Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan (TSP): 29th May 2012

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 13:16

The State Bank of Pakistan has been busy denying rumours that its copper and aluminium coins contain gold. Apparently, some clever businessmen have been telling Pakistanis that their copper and aluminium coins are worth much more because the SBP has put gold in them, and that once enough people find this out and install hearths in their houses to melt the coins, they will disappear from circulation. It is honourable of the bank to deny the rumours, for they can only add to its profits. If people melt coins, there will be a shortage of them; the SBP can then issue more of them. Since they are only made of base metals, they are worth far more than the metal they embody, and the SBP makes a profit on them. It has forgone the profits. But the same crooks manufacture Indian coins and live in luxury on the profits. The Reserve Bank of India could not care less. The coins add one or two per cent to the normal Indian inflation rate of 10 per cent a year; we Indians can take that in our stride.

When the SBP is not kept busy by smugglers and forgers, it watches the economy and tries to keep it on the rails. Its most interesting publication is the annual report, to which it has now added quarterly surveys of the economy. According to the latest annual report, Pakistan’s gross domestic product grew 2.4 per cent in 2010-11. It will be recalled that the Indus floods of July 2010 devastated a fifth of Pakistan, and affected 20 million people. According to the SBP, this was especially hard on rich landlords; while aid poured in from abroad, the rich were too proud to go and stand in a queue for foodgrains or fertilizers.

Most of the growth was in services, whose output grew 4.1 per cent; the highest growth — 13 per cent — was achieved amongst services by the government. The war on terror and a 50 per cent salary increase for government servants were major factors in its high growth. The SBP makes an interesting comparison between the Indian and the Pakistani railways. The Indian Railways has one worker per 5000 passengers; Pakistani railways have one per 1000 passengers. As a result, the Indian Railways spends less than 60 per cent of revenue on wages, against over 80 per cent for Pakistani railways. (Although the SBP does not draw the inference, an average Indian worker is paid immensely more than a Pakistani worker.) The Indian Railways subsidizes passengers from freight earnings; Pakistani railways do it on a much larger scale. Mamata Banerjee had better take note. Although she has tried her best to ruin the Indian Railways, she has much catching up to do before she can compete with her Pakistani counterpart.

Industrial production fell slightly; the fall was due entirely to electricity production, which fell 21 per cent. Capacity utilization figures for Pakistan’s industry are astonishing: more than half the capacity was unused in 2010-11 — 24 per cent in cement, 45 per cent in sugar, 51 per cent in cars, 60 per cent in steel, 65 per cent in refrigerators, 82 per cent in flour mills, and 90 per cent in commercial vehicles. If Pakistani manufacturers can survive with so much surplus capacity, their profit margins must be really big. They are not the only ones who do well; so do smugglers of tea and cigarettes. These are good products to smuggle into Pakistan.

Meanwhile, industrial production continued to be constrained by lack of power. The origin of this shortage is interesting. It is not because power companies cannot supply the power. It is because of the way price control on electricity works. To be effective, price increases have to be approved first by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, and on its recommendation, by the federal government. The government is extremely reluctant to raise prices because it is ultimately responsible for financing the losses and does not want to do so; so power producers run out of cash and stop producing. The government is one of the biggest defaulters on payment. When there is no cash, power production stops. The average urban load shedding is 4-6 hours; in April 2011 it went up to 10 hours. In villages it was considerably more. Power production is a marginal industry in Pakistan — much more so than in India.

Pakistan relies heavily on remittances from migrants to the United Arab Emirates. The remittances went up in 2010-11 because of American hostility towards Iran. The United States of America tightened up on remittances from the Middle East to Iran; that tightening up also made it difficult for Pakistani workers to send money through illegal channels, and more of them had to use banks.

Pakistan and China signed a free trade agreement which became effective in 2009. Pakistani industrialists complain about Chinese competition. The figures for electric fans are incredible. Apparently, cheap Chinese fans have captured over 80 per cent of the domestic market; the share of Pakistani manufacturers has fallen to less than 5 per cent. So they are exporting all their production, presumably to the hot deserts of the Middle East. In general, however, industry did badly in 2010-11: investment in manufacturing fell 32 per cent to reach the lowest level in 16 years, and capital goods production fell 20 per cent. Textile and other manufacturers in Punjab would like to export more, but complain about Pakistan Railways’ high freight rates. It is difficult to see how the rates can be lowered, for in the last financial year, the railways lost Rs 31 billion — almost twice as much as the Rs 17 billion it received in revenue.

