GEO PAKISTAN

Hypocrisy!

2009-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

GEODUNIYA, 10th Jan, 09 - Well done the CIA! In an act of astonishing incompetence the Agency has in one fluid motion created millions more enemies for America, fostered a recruiting drive for the anti-American Taliban that will keep it in dedicated manpower for the next couple of decades, driven a friendly government to despair and shattered its attempts to counter the excesses of dangerous religious lunatics, and contributed massively to the already grave instability of a volatile region.

This bizarre shambles was caused by US aerial assaults which killed civilians in Pakistani villages in its North West Frontier Province which lies along the Afghan border. The US military, which is fighting the tribes on the Afghan side of the border, declares it knows nothing of the attacks, and the Pakistan army, which is fighting the tribes on the Pakistan side of the border at the command of Washington (although naturally Pakistan denies this is the reason), knows nothing about them, either, other than the fact they took place.

So we have a chaotic international situation in which buildings within a sovereign country have been smashed to smithereens and their inhabitants blown to pieces by persons unknown to the government of the territory where the strike was made. By any national or international criterion the destruction and killing were illegal. It all sounds a bit like 9/11, in fact - - except that many people who condemned the 9/11 slaughter in the US have supported the slaughter in Pakistan`s tribal area`s.

There is no point in anyone trying to claim there is a moral difference: there were about 3000 killed in New York, and hundreds have already being killed in Pakistani tribal areas of Pakistan mostly civilians. All who died were innocent of any action against their murderers. The difference is that those who planned the atrocity in New York are regarded quite rightly as demented fanatics, and those who planned and executed the killing of villagers in Pakistan are considered to be American heroes by such as Bush, Cheney and McCain and many millions of their zealous adherents.

The responsibility for atrocities in Pakistan has been laid at the door of our favorite wham 'em, bam 'em, slam 'em amateurs, the troglodytes of the Central Intelligence Agency. Gary Trudeau's Doonesbury characters are alive, active, and guiding missile-firing drones on yippee shoots wherever and whenever they want, and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it.

Forget international law - - forget any law - - because these people are above the law and out of control and there isn't a chance that anyone will be held accountable for the death of some raghead tribal kids and their parents. But before we continue describing the CIA's most recent off-the-wall delinquency, let's examine the region where it took place, because the customs and culture of the tribes are relevant to any action taken in their homeland. It is essential that US citizens gain understanding of the wider world, because America is deeply involved in every country on our planet.

By: Feroz Pakistani

Obama orders Afghan-Pakistan policy review: White House

2009-02-10T10:59:00.001-08:00

GEODUNIYA, WASHINGTON: U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered an interagency review to examine U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan ahead of the NATO summit in April, the White House said on Tuesday."The president has asked Bruce Riedel to chair an interagency policy review on U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan to be completed before the NATO summit," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters as Obama flew to Florida for an event to push his case for an economic stimulus package.Riedel, a former CIA officer, is a senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution think tank in Washington.

Who to blame?

2009-01-23T02:56:00.000-08:00

A week’s worth of newspaper headlines provides ample evidence of Pakistan’s devolution. The last two weeks of 2008 saw the country quite literally plunged into darkness, small cities were suffering up to 20 hours of load-shedding a day while larger cities like Karachi and Lahore saw up to 16 hours day. Students studying for exams were left hapless; tanneries looking to tan hides after the Eid al Azha season lost over 2.5 billion rupees; and flour mills in Lahore were unable to grind flour, leading to long queues of frustrated buyers outside stores. Industrial workers in Faisalabad began to riot because of the power outages, burning vehicles in the street and destroying other property in their rampage.Following the uproar, the president made an announcement assuring 30,000 tons of furnace oil to help power companies. In the meantime, load-shedding continues in all parts of the country.If the failure of the state to provide basic services like electricity is not enough substantiation of Pakistan’s devolution into an anarchical state of nature, the absolute lack of security is bound to quell any doubts regarding the regression. According to a report issued by the Aurat Foundation, nearly 500 women were killed in Karachi last year alone. Of the two hundred reported raped, nearly 15 were gang raped.

The mayhem is not confined to women. A recent article published in the Wall Street Journal reported nearly 12,000 murders in the first eleven months of 2008, the highest reported in over a decade of Pakistan’s history. If one escapes death or sexual assault, there are always kidnappings to worry about. Whether it is middle business owners or high profile victims like Gold tycoon Kamran Tessori of Tessori family who was kidnapped and then framed into different illegal cases by the authorities. Another example is of Dewan Group and owner of MCB BANK Mian Mansha.

Kidnapping for ransom and extortion money either by government officials or criminals remains an unwavering threat, allowing anyone with a gun and a plan to prey on anyone without.Not surprisingly, middle class Pakistanis have turned to self-help as recourse in the absence of a state that can provide security. Those with means have now resorted to the use of private security guards with imposing firearms to guard their homes and businesses. The move is unsurprising: a morbidly amusing report by the IGP Sindh reports that nearly 20,000 police officers were disciplined for corruption charges, making self help or the hiring of personal security guards the obviously smarter option.For those prevented by a lack of means from purchasing security, self-help can come in the less complicated form of gun ownership. The underground gun markets of Dara Adam Khel can equip you with a pistol for less than three thousand rupees, or if that is too inconvenient, the supposedly legal gun markets at Liaqatbagh in Rawalpindi can provide arms from Mausers to Kalashnikovs at a slightly higher price. Self-help undeniably is the route to self preservation.Power outages, lack of water, long lines for staples like flour, kidnappings, rape and murder form the tangible parameters of Pakistan’s recession into survivalism. Yet the burden of living in an effectively stateless nation is not borne only by those who are actually victimised by crime or material want.

Much has been said in recent days about the need for national soul searching, for a stance against extremism and a disavowal of terror. Yet all of these words fall on ears benumbed by the very pain of survival, by the necessity of embracing ignorance and the requirement of indifference toward the want or need of another in the face of the more acute need of saving oneself. In anarchy, there is no morality and there is no empathy. Pakistan in 2009 embodies just this condition.

Protestors demand end to tribal area offensives

2009-01-23T02:51:00.000-08:00

GEO PAKISTAN, ISLAMABAD: Around 1,500 protesters demanded on Friday an end to Pakistani military operations and US missile attacks against Taliban militants in lawless areas bordering Afghanistan, witnesses said, according to AFP.

