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THe oil lobby has gone on step in DC and has secured its interest in DC in the last few years. What we see is that the OIL Lobby, the Arab Lobby and the Muslim lobby have been working overtime in DC to connect the oil supplies to the US economy and US foriegn policy towards Middle East. Pkistan has latched onto this large umbrella lobby.CRamS wrote:Guys, am I missing something or is there something intriguing going on behind the scenes between TSP and US. Reason I ask is both democract and republican platforms and conventions hardly uttered the P word. They have the usual "bad guys", Iran, NK, Hugo Chavez etc, but not a word on TSP. This is unlike 4 years ago when TSP dominated the airwaves. Whats going on?
Not sure if that's really a bad thing.Acharya wrote: One of my friend says literally the DC is crowded with Pakistani lobby and Indians do not find any space at all.
Sorry for being OT but is it allowed in Sharia for a non-mehram to nurse a woman even if she is sick ?There was one particular incident from the life of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) where a Jewish woman threw garbage at him every day.
Her intention was to provoke an aggressive retaliation from him side but her persistent attempts led to no avail. He took the same route each day, knowing she would be there to throw garbage on him and she continued with her daily ritual. One day when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) passed by her place, he was surprised that there was no garbage thrown at him. He knocked at her door to inquire about her, only to find that she was unwell and had no one to attend to her. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) took it upon himself to nurse her till she got well again.
By the way, I have heard this story told several different ways. Has anyone asked why that woman took time everyday to throw garbage at Mohammad?VikasRaina wrote:Sorry for being OT but is it allowed in Sharia for a non-mehram to nurse a woman even if she is sick ?There was one particular incident from the life of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) where a Jewish woman threw garbage at him every day.
Her intention was to provoke an aggressive retaliation from him side but her persistent attempts led to no avail. He took the same route each day, knowing she would be there to throw garbage on him and she continued with her daily ritual. One day when the Holy Prophet (PBUH) passed by her place, he was surprised that there was no garbage thrown at him. He knocked at her door to inquire about her, only to find that she was unwell and had no one to attend to her. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) took it upon himself to nurse her till she got well again.
Lord Krishna Himself is unambiguously identified as being of a dark blue-black complexion, similar to some Africans, while Radha is light-skinned. Pakis who are eager to play the masculine conquering Krishna to India's feminine Radha might find their racist heads exploding in confusion when they realize Lord Krishna's color. I hope to be able to live to see that.shiv wrote:KLNMurthy wrote:"stating that India was like Radha and Pakistan like Krishna."
Someone should tell pakis that Krishna is black.Yes.
Krishnaphalakam means blackboard in Sanskrit, and krishnapaksha is that half of the lunar month when the moon wanes and nights get darker.
The President, in a message on the Defence Day of Pakistan, said that Pakistan was a moderate, tolerant and peaceful nation, where political choices were made by the ballot.
Maybe we need a burqa thread on how to break this hold?Suppiah wrote:It will be practically impossible to penetrate the inner circle of dynasty comprised of Beijing puppet fake intellectuals and Stalinist yellow journalists who have incredible access to corridors of power and act as fixers, and manipulate public opinion through media...look at all the Rahul is great, Priyanka is even greater type of stuff that North Koreans too would find a bit too much..ChandraV wrote: People like us, the great Indian middle class, will finally manage to get our voices heard bythe powers-that-be.by other middle class bloggers and tweeters.
it take two hands to generate BS of this level. We listen to these things with a straight face and pretend that the emperor is not really naked.SSridhar wrote:I don't know how he said all those glowing adjectives with a straight face !
Jam Bazaar in Pakistan is cramped with guns, pistols and marijuana, living proof of a booming market in what hawkers call the best medicine or "black gold" in the world.
This may be conservative Muslim country, where women are confined to their homes and alcohol banned, but marijuana is a much loved indulgence. So much so, people are forking out double if not triple the cash to feed their habit.