In 2001-07, more than half of Pakistan’s budget was financed by external sources. As Pakistan’s relations with the West worsened, the proportion came down to 10 per cent in 2010-11. In the circumstances, the Pakistani fiscal deficit of 6.6 per cent does not look excessive compared to Indian figures. The way it is financed is also not very different; in both countries, governments raid their banks, which are the chief buyers of debt. But the proportion of bank credit they take away is different. In Pakistan, the government and its enterprises borrowed almost Rs 600 billion from the banking system. In contrast, the private sector got about Rs 180 billion. A significant proportion of it went to power generation and distribution companies; in the present circumstances, it is money down the drain. Much of the remaining finance to the private sector goes to importers and exporters. What this means is that banks finance economic development much less in Pakistan than in India.

Pakistan’s plight looks so much like India’s in the 1950s and 1960s. There is also a certain similarity in the mindset. At that time, Indians thought that they were struggling against powerful foreign forces; so do Pakistanis today. The only difference is that despite its lack of friendliness with Pakistan and the West, the Indian government then spent heavily on development; Pakistan is spending very little on it today. If its government continues to be so shortsighted, Pakistan’s condition may worsen further; that cannot leave India unaffected. Even those who feel unfriendly towards Pakistan need to ask whether it is not in our interest to give it a helping hand.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 12 Jun 2012 13:45

It is a stupid equal equal article stating of why they have a right to kill us and why we should always help them for it.

rajanb · Post by **rajanb** » 12 Jun 2012 13:55

Lalmohan wrote:
Kanishka wrote: If the Pakis try to link opening of transit route to Central Asia with Kashmir, Siachen to their advantage, can not India respond by threatening to revoke the IWT?
Just curious.
what this reveals is that paks are paranoid about anything coming from india, even the offer of help is seen as some sort of subterfuge, therefore they would rather shoot themselves in the foot before accepting this trade

so nothing really to worry about re the great give away conspiracy theory

Your comment of subterfuge isn't surprising. The Porkis have been using subterfuge to fool so many (Unkil the Soup de power for one) for so many decades. Even us, and kargil is an instant, with devastating effect. So subterfuge is the spinal cord of their policy. And they would expect that we would pay them back in the same coin. And we aren't.

So now they may change the equation from 1 TFTA= 10 SDREs to a higher number.

I for one, and this maybe in anger and frustration, would let them stew in their own juices. And maybe a jhappad, once in an irregular while, would be nice and a psychological weapon to forget the thought of doing anything to us.

sum · Post by **sum** » 12 Jun 2012 14:04

Even those who feel unfriendly towards Pakistan need to ask whether it is not in our interest to give it a helping hand.

No, it is not in our interest since we have seen what sort of friendly measures "stable" Pakistan has subjected us to since 47-90s

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 12 Jun 2012 14:15

If India gives a helping hand to Pakis maybe (I am not sure either) the mango abdul on the street will be grateful or less hostile in the course of time. But we must not forget that this mango abdul has NO say in the matters of GOP. There it is TSPA who are in charge and they surely will have no symapthy towards India even if we provide them free electricty for the entire country. Providing freebies like this only helps to reduce pressure on the rulers of TSP without any real benefit for us and that is definitely not in India's interest.

rajanb · Post by **rajanb** » 12 Jun 2012 14:35

^^^I used to think that the mango abduls may have some gratitude. But since Gen. Zia taking charge, the politics of hate seem to have become paramount. Added to that a distorted educational system. And this has been their thrust ever since.

The PA has total control. Their could have been a glimmer of a chance if the GOP had real power. But we know that Kiyanahin holds the power. And no way will they waver in their single mindedness at subterfuge and double dealing. The fact that they are in economic trouble may have a sobering influence for them to play straight with us. But I dismiss that idea because there seem to be enough brain washed hawks in the PA who would rather take the adventurous and self defeating route. It is a fractured mix of polityand the PA. And that to me, spells danger.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Jun 2012 14:44

pankajs wrote:WHITHER PAKISTAN?
Pakistan’s plight looks so much like India’s in the 1950s and 1960s. There is also a certain similarity in the mindset. At that time, Indians thought that they were struggling against powerful foreign forces; so do Pakistanis today.