Tribesmen were among those who took part in the demonstration near the federal parliament in Islamabad, organised by Pakistan's main Islamic party Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).
The protesters shouted ‘Allahu akbar’ (God is great), ‘no to military operations in tribal areas’ and ‘stop drone attacks’. ‘Unrest started in Pakistan because the government adopted pro-US policies and I see no end to this until Pakistan abandons pro-US policies,’ JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed told demonstrators.
He criticised as deception new US President Barack Obama's announcement that the notorious US detention centre, Guantanamo Bay, will be closed within a year.
‘They are deceiving people, they say they will close Guantanamo prison in one year. Who knows what the circumstances will be in one year? It is again Zionist and prejudiced people who have gathered around Obama,’ the JI leader said.
Pakistan's rugged tribal belt is home to hundreds if not thousands of Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants, who fled Afghanistan after the US-led invasion in late 2001.

Afghanistan, India open strategic road to Iran

2009-01-23T02:49:00.000-08:00

GEO PAKISTAN, KABUL, Jan 22: Afghan President Hamid Karzai and India’s foreign minister opened a new road on Thursday that would help link Afghanistan with a port in Iran and challenge Pakistani dominance of trade routes into the landlocked country.The 220-km road in the southwest Afghan province of Nimroz is the centrepiece of a $1.1 billion Indian reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. It has drawn criticism from Pakistan, worried about New Delhi’s growing influence in the region.India hopes to be able to deliver goods to Afghanistan through the Iranian port of Chahbahar, and this has triggered fears in Pakistan that it is being encircled.“This project symbolises India’s strong commitment towards development of Afghanistan,” said Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.“It also symbolises the strong determination of the government and people of these two countries that they will not succumb to the pressure of the forces of terror,” added Mr Mukherjee, who said he had discussed intelligence-sharing with his Afghan counterpart Rangeen Dadfar Spanta.Eleven Indian workers and 126 Afghan police and soldiers, who were providing security for the road, were killed during its construction, said Mr Mukherjee. “In fact, for the construction of (every) 1.5km of road, one human life was sacrificed.”The road, which cost $150 million and was entirely funded by India, runs from Delaram in Nimroz to Zaranj on the Iranian border, which connects to the Iranian port of Chahbahar. It opens up an alternate route into Afghanistan, which now relies mostly on goods transported overland from ports in Pakistan.-—Reuters

Obama orders closure of Guantanamo

2009-01-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

GEO PAKISTAN, WASHINGTON, Jan 22: President Barack Obama signed executive orders on Thursday to close the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and directed the Central Intelligence Agency to shut its network of secret prisons.The orders rewrite rules for the detention of terrorism suspects, and require all US personnel to follow the US Army Field Manual while interrogating detainees.The orders also require an immediate review of the 245 detainees still held at the naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to determine if they should be transferred, released or prosecuted.This is his third move in two days, all aimed at reversing the unpopular policies of his predecessor George W. Bush.On Tuesday, only hours after his inauguration, President Obama had ordered a freeze on new or proposed regulations at all government agencies and departments.On Wednesday, US military judges, acting on Mr Obama’s directive, suspended trials for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo for 120 days pending a review of the military tribunals.On Thursday, Mr Obama acted again and began to dismantle Mr Bush’s strategy for dealing with terror suspects in US custody. The moves show that the new president is wasting no time in reversing his predecessor’s legacy.With three executive orders and a presidential directive signed in the Oval Office, Mr Obama also started reshaping how the United States prosecutes and questions Al Qaeda, Taliban and other terror suspects.The centrepiece order would close the much-maligned US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year.Another order ends a CIA programme that kept terrorism suspects in secret custody for months or years, a practice that has brought fierce criticism from foreign governments and human rights activists.The order also prohibits the CIA from using coercive interrogation methods, requiring the agency to follow the same rules used by the military in interrogating terrorism suspects.The manual explicitly prohibits threats, coercion, physical abuse and ‘waterboarding’, a technique that creates the sensation of drowning and has been termed a form of torture by critics. The technique has been used on prisoners at Guantanamo.Mr Obama also created a task force that would have 30 days to recommend policies on handling terror suspects to be detained in the future. Specifically, the group would look at where those detainees should be housed since Guantanamo is closing.He directed the Justice Department to review the case of Qatar native Ali Al-Marri, the only enemy combatant currently held on US soil. The review will look at whether Al-Marri has the right to sue the government for his freedom, a right the Supreme Court already has given to Guantanamo detainees.The directive will ask the high court for a stay in Al-Marri’s appeals case while the review is ongoing. The government says Al-Marri is an Al Qaeda sleeper agent.An estimated 245 men are being held at the US naval base in Cuba, most of them detained for years without charge.The orders issued on Thursday, however, leave unresolved complex questions. They do not explain whether, where and how many of the Guantanamo detainees are to be prosecuted.They also allow Mr Obama to reinstate the CIA’s detention and interrogation operations in the future, if major suspects like Osama bin Laden or his top lieutenants are captured.Congressional aides, briefed by administration officials, said the White House is considering another proposal to add more aggressive interrogation techniques to the US Army Field Manual.

FIA to seek Interpol assistance in forex scam

2008-11-08T20:05:00.000-08:00

LAHORE: Director General FIA Tariq Pervez, while talking to Geo News, said the government would seek Interpol assistance to arrest those culprits abroad who received illegally transferred currency there.Revealing the biggest ever monetary-scandal of the country DG FIA claimed that government had figured out culprits who transferred billions of dollars abroad illegally and soon government would take massive action against them in the country as well as abroad.Meanwhile, dollar dealers across the country including dealers at all the major airports of country are being strictly monitored, sources said.Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Lahore arrested two persons accused of running an illegal currency business and initiated an interrogation regarding their alleged involvement into laundering millions of rupees abroad.The FIA has launched a country-wide crack down against those running a business of ‘Hundi’ and illegal business of currency transfer. As a result, two persons allegedly carrying on illegal business of currency transfer locally known as ‘Hundi’ have been arrested from Gujranwala and shifted to FIA Lahore Headquarter for interrogation.Assistant Director FIA, Arif Aiwan arrested two persons, Naimatullah (Manager) and Tariq Mehmood (Cashier) associated with a local forex company.Director General FIA, Tariq Pervez says on the directive of Federal Government some of the persons involved in creating economic crisis in the country were arrested after they were identified. Talking to Geo News, he said Javed Khanani was arrested from Lahore while Manaf Kalia from Karachi.He said two persons Rustam Ali Khan and Tariq Mehmood were arrested from Khanani and Kalia’s franchised companies Duniya EnterprisesDG FIA Tariq Pervez said important evidence has been collected in the ongoing operation including computerized database, documents and large amounts of currencies.He said further investigation is underway after lodging a case in this connection at FIA Gujranwala Region(Geonews).

