Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-Jan 24, 2016

[rsingh]

Pretext for a coup.........

[Gagan]

Fauj wants to corner the ghoos for itself.
Pak fauj will appoint an appropriate Jernail who will share all the loot ka paisa with the bosses.

Having a country at their disposal to enrich themselves, the fauj wants to be involved in every avenue for making money, at the same time preventing others from ghoos in the name of fighting crrupshun

[Falijee]

SS-ji:
This "demand" by the Paki Fauj to involve itself in the so-called "CPEC game changer" reminds me of the 1980's vis-a-vis CIA covert aid to the Mujahideens; at that time, Zia was adamant that any aid should be funneled through the ISI, so (1) they can divert the arms/money to those outfits which toe their ideological lines ( Ahmed Shah Massoud was excluded, Hekmatyar and OBL were included !) (2) most of the covert aid was pocketed/ diverted to other use . ("Kashmir Jihad ") (3) When the US caught on to the Paki perfidy and demanded an audit / inventory, the Ohjri arms depot in Pindi was "conveniently" blown up. So, to conclude, this also is a good pretense to "do more corruption"

[Falijee]

India seeks to impose billion-rupee fine for 'false' maps - Yawn News
AFP — Published about 6 hours ago

On this one, the Pakis got caught this time, with their pants down; but there is still a chance for them to mull over doing an = = ; but the million dollar question is will the world take them seriously in view of their past track record !

[Falijee]

An USA Based Female Paki Journo Remembers Badmash Sharif's Haram-giri
Mobbed by hoodlums By Anjum Niaz
Published: May 6, 2016

Nawaz Sharif was the chief minister of Punjab. It was March 23, 1990. The nation was celebrating 50 years of the passing of the Pakistan Resolution that called for an independent state for Muslims. “You are about to witness a historical event,” I tell my three highly excited journalist companions that had come from America to witness Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s address at the Minar-e-Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif was the chief minister of Punjab. It was March 23, 1990. The nation was celebrating 50 years of the passing of the Pakistan Resolution that called for an independent state for Muslims. “You are about to witness a historical event,” I tell my three highly excited journalist companions that had come from America to witness Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s address at the Minar-e-Pakistan.

Paki journo playing the "role" a good host ie mehman-nawazi.!

Men, men everywhere, not a cop in sight!Remember, the chief executive of the province is responsible for the maintenance of law and order. But Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are not on talking terms. Security be thus damned. As we walk, behind us spring a gang of men. They begin their groping. Our pace quickens, nervously we lock hands and clutch our cameras. The groping gets fierce. Hands everywhere. Who are these maniacs? We turn back to see. The sinister grins are all one remembers today as I recreate the 20-minute nightmare. Still echoing in my ears are the hysterical screams by the three women to their assailants: “Stop it!” No one rescued us then. I tried fending off these animals, appealing to their better judgment. Nothing worked. The attack continued until we reached the dais. Soon, the molesters scattered and skunked away in the crowd.

No wonder that this female journo, after a brief stint in her homeland has decided to return back to USA and "enjoy" the safe and secure environment of Massaland !

They asked. “Are women routinely sexually assaulted at rallies like this one?” No, I answered. I’ve attended rallies but never been mobbed until now, I tell them. The shock and disgust that I see on my guests’ faces somewhat sends me on a guilt trip.

IMHO things probably have gotten worse and that was the 1990's .

These three American journalists are my personal guests. They readily accepted my invitation because they wanted to see firsthand a national rally commemorating a historical milestone. What they experienced, instead, was unmitigated sexual harassment by hired gangs of thugs, in a country ruled by a woman prime minister, the first in the Muslim world.

Just curious if they returned for a second visit !

When the event ended, we warily began to walk towards the exit. Lo and behold, our attackers pounced to mount an assault once more. Saleem Shaikh preempted their devilish designs by swiftly encircling us with the help of his assistants. Despite being roughed up by these hoodlums, our protectors kept a tight grip around us until we were safely out of harm’s way. Bravo!

