Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan - Dec 25, 2012

[anupmisra]

Mobile phone services suspended. Again!

Mobile phone services were suspended in several cities and districts of the country on Thursday, in line with the government’s security plan for Chehlum announced a day earlier

That was easy. Suspend cell phone services and all your troubles will melt away. Paki-lurks of the Shia persuasion: you can now rest easy.

[anupmisra]

Seven runs in one ball

Gunmen kidnap seven Pakistani soldiers in Punjab

Gunmen kidnapped seven soldiers from a bus in Pakistan on Wednesday, military officials said, just days after Taliban forces executed 21 pro-government paramilitaries they had seized

let go a sweeper on the bus with them. Sweeper? Wasn't he mard enough to be taken?He must be thanking his stars for being a sweeper in pa'khanistan.

I don't get it. Weren't these mard-e-momeens traveling with their guns and some back-up fire power? They put up no resistance? Something smells and it ain't just the unwashed pakis.

[Narad]

^^^ Hoping for the good news very soon

[SSridhar]

^^^ Hoping for the good news very soon

Narad, the good news is on the way. Less than a week back, after 9 TTP men were killed, TTP vowed to avenge this. It has come. See this post.

I am expecting a gruesome death for these soldiers in the hands of the TTP. My theory is that the TTP is planning to outdo itself in gruesomeness in the coming months to be able to speak from a position of strength when it negotiates with the PA. BTW, that would also send a message to the society at large.

[shravan]

Pakistan:South Waziristan drone attack kills major militant leader Maulvi Nazir. More attacks in N. Waziristan kill 12. #Fata #TTP

[RCase]

Seven runs in one ball

Gunmen kidnap seven Pakistani soldiers in Punjab

I don't get it. Weren't these mard-e-momeens traveling with their guns and some back-up fire power? They put up no resistance? Something smells and it ain't just the unwashed pakis.

Anupji, here is an example of the brave 90,000+ Baki 'Armed Forces' with their guns and fire power!

[jamwal]

How did we ever miss this ?
Protester dies after inhaling fumes from burning American flag

Published September 18, 2012
Burning an American flag proved fatal for a Pakistani protester, who reportedly died from inhaling fumes from the ignited icon of independence.

Some 10,000 people rallied this week in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab province, to protest the movie trailer that Muslims say insults Islam, according to the International Herald-Tribune. One participant, identified as Abdullah Ismail, died after being taken to an area hospital. Witnesses said he had complained of feeling sick from the smoke from American flags burnt at the rally.

The rally was organized on the city's landmark mall by the Tehreek Hurmat-i-Rasool. Despite a ban on rallies on The Mall, local officials blocked off the road leading to it from noon to 6 p.m., apparently to facilitate the event.

Must be made in China

[SSridhar]

Pakistan:South Waziristan drone attack kills major militant leader Maulvi Nazir. More attacks in N. Waziristan kill 12. #Fata #TTP

Aha. . . the killing of Maulvi Nazir. He was a sarkari Taliban, opposed to Hakimullah Mehsud (and earlier Baitullah Mehsud) though he was also part of TTP. A few weeks back, he had been injured in an attack on him, probably by Hakimullah. Now, he is dead in a drone attack. There is another anti-Hakimullah TTP commander in North Waziristan, Gul Bahadur. Did the drone attacks in NWA target him and his group ? TSPA knows the coordinates of Maulvi Nazir and Gul Bahadur becuase of their nexus. We have to watch these developments closely in the light of on-going talks between Hakimullah and TSP.

[Aditya_V]

Seven runs in one ball

Gunmen kidnap seven Pakistani soldiers in Punjab

.

Is it true, PA is being challenged in Pakjab???