Deposed CJP: Iqbal, Quaid’s dreams be come true

2008-11-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

SIALKOT: Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry demanded Sunday, the dreams saw by the prominent leaders of Muslims of Sub-Continent Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, be come true in terms of attaining independent judiciary and hegemony of law in the country.Addressing to Sialkot Bar Association here he hoped every child of the nation would stand by lawyers’ movement to achieve Iqbal and Jinnah’s dream and added that exploitation of 1971 constitution caused Fall of Dhaka therefore no one would be allowed to distort the constitution of the state once again.Deposed Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry said the independent judiciary is demand of constitution of Pakistan, adding during the 60 years of creation of Pakistan, neither judiciary was freed nor dream of good governance was materialized.Addressing the lawyers’ convention at Sialkot Bar in the tiny hours of Sunday morning, he said the day of November 9 has been set as it was the great day when greatest philosopher of Pakistan was born.On the occasion, people chanted slogans demanding the government to revert the 3 November actions taken by the then government and termed those actions anti-democratic.President Supreme Bar Association Ali Ahmed Kurd, Chaudhry Atizaz Ahmed, Munir A Malik and other lawyers accompanied Ifikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Independent judiciary is vital for good governance in the country, deposed CJ added.He said the role of judiciary has not been appreciable in connection with siding with the dictators in the country, adding whenever, any dictator broke the constitution, court came forward to give it legal cover."It is the rule of law and supremacy of constitution that put India on track of good governance which made the country make progress by leaps and bounds."The deposed CJP said the country is facing bad conditions, adding under these circumstances, the nation need independent judiciary and free courts.The deposed justice said the nation was afflicted with at least four martial laws in its short history ( Geonews ).

Shahbaz terms PA’s resolution democratic forces’ win

2008-08-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

LAHORE, Aug 11 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Monday termed passing of resolution against Pervez Musharraf from Punjab Assembly a victory of democratic forces. Talking to newsmen after passing the resolution at the assembly building here, he congratulated the members of PA for favouring the resolution and said it has been approved that masses are against the policies of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said that after the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf the coalition government would restore the judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary.
He said that the recent crises in the country like price hike, power and atta shortage, inflation and law and order was due to wrong policies of President Pervez Musharraf.
He said that Pervez Musharraf had violated the constitution for his election and conducted an illegal operation against the innocent students of Jamia Hafsa.
He lauded the decision of PML-N Chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari for impeaching Prevez Musharraf.

Flood-affected Peshawar area receiving UN food aid

2008-08-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 12 (APP): The World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food aid to villagers around Peshawar who are coping with the impact of last week’s deadly floods, The U.N. agency announced Monday. A UN assessment has found that nearly 100 villages, with about 500,000 people, were affected after torrential rains flooded the local Thara Khur stream which flows from Landi Kotal to Charsada in Peshawar district.
The floods completely destroyed the maize crop, washed away most of the mud houses and roads in the affected villages and led to the loss of some 15,000 livestock, the agency said. Drinking water resources have also been destroyed and health problems are on the rise.
“WFP will provide 741 tons of wheat flour, 55 tons of cooking oil and 22 tons of biscuits to support nearly 89,000 people in Peshawar district, where food assistance is badly needed,” the head of WFP’s provincial office in Peshawar said.
WFP has already distributed food to 1,200 beneficiaries in the areas of Kankola and Larama, and further distributions are planned for more than 3,500 people in Matra, in close coordination with local authorities.
The agency has also started an immediate response emergency operation to provide food rations for one month through a one-time distribution. It stresses that additional aid, including food, is needed to meet the minimum food consumption requirements of all the worst-affected people.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have provided medicines, while the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has contributed tents.

Pakistan embassy asks US to ensure Aafia gets treatment, no humiliation

2008-08-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (APP): The Pakistani embassy in Washington has asked the United States to provide immediate medical treatment to Dr Aafia Siddiqui and ensure that she is not subjected to any humiliation on the pretext of body searches before and after visits by her lawyers.
On the instructions of Ambassador Husain Haqqani, the embassy asked the State Department that Ms Siddiqui, who is suffering from bullet wounds, be provided proper medical treatment.
The embassy sought the State Department’s intervention in ensuring that Ms Siddiqui is not subjected to any humiliation or degradation on the pretext of body searches before and after visits by her attorneys, as such a practice is unacceptable in Islamic culture.
Ms Aafia Siddiqui, a 36-year old neuroscientist who studied at a U.S. university before her return to Pakistan in 2003, is under detention in New York on charges of attempted attack on U.S. officials. Her lawyers have rejected the charge as ‘absurd’ and Monday complained that she had not received medical treatment since her arrival last week following which the judge ordered immediate medical attention for her.
Meanwhile, the embassy has detailed a diplomat at the Pakistani consulate in New York, Saqib Rauf, to stay in contact over the issue.
On Monday, a frail looking Ms Siddiqui appeared before a district court judge in New York City in a wheelchair for a bail hearing, which has been postponed to September 3.
Two Pakistani diplomats met with Ms Siddiqui Sunday in the Brooklyn detention centre after Washington acceded to a request for consular access made by the Pakistani embassy. A mother of three children, Ms Siddiqui requested a fair trial, respect for her rights as a prisoner, medical treatment, a copy of the holy Quran and halal food. The diplomats asked the U.S. authorities to extend all possible assistance in response to her demands.