The hero of the hour that day was the federal information secretary. On arrival at the hotel where we were staying, I got an urgent call from the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Bashir Riaz. He had already been briefed about the ugly incident by Saleem Shaikh. “These hooligans are hired by the Punjab government to go and harass women at rallies to embarrass our prime minister,” alleged Riaz. “Please pass on my sincere apologies to your three American journalists. Such despicable episodes tarnish our national image. I’ll bring it to the prime minister’s notice.”

Today, after 26 years, I had a feeling of deja vu when I read that women at a PTI rally in Lahore were abused, attacked and sexually harassed, allegedly by the same political party that according to Bashir Riaz then, had attacked us. If the PTI’s allegations prove to be true, it’s a sad reflection of the ruling party’s mindset that remains unchanged. Women make easy targets for bullies!

This time, the Paki female journo has got it all wrong ; it may be the same political party who is responsible for this political dada - giri ! But the strings are pulled by no less than the heir apparent of that party - Ganja Sharif's foreign educated daughter - Maryam

[Prem]

Pakistan to replace China as next apparel Muugall?
Khwab of Bookha Nanga Paki:

ISLAM A BAD: With labour in China no longer the abundant commodity it once was, the cost of doing business for apparel manufacturing there has been on an incline.This could prove to be golden opportunity for Pakistan, which could productively employ its working age population, especially women, according to World Bank’s report “Stitches to Riches? Apparel Employment, Trade and Economic Development”.
Since Chinese exports are not likely to be as economic as they once were, many apparel manufacturing units are moving away from China. This means that demand for commodities that were previously exported by China would channel to other countries and Pakistan could become an attractive destination for apparel exports.According to the report, a 1% increase in Chinese apparel prices could increase US demand for Pakistani apparel export by 2.53%, which is higher than other countries in the region.However, whether Pakistan can fill the gap left by China, even partially, remains the integral question.Meanwhile, Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir pointed out that Pakistan’s apparel consisted of a mere fifth (19%) of total cotton exports from the country. “We export raw material and semi-raw material, while others convert it into apparel and benefit from it.”

[Falijee]

Design Error: New Islamabad Airport is Already a Disaster

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has admitted that the construction of new Islamabad Airport is not going as initially planned. A serious technical mistake was made which severely restricts the airport’s capability to handle two concurrent flights at the same time.While briefing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the new airport, CAA’s Director General, Air Marshall Asim Suleman (retd.) (proved once again that the Paki fauj have got their dirty fingers in each and every money making racket !) admitted that there had been a design error which was overlooked during the initial stages.

he design flaw prevents two aeroplanes from taking off or landing simultaneously despite the availability of two runways. PAC member, Shafqat Mehmood said it was “a criminal error.” Due to the technical error, CAA will not be able to handle any increase in traffic on the airport.According to the CAA’s estimates, the new airport was estimated to easily manage 9 million passenger annually, which is double the amount of passengers that the Benazir Bhutto International Airport can handle. In comparison, Karachi airport can only manage 6 million passengers per year.

DG CAA said that a US firm was contracted to design the airport runways and the firm suggested that two parallel runways can be constructed with a distance of 200 metres between both of them. However, after the runways were completed, technical experts said that an aircraft would not be able to take off while another one is landing. The same problem would arise of two planes were landing simultaneously.

Blame being shifted to the US contractor?

He admitted that the flaw in the design should have been noticed and corrected during the initial phase. It was overlooked and contractors ended up building two runways with a distance of 201 metres.

They should have considered "importing" Indian experts - just like Ganja Sharif did with his sugar mills !

PAC Member, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, ( this politico, with ties to the Kashmiri separatists, has apparently made a killing, by selling his land to the airport authorities! ) made another astounding revelation regarding the road infrastructure of the airport. He said that the real estate mafia used their influence to link the airport road with their housing societies.

Two dams are also being established to supply the airport with water. Ramma and Kassana dams will be able to supply up to 3.3 million gallons of water each day. The dams will rely on rainwater (relying on rain in this day and age of climate change !)and once the water level reaches maximum, it would be sufficient for two whole years.