[Anujan]

Pakistan:South Waziristan drone attack kills major militant leader Maulvi Nazir. More attacks in N. Waziristan kill 12. #Fata #TTP

If this is true, it is a pretty big deal. Maulvi Nazir was an important "Good Taliban"

[SSridhar]

Taliban's Truce Offer: Army wants Govt to thrash out strategy

Although the army generals will discuss the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) ‘peace offers’ at a corps commanders’ meeting to be held on Friday, they want the political leadership to formulate a response to the militants’ suggestion for a ceasefire.

“It is for the government to decide whether or not to hold dialogue with the militants. We are continuing with our operations geared towards eliminating terrorism,” a senior military officer told Dawn on Wednesday.

He said that although the offer was yet to be fully dissected it could be a tactical move by the militant outfit given its timing and the conditions that had been set.

“Political leaders should capitalise on the situation,” he said and referred to pressure on the terrorist group generated by the army’s counter-terrorism operations.

Militant leaders in back-to-back statements sent to the media last week offered a ceasefire if the government ‘adopted Shariat after changing the Constitution, revised foreign policy and ended its engagement with the war on terror in Afghanistan’.

TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud, while confirming the truce proposal, has refused to disarm.

The army doubts the seriousness of the offers and sees the move as an attempt to ward off pressure, but at the same time it is shying away from rejecting them outright because of apprehensions that it may be criticised for not latching on to the ‘offers’ by those believing that the truce offer could provide a break in the violence unleashed by the TTP.

The reluctance to take a final decision on the offer partly stems from the past record of peace deals with Taliban, most of which — Shakai (March 2004), Sararogha (February 2005), Miramshah (September 2006), Khyber (September 2008) and Swat (April and May 2008) — ended in failure.

Except for the two Swat deals, which had some involvement of the ANP, the rest had been directly negotiated by the army.

Other than the poor track record of the peace deals, the dilemma for any (government) negotiator is deciding on the final goal, agenda of the talks and, importantly, whom to negotiate with. The TTP is not a unified entity; it’s rather an umbrella organisation comprising various militant groups, the officer said.

The first offer came from Asmatullah Muavia, a militant coming with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi background and currently operational head of Al Qaeda in Pakistan, while the second one was made by Hakimullah Mehsud.

“Whom should we talk to?,” the military officer asked.

It is not new for the army to pass the buck to political leadership. A national consensus appeared to be emerging in October for a decisive push against militants after the attack on Malala Yousufzai, but at that time too the military said it was for the political leaders to decide about an operation in North Waziristan and all of a sudden the consensus dissipated. A new ‘army doctrine’ framed in 2011 had identified the warfare being conducted by the TTP and other militant groups as the biggest threat to national security.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had articulated the new doctrine in his well-known independence night speech at Kakul. “No state can afford a parallel system or a militant force,” he said at the premier military training academy.

He also called for clarity on dealing with the threat of terrorism, warning that “otherwise, we’ll be divided and taken towards a civil war. Our minds should be clear on this”.

The ANP, which lost Bashir Bilour in a suicide attack on Dec 22 and has borne the brunt of TTP strikes against secular parties, has cautiously welcomed the talks offer.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has shown government’s inclination to consider the offer made by Hakimullah.

The PA is clearly trying to deflect responsibility to the political leadership outwardly. But, behind the scenes, it must be forcing them to negotiate. The PA piously claims that it is continuing with its programme of eliminating terrorism. What a joke !

Anyway, things seem to be moving much faster than we even expected. The Taliban are in it, the GoP is in it, PA is in it and even the Americans seem to be in it (drone attacks on Maulvi Nazir, for example, which strengthens Hakimullah Mehsud's hands).

[Neela]

Twitter abuzz with Visa issue for Javed Miandad .

[Aditya_V]

Whats wrong aren't as some TV channels have said Paki leadership(a.k.a Miltary, Mafia, Land owners) joined at the hip with Indian Elite (a.k.aINC, WKK, JNU ding Dings). So he is doing something legitamate.