Foreign Minister urges balanced approach towards nuclear non-proliferation

2008-08-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday stressed the need for a balanced approach towards incorporating disarmament, non-proliferation and access to peaceful use of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. In a meeting with Gareth Evans, Co-chairperson of International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, the Foreign Minister exchanged views on international disarmament and non-proliferation issues.
The Foreign Minister reiterated Pakistan’s principled position on nuclear non-proliferation and said it can only be strengthened by the application of norms in a non-discriminatory and equitable manner.
Evans, who is also the former minister of Australia and the President of International Crisis Group discussed with Foreign Minister the issues related to nuclear energy.
The International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament is a joint initiative of the governments of Australia and Japan.

Fighting terrorism is top priority: PM Gilani

2008-08-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

BEIJING, Aug 12 (APP) - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said fighting terrorism is the top priority of his government for the economic and social uplift of the people of Pakistan. In an interview to mass circulation English language China daily during his recent visit here to attend the Beijing Olympics opening the prime minister said terrorism caused flight of capital.
“If there is one bomb blast, people will take money out of Pakistan. Investors are scared,” he said, adding that the terrorist threat had destabilizing impact on the economy.
The country has had to face violence related to terrorism and the direct threat of Al-Qaida and the Taliban, he said.
“The priority of my government is to stop terrorism and extremism so that our
friends from all over the world who are investing in Pakistan can feel confident.”
Gilani said that a major source of instability was the large number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“Because of their presence in Pakistan, there are a lot of complaints about cross-border activities,” he said, expressing the hope that the refugees would return home.
“When there is stability, prosperity and development in Afghanistan, then the refugees will certainly return to their own country,” Gilani said.
More than three million refugees still living in Pakistan have not returned due to chaos in their homeland.
Prime Minister Gilani said that a stable Afghanistan is in the interests of Islamabad.
To help check illegal cross-border movement, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed in June to introduce a biometric control system, which requires the fingerprints of people wanting to cross the frontier.
Gilani said that this measure will help to identify any militant crossing the
border.
However, he said that fully securing the 2,430-km frontier would be an almost impossible task. “We have established 1,000 checkpoints, but there are only 100 on the other side,” he added.
Regarding the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics he said, “it was fabulous and we really enjoyed it.”
When asked to predict the performance of Pakistani athletes, Gilani said he thought the country would hopefully win medals. “But our main purpose is not to win, but to take part,” he said.
During his stay here Prime Minister Gilani also met with Chinese leadership including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao and exchanged views with them on matters of common interest.

PM cancels Independence day reception

2008-08-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): The Prime Minister on Tuesday cancelled the Independence Day reception, as part of government’s “austerity drive”. A statement released from the PM House said “Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has cancelled the 14th August reception in the wake of his drive to cut off expenses on various non-developmental activities.”
The reception was scheduled to be held at the Serena hotel on August 14.
On the special instructions of the Prime Minister “the budget of the PM House has already been drastically cut by 40 percent”, the statement said.

Pakistan Business news

2008-07-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

LAHORE, July 7 (APP): The entire Pak business community including Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, an apex body of chambers in the country Friday vehemently urged US President George W Bush to announce lifting of all economic sanctions and provide direct free market access to Pakistani exporters.
Top business leaders in a joint statement here urged the US President to announce direct market access in the US to Pakistani business concerns.
They included Federation Chief Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh, President SAARC CCI and Chairman Businessmen Panel Tariq Sayeed, President LCCI Muhammad Ali Mian, founder Chairman Pak-US Business Council, former federation Chief, Iftikhar Ali Malik and several other chamber’s presidents.
Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh said Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani attach great importance to strengthening relations with USA, in trade, economic as well as social sectors, and observing that this would prove mutually beneficial, urged that economic sanctions be lifted.
Iftikhar Ali Malik said the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) could play a pivotal role in this regard, being an important channel for trade ties between the two countries and link to American markets. The PM’s forthcoming visit to the US would also have a big impact on further promoting economic relations, he added.
Muhammad Ali Mian LCCI Chief said Pakistan is an emerging market rich in opportunities for US investment, and observed that US is already an important trading partner.
The business leaders observed that under the present circumstances, Pakistan will continue to lend support in the fight against terrorism, as it has been a victim of terrorism itself.
They said Islam is a universal religion advocating peace, justice, brotherhood and equal rights for all human beings irrespective of their creed or colour and abhors violence and terrorism.
“There is a need to present Islam in its true perspective, and the Western media should play a positive role to dispel wrong notions that spread fear and mistrust,” they observed.
They urged the need to restore relations to the level of pre 9/11 days, adding that good relations between the US and the Muslim Ummah would help restore confidence and attain world peace.
Iftikhar Ali Malik who is also Vice President SAARC CCCI Pakistan Chapter said that with South Asia becoming the hub of international economic activity, restoration of peace in the region is all the more necessary, he said and urged the US President to exercise his influence in this connection and help find a just and permanent solution to the Kashmir issue as well.