The DG CAA has also been asked to explain the alleged awarding of the Lahore Airport extension to Turkey and Qatar based firms without going through any bidding process. Frankly, we cannot help but be absolutely flabbergasted at this display of incompetence. The US firm responsible for the design, the reviewers on the Pakistani side and everyone managing the project need to be held accountable for this waste of taxpayer money not to even mention the time that’s going to be spent on rectifying the issues facing New Islamabad Airport.

The same fate awaits the so-called CPEC project, although it may be very difficult to fool the Chini-blothers and their Chini-companies !

[Prem]

Ayya Sharif: Gya Sharif: Al Kissa Of Thief , Brief, Grief & South Asian Queef
Moving towards ’93 once more?
Shahzad Chaudhry

Fast forward to 2016, and trust the Pakistani politicians to create a situation where there is none. The Panama leaks haunt NS. Not the army chief, not the chief justice, not another demonic constitutional clause, but he himself, through his own doings and those of his uber-rich family, has brought this upon him. As he struggles with questions of his credibility and fidelity as prime minister, he appears increasingly beleaguered and emaciated as head of government. As he puts up a brave face to the growing din of his culpability, hoping this too will pass, he remains particularly vulnerable given the fundamental nature of the issues at stake.And these are as fundamental as they come: is Pakistan’s ruler corrupt to the core? Can such a man continue to be at the helm of a nation that sits at a moment in history when it is fighting an existential battle for its survival in attempting to bring the demon of terror in control?
For the moment all eyes are on the chief justice. Will he be the man of ‘this’ moment? That remains to be seen. He has to answer the above questions on behalf of the people of this country. Going by the signs the CJ is unlikely to get ‘honest’ answers. He may get legally correct answers but not honest answers. The moment demands honest answers. And if he can dig those through from the heaps of obfuscation he may well set the course of a better future for the people of this country.Imagine all those who were thinking of bringing their money into Pakistan in the wake of the great opportunity that the CPEC was to create, and now their moment of uncertainty, not knowing who they were dealing with. Our prime minister should be seen to be above board and known as such. He cannot mix skulduggery with governing the future of two hundred million people.And now that dreaded 1993 moment. The chief justice reaches the root of the problem, finds his prime minister in the wrong, and having so determined comes across a wall of denial from NS on his culpability. Hop over across to the GHQ. A chief who is revered to the point of deification, knows it too and has invested in himself the popular responsibility to do good on behalf of the people – for that is the mantle the combined wisdom of the nation has raised him to – takes it on himself to intervene and rectify the resulting dysfunction. The two then, CJ and the army chief, come together again in a sad repeat of 1993 and usher yet another political transformation.Just that this time it shall not be another demonic dictator but the political character that will have to take responsibility for a course correction that was desperately needed but thoroughly missed in our democratic journey.The question is: does Raheel Sharif have that last act left in him? Going by how he has spaced his achievements, there still is time for that last Hurrah. Following which he can simply fade away into the setting sun on the back of his horse. Who gives up on such deification? There is still time though for the politicians to come clean, save the system and forever shed the grime. Depends who is more desperate for what.

[Falijee]

[quote="Jhujar"]Pakistan to replace China as next apparel Muugall?
Khwab of Bookha Nanga Paki:

Jhujar-ji :
No where in this uplifting farticle is being mentioned the chronic power shortage that is currently plaguing all sectors of Paki society; maybe, there is something that you and I dont know; is it possible that they may have solved the problem by implementing Jinn technology first proposed by the famous nuclear scientist of Pakistan - Mr. Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmud.

PS: on a more serious note, if at all China is getting out of the apparel business, it will be Bangladesh who will benefit and not Pakistan!

[Falijee]

Per "Such Gup" Column of Hajam Sethi's Friday Times, Altaf Bhai suffers from the dual problem of alcoholism and depression !