[Ambar]

Pakistan:South Waziristan drone attack kills major militant leader Maulvi Nazir. More attacks in N. Waziristan kill 12. #Fata #TTP

Aha. . . the killing of Maulvi Nazir. He was a sarkari Taliban, opposed to Hakimullah Mehsud (and earlier Baitullah Mehsud) though he was also part of TTP. A few weeks back, he had been injured in an attack on him, probably by Hakimullah. Now, he is dead in a drone attack. There is another anti-Hakimullah TTP commander in North Waziristan, Gul Bahadur. Did the drone attacks in NWA target him and his group ? TSPA knows the coordinates of Maulvi Nazir and Gul Bahadur becuase of their nexus. We have to watch these developments closely in the light of on-going talks between Hakimullah and TSP.

Apparently a top TTP commander was also killed in the drone attack yesterday. Question is, was TTP commander Faisal with Mullah Nazir when he was killed by the drone or was it a separate incident ? If it was the former, then maybe the good mullah got his 72 for sidestepping the TSPA by trying to reconcile with TTP ?

[kish]

Indian-Canadian woman believed slain in Pakistan

An Indian-Canadian woman who has been missing since August and whose body has not been found was killed in eastern Pakistan, according to a lawyer who represents the woman's father

The suspect told police he and another man gave Gill tea with sedatives, strangled her with a rope and dumped her body in the Khanpur Canal, according to the Express Tribune newspaper.

The suspect told police the second man fled the country.

She shouldn't have traveled to paki-satan, life is more important than property.

[Anantha]

How did we ever miss this ?
Protester dies after inhaling fumes from burning American flag

Published September 18, 2012
Burning an American flag proved fatal for a Pakistani protester, who reportedly died from inhaling fumes from the ignited icon of independence.

Some 10,000 people rallied this week in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab province, to protest the movie trailer that Muslims say insults Islam, according to the International Herald-Tribune. One participant, identified as Abdullah Ismail, died after being taken to an area hospital. Witnesses said he had complained of feeling sick from the smoke from American flags burnt at the rally.

The rally was organized on the city's landmark mall by the Tehreek Hurmat-i-Rasool. Despite a ban on rallies on The Mall, local officials blocked off the road leading to it from noon to 6 p.m., apparently to facilitate the event.

Must be made in China

Great candidate for this years Darwin award (the Paki of course, not the Chinan who made the flag)

[Aditya_V]

Indian-Canadian woman believed slain in Pakistan

An Indian-Canadian woman who has been missing since August and whose body has not been found was killed in eastern Pakistan, according to a lawyer who represents the woman's father

The suspect told police he and another man gave Gill tea with sedatives, strangled her with a rope and dumped her body in the Khanpur Canal, according to the Express Tribune newspaper.

The suspect told police the second man fled the country.

She shouldn't have traveled to paki-satan, life is more important than property.

She should have had any FInancial dealings with Pakistanis. Probably sucked by WKK feelings.

[arun]

Aack Thoo ............... :

Dawood Ibrahim's relative Javed Miandad to visit Delhi during final India-Pakistan ODI on January 6

And, the response by MHA is the most irresponsible I have heard in a long time. It says,

“Visas are being given to the team, coaches and PCB officials. Individuals who have return tickets and proper bookings in India were given visas… the MHA did not look into individual cases,” a senior MHA official said.

This MHA official must be proceeded against for gross dereliction of duty. Would India give a visa to Professor Hafeez Saeed saheb if he was appointed as an ulema of the Islamic Pakistani team just because he also had proper bookings and return tickets ?

Yet more justification for granting a visa to Javed Miandad, a relative of criminal and Mohammadden terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, this time by our Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid:

Salman Khurshid defends granting of visa to Miandad

[chaanakya]

Mullah Nazir killed in South Waziristan drone strike: officials

PESHAWAR: Ten people were killed including Taliban warlord Mullah Nazir and several others injured in multiple US drone strikes carried out in the South and North Waziristan tribal regions on Thursday.