ANTI- PAKISTANISM ALL OVER THE WORLD

2008-07-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

U.S. Diplomat To Pakistani Journalist: You're Spreading Anti-Americanism Published : December 9, 2007 Breaking News : The government of Shaukat Aziz almost expelled a U.S. diplomat from Pakistan. Two Americans have already been deported, and ambassadors have been warned not to interfere in our affairs. The funny thing is, the American media is solely responsible for spreading 'anti-Pakistanism' all over the world. Yet a U.S. diplomat had the nerve to accuse me of spreading anti-Americanism in Pakistan.By AHMED QURAISHISunday, 9 December ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—For all those who thought the Pakistani State is a soft punching bag, I have breaking news: No More. Pakistan has expelled two American citizens trying to incite unrest in the country, and foreign diplomats – especially the American and British ambassadors – have been put on notice: Do not test our patience on how some of you have been taking sides in domestic Pakistani politics. But that is not all. Now my sources are telling me that the Pakistani federal government came close in November to expelling an American diplomat from Pakistan, in a move that could have set precedence in the longstanding Pak-American relationship. Somewhere in the middle of all this, an angry U.S. diplomat accused me of spreading anti-Americanism through my television show and columns, but I will come to that in a second. Let me tell you first about how unprecedented American interference in Pakistani politics led to a sharp reaction inside the Pakistani government. A former Pakistani official has told me that the government of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz "came very close" to taking a decision to expel a U.S. diplomat from Pakistan. The controversy centered on the role of U.S. ambassador Anne Patterson and the American consul general in Lahore Bryant Hunt. A rowdy federal cabinet meeting in the last few days before the government of Prime Minister Aziz packed up on Nov. 15 saw at least two federal Pakistani ministers strongly protesting the way Ambassador Patterson and Mr. Hunt conducted themselves publicly. Prime Minister Aziz listened intently as one Pakistani federal minister accused his colleague Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, the Foreign Minister, of "failing to stand up to [ U.S. Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice." "She has been bypassing [Kasuri] and having her office directly contact the [Pakistani] President's office," the angry minister told Mr. Aziz. "Kasuri failed to confront her" about this violation of protocol and diplomatic etiquette. What provoked the Pakistani ministers was the sight of U.S. ambassador to Pakistan publicly taking sides in domestic Pakistani politics. On Nov. 6, she visited the Election Commission of Pakistan and tried to embarrass the Musharraf administration by standing on the Commission's doorstep and telling the reporters she wanted to see the election schedule issued "as soon as possible." Around the same time, she visited the office of GEO, a private Pakistani television network locked in a dispute with the Pakistani government over a Code of Conduct that is already ratified by more than 35 other broadcasters across the nation. Ms. Patterson decided to publicly side with the network against the Pakistani government. When some prominent Pakistanis objected to this, the U.S. diplomats ratcheted up the pressure. U.S. consul general in Karachi received orders to visit the office of another television network, ARY, that faced a similar problem [but ratified the code later and restored its operations]. And then another U.S. diplomat, Ms. Elizabeth Colton, made a very public visit to an FM radio station that refused to recognize the Code. The U.S. embassy issued a statement that sympathized with the station's position. Bryan Hunt, the U.S. consul general in Lahore, picked the gate of the house of a rights activist as a venue for reading out a list of demands from the U.S. government to the Pakistani government. His style, according to many observers, including those who watched the video footage of this event, was "arrogant and condescending." In fact, it was so outrageous that Dr. Shireen Mazari, the director of Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies, wrote in the daily The News asking the Pakistani government to declare Mr. Hunt Persona Non Grata, which basically means expulsion from the country. Mr. Ahmed Reza Kasuri, a member of President Musharraf's legal team, made a similar demand, while S. M. Zafar, widely known for his independent views, publicly said that in his long political career he had never seen this level of foreign interference in Pakistan's domestic matters. The message that most Pakistani observers were receiving was loud and clear: Interference in Pakistani politics will continue. Pakistan was beginning to look like Panama, where Washington intervened to arrest a president and replace him with another. Prime Minister Aziz deferred taking a decision during the cabinet meeting on how to react to this situation. But something had to be done. The Musharraf administration had detected disturbing signs that some foreign actors were colluding with domestic elements to create conditions in Islamabad for regime-change. Information was pouring in from multiple sources indicating unusual and unprecedented levels of organization and mobilization behind the unrest in Pakistan over the past few months. All the signs of trouble eerily resembled the 'color revolutions' encouraged by western governments in several countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where media was used to exert pressure while a network of activists on the ground, run under a chain of command extending all the way into the communities of lawyers, students, and union activists was mobilized to create turmoil in order to bring down the government. This recipe worked in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and elsewhere. In Pakistan, the plan appeared to be centered on creating enough chaos to bring down the Musharraf administration and easing someone like Mrs. Benazir Bhutto into power, who, many American officials feel, would do a better job at serving U.S. strategic interests in the region. The Pakistani government acted in time to foil this plan. Emergency rule was declared on Nov. 3, giving Islamabad more powers to stabilize pockets of unrest in different parts of the country, including along our border with Afghanistan, a neighbor that has become a staging ground for tactical and psychological operations meant to destabilize Pakistan. Part of the new game plan is to assert Pakistan's authority and dispel the misperception that Pakistan is some kind of a 'soft state'. The worrying thing is that Washington was trying to give Ambassador Patterson in Pakistan the same role that David Satterfield, a former envoy, played in Lebanon between 1998 and 2001, or the one played by ambassador Edward Gnehm in Kuwait following the 1991 Desert Storm. In both cases, both U.S. ambassadors aggressively interfered to engineer domestic change. And I am not passing judgment here. When ambassador Gnehm was chosen to be the U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia by mid 1990s, the Saudis balked at the American choice and Riyadh flatly refused to accept him. The Saudis were not going to tolerate the kind of interference Mr. Gnehm exercised with impunity in Kuwait. Riyadh stayed without a U.S. ambassador for several months until Washington found a replacement for Genhm.Considering all this, Islamabad has decided to get tough. We want good relations with the Americans but will not become a guinea pig for anyone. Two U.S. rights activists were deported from Lahore last week because they were encouraging ordinary Pakistanis to create unrest. On Dec. 3, U.S. diplomats were stunned when Pakistani authorities refused to give Ambassador Patterson permission to meet the detained lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan. Around this time, the U.S. media turned the heat on Pakistan, placing the country, its military, its intelligence community and its strategic and nuclear programs under a 'media siege'. American reporters and commentators were churning out reports and editorials about how Washington gave Islamabad $10 billion dollars and yet the Pakistanis were not ready to allow Mrs. Benazir Bhutto, the American choice, a chance in government. I told the viewers on my television show that the Americans were not doing us any favor by giving us $10 billion in aid since 9/11. Some $6 billion dollars of that amount was in exchange for logistical services that Pakistan provided the United States in the war on terror, things like using air bases and other facilities. And in the larger picture, it is Pakistan's help that enabled Washington to secure a considerable political and military footprint for itself in energy rich Central Asia after 9/11. Besides, I have seen the result of American meddling in Lebanon and Kuwait. The former is still a mess, where Ambassador David Satterfield's interference has left behind a country where a militia – Hezbollah – is stronger than the State. And the latter, Kuwait, happens to be at the bottom of the list of emerging economies in the Gulf, thanks to Ambassador Edward Gnehm who insisted back in 1992 that Kuwait needs to concentrate on democracy first. This resulted in Qatar, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman using their stability for economic development, leaving behind Kuwait to deal with successive unstable elected governments since 1992. So while the people in Dubai and Qatar are enjoying the fruits of stability and development, the Kuwaitis are grappling with a two-month-old government that is already on the verge of collapse. We don't want to see Pakistan going through the same experience. And Pakistanis don't want unwarranted American advice or interference. Makes sense. But my opinions drew a sharp reaction from Ms. Elizabeth Colton, the U.S. press attaché. In a telephone conversation, she accused me of
- 'Orchestrating' an anti-American campaign.
- Spreading anti-Americanism in Pakistan when the U.S. government is not spreading 'anti-Pakistanism' in America.
- Not understanding that U.S. diplomats are simply repeating their government's positions.
- And, in the end, she asked, "Does President Musharraf know about what you're doing? Will he approve of this?" My answers were simple:
- The American media is the only media in the world that is spreading 'anti-Pakistanism' internationally. The American media, and not anyone else, is telling the world that maybe the Pakistanis are unable to safeguard their nuclear bombs, which is untrue. The American media is the only media in the world that is comparing us to Iraq, and it is American politicians and commentators who are calling us a bigger threat than Iran.
- The American diplomats, by openly interfering in our politics, are basically telling the world that we are a 'banana republic'.
- Why should President Musharraf know about a television anchor criticizing U.S. diplomats? Does President Bush know when the Washington Post, for example, publishes a report about U.S. plans to seize Pakistani strategic assets? Does Mr. Gordon Brown know about a British newspaper using an expletive with the name of the President of Pakistan?Basically it all comes down to this: President Musharraf has clearly told Washington on the day he began his second term that "it is going to be our way." The Americans also need to understand that they cannot achieve their objectives in the region while trampling on Pakistan's legitimate strategic, economic and security interests. Pakistan has been, and continues to be, a dependable friend and ally. But, in return, choosing the future head of the Pakistani government and running war games on seizing our nuclear assets are not exactly things that generate confidence between friends. Washington has nothing to gain by destabilizing Pakistan. Mr. Musharraf's warning in this context to CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Nov. 9 is worth remembering: "Do not destabilize Pakistan. You will regret it."