Madman and child

European classical art has many beautiful representations of Madonna and Child. Our desi version, say Karachi’s wags, is the Quaid-e-Qiwam and his teenage daughter, aka Madman and Child. This young girl, no more than fifteen years of age, is mature beyond her years and has been afflicted with the burden of looking after her dysfunctional parent. We hear she lives with her dad in London, regulates his visitors and decides who will meet him and for how long. The Quaid’s only child, she is the offspring of his short-lived marriage which ended in an acrimonious divorce. We hear the Quaid has had a long-standing fondness for Rooh Afza and his divorce was due in part to his perpetually high spirits, but this problem was aggravated by the parting of ways with his wife. First, they say, he sank into a depression, followed by ever-greater dependence on nectar to fill the void in his life.

[vishvak]

India seeks to impose billion-rupee fine for 'false' maps - Yawn News
AFP — Published about 6 hours ago

On this one, the Pakis got caught this time, with their pants down; but there is still a chance for them to mull over doing an = = ; but the million dollar question is will the world take them seriously in view of their past track record !

This fines must be applied internationally so that when guilty party visits India then such people could be dragged to courts.

[Gagan]

Afza Altaf Hussain

15 yr old daughter, being groomed to take over MQM.
AH is dying of Cirrhosis, maybe has had liver failure episodes, is reported to have a life expectancy of 3-4 yrs more. One hears it could be this year...

[Falijee]

Thalassaemia test to become mandatory in Sindh to get nikahnama

Attempt to "discourage" inter-cousin and inter -family marriages in Pakiland ? Just wondering

[Falijee]

US Congress seeks to block $ 450 million aid to Pakistan

The US Congress has initiated a move to block USD 450 million in aid to Pakistan for failing to "demonstrate its commitment" and taking action against the Haqqani terror network.

"Indian Lobby" hard at work?

The provision in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2017, if passed by the Congress, would not allow the US Government to waive this condition in 'national interest'.

According to NDAA 2017 as passed by the House Armed Services Committee last week, of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pakistan during the period beginning on October 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2017, USD 450 million would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless the Secretary of Defence certifies that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan.

Defence Secretary has not been able to give necessary certification for the release of such a fund to Pakistan so far.

The House Armed Services Committee says that it will continue to review the reimbursements made to Pakistan and how it comforts with the future of US policy, including key counterterrorism and security objectives, in the region.It also asked the Secretary of Defence to notify the congressional defence committees prior to making any reimbursement to Pakistan for any logistical, military or other support.

All these measures are going to create a "lot of Enchendee problems" for the Pakis and this may result in more Taliban attacks in Afghanistan.

The move comes days after the US told Pakistan to put forward its national funds to buy eight F-16s worth USD 700 million after some top Senators put a hold on the use of American tax payers' money to partially finance them.

"While this decrease is warranted given urgent needs around the globe, the requested resources remain crucial to advancing cooperation on core areas that matter to us: bolstering Pakistan's counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations; empowering women and girls; enabling the return of internally displaced persons; and facilitating private sector investment in Pakistan's economy and energy sector," Olson said.

So the Gravy Train from Massa slowing down, coupled with the Saudi decision to cut down foreign workers due to their precarious financial situation due to lower oil prices, and the failed attempt to cozy up to Russia's Putin, Pakis are going to be in a financial bind sooner than later !

[SSridhar]

An USA Based Female Paki Journo Remembers Badmash Sharif's Haram-giri

They asked. “Are women routinely sexually assaulted at rallies like this one?”

They should watch the You Tube to see what happened to Sherry

[Falijee]

Will not allow Hindu temples in Pakistan to be destroyed: Hafiz Saeed

Chief of Pakistan’s banned JuD, Hafiz Saeed, has said his organisation will not allow destruction of Hindu temples and other holy places of non- Muslims in the country.
It was Muslims’ responsibility to safeguard holy places of their Hindus brethren, he said while addressing a meeting in Matli town of Sindh province yesterday.“We will not allow destruction of temples and other holy places of non-Muslims in the country,” he warned.

Not sure who is the interviewer - someone from PTI ? Does not really matter as he is definitely practicing Taqiyya

The Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief rejected allegations that his organisation is promoting extremism in Thar area of Sindh, which borders India, by opening seminaries in the poverty- stricken arid region.

