in the two years since it came on the market,” said an agent about investment prospects in BTK. “In two years, I guarantee you, it’ll be Rs.80m.”
Another gleefully says that “there is almost no plot left unsold, even in the recently announced Sports City [a neighbourhood within BTK]”. Incidentally, one of these real estate agencies, run by two brothers, is also known for its very large hawala transactions for specific clients.

Would not be surprising if Pak Fauj is behind all this "tamasha" !

According to a land official, “Each form can sell for over Rs.100,000, generating billions in sale and trade of the registration forms alone.”

The multibillion-rupee enterprise known as Bahria Town Karachi depends for its success on the brazen manipulation of the law by the political elite and land officials who, hand-in-glove with influential figures...

On March 19, around midday, several police mobiles led by Inspector Khan Nawaz surrounded Juma Morio goth, a small village of about 250 houses in deh Langheji, district Malir, about 13 kilometres north of the Super Highway. They were accompanied by bulldozers, wheel loaders and dump trucks.
Their objective: to demolish a number of huts and make way for a Bahria Town road through the village. “The job was quickly completed and the rubble hauled away while hapless villagers looked on in a daze, knowing full well there will be no justice for them,” said Ameer Ali, one of the residents.

While Dus-Percenti, supposedly their patron, is "enjoying" himself in Londonistan !

On March 19, around midday, several police mobiles led by Inspector Khan Nawaz surrounded Juma Morio goth, a small village of about 250 houses in deh Langheji, district Malir, about 13 kilometres north of the Super Highway. They were accompanied by bulldozers, wheel loaders and dump trucks.
Their objective: to demolish a number of huts and make way for a Bahria Town road through the village. “The job was quickly completed and the rubble hauled away while hapless villagers looked on in a daze, knowing full well there will be no justice for them,” said Ameer Ali, one of the residents.

Villages in the surrounding area of district Malir are rife with similar accounts of residents being harassed and intimidated into selling or abandoning their land.

Despite the fact that many have land documents to prove their claims of possession, as well as agricultural leases to till the land, resistance is ruthlessly countered. Homes have been levelled, graveyards obliterated, fruit trees uprooted, and tube wells smashed.

Nothing can be done if the Faujis are behind this scheme

Gul Hasan Kalmati, a local historian and chronicler asked in anguish: “According to what law is this opulent complex being constructed for well-to-do-people at the cost of local residents’ ruin and displacement? Is this how the PPP rewards its loyal voters?”

Juma Morio and Ali Mohammed Gabol are among at least 45 goths (villages) that fall within the areas of four dehs of former Gadap Town that are now part of district Malir, and are being affected one way or another by the construction of BTK.

Never before, however, has there been a residential complex quite like the mammoth BTK being constructed by the company that is owned by the redoubtable Malik Riaz. (who is on record saying that he has bribed many important Paki people !)

“The price of a plot in BT Rawalpindi which a friend of mine bought for Rs5m is currently down by half, but there are no takers,” comments Brigadier Iftikhar, an old hand at the game.
Notwithstanding the sordid reality behind Bahria, it seems that those who can, and should, take urgent action against such scandalous land grabs are choosing to look the other way.
Several residents of the area, however, say that is not surprising. “When Malik Riaz can boast with impunity about the bribes he has paid to some of the most powerful in the country, what hope of redressal is there for the dispossessed and the toiling masses of this land?” asked one of them dejectedly.

Nothing short of an uprising by the Aam Abduls (taking to the streets like in Iran ) will solve this problem ( the unexpected results from all this can be very unpredictable !)

[Falijee]

Retired army major, son attacked in Karachi

KARACHI:
A retired major of the Pakistan Army and his son were seriously injured on Monday as unidentified armed men opened fire at their car in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal Block 13-D.
Major (retd) Jameel Kiyani and his son Jibran Kiyani were shifted to the Agha Khan Hospital after their car came under attack, a police superintendent confirmed.

Blowback from the so -called Zarb- e - Azb operations in FATA ?
IMHO, the TTP are very serious in taking "revenge" against the Paki Fauj, not sparing even the retired ones and their families !

[Falijee]

New corruption scandal of Rs 2.32bn surfaces in FO
* Ambassadors not only purchased furniture from education and welfare fund but also got heavy loans from American banks for renovation of Washington embassy

ISLAMABAD: A new corruption scandal of Rs 2.32 billion in Foreign Office has surfaced in which ambassadors posted abroad not only purchased furniture from the education and welfare fund but also got heavy loans from American banks for renovation of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, according to documents submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the public accounts committee.
The documents revealed that Pakistan’s embassy in Washington procured furniture of Rs 80 million from the funds reserved for the education and welfare of the embassy’s staff. The embassy also took loan worth Rs 95 million from a foreign bank without getting prior approval from the Finance Ministry for renovation and decoration of the premises, which is still to be repaid.

The cardinal principle of Fund Accounting (funds ear-marked for specific purposes only!) thrown to the winds! If the Paki Fauj can violate this rule domestically, then what's wrong with the Paki FO, following their masters in Isloo !