A certain similar mindset ? My foot. How can any one attempt to compare the mindsets of a terrorist state with any other decent nation-state, leave alone India ? Pakistan never had a vision or visionary leaders. Its obsession was India and it has always been willing to lose everything if only it can cause even a minor discomfort to its arch enemy. That is its only mindset.

Indians merely thought they were struggling against foreign forces ? The whole independence movement was against a number of foreign forces. British, French, Portuguese, Dutch. They did not become saints on the very day they left our shores finally and become very friendly to us overnight. In the 50s and 60s and since then, powerful foreign forces have been acting very much against us. It is not imaginary. They have been acting at two levels, political and non-political. Pakistan's case is very different and not comparable with that of India. Pakistani leaders did not fight for Independence from these powerful foreign forces. Pakistan was created to protect the interests of these 'powerful foreign forces'. Pakistan is where it is today upon its own volition. OTOH, India has largely overcome the various shackles placed on it by these 'powerful foreign forces'. Pakistanis are haggling over price and India fought on principles (whether the principles were right or wrong is not for debate in this context).

It is only a depraved mind that can compare the evolution of these two nations since their independence by resorting to simplistic terminologies.

If its government continues to be so shortsighted, Pakistan’s condition may worsen further; that cannot leave India unaffected. Even those who feel unfriendly towards Pakistan need to ask whether it is not in our interest to give it a helping hand.

Pakistan cannot be saved by India. Pakistan had a chance to make a determination to save itself but it blew it away as it determinedly pursued its single-minded obsession. All that India, itself a struggling and developing economy, can do is to throw a few crumbs at Pakistan. These crumbs make no difference at all to the Pakistani economy. OTOH, it will lead Pakistan to misjudge, as usual, Indian benevolence as weakness and timidity and plan further attacks, more gruesome than ever before, against us. We neither see any iota of change in Pakistani attitude towards India nor is there any possibility. A bogey is being created that a failed Pakistan is far more dangerous than a struggling Pakistan. I do not see that possibility. Let us work towards a failed Pakistan.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 12 Jun 2012 14:45

Dilbu wrote:If India gives a helping hand to Pakis maybe (I am not sure either) the mango abdul on the street will be grateful or less hostile in the course of time. But we must not forget that this mango abdul has NO say in the matters of GOP. There it is TSPA who are in charge and they surely will have no symapthy towards India even if we provide them free electricty for the entire country. Providing freebies like this only helps to reduce pressure on the rulers of TSP without any real benefit for us and that is definitely not in India's interest.

Was the Mango Abdul ever thanked India for Generous IWT, Paying 300 crores during Kashmir conflict to help thier economy moving, for 100's of surgeries done to Paki children?? Answer is no- any concession help is a sign of weaknesses.

Yes they will be grateful if they are brought to a position when they have to beg. But that can wait anther 15 years when without any major geopolitical shift they will collapse.

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 12 Jun 2012 14:46

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan asks Mehsud tribes to leave South Waziristan

In view of an ongoing war in the FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Agency), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued final warning to the local residents to leave South Waziristan at the earliest.

According to the media reports, the TTP issued a pamphlet in South Waziristan, issuing final forewarning to the local tribes.

The pamphlet noted, “No NGO or any NGO contractors were allowed to operate in the area. Rather it termed them as legitimate targets. The employees associated with educational activities, health, and members of the Khasadar force (volunteer force) are also included in the lists.”

The press note stated that these people, if caught working will be treated as criminals. It also forewarned that house owners and others who assisted Mehsud tribe members in settling in South Waziristan had committed a crime.

The pamphlet also had a warning for those operating transportation enterprises, saying these people were committing an unpardonable offense.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 12 Jun 2012 14:55

Ball in Pakistan's court on resumption of negotiations: US

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 12 Jun 2012 14:59

Dilbu wrote:Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan asks Mehsud tribes to leave South Waziristan
In view of an ongoing war in the FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Agency), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) issued final warning to the local residents to leave South Waziristan at the earliest.

According to the media reports, the TTP issued a pamphlet in South Waziristan, issuing final forewarning to the local tribes.

The pamphlet noted, “No NGO or any NGO contractors were allowed to operate in the area. Rather it termed them as legitimate targets. The employees associated with educational activities, health, and members of the Khasadar force (volunteer force) are also included in the lists.”