"Everyone is tense, everyone is depressed and hash is the easiest available remedy. People use it to forget their worries," said Kamal Khan, a 51-year-old English teacher, eagerly rolling a cigarette.
Pacquis are so far down the hole now that they probably don't know which way is up anymore. They believe their own lies.SSridhar wrote:I don't know how he said all those glowing adjectives with a straight face !
How is that?archan wrote:Not sure if that's really a bad thing.Acharya wrote: One of my friend says literally the DC is crowded with Pakistani lobby and Indians do not find any space at all.
It's all about operation in NWA. Paki have been told to act or Uncle will act. Both are equally bad choices for the Paki.CRamS wrote:Guys, am I missing something or is there something intriguing going on behind the scenes between TSP and US. Reason I ask is both democract and republican platforms and conventions hardly uttered the P word. They have the usual "bad guys", Iran, NK, Hugo Chavez etc, but not a word on TSP. This is unlike 4 years ago when TSP dominated the airwaves. Whats going on?
Not OutAcharya wrote:How is that?Acharya wrote: One of my friend says literally the DC is crowded with Pakistani lobby and Indians do not find any space at all
Not sure if that's really a bad thing.
Brad Goodman wrote:Pakistan conflict fuels marijuana boomJam Bazaar in Pakistan is cramped with guns, pistols and marijuana, living proof of a booming market in what hawkers call the best medicine or "black gold" in the world.
This may be conservative Muslim country, where women are confined to their homes and alcohol banned, but marijuana is a much loved indulgence. So much so, people are forking out double if not triple the cash to feed their habit."Everyone is tense, everyone is depressed and hash is the easiest available remedy. People use it to forget their worries," said Kamal Khan, a 51-year-old English teacher, eagerly rolling a cigarette.
The greatgrandchildren of Prophets grandson Hussain, fled to Sind & took refuge with Raja Dahir @koolrahul_2010 @hk87004585 @taslimanasreen
Jhujar wrote:Ungrateful Paki Khotte worship MBQ and curse Dahir
Tarek Fatah @TarekFatahThe greatgrandchildren of Prophets grandson Hussain, fled to Sind & took refuge with Raja Dahir @koolrahul_2010 @hk87004585 @taslimanasreen
ramana wrote:Ungrateful Paki Khotte worship MBQ and curse Dahir
Tarek Fatah @TarekFatah
The greatgrandchildren of Prophets grandson Hussain, fled to Sind & took refuge with Raja Dahir @koolrahul_2010 @hk87004585 @taslimanasreen
Was this another primary reason for the Sunni invasions of Sind?
A suicide bomber blew himself up outside a police station in northwestern Pakistan after officers opened fire on him on Wednesday, police said, adding that there were no other casualties.
The incident took place outside Jandol police station in the mountainous Lower Dir district, one of the tribal areas bordering Pakistan where Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants have strongholds.
"A man was coming towards the police station, when police shouted to stop him he began running and blew himself up when police started firing," senior police official Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told AFP.
There were no other casualties or damage, he said.
http://dawn.com/2012/09/05/us-pressurin ... ine-looms/Dipanker wrote:It's all about operation in NWA. Paki have been told to act or Uncle will act. Both are equally bad choices for the Paki.
WASHINGTON: The United States is keeping up pressure on the Pakistan-linked Haqqani network, a US official said Wednesday, just days ahead of a congressional deadline on whether to designate it a terrorist group.“We’ve been pretty clear for a long time… that the US policy is to put pressure on the Haqqani network,” acting US State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell told journalists.“That includes both the sanctions we have already disclosed, but also military pressure as well.”US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she will meet an obligation to decide by Sunday whether the Haqqani network should be considered terrorists.US lawmakers have pressed her to blacklist the group, but some US officials have warned such a move could further fray already fragile ties with Pakistan.US officials have linked the Haqqani network to some of the boldest attacks in Afghanistan including a June assault on a hotel near Kabul that killed 18 people and a siege last year of the US embassy.Clinton last week declined comment on which way she is leaning, but said the United States was already “putting steady pressure” on the Haqqani network.“That is part of what our military does every single day along with our ISAF partners,” she said, referring to the NATO-led force in Afghanistan.“We are drying up their resources, we are targeting their military and intelligence personnel, we are pressing the Pakistanis to step up their own efforts,” she said during a visit to the Cook Islands
By Zafar Bhutta - Published: September 4, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has shelved plans to import petrol, diesel and all other petroleum products from India till 2014 due to difference in product specifications used in both countries.