He said the law enforcement agencies were sincerely trying to fight against anti-state actors and RAW agents but the Nawaz Sharif government remained silent over it.

[Falijee]

Eight-year girl abducted, raped, accused arrested in Sialkot

If proved true , Sharia justice ("stoning to death") is the appropriate punishment for this kind of a crime !

[Aditya_V]

Bad move by Suzuki

Suzuki May Invest $460 Million Into Pakistan if New Auto Policy Revised

[SSridhar]

Memories of F-16s - Blog in DAWN

The important lesson to draw here is the very weak and narrow foundations on which Pakistan has historically built its relationship with America. There are no real economic stakes, no large market access to leverage as political clout, no standing in the international community, no moral high ground to invoke. Just like the 1980s, the relationship is built on transactional grounds and heavily invested in personal relationships. Today that relationship is fraying, with the F-16 fighter once again the emblem of growing tensions.

Perhaps it is time to think about investing in other sources of strength besides military hardware. The time is right to ask why we keep finding ourselves at the same crossroads again and again.

Perhaps, the 'righter' question to ask is, "Why do we need F-16s ?". A frank answer to that question followed by honest acceptance of truth would lead to the resolution of all problems that Pakistan faces now.

[Deans]

Folks,
I'm writing a paper on `Dealing with Pakistan', for a think tank, whose broad ideological orientation matches BR members (and mine). It takes a look at how India can practically and at low risk deal with Pak. I am taking the time to do this (I'm a company CEO now based in Delhi) as I believe this paper will be read my those who influence our policy. This is the abstract:

Traditional approaches of dealing with Pakistan and its use of State sponsored terror have relied on traditional diplomacy. Where responses have been more robust (in response to a terrorist attack for e.g.) they have been reactive. This policy has failed as it does not recognise how Pakistan’s objectives are different from India’s. India’s responses have not hurt Pakistan in area’s it is vulnerable, nor have they recognised how India’s strengths can not just overcome the challenges posed by Pakistan, but make the country increasingly irrelevant. Using our economic strength as an instrument of foreign policy is not just the best way to deal with Pakistan, it also satisfies the Govt’s domestic policy objectives, while ensuring that its actions do not attract adverse International attention. This paper points to seminal shifts in Pakistan and recommends a range of policies to exploit it.

This paper looks at the following:
- Recent background to India-Pakistan and seminal shifts in the relationship.
- Current policy of each country and their shortcomings.
- Waging a silent economic war
- Facilitating an internal implosion of Pakistan
Reassessing India’s Political and military options.


The paper covers things like Economic policy, Water, a new look at Cold start, Pakistan's internal problems etc and has been influenced in part by ideas on this forum (due credit has been given). I am 2/3rd done and will not post it here, before getting a copyright and also because I do not Pak lurkers to read it.
I would love to have feedback from BR experts here and incorporate their ideas.

Please mail me at [email protected] and I will send you the document. I am on a tight deadline and would need all feedback by the 20th. Thanks.

[Falijee]

Another Indian spy arrested in Pakistan

KARACHI (Staff Report) – Pakistan’s security agencies nabbed a suspected Indian spy from Jamshed Road of the Sindh capital city, sources told Daily Pakistan on Saturday.
Acting on the information provided by intelligence agencies, the counter-terrorism department of Karachi Police raided the area and arrested the suspected RAW agent, identified as Arshad.

This report has so far "surfaced" only in the Paki tabloid press and as yet to be reported in any English mainstream dailies

The security officials also seized Indian passport and sensitive documents from the suspect.
Chaudhary Arshad Husain, as named in his Indian passport, revealed that he had been working for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and had been in contact with his accomplices via internet.

He has been shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
Security agencies will most likely grill the suspect and check details pertaining to his nationality. Also, details are being sought regarding which activities he had been involved in since he had been in Karachi since a long time.
Law enforcement agencies had ramped up action against spies after different networks of Indian intelligence agency were unmasked. Dozens of accomplices and several agents were apprehended in different areas of Balochistan and Sindh in the recent past.