In the attack in South Waziristan, an unmanned drone fired two missiles at a vehicle killing six people in the Sar Kanda area of Birmil in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal district of South Waziristan.

While talking to Dawn.com, local Taliban and intelligence sources confirmed the killing of pro-government and anti-US Taliban commander Mullah Nazir along with five of his companions near Wana.

Local political administration officials while talking to Dawn.com also confirmed the killing of Mullah Nazir.

Nazir’s funeral was observed in Azam Warsak area, 10 kms from Wana, sources said.

Mullah Nazir was the main militant commander in South Waziristan, part of Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt considered a base for Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other Islamist militants, and a powerful elder in the Wazir tribe.

Nazir, who was wounded in a suicide attack in South Waziristan on November 29, confined his militant activities to Afghanistan, where he opposed the presence of US and Nato troops fighting an 11-year Afghan Taliban insurgency.

[chaanakya]

Yet more justification for granting a visa to Javed Miandad, a relative of criminal and Mohammadden terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, this time by our Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid:

Salman Khurshid defends granting of visa to Miandad

D is product of Congis and protected by them. Else he would have gone long back

[pgbhat]

Anyway, things seem to be moving much faster than we even expected. The Taliban are in it, the GoP is in it, PA is in it and even the Americans seem to be in it (drone attacks on Maulvi Nazir, for example, which strengthens Hakimullah Mehsud's hands).

SS-ji are you saying unkil took care of Maulvi Nazir in order to push Pakjabis into striking a deal with TTP?

[AbhiJ]

Killing of Shias in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (IRP) by City.

[sum]

D is product of Congis and protected by them. Else he would have gone long back

Wasnt Salman Khurshid anyways a lawyer for several shady firms like SIMI which have overt links to Dawood?

GP was on TV on HT channel( Headlines Today seems to be the only channel really hauling GoI over this issue) and he mentioned that for whatever BS reason, GoI gave visa but the least they could have done was mention is visa is certain but he would be questioned by NIA ( like was done for Hansie Cronje etc) and Miandad himself would have downhill skied and the matter could have been closed.

Pathetic GoI

[sum]

Atleast one INC MP has the smallest of pair to oppose the madness going around in the name of "improving bilateral ties":

Congress MP speaks for 'hurt' India, says Javed Miandad not welcome here for Dawood Ibrahim terror link

[ramana]

Anyway, things seem to be moving much faster than we even expected. The Taliban are in it, the GoP is in it, PA is in it and even the Americans seem to be in it (drone attacks on Maulvi Nazir, for example, which strengthens Hakimullah Mehsud's hands).

SS-ji are you saying unkil took care of Maulvi Nazir in order to push Pakjabis into striking a deal with TTP?

Its definitely intriguing that Maulvi Nazir, who is opposed to hakimullah Mehsud gets droned while TSPA is negotiating with Hakimullah Mehsud. Most likely getting rid of HM's rivals would be part of the negotiations. And TSPA let US take the (dis)credit! A two for one.

[jamwal]

From http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Ch ... 83962.aspx

In his confessional statement to police, Hafiz Shahzad Hussain said his cousin Shahid Ghazanfar and Rajvindar had known each other for a long time.
Ghazanfar had borrowed some money from Rajvindar and promised to pay her back when she came to Lahore, he said.

Ghazanfar also hid his real identity from Rajvindar and had told her that he was a Hindu, Hussain said in his confession.
"Ghazanfar offered me some money if I helped him kill Rajvindar Gill. I agreed. On August 25, we received her at Lahore airport.

[partha]

Don't know where to start. Just outrageous. Even though the article is by an Indian born Canadian, once you read it, you will understand why this is posted in TSP thread -

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/full-c ... -to-canada

Afsun Qureshi: How India’s rape culture came to Canada

I am Canadian-born to Indian parents, and grew up in Toronto, the heartland of the Trudeau-era Indo-Pak influx. I know that the attitudes that spawned India’s recent gang-rape tragedy don’t just flourish in South Asia. Sadly enough, there are common threads of cultural-based misogyny wherever the Indo-Pak, and now Afghani, communities settle.