The officers of the Foreign Office did not deduct income tax from the bill of the construction company, which resulted in a loss of Rs 2.41 million to the national exchequer.
In another instance, officials of Pakistani Mission in New York drew Rs 6.74 million from national kitty in the name of furniture allowance, despite the fact that the rules and regulations do not provide for any such allowance. The officials also spent Rs 203 million on purchase of some unnecessary items despite a ban imposed by the Finance Ministry.

It should be noted that foreign postings in Pakiland are mainly decided by or sifarash appointment or "sale to the highest bidder" or a combination of both

The officials deputed at the embassies in New Delhi, Glasgow and Male refused to submit documentary proofs to the audit authorities regarding the expenses of Rs 58.77 million. The ambassadors also took Rs 75 million from the national exchequer under the head of rented vehicles and the airfare. The report says that the three ambassadors also took foreign allowance of Rs 1.9 million despite being on leave, whereas five ambassadors did not pay the utility charges of Rs 1.4 million.

Pakistan Foreign Office Women’s Association (PFOWA), an NGO comprising spouses of Foreign Office officers, purchased air tickets of business class against the law from the national kitty for a tour abroad, which incurred a loss of Rs 7.86 million to the national exchequer.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also purchased a double cabin vehicle in the name of foreign minister’s security, whereas the provision of vehicle for the purpose is the responsibility of Cabinet Division.
Dozens of FO officers have got transferred the precious official vehicles in their own name after paying only a token money.

IMO, the above abuse-list is not even 50% complete !

[Falijee]

PM to return tomorrow after concluding London visit CONSPIRACY THEORY # 1

LONDON - According to sources from within the family of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister will return to the country tomorrow (April 19) after concluding his visit to the United Kingdom.
PM Nawaz will return to the country tomorrow from via Luton Airport. Sources from the family also stated that the PM’shealth financial situation has improved and that the doctors financial advisors assured him to travel after declaring his (financial ) condition satisfactory.

‘PM Nawaz will not come back from London’ CONSPIRACY THEORY # 2

KARACHI (Staff Report) – Former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain has predicted that PM Nawaz Sharif went to London to ‘take care’ of Panama leaks issue and that Prime Minister would not come back to Pakistan.
The former state minister, who is facing terror charges in a case registered in North Nazimabad Police Station, passed these comments in a casual media talk in court premises before hearing on Monday.
Dr Asim said that the country’s politicians went on foreign tours to handle situation after Panama leaks.
Asim, a close aide of Zardari, claimed that he has “information” similar to Panama leaks.

PM Nawaz had left for London on April 13 for his medical checkup. According to government ministers, the prime minister had postponed the visit several times earlier due to important commitments.
It was the first time when Prime Minister’s alleged heart condition was disclosed. Situation so greatly improved that his heart is now cured and he is rushing back to take care of "urgent business"

On Sunday, the premier himself said that he would return soon as his health has improved.

Dr Asim was apprehended by Rangers in 2014 and a 90-day remand was acquired from a local court... He allegedly provided safe havens to terrorists in name of ‘medical checkup’.

And he himself was not allowed to go abroad for medical check up !
Take your pick of which version you want to believe ! Paki bookies are still accepting bets but unfortunately the odds are not public knowledge !

[SSridhar]

There is a third version, whether the PM's plane would be allowed to land in Lahore or Islamabad. That would be an irony not lost on anybody, much less Musharraf and the PA!

[Peregrine]

Pakistan may consider visit of Indian investigators to probe Pathankot attack
Islamabad may consider a request from India to allow its investigators to visit Pakistan to further probe the Pathankot attacks.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz stated on Monday that “once the stage [where information has been analysed] is reached and India makes a request, then we will see.”

“I think once the investigation is complete, on the basis of what additional information is required, a decision (to allow Indian investigators to visit) is made,” Aziz told CNN-News18 in an interview.

When asked that High Commissioner Abul Basit recently stated that bilateral dialogue between Pakistan and India was “suspended” and suggested that there was no question of reciprocity in allowing officials from India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) to visit Pakistan, Aziz said that it was not so clear cut.

“I don’t think he (Basit) used that word, he said that right now cooperation is more important than that of reciprocity and doesn’t exclude the option,” Aziz responded adding that the statement that cooperation was more important should not be over-interpreted.

Earlier this month, Basit had indicated that an Indian probe team was unlikely to be allowed to visit Pakistan.

India is hopeful that Islamabad will allow its team of investigators to visit Pakistan to further their probe on the Pathankot attacks.

“We are hopeful that a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) will visit Pakistan soon,” said Indian State Minister for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday, New Indian Express reported.
Cheers

[Falijee]

Amidst Panama Scandal, Ganja Sharif Takes Solace By Indulging In A High End Shopping Therapy !
Nawaz' retail therapy gets Twitter talking

The chorus for resignations and inquiries into ill-gotten wealth may be growing but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif it seems has simply turned a deaf ear to them.
Spotted, once again, at a fancy boutique in London, the premier isn’t going out of his way to stay out of the news. But as they say, a little retail therapy never hurt nobody.