The press note stated that these people, if caught working will be treated as criminals. It also forewarned that house owners and others who assisted Mehsud tribe members in settling in South Waziristan had committed a crime.

The pamphlet also had a warning for those operating transportation enterprises, saying these people were committing an unpardonable offense.

Wish TTP can apply such rules in Slumbad and la whore

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 12 Jun 2012 15:09

They will reach there soon. Insha Allah.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 12 Jun 2012 15:22

SSridhar wrote:Ball in Pakistan's court on resumption of negotiations: US

What can ball do only when balls are needed? More kabuki thea-tar with court, civvies, khakis, talibs all thrown into the mix. Yippie.

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 12 Jun 2012 15:35

William Hague visits Pakistan for talks on regional stability

Foreign secretary William Hague has arrived in Pakistan for discussions on how to stabilise the region.

His trip comes amid ongoing tensions between the governments of Pakistan and the US over supply routes to neighbouring Afghanistan.

Mr Hague will meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and opposition leaders, ahead of elections in the country.

The foreign secretary will also talk to women's rights activists.

There is anger in Washington over the failure to eliminate militant safe havens in Pakistan, and the continuing ban on Nato convoys bound for Afghanistan.
Drone strikes

Islamabad shut a supply route in November after a Nato air-strike near the Afghan-Pakistani border killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

On Monday the US said it was temporarily pulling out of talks with Pakistan over re-opening the route.

Pakistani politicians have raised concerns about US drone strikes on terrorist targets in the country. Last week the foreign ministry summoned the US deputy ambassador in Islamabad to protest at recent attacks.

The United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has said drone strikes "do raise serious questions about compliance with international law, in particular the principle of distinction and proportionality".

However, Washington insists it will continue to defend itself against enemies, including al-Qaeda.

UK officials have dismissed reports that Mr Hague is aiming to mediate between the US and Pakistan, but the BBC's Orla Guerin said Islamabad "could do with a friend, and that's a role Britain is keen to play".

The foreign secretary's visit follows a trip to London in May by Mr Gilani.

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 12 Jun 2012 15:40

Gunmen kill 4 policemen in southwest Pakistan

Quetta, Pakistan — Police say gunmen have shot and killed four police officers who were guarding a railway track in southwestern Pakistan after local authorities were alerted about plots to plant bombs targeting trains along the route.

Senior police officer Shaukat Ali says Saturday's attack took place on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of the troubled Baluchistan province.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but Baluchistan is believed to be a refuge for Taliban and Pakistani militants. It has also witnessed a decades-long insurgency by nationalists who demand greater autonomy and a larger share of the province's resources such as natural gas and oil.

A bomb planted outside a seminary in Quetta killed 14 people on Thursday

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 12 Jun 2012 15:40

So Unkil is sending poodle to deliver a message to TSP. What will it be? Will Ukistan and TSP arrive at a solution which Ukistan can then sell to unkil? So many questions not many answers. Stay tuned..

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 12 Jun 2012 15:47

Dilbu wrote:So Unkil is sending poodle to deliver a message to TSP.

Unkil sending or the poodle volunteered? Poodle is always looking for such opportunity.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 12 Jun 2012 15:57

William Hague should instead reprimand Pakis for having a society which pushes girls into prostitution.

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 12 Jun 2012 16:47

Lalmohan wrote:what this reveals is that paks are paranoid about anything coming from india...

By now, many of us ol'timers will recognize a distinct pattern of behavior. When the pakis want to scuttle a prospective deal between India and their retarded nation, they will link it to the resolution of "core" issues such as _____ , _____, and _____ (Fill in the Blanks). Its all about gaining time and a better negotiating position.

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 12 Jun 2012 17:17

Here's a new one. Batting for Fai. Convoluted logic by these so-called liberals. This must be a paki sponsored and paid-for trite.

Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai: setting the record straight

No point in reproducing excerpts from this farticle. The whole thing is just a one long barf. The writer claims that Fai never worked for the pakis. The lengths to which these liberals will go to find their "windmills" never cease to amaze me. Just to set the record straight where Fai pleaded guilty to secretly receiving millions of dollars from Pakistan and the ISI while lobbying in the United States over Kashmir: Fai was spying for ISI !. Sheeeeesh!