Pakistani refineries produce zero-euro quality oil whereas Indian refineries produce Euro-3 and Euro-4 quality oil, which is cleaner and more environmentally friendly fuel. Pakistan is still preparing a road map to introduce Euro-2, Euro-3 and Euro-4 for clean energy in the country.
“Pakistani refineries have been tasked to produce-Euro-2 quality diesel till July 2014 and therefore the government wants to shelve the plan of oil trade with India till then,” official said adding that the other reason is Pakistan has penned an oil supply contract with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) till 2014.
An official of the Engineering Development Board (EDB) said that the use of Euro-3 and Euro-4 would cause technology shift and therefore it would be difficult to run existing vehicles on fuel produced in India.
“Different specifications of petroleum products have barred the countries to reach any agreement,” a senior government official said. Pakistan, during talks held in New Delhi in the second week of July, had asked Indian refineries to change specifications to meet requirements of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) operating in Pakistan but they refused to do so.
“We have long-term agreements of supplying oil with certain specifications to IPPs,” the official said.
The other stumbling block is the high cost of transportation due to long distance. Indian refineries that produce furnace oil are located in the south of the country and cater markets of Sri Lanka and Singapore.
In case petrol and diesel, Indian refineries are producing Euro-3 compliant fuel for remote areas of the country whereas Euro-4 quality fuel is being supplied to big cities like New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. These fuels are most environmentally friendly whereas Pakistani refineries except Pak-Arab Refinery Limited (Parco) are producing low quality petrol and diesel.
On the other hand, Pakistan is using better quality furnace oil with 3.5% sulphur content while neighbours produce furnace oil with sulphur content ranging between 4% and 4.5%.
Pakistani refineries collected over Rs150 billion from consumers in the last several years under a special tax deemed duty. The amount was supposed to be used for upgrading plants to produce Euro compliant fuel but oil refineries except Parco failed to do so. Refineries are now demanding permission to charge more in order to collect $1 billion from consumers to upgrade plants to produce Euro-2 compliant petroleum products.
The other reason is that Pakistan plans to meet only 20% to 25% of its needs for petroleum products from India to avoid overreliance on the old rival due to security concerns. “We will continue to import oil from Kuwait and other Gulf countries in a bid to ensure secured supplies,” a government official said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2012.
By Nadir Hassan - Published: September 5, 2012
The writer is a freelance journalist based in Islamabad. He has previously worked at The Express Tribune and Newsline
Politicians who mean well on the injustice of the blasphemy laws, precisely because they are scarcer than genuine fast-bowlers in Indian cricket, have to aim low and even lie a little when talking about the issue. Take the case of the sadly deceased Salmaan Taseer. Although he never said as much, I have no doubt that the slain governor would have seen the very existence of these laws as an affront to the human right to espouse unpopular speech and a means of specifically targeting vulnerable minorities. For him, as for me, Pakistan would be a saner country if these laws were banished from the books.
Yet, the cause Taseer gave his life for was not the repeal of the blasphemy laws, but their reform. He wanted to make it harder for innocent people, who had not actually blasphemed as defined by the law, to be arrested and put on trial. He never actually called the laws themselves hideously intolerant and unbecoming of a civilised country. Even this mild dissent was enough to send Mumtaz Qadri and his many thousands of fans into an orgy of murderous rage.