(Very nicely put; specially, when the "indulgee" once in a while also invokes Malsi for political purposes )

In the middle of an unfolding scandal over his family’s offshore wealth, the premier flew to London on April 13 for what his close aides described as a “medical checkup.”
While a video of PM Nawaz at a hospital in London made rounds, pictures of the premier have also surfaced at Scabal, a bespoke tailoring and luxury fabric store, as well as a Rolex outlet at Harrods.
According to reports, the premier along with his son and other staff, went shopping at Harrods and dined at an exclusive restaurant in London.

( Special instructions to the kitchen for diet due to alleged heart condition? )

Earlier, a retail assistant at Scabal had taken to Instagram to post a picture with the premier as he visited the boutique located on London’s Savile Row. However, Sander Heyns, the retail assistant, removed the picture from his Instagram page a day later.

(loss of a "valued client "?)

It is not known whether and what the premier bought during his shopping trips. However, Prime Minister Nawaz’s expensive taste is no secret. In 2013, the premier caused uproar in the National Assembly as PPP’s Shazia Marri revealed a PML-N leader wore a $4.6 million watch (advertised as the world's most expensive watch !). ZeeNews of India and other media outlets at the time reported that it was none other than Nawaz Sharif who was wearing the watch, a Louis Moinet “Meteoris” that does indeed fetch a price of $4.6 million.

(Not to mention the presence of rare animals and birds at the private zoo- in contravention of international laws - at his family estate in Raiwand, near La-Whore !)

The premier was also seen at the Saarc Summit last year with a Gucci scarf wrapped around his neck (pictured above). But recent photographs of his expensive shopping habits emerge as the opposition questions the inclusion of his family in Panama Papers – one of the world’s biggest tax leaks. Panama Papers have revealed that three of Nawaz’s children controlled shell companies through which they owned expensive residential properties in London.

The timing of Nawaz’s visit prompted rumors that he may not return until investigations are complete. But his spokesperson Mussadiq Malik said the prime minister would return to Pakistan early Wednesday as doctors have given him a clean bill of health. ( As compared to him, the " Chai-walla " in the picture is dressed very moderately !)

And then there’s this gem for some perspective.

Three presidents walk into a Rolex store…“@PakDiplomacy President Gul, President Karzai & President Zardari in Ankara pic.twitter.com/mv1PjE7j

(So, he is not the only one who believes in retail therapy !)

[Falijee]

Pakistan condemns Kabul terror attack

PM Nawaz promises probe into Panama Papers as he leaves for Pakistan

Posting the two items together as they both belong to the same category ( for domestic and foreign audience) i.e. no serious intention to implement ( or to deflect attention if blamed for Kabul attack ) .

[Falijee]

RAW ‘plans’ kidnapping Pak military officers for Yadav bargain
Posted In Full

LAHORE - RAW is planning to kidnap officers of Pakistani secret services from Pakistani territory for a possible swap with Commander Kulbhusan Yadav, a high-profile Indian spy caught last month from Balochistan.Security agencies officials told The Nation yesterday that Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) with the connivance of Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) has planned kidnapping Pakistani intelligence officers from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.Yadav, who was New Delhi’s chief spy for Balochistan and Karachi operations, was caught by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) at Pak-Afghan border after a long-drawn catch operation codenamed ‘Blue Bird’.The arrested spy, who is an Indian Naval Commander equaling the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the army, is the biggest catch in the history of counter-espionage of Islamabad and New Delhi, and RAW is too upset at this bust.According to the plan, Pakistan Army officers of at least Lt-Col rank – preferably belonging to intelligence agencies – would be kidnapped, said the security agencies officials quoting an inter-agencies memo cum threat warning.The two intelligence agencies, RAW and NDS, ( So, this time Iran is not working against the brotherly Islamic nation of Pakiland ) can also make bids to kidnap officers of air force and navy of the ranks equivalent to an army Lt-Col, they added quoting the memo. !)[/b]The plan was made in two meetings of RAW-NDS nexus, one of which took place somewhere in Kandhar province of Afghanistan and the other at the outskirts of Kabul, the sources added.Interior ministry officials when contacted confirmed this information but declined to share any details.The information about the plan to free Yadav came through both human intelligence and communication intercepts, revealed the security sources when asked about it.The aforesaid two meetings took place last week and the information reached to the counter-espionage sections of Pakistani secret agencies within few hours of the meetings, they said.Following the information, commanders of all intelligence services of the armed forces have been asked to direct all their sections to take extreme precautionary measures, they added.Dhanush ( No Islamic names please, we are Yindoos! ) is the codename of the operation to free Yadav, while the codename to kidnap Pakistani secret services members is Trishul, said the security agencies officials quoting the memo.The intelligence services of the army had caught three sleeper cells of RAW and NDS from Balochistan who were monitoring the movements of the military personnel. However, it was yet to be determined if the busted cells too were part of the kidnapping plan, they added.The hunt for the senior RAW operative, Yadav, was on for more than one and a half year under a secret operation codenamed ‘Blue Bird’. After his arrest, a number of other members of his spy ring were hunted down by the ISI, but more are to be pinned down.The arrested officer is Commander of Indian Navy who was assigned to RAW’s Office of Special Operations in 2013 after his relieve from Indian Naval Intelligence Directorate. Yadav worked under the command of Joint Secretary RAW, Area-1 (Pakistan Desk). The mentioned section of RAW, which is India’s external security service, is responsible for launching offensive actions on targeted states.Yadav told interrogators that he had very “specific” instructions from his top bosses that said, “Keep Balochistan and Karachi burning. Paralyze the CPEC and the seaports of Pakistan.”The Indian foreign ministry had confirmed the arrested man was member of its naval corps but said he was a retired officer – a claim which Pakistani secret services are not ready to accept following his shocking disclosures.