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 12 Jun 2012 18:14

Wonder how people still advocate 'helping' Pakbaric animalistan when $20b got Uncle nothing but more hatred, terrorism and violence. Are they thinking of sinking $25b?

We can lighten their burden by pushing for Balochistan's independence.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 18:25

Pak-US talks on Nato routes stall

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon said on Monday the United States was pulling its negotiators from Pakistan but the State Department said the team could go back at an appropriate time.

Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington, Sherry Rehman, also indicated that the talks would continue.

But diplomatic observers in the US capital noted that “no spin can hide the fact that relations between the two countries are at their worst now”, as one of them said on an American news channel.

“I believe that some of the team left over the weekend and the remainder of the team will leave shortly,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told a briefing in Washington. “This was a US decision.”

At the State Department, spokesperson Victoria Nuland noted that six weeks of negotiations had only achieved some progress on the technical level, so the US decided to “take a break”. But “we are prepared to send the team back” at an appropriate time, she said.

The Wall Street Journal described the US decision as “an abrupt turnabout in the course of the talks, which seemed last week to be gliding towards a resolution”.

Quoting sources in Washington, the newspaper reported that the US negotiators left after Pakistan “refused to allow a senior American defence official, Peter Lavoy, to meet the country’s military chief, Gen Ashfaq Kayani”.

Ambassador Rehman, however, rejected the suggestion that it was an “institutional pullout” from Pakistan.

“Pakistan is seeking to be part of the solution for Nato and the US as they transfer security in Afghanistan, not an obstacle,” she said.

At the Pentagon, spokesman George Little said the office of the US defence representative in Islamabad would stay engaged with the Pakistanis for reopening the Nato supply routes.

At the State Department, Ms Nuland said the decision to resend the team would be taken after consultations with Pakistan.

“We need to hear from the Pakistanis when they think it is a good idea,” she said, noting that the negotiators had made some, “relatively small” progress but main differences remained unresolved.

She said she would not comment when a journalist suggested that Gen Kayani refused to meet Mr Lavoy because US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had made adverse comments about Pakistan in New Delhi and Kabul last week.

But “we stand by the statements that have been made”, she said.

Ms Nuland said State Department officials were the first to leave but “we are ready to support the talks when it is appropriate”.

At the Pentagon, Mr Little told reporters that “both sides would like to reopen the ground supply routes” and they had “an agreement in concept” on that issue.The US media noted that last week the two sides appeared closed to concluding a deal on the supply lines. The United States had agreed to increase transit fees per container by nearly 2.5 times over the amount Pakistan received before the Nov 26 incident. The US also seemed inclined to repair and upgrade roadways on which the cargo trucks would travel.

Ambassador Rehman said that Pakistan had not closed the supply lines for leveraging a price advantage and the talks focused on Pakistan’s main demand for an apology over the Nov 26 incident.

Asked if she believed the US would apologise, the ambassador said: “Don’t you think they should?”

She said she was actively engaged with Congress and the US administration and believed that the Americans would show “justice and fair play” while seeking a resolution to this dispute.

She said US and Pakistani negotiators in Islamabad were trying to “build a transparent framework for all possible future agreements, not for a price haggle”.

Ms Rehman said Mr Lavoy had “a candid and potentially constructive” meeting with the Foreign Secretary in Islamabad this weekend.

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 12 Jun 2012 18:31

Since it is mango season in South Asia now, hope Uncle delivers a juicy crate to the uncooperative Kayani. That might move things along..

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 18:32

US halts talks with Pakistan on supply routes. Could ties get any worse?

The Obama administration has called off negotiations with Pakistan aimed at reopening supply routes for the war in Afghanistan, baring the depths to which US-Pakistan relations have plunged in recent months.

At the State Department, a spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, said the US has no plans for resuming the talks, and suggested that a return to negotiations was now in Pakistan’s hands.

The United States refused to go beyond the “regret” President Obama expressed over the botched border attack, and it balked at the significantly higher truck fees Pakistan sought, with some officials calling the demand “blackmail.”

The US decision to end talks without a deal could still be something of a strong-arm tactic, some analysts say, to get the Pakistanis to consider the substantial revenues they’d be giving up and to reconsider.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 12 Jun 2012 18:38

^^^ (stalling talks) expect an upsurge in terror attacks in uzbekistan and tajikistan...