A few years back, one of the members of my community, a girl out of her teens, endured the ordeal of an arranged marriage to a stranger in India. Although Canadian-born, she was sent to live with her in-laws in a small Indian town. India being what it is, various members of the extended family, i.e., brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, etc., lived communally under one roof. Within weeks of her arriving, a brother-in-law attempted to rape her.

Calling the police then was never an option. Why? Because whatever happens in the hermetically-sealed Indo-Pak community stays in the Indo-Pak community, where the “honour” code has a chokehold.

Consider the young woman in India who committed suicide a few months back because the police refused to act on her allegations that she’d been raped during the Hindu festival of Diwali. They believed the story, oh yes, but they just didn’t care, and couldn’t be bothered to do anything about it.

What's the relevance of "Hindu festival Diwali" here? I don't fcuking know. Look at how the author never once mention "Islam" even though she is writing about India, Pak, Afghan communities but "Hindu festival Diwali" totally relevant for the author.

Look at Shafilea Ahmed, the British-Pakistani girl suffocated to death by her father in 2009 for being too “Westernized.” In Canada, there are the Shafia crimes, and of course the infamous case of Aqsa Parvez.

Many of the South Asian immigrants who’ve settled in Canada since the 1970s have been so afraid of losing their culture that they have ferociously clung to some of their worst customs. Each time I visit India, I notice that it progresses ever so slightly with each passing year. But when I visit Toronto, as I regularly do, I sometimes feel like I have walked through a time machine, sending me back to rural India, a village in Pakistan, or an Afghan mountain cave.

As I write this now, I fear recrimination from that community — and certain members of my own family. But I am also hoping to tap into a spirit of solidarity. Perhaps a new generation will help push for change.

Which community? Buddhist?

[ramana]

She is SLIME ball and needs to first face herself in the mirror.

[BijuShet]

She is SLIME ball and needs to first face herself in the mirror.

Let me shed some light on this lady who now lives in London.

Afsun Qureshi's web resume from her site. some more relevant links :

1) All posts by Afsun Qureshi from style.com

2) Picture of the lady with some Architect

3) Her defence of Islam is not to blame for Jihadi killings
small excerpt from the link :

Qureshi writes: “Devout Muslims don’t kill children or off-duty soldiers. What real Muslims do is follow Sura 17: 33: ‘And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully…’”

4) An Op'ed piece by her on extra marital affairs.

[Prem]

If a Muslim can head India’s Intelligence Bureau, can a Hindu ever be DG ISI?
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/15327 ... de-dg-isi/