Two Pakistani facilitators of Indian intelligence were identified last month. Reportedly, both Mehmood Siddique and Khalil Behrami helped spies command unrest in the metropolitan.
RAW, the premier intelligence agency of India, shifted both the spies back to their homeland after the arrest of its Naval Commander Kulbhushan Yadav, sources added.

Yadav provided different tip-offs to law enforcement agencies that led to several key arrests in different parts of the country.
India had denied Pakistan’s claims that Yadav was carrying out subversive activities in Pakistan at the behest of RAW and had demanded consular access to its spy.

Now wait for more "startling revelations"

[Falijee]

Anti-terrorism court issues warrants for 20 MQM leaders

KARACHI (Staff Report) – An anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable arrest warrants on Saturday for 20 Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders over their non-appearance in a hate speech case.
Only Wasim Akhtar, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan, Rauf Siddiqui and Qamar appeared before the court on Saturday.
The ATC issued non-bailable arrest warrants for 20 other MQM leaders including Dr Farooq Sattar, (whose senior aide was recently tortured to death by the Rangers !)Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Rehma Hashmi, Rashid Godil, Saif Yar Khan and others.The court expressed displeasure over the investigation officer’s non-appearance and adjourned the hearing on request of the counsel for the accused till June 4.

Surely a strategy is in place, utilizing all options (floating another rival party, arresting MQM members as "Indian Agents" etc etc ) to neutralize, one way or the other, MQM's strong hold on Karachi.

[CRamS]

deleted

[Gagan]

^^^
Why?

[Falijee]

Big News : Paki-Origin Enterpreneur Excited : Gets Invited (via White House Form Letter ) To Global Entrepreneurship Summit To Be Held At Stanford University

[Falijee]

Pakistan beat rival India to retain Asian Kabaddi Cup 2016

WAH CANTT (Staff Report) – Pakistan crushed India by 50-31 points in an important match of third Asian Kabaddi Championship at Wah Cantt on Friday evening.

Enchendee now restored after cricket loss ?

[Falijee]

Sadiq Khan becomes first Muslim mayor of London - Exciting News For Pakistanis !

According to media reports, his father migrated from Pakistan and therefore the Paki press is gloating over his "Paki Origins" ! Just wondering, if this means that every Aam Abdul applying for a UK visa can now approach " His Royal Worship" and request a "sifarish letter" , before submitting the same to the UK High Commission in Isloo, to preempt rejection of the same by the UK babus !

[vishvak]

Fawad placeholder Khan tops TIMEs list
Fawad Khan bag the top spot till a real actor can be a hero

is a scientific and robust ranking system based on data collected from 60+ publications and 250+ TV channels, making it the first ever ranking system for Bollywood.

link: economictimes dot indiatimes dot com

[rsingh]

Sadiq Khan becomes first Muslim mayor of London - Exciting News For Pakistanis !

According to media reports, his father migrated from Pakistan and therefore the Paki press is gloating over his "Paki Origins" ! Just wondering, if this means that every Aam Abdul applying for a UK visa can now approach " His Royal Worship" and request a "sifarish letter" , before submitting the same to the UK High Commission in Isloo, to preempt rejection of the same by the UK babus !

Under such circumstances brown sahib tend to be over-British ( more British then the locals). So there is no question of sifarish letters.

[member_29350]

and by the way, the last time a couple of local mayors or council heads did it, they got sued. All the child paedo taxi drivers who got suspended? they had their suspensions and license revocation dropped/pardoned by their local muslim chaps in council boards. Promptly went back to raping kids and running escort services by taking them ot other counties for other 40 yr old men to abuse the kids

[Peregrine]

The drop scene of US-Pakistan relations

For many years, if not decades, to come, the US will get negative publicity from a strategically crucial large country, courtesy Congress’ decision to save $430 million by denying sale of eight F-16s under the Foreign Military Financing program. Prime facie, Washington will sell eight fighter jets if Islamabad can foot the bill. Congress’ Foreign Relations Committee has acted on the ground that Pakistan’s operations against Islamic militants don’t merit US support. The House has mocked the Obama administration’s applause for Pakistan’s Zarb-e-Azb campaign.