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 18:40

Ties sour further: Pakistan acts smug, US gets furious

As the relationship between Pakistan and the United States tumbles through one of its roughest patches ever, yet another round of talks has failed to secure an agreement on reopening the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's supply routes into Afghanistan.

The talks failed in the wake of Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's refusal to meet US Assistant Defence Secretary Peter Lavoy, who had travelled to Pakistan to try to resolve the dispute. The refusal prompted Washington to immediately withdraw negotiators from Islamabad, amid reports that the Barack Obama administration has finally warned Pakistan that it could be declared an enemy country in case Islamabad doesn't come to terms with the United States.

According to well-informed diplomatic sources in Islamabad, General Ashfaq Kayani refused to meet Lavoy to convey the security establishment's displeasure over US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta's recent warning.

Panetta had warned that Washington is losing its patience over Pakistan's failure to eliminate safe havens for insurgents who attack US troops in neighbouring Afghanistan. Panetta lashed out at Pakistan and the Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani Network during a visit to Kabul.

Earlier, President Obama had made clear the US's anger at Islamabad's refusal to reopen the supply line at the NATO summit in Chicago, where he refused to hold a one-on-one meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. Pakistan's reluctance to reopen the route is linked to concerns about political backlash at home, where anti-American sentiment is rampant, despite receiving billions of dollars in US aid in the past decade.

Pentagon spokesman George Little has already announced that the United States has withdrawn negotiators from Pakistan after talks failed to produce an agreement on reopening NATO supply routes. The American team of negotiators had been in Pakistan for nearly six weeks, he said, as US officials had believed they were close to a deal with Islamabad to lift the blockade on NATO convoys. But no breakthrough seemed imminent and there was no scheduled date for a resumption of the negotiations, Little added.

The Pakistan government announced its decision to shut its border to NATO supply convoys in November 2011, after a botched US air strike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at Salala check post on the Pak-Afghan border.

As several round of talks to resolve the stalemate between the two sides failed, Lavoy had travelled to Pakistan last week amidst reports that the two countries are working on drafting a possible US apology over the Salala episode. The United States had initially agreed to apologise, but changed its mind after aides warned President Barack Obama that such a move could harm his re-election campaign.

Lavoy was about to meet General Kayani in Islamabad to work through the contentious issue when Panetta issued his warning. Panetta's statement, coupled with the rejection of the Pakistani proposals by the visiting American negotiators to charge steep fees of several thousand dollars for each container truck crossing the border, prompted General Kayani to cancel his scheduled meeting with Lavoy.

As the US assistance defence secretary had to return to Washington empty-handed, Pakistan faced a serious threat of being declared an 'enemy country' if Islamabad doesn't come to terms with Washington on the resumption of ground lines of communications for NATO.

While downplaying the tension between the two allies, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman said on Monday that the return of an American negotiating team from Islamabad does not represent an institutional US pullout.

Responding to a question about the US negotiating team's return from Pakistan, she said, "For our part, I have been saying this again and again, Pakistan is seeking to be part of the solution for NATO and the United States as they transfer security in Afghanistan, not an obstacle. On the NATO supplies, the way forward is more related to other issues; we certainly did not close the NATO supply route for leveraging a price advantage".

Well-placed diplomats agree that Washington and Islamabad are looking more like enemies than allies in a war, thus threatening the US-led fight against Taliban and Al Qaeda militants based in the country's largely lawless tribal areas.

The US is getting impatient because the whole machinery in that country would be diverting to the electioneering process after a month and Independence Day would be the deadline for the White House to take a decision about the nature of its future ties with Pakistan. Under these circumstances, senior American officials, who have a huge task ahead of repairing relations with Pakistan, have now engaged Britain to play a mediatory role between the two sides.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is reaching Pakistan on June 12 apparently to help the two estranged allies resolve the deadlock. Hague will meet Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to discuss the outcome of the exhaustive Pak-US talks, reopening of NATO supply lines as well as regional security.

Senior government officials in Islamabad believe the British foreign secretary's visit is meant to finalise the price tag between Pakistan and US for reopening NATO supply lines.