The above farticle is "rich in details" ; so, the ISI field desk officer in Isloo must have had "lots of time" to write this novel

[Falijee]

Foreign Paki (probably illegal !) Eating Nehari and Haleem Every Day But Still Complaining About His Grocery Bills In Dar-ul- Harb !

[Just Desi Things] Struggles of living abraaad. Two grocery bills. (self.pakistan)

submitted 12 hours ago by Americatxs2300

Mine - There are always two grocery bills. One of foods you buy from American grocery stores, such as cookies, vegetables, fruits, ice creams, bread etc. And then there is the desi grocery bill. This includes all the masalas, basmati rice, and the most important...halal meat.
Probably, blissfully unaware that Amreeki Ice Cream and Cookies most likely also include gelatin and other pig ingredients

I have never compared with others, but personally I think desis pay a lot more for food than their non-Pakistani contemporaries. I don't buy alcohol, I bet that saves money.

Here is my desi grocery bill. Your know I am about to get Nihari this weekend! Followed by Jello (most likely non-halal!).

http://imgur.com/nsDG6z2

[JE Menon]

>>“Keep Balochistan and Karachi burning. Paralyze the CPEC and the seaports of Pakistan.”

Seriously, these guys are so inept. Not worthy. Just unsophisticated murderers and thugs.

[Prem]

RAW ‘plans’ kidnapping Pak military officers for Yadav bargain
Posted In Full
After his arrest, a number of other members of his spy ring were hunted down by the ISI, but more are to be pinned down.The arrested officer is Commander of Indian Navy who was assigned to RAW’s Office of Special Operations in 2013 after his relieve from Indian Naval Intelligence Directorate. Yadav worked under the command of Joint Secretary RAW, Area-1 (Pakistan Desk). The mentioned section of RAW, which is India’s external security service, is responsible for launching offensive actions on targeted states.Yadav told interrogators that he had very “specific” instructions from his top bosses that said, “Keep Balochistan and Karachi burning.The above farticle is "rich in details" ; so, the ISI field desk officer in Isloo must have had "lots of time" to write this novel

He must had read my tweet that Indians will pick whole bunch of ISI terrorists from near abroad region if Paki do not behave like taimed humane animals in this case.

[Falijee]

A Plea To Modi-ji For Helping Balochistan

Why fighting for Balochistan is key to Modi's Pakistan policy]

Activists fighting for a cause, especially one that has a lot of popular emotion attached to it, are usually loud and shrill when holding forth at public fora. They tend to be belligerent and turn excessively aggressive if their views are contradicted.

Hence listening to professor Naela Quadri Baloch at a recent discussion on Balochistan organised by the Observer Research Foundation came as a pleasant surprise. She was soft-spoken yet firm, persuasive yet polite. She presented her case, or rather the case for free Balochistan, without taking recourse to either maudlin sentiments or theatrical hyperbole.

Much of the story of Balochistan is uncluttered and uncontested, provided we do not pay undue attention and attach unwarranted credibility to Pakistan's claims.

The Khan of Kalat, which comprised nearly all of Balochistan barring three minor principalities, was not too eager to accede to Pakistan.

Since its violent Caesarian birth, assisted by a scalpel-wielding Britain, on August 14, 1947, Pakistan has been as deceitful as its Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was during his brief and bitter life as the ruler of a moth-eaten country, one half of which fell off the map in 1971.

There are several similarities between the Pakistani army committing hideous crimes in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) and Balochistan. Mass killings, rape of women, laying human habitations to waste, targeted assassinations, Bangladesh saw it all during its Liberation War of 1971. Balochistan continues to witness these horrors

Today, both Pakistan and Iran are leveraging that strategic importance to further their own economic and security interests.
India's position on Balochistan has been, at best, ambivalent. Notwithstanding the arrest of an Indian national (Pakistan claims he is a "RAW agent" and was arrested on its side of the Goldsmith Line; there are credible claims he was arrested by the Iranians and handed over to the ISI) it would be silly to imagine a grand Indian conspiracy in action. New Delhi has long been incapable of doing what Indira Gandhi did in 1970-71.

One possible option is for India to declare moral and diplomatic support for the freedom movement in Balochistan, while calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. That would require gumption. Indeed, it would need the political courage of Mrs Gandhi coupled with popular support for a righteous cause that India believes in.