by: Ahmad Qureshi

Pakistani lawyers double face

2008-06-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed and Ali Ahmed Kurd have been quite unreasonable when they passed aspersions on democratic norms and elected representatives in private channels. On Channel 5 on Wednesday morning in TV programme 'Sindh Card' Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed called the Ministers as Chors 'Thieves' and Prime Minister as Ali Baba. This he said while answering a question on time frame for restoration of judges. He said ' Cabinet is being formed when Chalees Chors under Ali Baba will be completed only then they will start count down'. Likewise, Ali Ahmed Kurd on Tuesday night in ARY programme with Kashif Abbasi said that ' Government has to accept our demand of restoration because they have no choice. We will not give them any concession and used threatening jargons and objectionable language. PPP leader Fauzia Wahab and MQM leader Wasim Akhtar reminded him of democracy and democratic norms. He totally disregarded their requests and warned of dire consequences if all judges are not restored unconditionally. When he was reminded of peoples mandate given to PPP and MQM, he made mockery of it. Fauzia Wahab protested over it and Ali Ahmed Kurd shamelessly gave a deaf ear.

It reminds me Akbar Allahbadi who says

Paida huwa wakeel tou Shaitan nai kaha

Lo aaj hum bhee sahebai Aowlad ho gaiy

FIRST DEPOLITICIZE THE LAWYERS

2008-06-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto shaheed had visualized much before her assassination that Lawyers movement had political dimension. That is why she advised Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to form Justice Party. She was clear that this movement has nothing to do with Independence of Judiciary. Her prophecy was proven true when Justice (Retd) Tariq Mehmud admitted that Lawyers movement is a political movement. This was said by him in a TV programme in Channel 5 on Wednesday while Nadeem Hussain was the host.New Evidences have proved that many political activists take part in the processions of Lawyers in garb of Civil Society. Most dominantly, Jamaat e Islami. The students of Islami Jamiat Talba also take part in these processions fully armed and with batons. It is imperative on our political leadership especially PPP, not to be in a hurry for restoration of judges. They have to first depoliticize the lawyers , only then restoration judges should be taken up. Otherwise, PPP government will continue to face unending demands from these cronies of political parties and banned militant organizations.