Yes, the God-fearing Musalmans.
Take Salman Khurshid, for instance. He was recently appointed to serve as Foreign Minister of India, a position which likens him to the soon-to-be Secretary of State, John Kerry, and on our end, Hina Rabbani Khar. In the case of Pakistan, it is a position that has historically been occupied by a Muslim.
Altamas Kabir holds the mantle of being the highest judicial authority in India. As Chief Justice of the Indian Supreme Court, he is endowed with supreme power. Though a reticent figure, he is said to be prudential in his rulings and as the newly appointed Justice, he is sure to take hold of India’s judiciary by virtue of constitutionally astute and righteous decision making.Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi is the Chief Election Commissioner of India, and is tasked with one of the most pressing of assignments: holding free and fair elections. It may seem to be the case that the task is of little merit, but Pakistanis have had their share of rigged elections, and understand the need for partiality. In fact, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 1990 election should have been an awakening to strengthen and reform electioneering laws, and with the help of the CEC, Pakistan can be put on sound footing when it comes to elections that are free of impartial intrusion.Hamid Ansari is the Vice President of India, and is the only person to have served two consecutive terms in the office he currently presides over. Therefore, it shouldn’t be judged that India’s appointments are mere placeholders; rather one should acknowledge the genuine political participation of Muslims.
Lastly – but perhaps most importantly – India recently tapped Asif Ibrahim to be the director of India’s Intelligence Bureau. In the Indian press, he is described as an able successor, and a champion of national security. Given that the Intelligence Bureau seems to be perpetually interlinked with the ISI – for reasons pernicious and well-documented, this is soon to be a household name, if it isn’t already.What Pakistanis across all stripes need to reflect on is that India as a government institution is becoming increasingly tolerant of religious minorities, and it’s time we do the same.
At present, to suggest the appoint of a Hindu to the post of director general of the ISI would surely be met with derision and scorn. Such is the case because we’re seemingly bred in a political environment that looks upon religious minorities as inferior.To restore confidence in minorities of their safety and their belonging, the least the government of Pakistan can do is to appoint – on merit, of course – members of religious minorities to offices where they most belong.This is one step that doesn’t require the approval of India. It is an initiative that can be taken on our own will, with our own conscience.Imagine a Hindu DG ISI.Imagine an Ahmadi prime minister.Imagine a Sikh foreign minister.The ball is in our court, and it will stay here for the time being. It is time we execute.

[Prem Kumar]

Forget Hindu. Can a Shia or Ahmedi become even 3rd in command in ISI?

[vijayk]

http://news.saanj.net/punjab-news/missi ... ed-in-pak/

Rajvindar, who was in her thirties, arrived in Lahore on August 25 last year.

A businesswoman who dealt in gems, she was scheduled to attend an exhibition of diamonds.

Her father had earlier said Rajvindar had moved from Canada to Switzerland after she got a job in a bank in Zurich.

In his confessional statement to police, Hafiz Shahzad Hussain said his cousin Shahid Ghazanfar and Rajvindar had known each other for a long time.

Ghazanfar had borrowed some money from Rajvindar and promised to pay her back when she came to Lahore, he said.

Ghazanfar also hid his real identity from Rajvindar and had told her that he was a Hindu, Hussain said in his confession.

“Ghazanfar offered me some money if I helped him kill Rajvindar Gill. I agreed. On August 25, we received her at Lahore airport.

“She stayed in a hotel for a few days (and) we picked her up on the pretext of striking a diamond deal with a local businessman,” Hussain told police.

“We drove her to Sheikhupura (located 40 km from Lahore. On the way, Ghazanfar gave her tea mixed with sedatives to make her lose consciousness and then strangled her with a rope. We dumped the body in a canal off the Lahore-Sheikhupura road,” Hussain said.

[SSridhar]

Anyway, things seem to be moving much faster than we even expected. The Taliban are in it, the GoP is in it, PA is in it and even the Americans seem to be in it (drone attacks on Maulvi Nazir, for example, which strengthens Hakimullah Mehsud's hands).

SS-ji are you saying unkil took care of Maulvi Nazir in order to push Pakjabis into striking a deal with TTP?

pgbhat, looks like that to me. From today's DT, see the US reaction:

“If the reports are true, then this would be a significant blow, and would be very helpful not just to the United States but also to our Pakistani partners,” spokesman George Little told reporters.

I can understand the US bit, but how would his death help Pakistan when he was after all a pro-TSPA Taliban, never attacked Pakistan and was used extensively by the TSPA to checkmate the Mehsuds ? When the TSPA launched Op. Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan in c. 2009, they took care to attack only Baitullah Nehsud's areas, not Maulvi Nazeer's strongholds.

[abhijitm]

Sridhar, how this impacts the truce between TSPA and the good taliban? Will Haqqanis and TSPA fall out?

Thanks.

[arun]

The Daily Mail is reporting that the decision to grant Javed Miandad, a close relative of criminal and UN designated Mohammadden terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, was taken in our Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs office despite advise to the contrary.