They were upbeat that the stand-off between Pakistan and the United States would be resolved soon under an amicable package deal that Pakistan has been seeking in its talks with the United States.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 12 Jun 2012 18:46

scenario: sherry-ji and good-haqqani-ji and others of the same ilk are gathering in western countries ahead of pakistan being declared an enemy state. kiyanahi is forced to choose 1. extreme gubo to unkil --> mullah revolution at home --> pakistan turns into iran for next 2 decades...
or 2. kiyanahi is forced to choose jihad, in which case its b52 time --> pakistan disintegrates into mullah run talibanised "cursed earth" for next 2 decades
meanwhile - the noble and telegenic "free pakistan" pro american democrats cool their heels in washington and davos and wait for the counter revolution...

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 19:07

I did not give bribes, I was blackmailed: Malik Riaz

ISLAMABAD: Business tycoon Malik Riaz, speaking with reference to the Dr Arsalan Iftikhar suo motu case, on Tuesday claimed that he did not give any bribes to anyone but rather was blackmailed.

Riaz, who had earlier appeared before the Supreme Court to hand over his statement, was speaking to the media at a hotel in Islamabad.

“Blackmailers were sent after me. Where should I go? Why was I pushed against the wall?” Riaz questioned.

Riaz said that despite being blackmailed, he continued to “bear” the trouble to avoid destroying his credibility and his career. “I cannot see this country collapsing. I have helped built it.”

He further claimed that there is no free judiciary in the country and it is being run by a ‘don’. “Arsalan Iftikhar is the don. But I still respect the chief justice.”

“Even today I respect the chief justice. Even today, I have submitted my reply in written to the court and I stand by my statement,” Riaz said, adding that he even wrote a book in 2007 in favour of the chief justice during Musharraf’s tenure. “I also offered him my bullet-proof vehicle.”

Riaz, holding a pocket Holy Quran in one hand, questioned Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry before the media. “I have come here with the Holy Quran, just like the chief justice did. I have three questions for the chief justice.”{A real paki deserving the nishan-e-pakistan}

As his first question, Riaz asked the chief justice to tell the nation how many times they had met during the night, and if his son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar did not know him. “Was he not there in the meetings?” He further asked the chief justice to disclose how many times the prime minister and the CJ met at his partner Ahmed Khalil’s residence.

“Place this Holy Quran in front of you and tell the people: for how long have you not known about this? Why did you not take a suo motu then? Why did you take a suo motu only when the media broke the news?”

“Call me for contempt or send me to jail. I’m ready to die. I’m not afraid of the jails,” Riaz said, while promising that he will disclose more facts in “due time”.

A perturbed Malik Riaz later left the press conference after telling media persons that he had disclosed what he had to for today.

sum · Post by **sum** » 12 Jun 2012 19:13

Riaz, holding a pocket Holy Quran in one hand, questioned Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry before the media. “I have come here with the Holy Quran, just like the chief justice did.

Banana Republic, thy name is TSP

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 19:14

Suo motu: Spent Rs342m on Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, says Malik Riaz

ISLAMABAD: The written statement of business tycoon Bahria Town Malik Riaz, which he submitted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that he spent a total amount of Rs342.5 million on chief justice’s son Dr Arsalan Iftikhar Express News reported.

Riaz said in the statement that Dr Iftikhar had “promised” that he would help settle cases in his “father’s court”, but “did not get any relief despite the money spent.”

I declare Dr Arsalan Iftikhar a real paki deserving a nishan-e-pakistan.

He made it clear in his statement that neither the prime minister, the president or any political personality were part of or related to the agreement in any way.

Justice Jawad S Khwaja observed that whenever the court’s sanctity was being questioned, they would protect it.

A nishan-e-pakistan for Justice Jawad S Khwaja too!

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 12 Jun 2012 19:24

Pakistan frenzy over 'gold' rupee coins

How much is a one rupee coin worth? Up to 2500 rupees if you believe the rumours sweeping Pakistan that the humble coin had inadvertently been made with gold instead of the usual tiny percentage of copper.

One newspaper claimed a beggar had sold 150 of the coins and bought a motorbike with the proceeds.

Other rumours suggested the coins contained uranium and were being smuggled across the border for Iran's secret atomic weapons programme.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 12 Jun 2012 19:36

Kanishka wrote:William Hague visits Pakistan for talks on regional stability
The United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has said drone strikes "do raise serious questions about compliance with international law, in particular the principle of distinction and proportionality".

What's this moron complaining about?