The Hidden Truth

2008-06-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

The Plan To Topple Pakistan Military

This is not about Musharraf anymore. Thi s is about clipping the wings of a strong Pakistani military, denying space for China in Pakistan, squashing the ISI, stirring ethnic unrest, and neutralizing Pakistan's nuclear program. The first shot in this plan was fired in Pakistan's Balochistan province in 2004. The last bullet will be toppling Musharraf, sidelining the military and installing a pliant government in Islamabad. Musharraf shares the blame for letting things come this far. But he is also punching holes in Washington's game plan. He needs to be supported. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- On the evening of Tuesday, 26 September, 2006, Pakistani strongman Pervez Musharraf walked into the studio of Comedy Central's 'Daily Show' with Jon Stewart, the first sitting president anywhere to dare do this political satire show.Stewart offered his guest some tea and cookies and played the perfect host by asking, "Is it good? " before springing a surprise: "Where's Osama bin Laden?" "I don't know," Musharraf replied, as the audience enjoyed the rare sight of a strong leader apparently cornered. "You know where he is?" Musharraf snapped back, "You lead on, we'll follow you."What Gen. Musharraf didn't know then is that he really was being cornered. Some of the smiles that greeted him in Washington and back home gave no hint of the betrayal that awaited him.As he completed the remaining part of his U.S. visit, his allies in Washington and elsewhere, as all evidence suggests now, were plotting his downfall. They had decided to take a page from the book of successful 'color revolutions' where western governments covertly used money, private media, student unions, NGOs and international pressure to stage coups, basically overthrowing individuals not fitting well with Washington's agend a. This recipe proved its success in former Yugoslavia, and more recently in Georgia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.In Pakistan, the target is a Pakistani president who refuses to play ball with the United States on Afghanistan, China, and Dr. A.Q. Khan. To get rid of him, an impressive operation is underway:A carefully crafted media blitzkrieg launched early this year assailing the Pakistani president from all sides, questioning his power, his role in Washington's war on terror and predicting his downfall. Money pumped into the country to pay for organized dissent. Willing activists assigned to mobilize and organize accessible social groups. A campaign waged on Internet where tens of mailing lists and 'news agencies' have sprung up from nowhere, all demonizing Musharraf and the Pakistani military. European- and American-funded Pakistani NGOs taking a temporary leave from their real jobs to work as a makeshift anti-government mobilization machine. U.S. government agencies directly funding some private Pakistani television networks; the channels go into an open anti-government mode, cashing in on some manufactured and other real public grievances regarding inflation and corruption. Some of Musharraf's shady and corrupt political allies feed this campaign, hoping to stay in power under a weake ned president. All this groundwork completed and chips in place when the judicial crisis breaks out in March 2007. Even Pakistani politicians surprised at a well-greased and well-organized lawyers campaign, complete with flyers, rented cars and buses, excellent event-management and media outreach. Currently, students are being recruited and organized into a street movement. The work is ongoing and urban Pakistani students are being cultivated, especially using popular Internet Web sites and 'online hangouts'. The people behind this effort are mostly unknown and faceless, limiting themselves to org anizing sporadic, small student gatherings in Lahore and Islamabad, complete with banners, placards and little babies with arm bands for maximum media effect. No major student association has announced yet that it is behind these student protests, which is a very interesting fact glossed over by most journalists covering this story. Only a few students from affluent schools have responded so far and it's not because the Pakistani government's countermeasures are effective. They're not. The reason is that social activism attracts people from affluent backgrounds, closely reflecting a uniquely Pakistani phenomenon where local NGOs are mostly founded and run by rich, westernized Pakistanis. All of this may appear to be spur-of-the-moment and Musharraf-specific. But it all really began almost three years ago, when, out of the blue and recycling old political arguments, Mr. Akbar Bugti launched an armed rebellion against the Pakistani state, surprising security analysts by using rockets and other military equipment that shouldn't normally be available to a smalltime village thug. Since then, Islamabad sits on a pile of evidence that links Mr. Bugti's campaign to money and ammunition and logistical support from Afghanistan, directly aided by the Indians and the Karzai administration, with the Americans turning a blind eye. For reasons not clear to our analysts yet, Islamabad has kept quiet on Washington's involvement with anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan. But Pakistan did send an indirect public message to the Americans recently. "We have indications of Indian involvement with anti-state elements in Pakistan ," declared the spokesman of the Pakistan Foreign Office in a regular briefing in October. The statement was terse and direct and the spokesman, Ms. Tasnim Aslam, quickly moved on to other issues. This is how a Pakistani official explained Ms. Aslam's statement: "What she was really saying is this: We know what the Indians are doing. They've sold the Americans on the idea that [the Indians] are an authority on Pakistan and can be helpful in Afghanistan. The Americans have bought the idea and are in on the plan, giving the Indians a free hand in Afghanistan. What the Americans don't know is that we, too, know the Indians very well. Better still, we know Afghanistan very well. You can't beat us at our own game." Mr. Bugti's armed rebellion coincided with the Gwadar project entering its final stages. No coincidence here. Mr. Bugti's real job was to scare the Chinese away and scuttle Chinese President Hu Jintao's planned visit to Gwadar a few months later to formally launch the port city. Gwadar is the pinnacle of Sino-Pakistani strategic cooperation. It's a modern port city that is supposed to link Central Asia, western China, and Pakistan with markets in Mideast and Africa . It's supposed to have roads stretching all the way to China. It's no coincidence either that China has also earmarked millions of dollars to renovate t he Karakoram Highway linking northern Pakistan to western China. Some reports in the American media, however, have accused Pakistan and China of building a naval base in the guise of a commercial seaport directly overlooking international oil shipping lanes. The Indians and some other regional actors are also not comfortable with this project because they see it as commercial competition. What Mr. Bugti's regional and international supporters never expected is Pakistan moving firmly and strongly to nip his rebellion in the bud. Even Mr. Bugti himself probably never expected the Pakistani state to react in the way it did to his betrayal of the homeland. He was killed in a military operation where scores of his mercenaries surrendered to Pakistan army soldiers.U.S. intelligence and their Indian advisors could not cultivate an immediate replacement for Mr. Bugti. So they moved to Plan B. They supported Abdullah Mehsud, a Pakistani Taliban fighter held for five years in Guantanamo Bay, and then handed over back to the Afghan government, only to return to his homeland, Pakistan, to kidnap two Chinese engineers working in Balochistan, one of whom was eventually killed during a rescue operation by the Pakistani government.Islamabad could not tolerate th is shadowy figure, who was creating a following among ordinary Pakistanis masquerading as a Taliban while in reality towing a vague agenda. He was rightly eliminated earlier this year by Pakistani security forces while secretly returning from Afghanistan after meeting his handlers there. Again, no surprises here.SMELLING A RATThis is where Pakistani political and military officials finally started smelling a rat. All of this was an indication of a bigger problem. There were growing indications that, ever since Islamabad joined Washington's regional plans, Pakistan was gradually turning into a 'besieged-nation', heavily targeted by the American media while being subjected to strategic sabotage and espionage from Afghanistan.Afghanistan, under America's watch, has turned into a vast staging ground for sophisticated psychological and military operations to destabilize neighboring Pakistan. ! ;During the past three years, the heat has gradually been turned up against Pakistan and its military along Pakistan's western regions: A shadowy group called the BLA, a Cold War relic, rose from the dead to restart a separatist war in southwestern Pakistan. Bugti's death was a blow to neo-BLA, but the shadowy group's backers didn't repent. His grandson, Brahmdagh Bugti, is currently enjoying a safe shelter