Broken bonds

During the 1980s and 1990s, F-16s became the symbol of Pak-US friendship. The war bird’s images and caricatures were adorned on trucks, buses and rickshaws. Post-9/11 Pak-US relationship continues to be symbolised by drones or Un-manned Aerial Vehicles. During the era of crippling military sanctions, Pakistan Air Force endeared its fighting falcon even more. The US failed to ground the country’s mainstay platform, thanks to its friends and global black market for ‘everything’. While the nation and its air force cherished the American jet, Washington’s unreliability became embedded in Islamabad’s strategic thinking.

The political infighting crippled Pakistan’s economy and bankruptcy was averted with expansive debts from global financial institutions. The drawings of Super-7 fighter jet could not be turned into prototypes. More used Mirages and variants of Chinese F-7Ps helped PAF maintain the numbers, but with a not-so-significant punch. The US sanction impacted everyone, if not financially then psychologically.

The development of JF-17 Thunder along with China trounced the Light Combat Aircraft, its rival across the eastern border. The appetite for F-16s, however, remained. Thus, more units were imported at high political and financial cost. While the Kamra aeronautical complex churns out about two dozen multirole aircrafts yearly, Nawaz government has piled up enough foreign debt that it may take the country a decade of austerity-driven policies to pay it off.

Vision of the Future

Paired with Obama administration embracing Modi-led India, the Congressional red card to Pakistan has brought more clarity to the public mindset. While the US policy is favouring extremists in India, it’s also feeding into hardliners and Islamists, which makes the superpower no different than the Ayatollahs of Iran. For decades, the lone Muslim nuclear state was dubbed as a difficult country to work with. Now, legislatures have effectively lessened the burden of diplomacy for the Department of State.

An assortment of sanctions can be expected next, given overly represented Indian-Americans in the government sector, not to mention India’s effective lobbying skills. The cases of North Korea and Iran have yet again exposed efficacy of curbs.

Some optimists may have raised eyebrows but the majority is far from surprised. While the US still needs Pakistan’s support in Afghanistan, there is little matching dependence on the other side.

To some astute observers, Washington-Islamabad break-up has become even more irreversible. French leader Charles de Gaulle predicted it well: “You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination.”

To save a meagre sum of money, the US has subscribed to harsh long-term disapproval. The defense policy wizards here are witnessing flashbacks of arms embargo of 1965, betrayal of 1971, sanctions of 1990s, and intimidation stretching post-9/11.

China is going to have the last laugh. The secretive defense relationship is going to further deepen to the annoyance of the US and India. The Pakistani side brings valuable expertise to the table, particularly in the realm of military technology while Chinese are no fair-weather friends. Caution: stronger ties with China can remain a win-win if Pakistan ensures protection for its industry against dumping in the guise of CPEC trade.

For Pakistanis, it’s time to heed to the stern wakeup call of Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and achieve self-sufficiency. Thank you Congressmen!

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Chinese engineers for CPEC: Police decline to provide personnel for security

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police have refused to provide 200 policemen for the security of Chinese engineers working on the Havelian-Thakot Expressway being constructed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“We have declined to provide them with these 200 policemen because the provincial government has strong reservations on CPEC projects,” a police official told The Express Tribune on Saturday.

He added the basic responsibility of security for those working on the megaproject lies with Pakistan Army who have been given funds in this regard.

The army could use their own personnel, private guards as well as ask for policemen to provide security to the Chinese engineers working on the projects.

Cheers

[Y. Kanan]

Poisoning story hasn't been hushed up yet in the USG-controlled media:

Did Pakistan poison a senior CIA official?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/did-pakistan ... html?nhp=1

Is something afoot?