It is understandable that politicians striving for incremental progress on a fraught issue would deviate from an absolutist position on the blasphemy laws. The rest of us should not succumb to that temptation. Right now, the chief battleground in the debate over these laws — to the extent that such a one-sided discussion can even be called be a debate — is the fate of Rimsha Masih. The case for her release and the punishment of those who accused her of blasphemy is so obvious that there is a danger we may actually end up legitimising the larger rationale of the blasphemy laws.
A minor Christian girl who possibly suffers from a mental disability should not be jailed, tried or convicted for blasphemy. That much we can all, including, surprisingly enough, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), agree on. Let us not fall into the trap, though, of surrendering the debate to those who think the only problem with these laws is that they do not place a high enough burden of proof on the accuser. And certainly, let us not delude ourselves into believing that the PUC can be even a temporary ally. Sure, when arguing the case for Rimsha’s release we can use the “even the PUC agrees with us” line as a debating point. But the focus should remain on the injustice of the blasphemy laws themselves, not the abuse of the laws.
Focusing on the way the laws are supposedly misused is being used as a utilitarian tactic to slowly change minds. What this approach ignores is that abuse is inherent to any law that criminalises speech and conduct. As long as we buy into the logic that the majority group deserves to be protected from any offense or criticism, we will continue to see minority groups be repressed for their beliefs. And when cases aren’t as clear-cut as that of Rimsha’s, we will be left speechless because there will be no obvious ‘abuse’ of these laws.
The repeal of the blasphemy laws should only be the first goal in a much larger fight. The biggest threat to those accused of blasphemy comes from enraged mobs and a society that doesn’t have a stake in protecting the defenseless. We won’t change society in a day but we need to begin by changing the terms of the debate to make them more favourable to our cause.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2012.
Amid reports of religious persecution of minority communities in Pakistan, the Centre on Wednesday said that in the last three years, 2,937 Pakistani Hindus had stayed back in India and there was an increase in requests for grant of a ‘long-term visa’ (LTV) from such visitors.
Last year, 5,012 Hindus came to India, mainly from the Attari border in Punjab, and of them 1,248 did not return to Pakistan, while in 2010, out of 6,036 Hindu visitors, 491 stayed back. Similarly in 2009, of the 6,437 Hindus who entered India, 1,198 failed to return. As on June 30, 2012, a total number of 18,185 Pakistan nationals were staying in India on LTVs, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister pointed to reports that “some Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities including Hindus, who came to India on valid visas, have not gone back on the ground of religious persecution in Pakistan.”
According to Home Ministry sources, 1,290 applications of Pakistani nationals were received from various State governments and Union Territories for grant of Indian citizenship by registration and naturalisation during 2009-2011. Of these, Indian citizenship was granted to 764.
The Ministry “considers requests of Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities [Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists] for grant of LTV. Similarly, applications are received from Pakistan women married to Indian nationals and staying in India, and Indian women married to Pakistan nationals and returning to India due to widowhood/divorce,” Mr. Ramachandran said. However, the Ministry had no details of houses and land of Pakistani Hindus getting occupied or of demolition of temples and gurdwaras.
The aircraft, supplied by the US under its Security Assistance Programme, was inducted into the Pakistan Navy's aviation fleet during a ceremony held here in Karachi.
ramana wrote:So Ms. Rao was true to the definition of an Ambassador!
Ramana Sir,Another tweet, presumably referring to PM Manmohan Singh's support for the idea, snarkily described it as "this Punjabi Pappi-Jhappi diplomacy driven by old men with nostalgia of pre partition" and said it is "not based on realism"
At least 11 persons, including chief of an NGO, were killed in incidents of violence at various parts of the metropolis here on Wednesday. According to police and rescue sources, chairman of the IRC Trust Syed Mukhtar Ahmad, son of Syed Ghulam Hussain, and his son Syed Muhammad Baqir, 28, were killed in a drive-by shooting near the Civic Centre in the limits of PIB Colony police station.
Mukhtar Ahmed's grandson Syed Muhammad Ali, son of Syed Ahmad Abbas, and another motorist Ali Rehman were wounded in the incident. Police said the incident took place near the Edhi centre located at the Civic Centre where the victims were targeted when they were travelling in their car.