in the Afghan capital, Kabul, where he continues to operate and remote-control his assets in Pakistan. Saboteurs trained in Afghanistan have been inserted into Pakistan to aggravate extremist passions here, especially after the Red Mosque operation. Chinese citizens continue to be targeted by individuals pretending to be Islamists, when no known Islamic group has claimed responsibility. A succession of 'religious rebels' with suspicious foreign links have suddenly emerged in Pakistan over the past months claiming to be 'Pakistani Taliban'. Some of the names include Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Baitullah Mehsud, and now the Maulana of Swat. Some of them have used and are using encrypted communication equipment far superior to what Pakistani military owns. Money and weapons have been fed into the religious movements and al Qaeda remnants in the tribal areas. Exploiting the situation, assets within the Pakistani media started promoting the idea that the Pakistani military was killing its own people. The rest of the unsuspecting media quickly picked up this message. Some botched American and Pakistani military operations against Al Qaeda that caused civilian deaths accidentally fed this media campaign. This was the perfect timing for the launch of Military, Inc.: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy , a book authored by Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa Agha, a columnist for a Pakistani English-language paper and a correspondent for 'Jane's Defence Weekly', a private intelligence service founded by experts close to the British intelligence. TARGET: PAK MILITARYThe book was launched in Pakistan in early 2007 by Oxford Press. And, contrary to most reports, it is openly available in Islamabad's biggest bookshops. The book portrays the Pakistani military as an institution that is eating up whatever little resources Pakistan has. Pakistani military's successful financial management, creating alternate financial sources to spend on a vast military machine and build a conventional and nuclear near-match with a neighboring adversary five times larger - an impressive record for any nation by any standard - was distorted in the book and reduced to a mere attempt by the military to control the nation's economy in the same way it was controlling its politics. The timing was interesting. After all, it was hard to defend a military in the eyes of its own proud people when the chief of the military is ruling the country, the army is fighting insurgents and extremists who claim to be defending Islam, grumpy politicians are out of business, and the military's side businesses, meant to feed the nation's military machine, are doing well compared to the shabby state of the nation's ci vilian departments. A closer look at Ms. Siddiqa, the author, revealed disturbing information to Pakistani officials. In the months before launching her book, she was a frequent visitor to India where, as a defense expert, she cultivated important contacts. On her return, she developed friendship with an Indian lady diplomat posted in Islamabad. Both of these activities - travel to India and ties to Indian diplomats - are not a crime in Pakistan and don't raise interest anymore. Pakistanis are hospitable and friendly people and these qualities have been amply displayed to the Indians during the four-year-old peace process.What is interesting is that Ms. Siddiqa left her car in the house of the said Indian diplomat during one of her recent trips to London. And, according to a report, she stayed in London at a place owned by an individual linked to the Indian lady diplomat friend in Islamabad .The point here is this: Who assigned her to investigate the Pakistani Armed Forces and present a distorted image of a proud an efficient Pakistani institution? From 1988 to 2001, Dr. Siddiqa worked in the Pakistan civil service, the Pakistani civil bureaucracy. Her responsibilities included dealing with Military Accounts, which come under the Pakistan Ministry of Defense. She had thirteen years of rich experience in dealing with the budgetary matters of the Pakistani military and people working in this area. Dr. Siddiqa received a year-long fellowship to research and write a book in the United States . There are strong indications that some of her Indian contacts played a role in arranging financing for her book project through a paid fellowship. The final manuscript of her book was vetted at a publishing office in New Delhi.All of these details are insignificant if detached from the real issue at hand. And the issue is the demonization of the Pakistani military as an integral part of the media siege around Pakistan, with the American media leading the way in this campaign.Some of the juicy details of this campaign include:The attempt by D r. Siddiqa to pitch junior officers against senior officers in Pakistan Armed Forces by alleging discrimination in the distribution of benefits. Apart from being malicious and unfounded, her argument was carefully designed to generate frustration and demoralize Pakistani soldiers. The American media insisting on handing over Dr. A. Q. Khan to the United States so that a final conviction against the Pakistani military can be secured. Mrs. Benazir Bhutto demanding after returning to Pakistan that the ISI be restructured; and in a press conference during her house arrest in Lahore in November she went as far as asking Pakistan army officers to revolt against the army chief, a damning attempt at destroying a professional army from within. Some of this appears to be eerily similar to the campaign waged against the Pakistani military in 1999, when, in July that year, an unsigned full page advertisement appeared in major American newspapers with the following headline: "A Modern Rogue Army With Its Finger On The Nuclear Button." Till this day, it is not clear who exactly paid for such an expensive newspaper full-page advertisement. But one thing is clear: the agenda behind that advertisement is back in action. Strangely, just a few days before Mrs. Bhutto's statements about restructuring the ISI and her open call to army officers to stage a mutiny against their leadership, the American conservative magazine The Weekly Standard inter viewed an American security expert who offered similar ideas:"A large number of ISI agents who are responsible for helping the Taliban and al Qaeda should be thrown in jail or killed. What I think we should do in Pakistan is a parallel version of what Iran has run against us in Iraq : giving money [and] empowering actors. Some of this will involve working with some shady characters, but the alternative--sending U.S. forces into Pakistan for a sustained bombing campaign--is worse." Steve Schippert, Weekly Standard, Nov. 2007 .In addition to these media attacks, which security experts call 'psychological operations', the American media and politicians have intensified over the past year their campaign to prepare the international public opinion to accept a western intervention in Pakistan along the lines of Iraq and Afghan istan: Newsweek came up with an entire cover story with a single storyline: Pakistan is a more dangerous place than Iraq. Senior American politicians, Republican and Democrat, have argued that Pakistan is more dangerous than Iran and merits similar treatment. On 20 October, Senator Joe Biden told ABC News that Washington needs to put soldiers on the ground in Pakistan and invite the international community to join in. "We should be in there," he said. "We should be supplying tens of millions of dollars to build new schools to compete with the madrassas. We should be in there building democratic institutions. We should be in there, and get the rest of the world in there, giving some structure to the emergence of, hopefully, the reemergence of a democratic process."
The International Crisis Group (ICG) has recommended gradual sanctions on Pakistan similar to those imposed on Iran, e.g. slapping travel bans on Pakistani military officers and seizing Pakistani military assets abroad. The process of painting Pakistan's nuclear assets as pure evil lying around waiting for some do-gooder to come in and 'secure' them has reached unprecedented levels, with the U.S. media again depicting Pakistan as a nation incapable of protecting its nuclear installations. On 22 October, Jane Harman from the U.S. House Intelligence panel gave the following statement: "I think the U.S. would be wise - and I trust we are doing this - to have contingency plans [to seize Pakistan's nuclear ass! ets], es pecially because should [Musharraf] fall, there are nuclear weapons there."
The American media has now begun discussing the possibility of Pakistan breaking up and the possibility of new states of 'Balochistan' and 'Pashtunistan' being carved out of it. Interestingly, one of the first acts of the shady Maulana of Swat after capturing a few towns was to take down the Pakistani flag from the top of state buildings and replacing them with his own party flag.
The 'chatter' about President Musharraf's eminent fall has also increased dramatically in the mainly American media, which has been very generous in marketing theories about how Musharraf might "disappear" or be "removed" from the scene. According to some Pakistani analysts, this could be an attempt to prepare the public opinion for a possible assassination of the Pakistani president. