Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - 10 Oct 2014

[pankajs]

Why the need for LGBs when they have the noclear bum hanji? Every Indian aggression can be met by the launch of a noclear bum no.

Where is mushrat when you need him?

[kish]

Austrian federal ministry's study on pakisatan, approximately 200 pgs.

Includes analysis from Christian wagner, gareth price(economy), Michael Kugelman, Martina Schrott(religious minorities), Martin Hofmann(migration) & couple of paki motormas Samina Ahmed(security), Mona Kanwal Sheikh(Taliban)

This study looks like, its a consolidation of old TIRP thread & its current avatar STFUP thread of BRF. except for a couple of interesting points.

1)
(on page 55) It says SSP/LeJ is losing its recruits to LeT & JeM, and significant amount of Arab money meant for anti-Iranian activities are being diverted to anti-India groups. ISI could have engineered this holding Malik Ishaq as hostage


2)
Detailed statistics of minority persecution is citied in this study quoting UN numbers

PAKISTAN Challenges & Perspectives

[SSridhar]

Michael Kugelman is a slimy character, IMO.

[SSridhar]

Pakis asking US for LGBs per TimesNow

And, they shall get it.

[habal]

Isn't musharraf one curious little cretin ? What has he done during his term, that he alone has to rustle up and present himself on tv and offer to nuke India.

who made him a spokesperson, and why is he alone obliged to come online and make such a silly picture.

has his actions as the dictator of paksitan compromised the deterrence in anyway that he himself has to come online to present the case. And he alone is responsible.

[chetak]

Isn't musharraf one curious little cretin ? What has he done during his term, that he alone has to rustle up and present himself on tv and offer to nuke India.

who made him a spokesperson, and why is he alone obliged to come online and make such a silly picture.

has his actions as the dictator of paksitan compromised the deterrence in anyway that he himself has to come online to present the case. And he alone is responsible.

and why are the headlines today b@$t@r&$ giving him media space on prime time deepavali night?? Are they so obviously on the take??

[shiv]

On the question of TTP fragmenting, remenber that the news source is The Dawn - so take it with a pinch of salt. Someone wants you to think that the TTP is a spent force.

[SSridhar]

On the question of the split of the TTP, I have a different take.

Certainly, it seems that some section of the TTP has split from the TTP. How significant is this section, is hard to determine. But, the new faction of TTP, the Jamaat-ut-Ahrar, has been kept quiet by the Pakistan Army and possibly by other circumstances too. IMO, the split is engineered by the ISI. About a month back, the Emir of the Punjab Chapter of the TTP, Muawaiya (this name itself indicates he is a Shi'a hunter) made an announcement that his group was giving up 'force against the State' and was now turning to use 'force against the infidel' only and to 'defend Pakistan against outside threats'. I consider this also an ISI coup.

Now the larger picture is emerging clearly.

Pakistan has to once again install a compliant government in Kabul. I am sure it has the support of China in this effort because of the Xinjiang/Uyghur fact. It began to do everything for this since c. 2012. First, it initiated peace talks with the Hakeemullah Mehsud faction of the TTP. This was the strongest and the biggest faction, the other being a faction led by Mulla Nazeer (of South Waziristan) and Gul Bahadur (of North Waziristan). Both Mulla Nazeer and Gul Bahadur, being pro-sarkari TTP commanders and having implacable clannish enmity with the Mehsuds, felt threatened by the move of rapprochement. Sensing an opportunity here (and possibly with the help of the ISI), Mehsud sent a suicide bomber to kill Mullah Nazeer. Though seriously injured, he was not eliminated which the the PA/ISI did a few weeks later through the CIA drone. The talks failed anyway and Hakeemullah was himself eliminated. Gul Bahadur's commanders have also been eliminated though so far he has himself not been directly targetted. Mullah Fazlullah's, a Swati, elevation as the TTP Emir has caused disarray in the ranks of the TTP and the PA felt the time was ripe to engineer a split. It also came at the right time and dovetailed with the timelines of the US withdrawal etc. Zerb-e-Azb was to just 'harvest souls' from the 'rogue non-state actors' to the ranks of the 'good state-actors'.

As is true in Islamist jihadi violence, the centre of gravity always shifted towards the most violent and savage of the lot. The emergence of the ISIS was one such. But, all of the TTP had taken a bayat on Mullah Omar. So, the dilemma had to be solved. The solution was to announce the creation of AQIS. Ghazwa-e-Hind would always unite all the Pakistani factions and would also prevent an exodus to far away Iraq and the Levant. The Indian intelligence believes that the announcement by Zawahiri is fake and was fabricated by the ISI. Whatever it is, it serves Pakistani purpose. At the same time, there were elements within the TTP who were clued in to the worldwide jihad and it is this group (possibly led by the breakaway Shahidullah Shahid) which announced allegiance to both al-Baghdadi and Mullah Omar. I suspect that al-Baghdadi is either a Pakistani or brainwashed in a Pakistani seminary because he quotes extensively from the teachings of Abu Ala al Mawdudi.

If the Pakistan Challenges & Perspectives report cited above talks of SSP/LeJ cadres moving to LeT/JeM, it should be viewed in the above context, if it is true. Normally the migration has so far been in the reverse direction. This could also pose some problems for the LeT as the SSP/LeJ cadres are fierce Shi'a hunters while LeT does not want to fritter away energies in that direction, at least now.

The PA/ISI may be now feeling emboldened because of several reasons. It might think that the intensity of attacks on itself has considerably come down (it started declining after the c. 2012 killing of Ustad-e-Fidayeen Qari Hussein Mehsud), the TTP has been somewhat split, the TTP is no longer working as a cohesive unit, there is no decisive leadership among them, Al Zawahiri is either with the ISI (if the AQIS CD was real) or Al Zawahiri has been appropriated (if the CD was a fabrication by the ISI), the NATO is gone from Afghanistan except for a small US presence which would not lead to demands from the US for 'peace' in the Indian subcontinent if Pakistan decided to up the ante, the Chinese are firmly on the side of the Pakistanis, the Russians by extension are also on their side (especially after the Ukraine incidents) etc. The raking up of the Kashmir issue in the UN and the firing along the IB are to exclude India from Afghanistan by creating an impression among stakeholders that Pakistan's fear of a pincer attack by India and Afghanistan could be genuine and/or that the warring nations could jeopardise political efforts and it would be better off without India as Pakistan is the most important stakeholder for Afghanistan. At the same time, the jihadists will be directed towards India in large numbers, a la 1979. TTP, Punjab Emir Muawaiya's statement quoted above is an indicator. Countries take a long time to change their strategies especially if they perceive that they had tasted success earlier. Pakistan's approach is therefore along predictable lines.

[CRamS]

Michael Kugelman is a slimy character, IMO.

Who is this guy SSJi?

[habal]

Isn't musharraf one curious little cretin ? What has he done during his term, that he alone has to rustle up and present himself on tv and offer to nuke India.

who made him a spokesperson, and why is he alone obliged to come online and make such a silly picture.

has his actions as the dictator of paksitan compromised the deterrence in anyway that he himself has to come online to present the case. And he alone is responsible.

and why are the headlines today b@$t@r&$ giving him media space on prime time deepavali night?? Are they so obviously on the take??

the question was more in line of 'is he responsible for nuclear omission and commission' that he feels personally responsible to make an appearance.

[SSridhar]

CRS, he is another 'South Asia' expert from Wilson Center.

[johneeG]

Isn't musharraf one curious little cretin ? What has he done during his term, that he alone has to rustle up and present himself on tv and offer to nuke India.

who made him a spokesperson, and why is he alone obliged to come online and make such a silly picture.

has his actions as the dictator of paksitan compromised the deterrence in anyway that he himself has to come online to present the case. And he alone is responsible.

and why are the headlines today b@$t@r&$ giving him media space on prime time deepavali night?? Are they so obviously on the take??

the question was more in line of 'is he responsible for nuclear omission and commission' that he feels personally responsible to make an appearance.

A very good question:

Pervez Musharraf

Musharraf in November 2004
10th President of Pakistan
In office
20 June 2001 – 18 August 2008

Wiki Link

Indian Missile Defence Program:

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD)

Type Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile
Place of origin India
Service history
In service Under development
Production history
Manufacturer DRDO
Produced 26 November 2006

Advanced Air Defence (AAD)

Advanced Air Defense (AAD) missile being launched during Electronic Target Trials on 2 December 2007 from Wheeler's Island Test Range in Orissa.
Type Endoatmospheric Anti-ballistic missile
Place of origin India
Service history
In service Under development
Production history
Manufacturer DRDO
Produced 6 December 2007

Wiki Link

Musharraf was the prez of Bakiland when Bhaarath was developing missile defence program.

I guess the Manly and Italian were not able to sabotage the missile defence program. Why?

Maybe because:

Pranab Mukherjee

Minister of Defence
In office
22 May 2004 – 26 October 2006
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Preceded by George Fernandes
Succeeded by A. K. Antony

A.K. Antony took over the defence ministership from Pranab Mukherjee in Oct, 2006. PAD came in Nov, 2006 and AAD came in Dec, 2007. So, most of the work(if not all the work) was done in the time of NDA and defence-ministership of Pranab Mukherjee.

This also explains the need for the siachin track-2 diplomacy. Now that Bhaarath has a missile defence, the whole 'new-clear' threat of Bakiland is up in flames.

These developments came alongside the establishment of a “back channel” comprising initially National Security Advised J.N. Dixit on the one side and President Musharraf’s aide Tariq Aziz on the other. Following Mr. Dixit’s demise in 2005 his position was taken over by Special Envoy Satinder Lambah who held around 15 rounds of negotiations with his counterpart between 2005 and 2007.These negotiations evidently flowed from proposals articulated by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. President Musharraf proposed that:
(1) J&K should be divided into seven regions.

(2) There should be a process of “demilitarization” in identified regions. He subsequently asked for the withdrawal of Indian forces from three urban centres-Srinagar, Kupwara and Baramulla.

(3) There should be “self-governance” in Jammu and Kashmir. He did not indicate whether this would be equally applicable to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and the Northern Areas of J&K, under Pakistan’s control.

(4) India and Pakistan should agree to “Joint Management” of the State. He did not specify whether “Joint Management” would equally apply to POK and the Northern Areas.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in turn, outlined his vision on how to move forward in resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir on March 24, 2006. Dr. Singh made the following points:

(1) Borders cannot be redrawn but we can move towards making them irrelevant-towards making them “just lines on a map”.
(2) People on both sides of the Line of Control (LOC) should be able to move freely and trade with each other.
(3) A situation can be envisaged where the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir can, with active encouragement from the Governments of India and Pakistan, work out cooperative and consultative mechanisms, so as to maximize the gains of cooperation in solving problems of social and economic development of the region.

While the discussions on Jammu and Kashmir were conducted on a “back channel” with a substantial measure of secrecy, there have been indications from reports in the media and in comments by Pakistan’ former Foreign Minister Mr. Khurshid Kasuri that there had been significant progress in finding common ground on proposals made by the two sides. Speaking to a gathering during his visit to India in 2006, Mr. Kasuri called on opposition leaders in India to support the efforts, which were underway to resolve that issue of Jammu and Kashmir, while asserting that differences had been significantly narrowed. While the exact contours of the framework which were then discussed are not known publicly, reports in the media indicate that there was agreement on harmonizing the nature of self-governance and devolution of powers on both sides of the Line of Control. Responding to General Musharraf’s proposal for “demilitarization,” India had indicated its readiness to reduce and redeploy forces in Jammu and Kashmir on a reciprocal basis, once it is reassured that there is an irrevocable end to infiltration across the Line of Control. There also appears to have been understanding on the need for mechanisms and institutions to promote cooperation in areas like trade, travel, tourism, education, health, environment and water resources. Details of what reportedly transpired in “back channel” negotiations were also published by an article in the New Yorker Magazine by Steve Coll. Much will depend on the political climate in the two countries and the prospects for political consensus within India and Pakistan, for this process to resume from where it was halted in 2007, because of the domestic political uncertainty and transition in Pakistan.

There have been a series of measures to promote travel, trade and dialogue across the LOC after the Pugwash Meeting of 2004. For the first time after five decades, people in Jammu and Kashmir are being given facilities to travel across the LOC to meet friends and relatives. In the Kashmir valley, a bus service has been instituted between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and in the Jammu Region, between Poonch and Rawalkot. Five crossing points have, in addition, been opened to enable people to meet friends and relatives across the LOC. Trade across the LOC has been permitted for the first time, with goods carried by trucks on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. There are also proposals under discussion to establish bus links between Jammu and Sialkot in the Jammu Region and between Kargil and Skardu linking the valley of Kashmir with the Northern Areas, under Pakistan’s control. While the goods presently traded are restricted to locally produced products, this trade can be vastly expanded as India and Pakistan move towards their stated goal of establishing a South Asian Economic Union. There are, however, still misgivings and grievances that despite the new openings for trade and travel, the procedures for such cross LOC links have been made so cumbersome and restrictive that there are numerous complaints from people, who find permission to travel either delayed, or effectively denied. Many of these confidence building measures figured in recommendations made during the Pugwash meeting in Kathmandu and several other Track 2 meetings held between 2004 and 2007.
During subsequent meeting organized by the Pugwash International in Islamabad in March 2006 in which participants from India included not only separatist leaders but also representatives from mainstream Parties like Mr. Omar Abdullah, there was widespread agreement on the need for carrying the ongoing peace process in which people from both sides of the Loc participated. This Conference focused attention on: “Prospects for self-governance in Jammu and Kashmir and Present Status of Cooperation and Communications across the LoC”. There was an interesting question and answer session when participants met President Musharraf. There was recognition that considerable ground needed to be covered on more clearly outlining the parameters of what precisely would emerge from the principles like self-governance, demilitarization and an irrevocable end to terrorism. Interestingly, President Musharraf referred to his proposals for demilitarisation and self-governance. He told participants that “an ultimate solution on these lines would make the Loc irrelevant,” thereby signalling his move away from Pakistan’s traditional position of demanding a plebiscite in accordance with UN Resolutions and endorsing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s belief that while borders could not be changed, they could be made “irrelevant”.
Political turmoil in Pakistan following the dismissal of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhury, the attack on the Lal Masjid in Islamabad and growing terrorist attacks within Pakistan, resulted in the suspension of “back channel” meetings in 2007. India Pakistan relations thereafter, went into a tailspin, following the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai. Under pressure from the military establishment the newly elected Government led by Prime Minster Gilani has disowned the agreements reached in back channel negotiations between the two Governments in 2005-2007, though former Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan has been appointed as a successor to Tariq Aziz. The climate for relations has been further vitiated by terrorist attacks, reliably reported to have been undertaken with backing and support of the ISI on the Indian Embassy in Kabul and on other Indian interests in Afghanistan. Meetings between the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan have ended in controversy with India insisting on meaningful action being taken by Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of 26/11 to Justice and more and more evidence emerging that the Pakistan military establishment continues to be recalcitrant on this score. There is now growing evidence confirming that Pakistan’s present Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is forcing the weak civilian Government to adopt a hard line and recalcitrant posture towards India and keeping options open for terrorist strikes on Indian soil and on Indian interests in Afghanistan.

Link

So, Mushy tried to circumvent the whole thing through track-2 diplomacy.

But, then he was ousted in Aug, 2008.

Then, in Nov, 2008, Bhaarath was attack in Mumbai.

If all this is true, then after 26 Nov, 2008(BTW, 26 Nov, 2008 is exactly 2 yrs after 26 Nov, 2006), Bhaarath had full range of option because Baki missiles would be useless against Bhaarath. Infact, if I remember, it was Pranab Mukherjee who declared that Bhaarath had all options open.

In his statement Mr Mukherjee indicated that the military option was not completely off the table. ``Terrorism remains a scourge for our region. If a country cannot keep assurances that it has given, then it obliges us to consider the entire range of options that exist to protect our interests and people from this menace,'' external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said without naming Pakistan. His statement comes after defence minister A K Antony had said that India is not considering the military option. The threat of India exercising the military option had also put added pressure on Pakistan to act against terror elements.

Link

Then, why didn't Bhaarath do anything after 26/11 2008 to punish Bakiland?

But, a more pressing question is: why did the Bakis not take the deal being offered by Manly and italian? Why did they attack Bhaarath and why did they replace Mushy just when he was on the verge of Ghazwa-e-Cashmere in the taqiya manner?

After that, Aman ki Asha:

Aman ki Asha (Hindi: अमन की आशा, Urdu: امن کی آشا‎, translation: "Hope for Peace") is a campaign jointly started by the two leading media houses The Jang Group in Pakistan and The Times of India in India. The campaign aims for mutual peace and development of the diplomatic and cultural relations between the two nations in South Asia. It started on 1 January 2010. The campaign never received warm response from India and Pakistan. Despite this, Bennett & Coleman, the holding company of Times Group has been trying valiantly to keep the campaign afloat through a high decibel media campaign.

Wiki Link

The only outlier is the terror attacks on Bhaarath and replacing Mushy. Why the need to attack Bhaarath and replace Mushy when the Bakis were just about to win Cashmere without firing a bullet?

Who attacked Bhaarath?

David Coleman Headley (born Daood Sayed Gilani; 30 June 1960) is an American terrorist of Pakistani origin, and a spy who conspired with the Lashkar-e-Taiba Islamist organization and Pakistani intelligence officers in plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Between 2002 and 2005, Headley made several trips to Pakistan for Lashkar training while simultaneously working as an informant for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.[2]

Suspicions in India about U.S. government relationship with Headley

While government officials in India cite full cooperation by U.S. authorities, the opposition parties and others in India have demanded explanations of why Headley was allowed to travel freely for years between India, Pakistan, and the U.S., and why he was working undercover for the DEA. Some Indian analysts have speculated that David Headley was a double agent for the Central Intelligence Agency that had infiltrated LeT,[63] an accusation denied by the CIA.[64] As soon as Headley was arrested in Chicago, the Indian media had a barrage of questions for the government about him, whose answers were slow in coming. Among other questions, Indian investigators wanted the FBI to share its tapes of Headley's communications with his Pakistani handlers to match with the voices taped on cell phones during the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[65]

Following intense coverage and speculation in the Indian press, U.S. ambassador Timothy J. Roemer told reporters in New Delhi that the United States is working at the "highest level" to provide India access to Headley, even as it is passing along answers to questions in "real time".[66]

News reports in October 2010 revealed that U.S. authorities had much advance knowledge about Headley's terrorist associations and activities. Headley's American and Moroccan wives had contacted American authorities in 2005 and 2007, respectively, complaining about his terrorist activities. The Moroccan wife told reporters that she had even shown the U.S. embassy in Islamabad photographs of their stay at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, warning them that he was doing something on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba.[54]

Link

David Headley is in American Custody right now.

David Headley refuses further questioning by India, says US

David Headley refuses further questioning by India, says US
New Delhi: David Headley, a person of interest in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and who is currently in American custody, has been opposing his further interrogation by Indian investigators.

This was conveyed by Washington to New Delhi on Monday during the Indo-US strategic dialogue held in Delhi after India has consistently asked the US to give access to Headley for a second time to get more information about the November 2008 audacious attack.

The US interlocutors have cited Headley's plea bargain with the American authorities and indicated its difficulty in allowing Indian investigators to further question Headley who had carried out the recce of the 26/11 targets for the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, official sources said.

However, India may be allowed to question Headley's accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana who helped his childhood friend to do the recce of targets for the 26/11 attacks.

Indian investigators believe that if they could quiz Pakistani-Canadian Rana, more information could come to light as he was allegedly a close associate of his Pakistani-American friend Headley.

A court in the US had sentenced 52-year-old Rana to 14 years in jail followed by five years of supervised release.

Rana was convicted for providing material support to LeT and for backing a "dastardly" plot to attack a Danish newspaper but not convicted for the Mumbai terror attack despite being a close associate of Headley.

The investigators believe that Headley and Rana have a lot of information and their interrogations could throw more light on the conspiracy hatched to carry out the worst terror strike in India and role of those behind it.

Indian investigators have already questioned Headley once in 2010.

Headley had pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges, including his involvement in the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives. He however, struck a plea bargain with US authorities.

Later, Union Home Secretary R K Singh had a separate meeting with Deputy Assistant Attorney General Bruce Swartz and discussed various issues related to cooperation in anti-terror efforts.

Asked whether the US will give India access to Headley and Rana, Mr Swartz said "we will continue to cooperate in Mumbai attack".

Link

America did not extradite David Headley. And America didn't allow David headley being interrogated by Bhaarath.

But, even this is not clear. Why would Amrikhan oppose Baki's getting control of Cashmere? Moreover, Manly was man friday of Amirkhan. Amirkhan could always order Manly. Why remove Mushy?

Who removed Mushy?

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
افتخار محمّد چودھری

Chief Justice of Pakistan
In office
22 March 2009 – 11 December 2013

Awards and honors


Elena Kagan, then the Dean of Harvard Law School, delivering the Medal of Freedom to Chief Justice Chaudhry.

In the wake of the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan, on 14 November 2007, the Harvard Law School[14] decided to award its highest honour, the Medal of Freedom, to Justice Chaudhry, following the military crackdown the previous week. He becomes the first Pakistani to be presented with such honour and a third person in world to receive this award other than Nelson Mandela and Oliver Hill.

Chief Justice Chaudhry formally received the Harvard Law School Medal of Freedom during his visit to the United States in November, 2008.[15]

The National Law Journal picked Chaudhry as the lawyer of the year for 2007.

The Association of the Bar of the City of New York granted Chaudhry an honorary membership in the association on 17 November 2008, recognizing him as a "symbol of the movement for judicial and lawyer independence in Pakistan." In 2012 Chaudhry was named among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.[16][17][18]

Wiki Link

Ok, Iftikar Chaudhry was hyped up by the American institutes.

But, I still don't understand why remove Mushy and scuttle the Ghazwa-e-Cashmere? Someone wanted dhesh to not cede Cashmere so badly that they were ready to attack dhesh? Who has such omnipotence except the mighty Amirkhan?

But, why would Amirkhan do that is beyond my comprehension.

[vishvak]

When pakis attack India, there is usually a civilian rule in jihadistan. However, army quickly takes over and begs and steals for next attack until civilian rule can be propped up.

So civilian rule is a prop for barbarians to get away during the war under some excuses.

Americans, Chinese, Saudis don't themselves care about pakis. The way Saudi brothers treat pukis ('muskeen' =goat?) is well known. We need to focus on internal security measures too while building mile high & wide fence at borders.

[pankajs]

New Indian Express ‏@NewIndianXpress 1h1 hour ago

#India asks #UNSC to enforce resolutions on countering #Terrorism http://tnie.in/1sWkQyp

UNITED NATIONS: India's UN Ambassador Asoke Kumar Mukerji has asked the UN Security Council (UNSC) to enforce without exception its resolutions on countering terrorism in order to stave off "an ever-widening spiral of violence and destruction".

"The Council must seriously and transparently take measures available to it under the Charter to require member states of implement its resolutions on countering terrorism without exception," he said Thursday.

Therefore, the UNSC should incorporate a "mandatory time-bound reporting" to the wider UN membership of how the anti-terrorism resolutions are implemented.

Mukerji suggested that for a start, UNSC give its assessment of implementation of the provisions for international cooperation in the resolution on countering terrorism it passed last month.

One of these provisions called on member states to assist in criminal investigations or proceedings relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts and foreign fighters.

Others were on improving cooperation among nations to take steps to stop the travel of foreign terrorists and to share information to identify them, and on acting on preventing terrorists from using technology to incite support for terrorism.

Mukerji warned that "to condone the use of terrorism on account of perceived political purposes is counterproductive, and will engulf more and more member states in an ever-widening spiral of violence and destruction".

[RSoami]

It seems that the TTP has indeed fragmented. Probably between the Mehsud and non Mehsud factions. The appointment of Fazlullah as the TTP emir didnt go down well with the Mehsuds. The appointment had the sanction of Mullah Omar and therefore the Mehsud factions are owing allegiance to ISIS as well.
This has angered the official` TTP led by Fazlullah leading to the sacking. The Mehsuds resent the Fazlullahleadership but are at the same time fearful of splitting with the Afghan Taliban and Mullah Omar. Till time the TTP gets its act together again and ends the internal squabbles, we will be denied the joy they had spread for some years.
Marz e Kabz has little to do with the whole thing.

[wig]

ex chief isi has a bomb proof shelter post retirement

The buzz is that the soon-to-retire head honcho of the Invisible Soldiers Inc., has been moved to a special bomb proof house in Rawalpindi. This residence was built when the present head honcho’s predecessor retired so that men so placed can be protected from possible attack after they leave office. This facility is apparently available to retirees for a year after stepping down. There is one caveat, however, and that is that if the danger is assessed to be real and present after the year is over, occupancy of the house can be extended.

this appears to be Choudhary Shujaat and Tahir ul qadri

The real reason

There’s much speculation in the press about why Friar TuQ is cheesed off with Chory Shuj of Guj. Actually, it’s the other way round. The Chories are cheesed off with Friar TuQ. The real reason for this acrimony is that the Friar has been asking (and getting) financial support from the Chories. As a precondition for attending his Lahore jalsa, they say, Friar TuQ asked the Chories for Rs 3 crore which they refused to give. Differences were so acute that both parties threatened to hold press conferences against each other but “friends” intervened to call a ceasefire.

a baki newspaper telling how londonistan is now a din

Not what it used to be

An American scholar who recently published a book on Pakistan was visiting London from Washington DC. This is what she had to say about her visit: “Holy crap! My driver KNOWINGLY parked illegally at Heathrow. The dude who wrote the ticket said, ‘give me £ 5 and I’ll tear it up”. He did. And before y’all say anything: the bribe taker was a white dude. Right in front of me with my mouth gaping”. The British reputation for probity is not what it used to be.

http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/such-gup-56/

[partha]

a baki newspaper telling how londonistan is now a din

Not what it used to be

An American scholar who recently published a book on Pakistan was visiting London from Washington DC. This is what she had to say about her visit: “Holy crap! My driver KNOWINGLY parked illegally at Heathrow. The dude who wrote the ticket said, ‘give me £ 5 and I’ll tear it up”. He did. And before y’all say anything: the bribe taker was a white dude. Right in front of me with my mouth gaping”. The British reputation for probity is not what it used to be.

http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/such-gup-56/

Motorma Fair.

[partha]

Tahir-Ul_Qadri has said - "God has decided to give Pharaohs some time"

God = Paki deep state.
Pharaohs = Shariff brothers.

Coup has been postponed.

[rsingh]

The Economist is in Baki-HD-restoration mode. It seems Karachi stock exchange is best in region (I am not jocking) and Bakistani Army has defeated Talibanis

[arun]

Iranian border guards fire mortar shells inside Pakistani territory - DAWN

Iranian border guards on Saturday fired three mortar shells in Mashkail, Pakistan's bordering town with Iran, officials said.

A security official who requested anonymity told Dawn that mortar shells fired by Iranian guards landed in deserted areas close to the sparsely populated Balochistan's Mashkail town.

"The mortar shell attack caused panic among the people," the official said, adding that Frontier Corps (FC) and Levies personnel reached the spot and security was tightened around the border.

No casualty was reported in the attack, the official added.

Today's shelling came hours after a junior officer of the FC was killed in an attack by Iranian border forces in Mand area of Balochistan's Kech district. Four FC personnel were injured.

Moreover, the Balochistan government demanded that the centre take up the issue of continued border violations by Iranian border guards with the Iranian foreign office.

Jan Muhammad Buledi, spokesman for the Balochistan government, stated that Iran had been violating Pakistani territory and attacking civilians for the past three days. Buledi has demanded Islamabad to take up this issue with the Iranian foreign office and lodge a formal protest in this regard.

Earlier on Friday, the Iranian border guards had stormed inside the Mand area of Balochistan and had attacked a vehicle of Frontier Corps, killing one soldier and injuring three others.

Khan Wasay, a spokesman for FC troops in Balochistan, told Dawn that at least 30 Iranian border guards had entered into Pakistan's bordering town of Nokundi and made the residents hostage for six hours.

"We have sent a formal letter to Islamabad regarding Iranian intervention and violation," Akbar Hussain Durrani, Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Department Balochistan told Dawn.

Durrani said the provincial government had taken up the matter seriously and urged the capital to raise this issue with Tehran.

After a gap of 6 days us “kaafirs” in India get continuing company in the act of mortaring of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Mohammadden Sabbath of Friday sees Shia Islamic Republic of Iran lobbing mortars onto the Sunni Islamic Republic of Pakistan and vice versa.

Now waiting for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to join us in the current round of punishing the Islamic Republic of Pakistan's provocations with a disproportionate response:

Iranian border personnel fire mortar shells inside Pakistan

[arun]

Guess my previous post was written to soon .

I thought the official policy to provocations from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was disproportionate retaliation, so why this return to the previously flaccid and timorous policy of showing restraint? This is a most disappointing climb-down by the BJP Government of Prime Minister Modi. :

Pakistan violates ceasefire on BoPs along IB in Jammu and Kashmir : Indian troops guarding the borderline maintained restraint and did not retaliate, says BSF

[shiv]

This study looks like, its a consolidation of old TIRP thread & its current avatar STFUP thread of BRF. except for a couple of interesting points.


PAKISTAN Challenges & Perspectives

Not so sure. From page 34:

Pakistan sits in the middle of the Indian Ocean region, a part of the world
that noted foreign affairs thinker Robert D. Kaplan has said “may comprise
a map as iconic to the new century as Europe was to the last one.”

Pakistanis closely allied with critical global players such as China and Saudi Arabia. It
is blessed with high-performing—though also underappreciated—industries
that range from information technology to electronics

And yet in Pakistan, demographic issues have tremendous salience. In
fact, just as it is important for the world to recognize the strategic value of
Pakistan even as international forces wind down their military involvement
in the Afghanistan wa

The take home meaning for me is that the "west" is seeing Pakistan as a country of tools they can use for their convenience. Nation of Tools I agree.

[member_28640]

There was an article posted by a RAPE titled less LoC more FTA in the indian express where some balanced debate was presented, when I search for the same Indian Express gives me the following message
Oops! There was a problem!
The content you are looking for has been removed on legal advise.
Maybe you would like to check out our top stories at the moment.

Strange !!!

[kish]

This study looks like, its a consolidation of old TIRP thread & its current avatar STFUP thread of BRF. except for a couple of interesting points.


PAKISTAN Challenges & Perspectives

Not so sure. From page 34:

Pakistan sits in the middle of the Indian Ocean region, a part of the world
that noted foreign affairs thinker Robert D. Kaplan has said “may comprise
a map as iconic to the new century as Europe was to the last one.”

Pakistanis closely allied with critical global players such as China and Saudi Arabia. It
is blessed with high-performing—though also underappreciated—industries
that range from information technology to electronics

And yet in Pakistan, demographic issues have tremendous salience. In
fact, just as it is important for the world to recognize the strategic value of
Pakistan even as international forces wind down their military involvement
in the Afghanistan wa

The take home meaning for me is that the "west" is seeing Pakistan as a country of tools they can use for their convenience. Nation of Tools I agree.

True Shiv ji, the west's slant towards pakisatan is undeniable. They have documented the crimes committed by pakisatan during the last decade, which is new.

Apart from BRF, no one else have made any attempt to document paki crimes so exhaustively. These guys have done that, quoting 100s of links & other sources. They simply could have referred to BRF archives. What i meant by "consolidation of TIRP & STFU" is, i could have done the same "study" without quoting any external sources but depending on BRF alone.

[Atri]

First of its kind, a very good and relevant debate between Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, on 'Terrorism as a Foreign Policy Tool'.
Panelists involved were Dr. Subramanian Swamy (BJP Leader, India), Mr. Amrullah Saleh (Former Afghan Intelligence Chief, Afghanistan) and Mr Deputy Chief Air Marshal - R Shahid Latif (Former Air Chief Marshal, Pakistan)

[SSridhar]

Co-accused acquitted in Daniel Pearl case - DAWN

An anti-terrorist court (ATC) in Hyderabad on Thursday evening acquitted Qari Hashim, a co-accused in the Daniel Pearl kidnapping-cum-murder case, for lack of evidence during an inside jail trial.

Hashim was arrested in August 2005 in conjunction with the kidnapping and was locked up in Hyderabad's central prison.

Defence counsel Sher Mohammad Leghari had filed an acquittal plea under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code, arguing that there was no evidence against his client.

According to Leghari, Hashim had been apprehended for arranging a meeting for Daniel Pearl with Mubarak Ali Shah Gillani. The court acquitted the accused for lack of evidence.

Pearl went missing in Jan 2002 in Karachi and a month later the government announced that he had been killed after receiving and examining a videotape containing scenes of his beheading.

In May 2002, a decapitated body was recovered from a shallow grave and after a DNA test, the government announced that the body was of Pearl. However, the announcement was made shortly after the July 15, 2002 verdict against prime accused Ahmed Omar Seed Shaikh.

Omar Shaikh, co-accused Fahad Nasim, Sheikh Adil and Syed Salman Saqib faced an inside trial held in central prison Hyderabad in 2002.

ATC judge Syed Ali Ashraf Shah had awarded the death sentence to Omar Shaikh and life imprisonment to the co-accused. They have filed an appeal before the Sindh High Court whereas the Sindh government has filed an appeal for enhancement of the sentences awarded to the co-accused.

Omar Sheikh and the co-accused were kept in Karachi central prison and then were transferred due to security reasons to the colonial era Hyderabad central prison in May 2002.

[CRamS]

AtriJi, we discussed that so called "debate" on BR, please go back a few pages. The relevant part I understand, but what do you find "good" about that debate? Those TSP chutiyas lying with a straight face and doing an equal.

Also note that in the debate, the TSP RAPEists were making a desperate conscious effort to make this into an India TSP equal equal thingy and trying to avoid any linkage if them with Afghanistan as in AfPak. And out MSA fool helped them along.

[Rajdeep]

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala wants to return to Pakistan, join politics

Pakistani teenage rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has expressed her desire to join politics and return to the Swat Valley where she was shot in the head by the Taliban.

"My vision is to create awareness and resolve problems of the people. I want to start politics at local level and then move to the national and international level after gaining experience," she was quoted as saying.

"International community wants to focus on education in a sustainable manner due to my efforts," she said. Malala said that she will spend her share of the USD 1.1 million prize money on educational projects in Pakistan and set up a high quality school in Pakistan.

[rsingh]

^^
Baah we knew it. Such things are not news for Brites.

[Paul]

Per MC, Groper had hinted to BDutt that Sir Creek agreement was ready to be signed when MMS visits Pakistan. Does anyone know why MMS never visited Pakistan?

I have seen Pakis on you tube like Maleeha and others lamenting this.

[Anujan]

Pakistan had 99% solved the Cashmere issue. India was ready to sign off all of Cashmere. Give Pakistan compensation and training to man Siachen. Agreed to give away Sir Creek and provide money and help for patrolling. India also promised to take a look at Pakistan's complaints about Hyderabad and junagadh. India agreed to surrender 90,000 soldiers to compensate the prisoner of war caught in Bangladesh and agreed to compensate for Bangladesh by giving bangladesh-sized territories. India also agreed to put in the constitution that tall fair Martial race of Pakistan is superior to the short dark rice eating small hearted Hindus.

However, just hours before the agreement was signed, Indian hawks scuttled it and/or There was a coup in Pakistan and/or Street demonstrations destabilized the regime in Pakistan and/or Manmohan singh lost elections and/or Sonia and Rahul were opposed to it and/or There was 9/11 and/or Abbottabad happened.

This is the 57667th article that Pakis have written on the subject. Every failed Pakistani Neta (Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz before he was deposed, Musharraf before he was deposed, Groper before he was sent Packing, Nawaz before he is going to be sent packing now) convinces everyone how Pakistan "won on the negotiating table" -- because you know, claiming that they won on the battlefield is just plain ridiculous.

As soon as Nawaz gets deposed (in a few months, wait for it), he will claim how everything was signed and ready to go when Hindu fundamentalist Modi became the prime minister suddenly. This will happen. Trust me. So it is now instructive to reiterate what happened in 2014 lest we forget. Nawaz couldnt even go to the bathroom without Army approval, so MFN got shelved. MFN also got shelved because it would have impacted Pakistan army's core competency (making corn flakes). So they spun it off as "No progress on MFN till Cashmere is resolved!! MFN will be gift to new government and no use of giving it to current government when it is on its way out". All the while Nawaz sharif had his b@lls squeezed and a bamboo shoved up his musharraf. Dont trust any of this "Pakistan was 1 inch from victory when other people spoiled it!!". They have been dishing this pakistaniyat for decades now. It is also a kind of psy-op. Making sure that people think India was ready to concede a lot for peace.

What actually would have happened (just like what happened when Bakistan proposed to buy Locomotives from India -- I will go into that in a minute), is that some pot bellied babu, chewing pan and having 1 liter of keo karpin in his hair, looked at the deal, referred to his 5000 page book on rules and regulations, found 250 objections, wrote a report and shelved the deal.

[vishvak]

I think our politicians need to understand clearly that a democraric country can't hand over territory to another because , even if there is zero population in some area, a democratic country could elect representative IF there were some people living there.

In fact, India should have seats from locations such as Sir Creek or Siachen with representatives from defense forces for each seat, until there is possibly any population.