Given the disgraceful penchant of our Prime Minister to capitulate to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan stretching back to the disgraceful surrender at Sharm El Shiekh, I will not be easily convinced that the claim is untrue:

Pakistani cricketer Miandad got visa from PMO against advice of security agencies

[krisna]

^^^^
baiting the real D to apply for visa to visit his homeland afterall perhaps as this pukihole .
real $%^&* strategy

[Ambar]

I can understand the US bit, but how would his death help Pakistan when he was after all a pro-TSPA Taliban, never attacked Pakistan and was used extensively by the TSPA to checkmate the Mehsuds ? When the TSPA launched Op. Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan in c. 2009, they took care to attack only Baitullah Nehsud's areas, not Maulvi Nazeer's strongholds.

Mullah Nazeer was also a close buddy of Haqqanis. It could be either of the 2 scenarios : 1 ) TSPA got him whacked to assure Hakeemullah that they are indeed interested in "peace" with TTP or 2 ) Unkil just put a size 13 shoe into TSPA's behind by taking out one of ISI's prime assets and firing the opening salvo at the Haqqani network. Interesting days ahead..

[Satya_anveshi]

Ah..Those were kind of open season days of 2007-2009...Rah-e-Haqs, Rah-e-Faqs, Rah-e-Rast type of operations. Already feeling nostalgic and hope/Wish the New Year brings those days back to pukistan and make them sing kumbaya.

[Satya_anveshi]

TFT Such Gup:

Our mole says the Taliban discovered that a certain highly placed though retired khaki belonged to the Ahmadiya community and made a demand of Rs 100 million from him, to spare his life. The scared gent apparently asked General (retd) Flower to intercede who asked other interlocutors and finally the demand was lowered to Rs 10 million. Having paid the agreed amount, the khaki heaved a sigh of relief. We also hear that the Taliban made a similar demand of some telecommunications companies and they sought the counsel of RM 007 and the relevant khakis. The latter, we hear, said it was the companies' call, and they really couldn't advise them on the matter. So there we have it.

Some (looks quite a few of them) Nuggets:

Rehman Malik the culprit
Columnist Rauf Klasra wrote in Dunya that every time ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gilani visited Multan he discloses a secret. Last time he happed to reveal that the warrants issued by FIA against his one son and the attempt to arrest his other son outside the parliament - were all the doing of PPP's interior minister Rehman Malik. His son Abdul Qadir Gilani was also harassed by the FIA during a committee meeting. This was disclosed inadvertently by DG FIA himself during a meeting. He told the parliamentary committee how PM Gilani's son had acquired a bullet proof car in Dubai from Zain Sukhera with money taken from Hajj funds. He also revealed how Mr Gilani had appointed Rao Shakeel.

Rehman Malik takes revenge
Columnist Rauf Klasra wrote in Dunya that PM Gilani had kept making fun of Rehman Malik for four years calling him 'Rehman Baba' and Mr Malik took it in his stride. Now that Rehman Malik had made life a bit tough for Mr Gilani he should learn to take it with patience. In politics, all friendships are tied to mutual benefit and nothing else really matters.

Qazi says Osama is shaheed!
Quoted in Ausaf ex-Amir of Jamaat Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad stated that Osama Bin Laden was a martyr of Allah (shaheed) because it as perfectly right to kill the enemies of Allah with suicide bombers. He said the killers murdering innocent people in the streets of Pakistan were American and Israeli agents. He said America wanted to put an end to Pak-China friendship

Jamaatud Dawa attacks Bhagat Singh Chowk
Monthly Naya Zamana reported that a square in Lahore known as Fawwara Chowk in Shadman was to be renamed after Bhagat Singh, a freedom fighter against British Raj. Permission was given by the city authorities but powerful organisation Jamaatud Dawa threatened to counter the measure by staging protest demonstrations - after which the renaming was set aside.