Police said that Mukhtar had died on the spot while his son succumbed to his injuries during medical treatment. Later, their bodies were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and then moved to Rizvia Imam Bargah for funeral prayers. Following the killings, tension prevailed in several Shia dominated areas where protesters took to the street, suspending all commercial and social activities. No case was registered till the filing of this report.
Two policemen, including an ASI, were shot dead in another drive-by shooting in the limits of Ajmer Nagri police station. The incident took place near Achanak Hotel where unidentified attackers sprayed a volley of bullets on ASI Abbas Ghafoor, son of Abdur Rahim, and Muhammad Hussain, son of Noor Muhammad.
Both victims received multiple gunshot wounds and died on the spot. Their bodies were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for autopsy. Following the incident, a large number of policemen rushed to the spot to ascertain facts behind the incidents. Talking to the correspondent, SHO Chaudry Afzal said that Ghafoor was deployed in Mangopir police station, adding that both the deceased lived in Ayub Goth.
He said that initial reports suggested that they might have been targeted over a personal feud. No case was registered till the filing of this report. A father and son were shot dead in another incident near Khyber Chowk in Baldia Town falling in the jurisdiction of Mochko police station. The deceased were later identified as Gul Faraz, son of Sultan, and his son, Gul Nawaz.
Officials of Mochko police station said that both victims had died on spot as Nawaz was shot 10 times while his father received nine bullets. Police suspected that both victims, who hailed from Darra Adam Khel, might have been murdered over personal enmity. Police said one of Faraz's sons, Siraj filed a complaint at Mochko police station, nominating Amin, Maqbool, Abdus Salam, Ghayur and five unidentified men. They said the nominated persons hailed from Waziristan.
A 45-year-old man named Hussain Ahmad, son of Abdul Shakoor, was killed near his home in the limits of Zaman Town police station. Police said that unidentified shooters targeted him outside his residence in Sector 48/F, Aarkanabad, Korangi No21/2. Police said the victim might have been killed because of a personal feud. The body was later moved to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) for completion of legal formalities. Police said family members of the victims, who were Bengalis, would register complaint after the deceased's funeral prayers.
Another man named Kashif, 25, son of Abdullah, was targeted near his residence near the Hawkes Bay Road in Maripur. Police said that the motive behind the killing might be some personal enmity, as no political or religious affiliations have so far been confirmed. No case was registered till the filing of this report.
A young man's body bearing torture marks was found from Shah Waliullah Road in the limits of Baghdadi police station. Police said that the victim's identity had not yet been ascertained but he appeared to be in his mid-twenties. The body was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi and later moved to the Edhi morgue. No case was registered till the filing of this report.
Another body was found from a desereted place in Defence, Phase VII, near the DHA Girls' College in the jurisdiction of Korangi Industrial Area police station. Police said that the victim, who was still unidentified, had been strangulated after being kidnapped. The body was shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi and later moved to Edhi morgue.
AcharyaJi, reason its not a bad thing IMO is because if one understands how US works, you will realize that for US, its interests are center piece. I am willing to bet that for all of TSP's lobbying, their gains have been only marginal in the sense that US support to TSP including F-solas is based on its geo-political interests centering on the need to balance India, and not because of TSP lobbying per se. And no matter how much TSP lobbies, US is not going to deliver India on a silver platter. MMS and other elites in India are keeping US quite happy.Acharya wrote:How is that?archan wrote: Not sure if that's really a bad thing.
Pakistan orders Save the Children foreign workers to leave
Aid group is accused of being used as cover for US spies while they were hunting for Osama bin Laden
Jon Boone in Islamabad
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 5 September 2012 20.07 BST
The compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was killed in May 2011
Pakistani policemen stand guard outside the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was killed in May 2011 Photograph: Warrick Page/Getty Images
Pakistan has given foreigners working for Save the Children a week to leave the country after becoming convinced that the aid organisation was used as cover by US spies hunting Osama bin Laden.