But if Mrs Gandhi, prime minister of an impoverished nation, could turn up her nose at what the world thought, surely Narendra Modi, prime minister of the fastest growing economy, too can. A successful Balochistan policy premised on India's historical association with just causes would also lead to the forging of a successful Pakistan policy. Is the government game?

India should covertly and actively (on the diplomatic front ) help Balochistan in its quest for independence

[Falijee]

PM Nawaz returns to Pakistan after medical financial check-up cum shopping trip in London

[Peregrine]

Cwapistani Snakes come home to bite. May their Tribe Increase and Prosper!

Militants target police in Karachi; 7 cops martyred

KARACHI: At least seven police personnel were martyred when unidentified armed men targeted their mobiles in Orangi town on Wednesday

Police sources said the police mobiles were deployed for the security of polio team.

Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal confirmed that two separate firing incidents had taken place.

He confirmed that the polio vaccination campaign has been temporarily halted in Orangi Town.

Cheers

[Falijee]

Man summoned by JuD ‘sharia court’ moves LHC

LAHORE: A property developer summoned by ‘Shariat Court’ of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) on a complaint regarding a monetary dispute has moved the Lahore High Court, seeking action against Qazi (judge) of the organisation’s ‘court’ for running a parallel judicial system.

The petitioner says he received summons written on the letter pad of ‘Darul Qaza Al-Sharia’ Jamat-ud-Dawa, Masjid Al-Qadsia, Chauburji, Lahore, with a direction to appear before its ‘arbitration court of Sharia’.

The petitioner urged the court to order the respondent authorities to look into the matter and take action against the organisation for committing illegal acts and for subverting the Constitution by establishing a parallel judicial system.

Slowly and surely the so-called Sharia Court is making the necessary in-roads in the corrupted ridden Paki court system prevailing in the urban areas ; the Pakjab and the Central Govts are currently pre occupied with other urgent matters like the fallout from the Panama scandals, the hunt for "bad" terrorists, the Balochistan uprising etc etc ; some sort of Sharia/ primitive justice system is already functioning in most of the rural/remote areas of Pakistan where honor and/or revenge killing, frontier justice, collective punishment, are making headlines in the press!

[Gagan]

Pakistan's latest gambit is to try and raise fears in ever suspicious and paranoid Iran that the Balochistan movement in Pakistan will one day affect Iran too.

The iranians for all their history, and potential for development in the future, are a very insecure nation,whose intel agencies have a long and colourful history of sponsoring terrorism.

So India's cooperation with Iran is welcome, and the need of the hour, that will benefit both India and Iran even more, but one has to realize that Iran is not a completely 'normal' country...
It is somewhere between a Pakistan and an Arab fiefdom, literally.

[Gagan]

These shararat courts must be making a tidy sum for the mullahs by charging "court fees" for the onerous task of dispensing justice.
We all know what MASLI justice is like - it is a very open, khullam khulla, pay-your-way-out-of-jail, system, where there is even a price for freedom after something like murder.

One can only imagine the money involved in running a system like this.

[rsingh]

Man summoned by JuD ‘sharia court’ moves LHC

LAHORE: A property developer summoned by ‘Shariat Court’ of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) on a complaint regarding a monetary dispute has moved the Lahore High Court, seeking action against Qazi (judge) of the organisation’s ‘court’ for running a parallel judicial system.

The petitioner says he received summons written on the letter pad of ‘Darul Qaza Al-Sharia’ Jamat-ud-Dawa, Masjid Al-Qadsia, Chauburji, Lahore, with a direction to appear before its ‘arbitration court of Sharia’.

The petitioner urged the court to order the respondent authorities to look into the matter and take action against the organisation for committing illegal acts and for subverting the Constitution by establishing a parallel judicial system.

Slowly and surely the so-called Sharia Court is making the necessary in-roads in the corrupted ridden Paki court system prevailing in the urban areas ; the Pakjab and the Central Govts are currently pre occupied with other urgent matters like the fallout from the Panama scandals, the hunt for "bad" terrorists, the Balochistan uprising etc etc ; some sort of Sharia/ primitive justice system is already functioning in most of the rural/remote areas of Pakistan where honor and/or revenge killing, frontier justice, collective punishment, are making headlines in the press!

WTF for a moment I thought of Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

[SSridhar]

WTF for a moment I thought of Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

You made my day at the fag end before going to bed.

[Gagan]

Ab Sindh maange Azaadi - Jinnah ka chutiyapa khatam !