Rest of chatter, about almost signing off and almost throwing doles & coins and almost giving a damn etcetera is plain bogus BS.

[Anujan]

Forget Sir Creek deal, let me tell you the story of Indian Locomotive deal.

Pakistanis wanted to buy Locos from India (so they can use it to move US equipment from A'stan), and wanted to finance it through money from Massa. By "buy", I meant "get it for free" along with some more money to run the Locomotives. MMS regime was all for it too, because track-2'ers had sold the idea that India needs to get involved in "High profile" projects in Pakistan so Pakistanis can see all those and love Indians. My news paperboy's uncle's wife's brother is a regular Track-2'er. More on track-2 stories later - have been meaning to write it, remind me later. In any case, ask what Pakistanis are doing to the Chinese and Americans who were also involved in high profile projects in Pakistan, but I digress.

Thats why all this mega schemes like exporting Gas, exporting electricity, selling locomotives etc all started.

So all netas decide India will export locomotives to Pakistan and give instructions to railway babus. Railway babus get to work. Start asking questions like "How will you pay us? When will you pay us? What will we do if you refuse to pay us? What is the dispute resolution mechanism? Will you cancel the order halfway?" They even ask questions like "If something goes wrong with the locomotive because you were doing Sialkot servicing on it, who is liable?" Pakis bravely say "On we have mechanics from Multan so if something goes wrong we will blame India", after talking to them Babus conclude that India needs to send 500 shop workers solely for servicing and maintenance for the locos and need to build service depots. So babus start asking "Will you give 500 visas? Where will they stay? Who will pay them? Will you ensure their safety? What will they do if you dont give them visa and/or Pay them?"

Babus found 250 violations, 500 clauses in the contract they didnt like because it didnt follow 1922 british law governing sales of mechanical objects when read together with 1983 ordinance governing locomotives as interpreted in supreme court order of 1995. So they shelved the proposal.

Wait for them to spin it as Pakistan was hours away from procuring locomotives in India when suddenly Modi won the election.

[KJo]

As soon as Nawaz gets deposed (in a few months, wait for it), he will claim how everything was signed and ready to go when Hindu fundamentalist Modi became the prime minister suddenly. This will happen. Trust me. So it is now instructive to reiterate what happened in 2014 lest we forget. Nawaz couldnt even go to the bathroom without Army approval, so MFN got shelved. MFN also got shelved because it would have impacted Pakistan army's core competency (making corn flakes). So they spun it off as "No progress on MFN till Cashmere is resolved!! MFN will be gift to new government and no use of giving it to current government when it is on its way out". All the while Nawaz sharif had his b@lls squeezed and a bamboo shoved up his musharraf. Dont trust any of this "Pakistan was 1 inch from victory when other people spoiled it!!". They have been dishing this pakistaniyat for decades now. It is also a kind of psy-op. Making sure that people think India was ready to concede a lot for peace.

I've been following Pak closely for 15 years, but I still don't understand why we care about MFN status from Pak. Can someone tell me? Is it to do with allowing us to sell products there? Can't we do without it - why does Pak think they hold the carrot to dangle in front of us?

[Anujan]

There are many reasons for MFN. The mundane reason is that all economically prosperous countries trade with their neighbours. Massa's biggest trading partner is Canada. Chinas big trading partners are all nearby. So is Germany's. Don't just think finished goods when you think trading, also think raw materials. Think how absurd it would be if Kerala one day stopped trading with Tamil Nadu? The system would be terribly inefficient.

Also there is a thinking that trade integration will facilitate coexistence. There is some truth to this thinking. Canada and US have visa free travel. Travel etc is quite unrestricted in the euro economic zone. Like that trade facilitates people to people contacts, simplifying travel, regulations etc and ultimately lead to peaceful coexistence.

Pakis being pakis think "Oh?! You want MFN?! Give us Cashmere first!!" They have a tendency to do this. Like how the world asks them to give polio vaccination and Pakistan is all like "Give us cashmere, money, nuke deals else we will all get polio!! "

As someone once observed Pakistan negotiates with a gun to its own head. MFN is one of those. That's all. They have no leverage but like to pretend they have lots.

[SBajwa]

Getting cotton from lyallpur for factories in ludhiana will be one such reason but now we are producing way more cotton than them so no deal.

Getting Gas, Anaar, Pista, etc from Balochistan would have been a deal but there is a freedom struggle going on.

And so forth

[Paul]

My original question! Why did MMS never visit Pakistan?

[Prem]

My original question! Why did MMS never visit Pakistan?

MMS's visit to "Pakistan" is his private affair like rest of the Indians do.
But what gives now for Ganja.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/national/2 ... evelopment
Nawaz admires Hindu’s role in development
PM sends bouquets, greeting cards and cakes to Hindu lawmakers

ncluding members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies as well as senators on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.Flower bouquets, greeting cards and cakes have been sent to them on behalf of the prime minister. In his message to the Hindu community, Prime Minister Nawaz said that Diwali signifies salvation of the righteous and vindication of their stance for which they had the courage to render sacrifices.He admired the productive role Hindu community was playing in national development and said that the Hindu community was an asset to Pakistan in whatever field of endeavor its members were engaged in.

[SBajwa]

The official line is that because of Mumbai attacks MMS didn't went to Pakistan.

[Mihaylo]

My original question! Why did MMS never visit Pakistan?

Would have been an inconsequential visit by an inconsequential prime minister. I hope the rest of his life is frequently peppered with ignominy that he so deserves.

-M