The aid group had been under suspicion from authorities ever since a doctor accused of assisting the CIA in its search for the al-Qaida leader claimed that Save the Children had introduced him to US intelligence officers.
But now Pakistani officials claim they have "concrete proof" backing up the story of Shakil Afridi, the doctor from the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan who confessed to the ISI, the country's military spy agency, after being arrested last year.
Although Save the Children and the US government have always denied any relationship between the CIA and the aid organisation, Pakistani officials say they are fully justified in expelling the few foreign staff still working in the country.
According to a foreign diplomat the six foreigners will have to leave by next Wednesday.
A Pakistani intelligence official said evidence had been found showing "spies" at the NGO had "engaged" Afridi, who is currently serving a 33 year jail term. "Pakistan carried out a thorough investigation involving all our leading agencies," he said. "It was one of the longest investigations in our history. It is a very serious matter and the foreign staff were asked to leave only after concrete proof was uncovered."
Afridi is accused of setting up a bogus hepatitis B vaccination campaign in the Abbottabad area to try to pinpoint Bin Laden's exact location.
Pakistani officials say blood samples, which it had been hoped would be collected from people living in the house where the terrorist leader was thought to be hiding, were to be tested by the CIA for genetic matches to Bin Laden.
Although Afridi never succeeded in persuading the occupants of the crowded building to give blood, his collaboration with a foreign intelligence service is regarded as an act of treason by Pakistan's security establishment.
Foreigners working in the country, including diplomats and aid workers, have been under intense suspicion ever since.
Embassies and aid groups have complained of harassment, tight restrictions on the movement of their staff and acute difficulty obtaining visas.
The expulsions come despite lobbying by western diplomats on behalf of a respected organisation which has been working in impoverished areas of the country for decades, including during the devastating 2010 floods when it assisted more than 3 million people.
Save the Children said on Wednesday it had "never knowingly employed anyone who works for the CIA, or any other security service".
"Dr Afridi was never employed by Save the Children, nor was he ever paid for any kind of work. We have never run a vaccination programme in Abbottabad," it said in a statement.
"Save the Children is a global organisation and has a zero-tolerance policy for people involved in work that is not humanitarian and does not benefit children and their families. We reiterate our offer to the Pakistani authorities to examine our country office financial records and interview any of our staff concerned with our operation there."
Save the Children recently restructured itself, merging previously autonomous branches run from the US, the UK and Sweden. The new organisation has been in protracted negotiations with the government about its future, with Pakistan so far refusing to sign an agreement formalising Save the Children's operations in the country.
The organisation said that only six of its 2,000 staff in Pakistan are foreign nationals and that it would "continue our daily work helping millions of children across Pakistan".
The CIA imposes some restrictions on itself over what cover its agents can use in the field. It is not known whether limits are placed on the use of foreign NGOs.
Members of the foreign aid community fear the claim that a leading NGO became entangled – even unwittingly – in the activities of the CIA could endanger staff and affect operations around the world.
Critics say the widely publicised story has already affected efforts to encourage parents to vaccinate their children against polio, the devastating leg withering disease that Pakistan is struggling to eradicate.
Many Pakistanis were already deeply suspicious of outside doctors coming to their areas even before Afridi, who used to run anti-polio campaigns, became publicly associated with the CIA.
Related
Aid agency withdrew Pakistan staff after CIA fake vaccination scheme
Acharya wrote: One of my friend says literally the DC is crowded with Pakistani lobby and Indians do not find any space at all.
While it is true that we all are dead in the long run and nothing matters when time -> infinity,archan wrote: Not sure if that's really a bad thing.
chandrabhan wrote:
.........Ramana Sir,Another tweet, presumably referring to PM Manmohan Singh's support for the idea, snarkily described it as "this Punjabi Pappi-Jhappi diplomacy driven by old men with nostalgia of pre partition" and said it is "not based on realism"
That was me and I Chided the writer for using 'snarkily' .
Regards
Chandrabhan