Sindh aazadi maangta hai! Sindh Ghureti Aazadi!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxYHWSLtpEM

[Gagan]

AoA


That red flag with a white circle and a black axe in a hand is Sindhudesh movement flag, and the not-so-far-in-the-future independent Sindhudesh's National Flag

[Falijee]

11 Chemistry Undergraduate Students Receive PhD Admission Offers from Top Tier Universities

Keeping the tradition alive, LUMS undergraduate students in Chemistry have received fully funded PhD admission offers from some of the world’s best universities. Twelve out of the fourteen senior students of the current undergraduate batch in Chemistry applied for admission to PhD programmes and eleven have already received offers from multiple universities in USA including

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
University of Chicago
John Hopkins University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
University of California, Santa Barbara
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Texas A & M University
University of Utah
Virginia Tech
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Michigan State University
University of Kansas
Arizona State University

This is an outstanding achievement for the Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering (SBASSE) at LUMS in general and the Department of Chemistry in particular, because for the last several years almost all of the undergraduate students in Chemistry, who applied for admission to the PhD programmes, have received fully funded admission offers from the world’s best institutions in USA and Europe. This level of success of chemistry undergraduate students in Pakistan is unique to LUMS only and reflects the quality of LUMS students, strength of our programmes and the continuous efforts of the faculty to bring a paradigm shift in Science & Engineering education in Pakistan.

IMHO, it is a little bit premature to start celebrating the "quality of LUMS students, strength of our programme, blah, blah blah; getting admission in top Amreeki Universities is one thing, and getting a US student visa on the notorious Green Passport, specially in a sensitive discipline like Chemistry ( where knowledge gained may be applied towards the cause of IT ! ) is a horse of a different colour; in the wake of 9/11 and subsequent events, US Govt and officialdom may pay lip service to this strategic - non -NATO al-lie, but when it comes to safeguarding their security interest, they cannot afford to take chances even on a student visa; look what happened when the the sifarish induced spousal visa was given to Tafsheen Malik! the results were devastating

[Falijee]

Accountability a joke in Pakistan after Musharraf’s release: Bilawal

KARACHI (Staff Report) – Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that release of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has made accountability a joke in Pakistan.
In a message on micro-blogging website Twitter, Bilawal went on to say that ‘holy cow syndrome’ undermines rule of law and legitimacy of institutions, while referring to a tradition of selective justice in Pakistan.

A separate press release issued by PPP quoted Bilawal as saying “lack of fair and transparent mechanism to curb corruption caused too much loss to our nation.” New generation is fully aware of the fact that accountability had been used as tool to target selective individuals for political rivalries, he added.

The statement comes a day after Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif said that across the board accountability is necessary for the solidarity, integrity and prosperity of Pakistan. Country’s Armed Forces will fully support every meaningful effort in that direction which would ensure a better future for our next generations, the Army Chief further added.
Politicians and media commentators are considering the statement of General Raheel significant in a time when opposition parties are already demanding an inquiry into the Panama Papers leak which exposed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons own offshore companies.
Earlier last month, former President General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf was allowed to leave the country for medical treatment purposes while he was being tried for high treason charges at a special court.
Government’s move to remove Musharraf’s name from Exit Control List (ECL) had received criticism from different political parties. Musharraf’s pictures, which showed him heading his political party’s meetings in Dubai, released immediately after he left Pakistan had further fanned the fire.

BBZ should know by now that "selective justice" is the norm in Pakistan ! inspite of overwhelming evidence of looting government funds, loan defaults, salting aid money abroad, embezzlement, false income tax returns, living beyond means of known sources of income, and the latest - the Panama Scandal, Ganja is so "shameless" that he still does not vacate the "in-name only post of Prime Minister" !

[Falijee]

Pak Army Colonization Of Balochistan
Worrying development: Field notes on war and peace in Balochistan

Gwadar is bustling. The parking area at the port town’s only five-star hotel, located on the Koh-e-Batil mountain that intrudes southwards deep into the sea, is often so packed with vehicles that drivers have to wait in queues just to get in. Diners and boarders have to book days in advance to reserve a table or get a room.
Only a year ago, the same parking lot always afforded plenty of empty space, the hotel’s restaurants were semi-functional and its rooms mostly empty.

Back to the present, the visitors Gwadar receives – construction contractors, government officials, property buyers and dealers, and the occasional tourist – have become so numerous that every big and small hotel along the town’s harbour road has raised its room rent. A room that was available for around a thousand rupees a few months ago can now be attained for three times – and in some cases, even four times – as much.

And it is not just the hotels. The buying and selling of property has registered a noticeable boom, as have real estate prices. In some cases, residential and commercial plots are selling at 10 to 12 times the cost they would fetch two years ago. Haji Ghani, president of the Gwadar Property Dealers Association, says ...

Ghani attributes this phenomenal surge in land prices to the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that involves, among other development projects, the construction of a road network to link Gwadar with the Chinese city of Kashgar.

The provincial government of Balochistan has launched the Gwadar Safe City project, with financial help from the federal authorities. The main objective of the project is to provide security to the Chinese companies intending to invest in the city’s export processing zones and to safeguard the technical, technological and other infrastructure that they will require, officials say. About 800 retired army and police personnel have already been hired for the project, they add.

Pakistan’s premier military training academy in Kakul is being expanded to train the recruits for this force. The military authorities have requested the federal finance department to allocate funds for the start of the recruitment and training process, newspaper reports from Islamabad say.

The only people not in the loop about all this are the citizens of Gwadar: shopkeepers, white-collar workers in government departments, fishermen, peasants and shepherds.