Qazi Sahib is a Jewish agent!
Writing in Dunya Khursheed Nadeem stated that Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud had followed the lead of Al Zawahiri to say in a video CD that ex-Amir Jamaat Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad was a traitor to the cause of jihad (jihad-farosh) and a secret member of the Jewish Lobby because he favoured democracy. On the other hand, Qazi Sahib in his recent article had admitted that those who were most affected by the terrorism of Taliban were member of the Jamaat Islami and JUI. After having written this, Qazi Sahib had put the blame of the suicide attack on him as work of the Americans.

Chief Justice and 'nuclear power'
Quoted in Jinnah Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that Pakistan should take out the word compromise from its dictionary because Pakistan was a nuclear power and could not be dictated to. He said Supreme Court will not retreat from its constitutional powers and rights. He was commenting on the Reko Dik case. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan commented that the appointment of judges was causing tension between president and the Court but the right to decide the seniority of judges belonged to the president

[SSridhar]

Sridhar, how this impacts the truce between TSPA and the good taliban? Will Haqqanis and TSPA fall out?

Thanks.

abhijitm, the relatiosnhip between TSPA & the Taliban is too deep to be disturbed by Maulvi Nazeer. Remember that Hakimullah is the head of TTP (elected by the shura) and has taken a bayat on Mullah Omar. Mullah Omar had asked Jalaluddin Haqqani to arrange a truce between Maulvi Nazeer (plus Gul Bhahdur) and Hakimullah and a truce was effected. Both pledged peace and the joint statement even criticized TSPA for having driven a wedge between the two. But, that was not correct. The Mauvi was a Wazir and the TTP Chief is a Mehsud and the two tribes have been in a war-like situation for very long.

Unlike c. 1994, when the Taliban were at the mercy of TSPA, the situation today is quite the opposite. The Taliban hold all the aces though TSP is holding some of the Taliban leaders in custody and is releasing them one by one for the peace talks. This act of Pakistan helps it win brownie points from the US. This is absolutely no indication of the power equation between TSPA and the Afghan Taliban, the 'good Taliban'. The TSPA is actually at the mercy of the good Taliban. The good Taliban have independent benefactors in Gulf countries and soon they will have a country too. They never gave up the Afghan demand for redrawing the Durand Line (which agreement expired in 1993) and can rake it up to make it very ugly for TSPA. Most Pakistanis are admirers of the Afghan Taliban even if some of them hate the bad local Taliban. There is therefore widespread support for the good Taliban within Pakistan and the admiration will soon rise as the withdrawal of the US forces begins for it will be described as the defeat of the US. This should fire up all Pakistanis. The TTP owe complete allegiance to the Afghan Taliban and they can once again make Pakistan an inferno if they so choose. The TSPA continues to stand solidly by its concept of 'strategic depth' and that cannot come about without the Taliban being in power in Kabul and Kandahar. So, the shoe is on the other leg now. So, all these factors point to the TSPA being the Servants of the Master, the Taliban. It is my belief that the good Taliban are only using TSPA to achieve Afghanistan. Unlike before, they may not limit themselves to Afghan borders after that as they ideologically blended with Al Qaeda since 2002. If TTP softens TSPA enough, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan can dream of expanding its borders and acquiring the ultimate weapon.

Haqqanis are after all Pashtuns and have fought for what they perceived as Afghan interests both in 1979 and then in 2002. They are not Taliban but more a warlord. They sided with Mullah Omar for ideological reasons. They also have deep connections with TSPA, a connection that has even led to LeT cadres being seconded to the Haqqani group. But, Afghan tribal leaders and warlords are notoriously fickle-minded, as we saw during the internecine jihad for several years after the Geneva accord. One never really knew then, who was on whose side. The TSPA will use every trick to have its own way after c. 2014 if there would be a civil war. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the perennial blue-eyed boy of TSPA, has already started giving out statements from Peshawar. IMO, it is difficult to predict the Haqqani-TSPA relationship in the coming years. The Afghan Taliban may themselves not like a powerful and independent militia once they come to power.