[Gagan]

The drop scene of US-Pakistan relations
The Pakistani side brings valuable expertise to the table, particularly in the realm of military technology

JF-17W powered by GaNdU TR modules AESA radar, Jinn avionics and Jinn thermodyanamics water kit power no doubt!

Hope the cheenis have given them enough uranium deuteride wala maal

[Cosmo_R]

Poisoning story hasn't been hushed up yet in the USG-controlled media:

Did Pakistan poison a senior CIA official?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/did-pakistan ... html?nhp=1

Is something afoot?

More like something amouth

[shiv]

Folks,
I'm writing a paper on `Dealing with Pakistan', for a think tank,

mail sent

[Kashi]

The drop scene of US-Pakistan relations
The Pakistani side brings valuable expertise to the table, particularly in the realm of military technology

JF-17W powered by GaNdU TR modules AESA radar, Jinn avionics and Jinn thermodyanamics water kit power no doubt!

Hope the cheenis have given them enough uranium deuteride wala maal

Not to mention this gem

The development of JF-17 Thunder along with China trounced the Light Combat Aircraft, its rival across the eastern border.

[SSridhar]

Pakistan disowns dead Pathankot militants - Neeraj Chauhan, ToI

India was on Wednesday forced to bury the four Jaish-e-Muhammed terrorists involved in the Pathankot terror attack after Pakistan washed its hands of the slain quartet despite irrefutable proof they had been sent by the terror outfit to launch attacks on India.

Despite India providing evidence on their nationality to Pakistan, including electronic intercepts, Islamabad, keen to erase its links to the jihadi squad Jaish had sent to attack the strategically crucial air base in India, disowned them as "unverifiable bodies". Initially, Pakistan, faced with compelling evidence marshalled by Indian probe agencies on the four militants, had acknowledged that all four were its nationals.

Though India has been asking Islamabad to take possession of the bodies of the four militants, the latter conveyed its reluctance to do so earlier this week which led the authorities here to bury the bodies in keeping with Islamic rituals.

In the documents submitted to Pakistani officials, Indians have given precise co-ordinates of all the four terrorists. Nasir, Abu Bakar, Farooq and Qayum were identified as residents of Vehari (Punjab), Gujranwala (Punjab), Sanghar (Sindh) and Sukkur (Sindh) districts of Pakistan, respectively.

Nasir had even talked to his mother after he crossed over into India and was heading towards the airbase in the car the gang had jacked from Punjab police SP Salwinder Singh.

However, this is not the first instance where Pakistan refused to own up its nationals who it has often called 'strategic assets'

Islamabad refused to come forward to claim bodies of members of another Jaish module who virtually triggered a war between the two countries by carrying out an audacious attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001.

At the time of Kargil war, it, in fact, disowned its soldiers who had been guised as 'non-state' actors.

Islambad had denied that the 26/11 attackers were its nationals, but had to grudgingly own up the gang after reports in Pakistani media exposed the truth about Ajmal Kasab and his jehadi comrades.

The four bodies had been kept in Pathankot hospital mortuary for past four months, in anticipation that Pakistan would take them.

Pakistan's response came as a suprise to investigators {Really? If so, our investigators have been naive}who see this as a major about-turn. The officials also see this as a clear sign that Pakistan will not provide any evidence to India against Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar and other conspirators of the deadly attack.{For some reason Masood Azhar is a prized possession. I have no clue as to why. Pakistan allowed China to eventually relent and place Hafeez Saeed on the 1267 list in December 2008, but not Masood Azhar. Since May 2009, China has been holding off against Masood Azhar}

[RCase]

^^^

Though India has been asking Islamabad to take possession of the bodies of the four militants, the latter conveyed its reluctance to do so earlier this week which led the authorities here to bury the bodies in keeping with Islamic rituals.

For unclaimed/ disowned bodies, GoI should arrange cremation with full Hindu rituals and dispose them off. Never know, they could be 'saffron bandits of hindu terror'!

[CRamS]

^^^
Why?

I know you never miss reading my insights , but that post was a 1-liner giving Deans my e-mail address, but then I realized he to asked to send him an e-mail and so deleted mine.

Dean, sent.