Who will get work in the Chinese factories being set up in the export processing zone? Who will be recruited in the provincial and federal security apparatus being created to secure development schemes? Who is buying land in Gwadar?
Many local residents are raising these questions quite regularly. There is also widespread fear that the local inhabitants could be thrown out of their ancestral lands to accommodate factories and roads as well as people who will come from the outside to run those factories and use those roads.

Away from the hustle and bustle of Gwadar, those living in the coastal backwaters of Pasni are struggling with other questions — poverty and security being chief among them. Younus, a local boat maker with meagre means and no access to law enforcement authorities, waited here three years for the return of his youngest son, Yousuf, after he was picked up by the Frontier Constabulary (FC) on the night of February 1, 2013.

The FC men in uniform along with local police came to my house and took away Yousuf. When I approached a police station, the officials there advised me to keep quiet;

He is so scared of getting noticed by the security forces that he refuses to meet the Herald for an interview at his own residence or any other public place. The interview takes place in a moving car.

Three years later, on January 26, 2016, he got his son back — dead. “A police official came to see me at home very late that night and told me to receive the dead body of my son from Civil Hospital in Pasni,” Younus says.

Younus says he and his family have nothing to do with politics, especially of the Baloch nationalist type. “In elections, we always vote for the JUI–F [Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam–Fazl).”

No newspaper, national or provincial, or television channel carried the story of his son’s killing. Only BBC Urdu published a small news report datelined Quetta and based on an FC press statement.

These news reports also suggest that there has been a phenomenal increase in such encounter killings. The FC is reported to have killed 87 suspected Baloch militants in 31 operations between November 2015 and February 2016.

In Gwadar, for instance, it is public knowledge that a brigadier of the Pakistan Army is the actual head of the local administration. He even chairs meetings convened to consider solutions for water shortage in the town, says a mid-ranking officer of the civil administration in Gwadar.

Abdul Hameed, a Turbat-based senior lawyer and a former chairman of the Balochistan Bar Council, repeats these allegations. “In order to provide security to the CPEC projects, the army seems to have been placed above the local administration, which is receiving orders from an army officer,” he says. He fears that the pattern of governance being practiced in Gwadar could be an omen for something worse to come for the local people: “Gwadar district could be declared a federal territory.”

If and when that happens, he warns, it will help the militants stage a comeback and claim that development projects are meant to take control of Balochistan’s resources. Islamabad must avoid isolating the Baloch people from the development process if it really wants to resolve the conflict in Balochistan, Hameed remarks.

IMO, the Pak Army and the Pakjabi dominated administration is repeating the same " East Pakistan " mistake

[Prem]

Indian options in Balochistan

[Gagan]

^^^
WRT these two videos by jujhar ji & me, and many others about Gilgit Baltistan all demanding freedom from Pakistan, the Pakjabis won't last another 10 years.
In all past instances of indo-pak conflicts, the Pakistani fauj has taken matters into their own hands and tried a military misadventure.

With all non-punjabi provinces having freedom movements, things are going to heat up for pakistan very badly! Add to this the economy sinking, and most of the big netas in hiding outside the country, massa soon to minimize jazia payments, we are witnessing the begining of the end of Pakistan.

[ramana]

^^^
WRT these two videos by jujhar ji & me, and many others about Gilgit Baltistan all demanding freedom from Pakistan, the Pakjabis won't last another 10 years.
In all past instances of indo-pak conflicts, the Pakistani fauj has taken matters into their own hands and tried a military misadventure.

With all non-punjabi provinces having freedom movements, things are going to heat up for pakistan very badly! Add to this the economy sinking, and most of the big netas in hiding outside the country, massa soon to minimize jazia payments, we are witnessing the begining of the end of Pakistan.

I also think Pak military has currently staged a defacto coup.
Its not dejure as that would cut off all US aid.
This military non-coup is with US state dept blessing.

[SSridhar]

Pakistan’s war on all fronts - G.Parthasarathy, Business Line

Pakistan is one of the few countries today that puts its defence minister in virtual purdah. All those who deal with Pakistan have heard of, or seen, the ubiquitous General Raheel Sharif. Does anybody, however, know the name of the person who holds the high office of defence minister in Pakistan?

The peripatetic Gen Sharif is in Washington one day, in Kabul the next. He also frequently travels with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. When VIPs, including Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, or US Vice-President Joe Biden visit Pakistan, they visit the GHQ to pay respects to the army chief. But the defence minister, Khwaja Asif, a Muslim League stalwart, is rarely seen or heard.

No gumption

Pakistan’s defence ministry hardly has the gumption or authority, to turn down anything that the army chief, based in Rawalpindi, says or does. Raheel Sharif has never been seen accompanying, meeting or talking to the hapless Khwaja Asif. He is only seen sitting opposite or beside Nawaz Sharif, behaving like a co-equal of the prime minister.

Even federal ministers and the prime minister’s brother and chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, have to seek permission to meet the regal Raheel Sharif in his hallowed GHQ.

The army regards itself as being above the law, disregarding notices from the Supreme Court on its operations in Baluchistan and undermining the court’s efforts to bring former president Pervez Musharraf to book for violating Pakistan’s constitution. Given this exalted role of the GHQ, one was surprised to recently read a widely publicised statement made to a parliamentary committee by Pakistan’s defence secretary. Incidentally, given their contempt for “bloody civilians”, the Pakistan army routinely insists that the defence secretary should be a retired army officer.