The drones are killing a larger proportion of "people of distinction" .

Thus the (?) "the principle of distinction and proportionality" is being fully complied with in accordance with international law. Everything is kosher onlee.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 12 Jun 2012 20:08

Both US and Pakistan are nuclear countries and should act responsibly. They can solve all problems through dialogue. US should not jump into conclusions about Pakistan without proper investigation. India should offer her good offices to solve all outstanding issues between US and Pakistan.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 12 Jun 2012 20:14

Apparently this Malik Riaz guy is quite a big shot. the Chief justice better watch out.

Mr Riaz scheme involves sucking up to TFTA jernails, who allot him prime land at throwaway prices. He then builds buildings on them, gives a few to the jernails and sells the rest. Apparently many admirals and jernails and kernails (retired of course ) are in his employment. And one of his buddies in this scheme is the brother of one Mr Assphuck.

Brad Goodman · Post by **Brad Goodman** » 12 Jun 2012 20:20

Pakistan air force plane crashed in SW Balochistan province

A Pakistan air force training plane crashed on Tuesday afternoon in country's southwestern province of Balochistan, local media and officials said.

Both pilots on board, one instructor and a trainee, were safe in the incident as they ejected from the plane before it crashed, Pakistan air force (PAF) spokesman told media.

why are lot of baki planes meeting their 72 these days? is unkill tightening spare supplies or baki just dont have money for them?

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 12 Jun 2012 20:52

http://dawn.com/2012/06/10/profile-malik-riaz-hussain/

Twelfth Richest Man of Pakistan: He started off as a small time contractor in 1980s; however, the details on how Hussain, from an ordinary clerk in Military Engineering Service (MES) climbed up the ladder of success and became one of the biggest business magnates of Pakistan are extremely sketchy. All the country knows is that he is the man behind Bahria Town, one of the largest private development projects to have materialised in Southeast Asian region.

Bahria town, which spans over an area of 45,000 square acres

According to the sources and reports, Hussain with the help of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) had grabbed Rs62 billion worth of land from an estimated number of 150,000 people belonging to lower and lower middle income group.

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 12 Jun 2012 21:02

Anujan wrote:http://dawn.com/2012/06/10/profile-malik-riaz-hussain/

Twelfth Richest Man of Pakistan: He started off as a small time contractor in 1980s; however, the details on how Hussain, from an ordinary clerk in Military Engineering Service (MES) climbed up the ladder of success and became one of the biggest business magnates of Pakistan are extremely sketchy. All the country knows is that he is the man behind Bahria Town, one of the largest private development projects to have materialised in Southeast Asian region.

Bahria town, which spans over an area of 45,000 square acres

According to the sources and reports, Hussain with the help of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) had grabbed Rs62 billion worth of land from an estimated number of 150,000 people belonging to lower and lower middle income group.

Square acres?

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 12 Jun 2012 21:04

Brad Goodman wrote:Pakistan air force plane crashed in SW Balochistan province

A Pakistan air force training plane crashed on Tuesday afternoon in country's southwestern province of Balochistan, local media and officials said.

Both pilots on board, one instructor and a trainee, were safe in the incident as they ejected from the plane before it crashed, Pakistan air force (PAF) spokesman told media.
why are lot of baki planes meeting their 72 these days? is unkill tightening spare supplies or baki just dont have money for them?

These are all cheeni maal, I think.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 12 Jun 2012 21:04

Anujan wrote:Both US and Pakistan are nuclear countries and should act responsibly. They can solve all problems through dialogue. US should not jump into conclusions about Pakistan without proper investigation. India should offer her good offices to solve all outstanding issues between US and Pakistan.

The US and Pakistan continue to be in dispute over the territory of NWFP which has seen a number of armed clashes between regular and irregular troops on both sides. Civil and Human Rights have frequently been violated and the goat population of the region is felt to be extremely vulnerable. The US stations 500,000 troops in neighbouring Afghanistan who regularly have to deal with large street protests in Pakistan. Talks held over several rounds have failed to allow both sides to reach a conclusion and the region remains a dangerous drone flashpoint. People on both sides of the border are suffering.

Anujan · Post by **Anujan** » 12 Jun 2012 21:15

US being the larger country should show some large hearted ness and give some concessions to Pakistan. Refusing to discuss payments for NATO transit will only strengthen the hands of extremists.