Defence Secretary Lt-Gen Alam Khattak told the parliamentary committee on April 6 that India’s ‘infamous’ R &AW had set up a ‘special cell’ to sabotage the much-hyped ‘China-Pakistan economic corridor’ which, the Pakistan army believes, is the ‘magic wand’ to solve all the country’s economic ills. Khattak’s statement the came day after Raheel Sharif said the same thing, while blaming India for “destabilizing” Pakistan.

Khattak added the usual ‘masala’ to his statement by alleging that the Indian consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan were working with that country’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), the Afghan counterpart of the ISI, by carrying out “subversive activities” in Baluchistan and the Pashtun tribal areas of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan.

Old allegations

Such allegations against India are not new. The recent addition has been references to that ‘notorious’ Indian ‘spy’, Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was first said to have been arrested along the border with Afghanistan and was later claimed to have been arrested in Baluchistan.

But, here again, Pakistan finds itself in a bind. By denying India customary ‘consular access’ to an arrested Indian national, statements made by Jadhav while under Pakistani custody will be seen to have been made under coercion. If Pakistan releases him, which seems unlikely for the present, Jadhav will sing a different tune and severely embarrass his captors with the many truths he will reveal.

The Jadhav episode has also cast a shadow on Pakistan’s efforts to mend its strained relations with Iran. The bumptious Raheel Sharif chose not to be present when Nawaz Sharif met the visiting Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani. With his customary swagger stick in his hand, he separately met Rouhani the next day.

The obedient army spokesman dutifully tweeted that his exalted boss had given “evidence” to the Iranian president about the ‘evil’ Indians using Iranian soil to destabilise the exalted Islamic Republic of Pakistan. An obviously irritated Rouhani bristled with anger when he was asked about this, noting that India, like Pakistan, was a friendly country. The Iranian embassy reiterated this a few days later.

All this is occurring at a time when Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are going through a critical phase. With great difficulty and with significant help from Sirajuddin Haqqani, the head of the infamous Taliban-linked Haqqani Network, the ISI has united a number of top Taliban leaders, including members of Mullah Omar’s family, with its handpicked protégé, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. The ISI calculation had been that with the Obama administration beating a hasty retreat from Afghanistan, its Taliban protégés would take over, with China facilitating this process of transition.

China obviously expects that a Pakistan-sponsored regime in Kabul would help it eliminate the insurgency by its Muslim population in Xinjiang province {and, also garner all projects in Afghanistan as other nations either hesitate to deal with the Taliban or Pakistan steam-rolls the Taliban into a most favoured alliance with the Chinese}. With the Taliban determined to seize control of more and more territory, one can expect heavy casualties in the ensuing months in Afghanistan. More so as the China-US-Pakistan peace talks, which are said to “Afghan-led” and “Afghan-owned”, are going to be headed nowhere.

Lack of foresight

Pakistan cannot remain unaffected by the conflict across the Durand Line. Raheel Sharif’s Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the Pashtun tribal areas has resulted in nearly one million Pashtun tribespeople being uprooted from their homes, with bleak prospects of early return and rehabilitation. The Tehriq-e-Taliban, now operating from Afghan soil, has hit back, with attacks on institutions in Pakistan linked to the Pakistani military. For the first time, the army is fighting its citizens in all four provinces of Pakistan.

With Pashtuns comprising around one-fourth of the army, its generals will have to start looking at the reliability of its Pashtun soldiers. Raheel Sharif has obviously learnt nothing from history. The only time Punjabi soldiers prevailed over the Pashtuns was when they were under the command of a Sikh general, Hari Singh Nalwa, during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sadly for Pakistan, Raheel Sharif does not have the leadership attributes of Nalwa.

It is clear that the present dispensation in Pakistan has neither the imagination nor the foresight to escape the inevitable consequences of its blunders in Afghanistan.

Moreover, after the revelations of the Sharif family’s off-shore accounts in Panama, Pakistan’s prime minister himself faces an uncertain future and tempestuous times ahead.

While continuing a process of engagement with Pakistan, India should not have exaggerated expectations of any significant ‘breakthrough’. Raheel Sharif should be left to stew in his own juice along Pakistan’s western frontiers.

The writer is a former High Commissioner to Pakistan

[Melwyn]

I recently came to know that Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan are formal members of UNPO, all fighting for independence from Pakistanis.

Sindhudesh

Wiki says so about UNPO :

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), formed on the 11 February 1991[3][4] in The Hague, Netherlands, is an international pro-democracy organization. Its purpose is to facilitate the voices of unrepresented and marginalised nations and peoples worldwide. Technically, it is not a non-governmental organization (NGO), as some of its members are governments or government agencies of unrecognized states.

Its members consist of indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognised or occupied territories. The organization trains groups in how to advocate their causes effectively. Some former members, such as Armenia, East Timor, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, and Palau, have gained full independence and joined the United Nations.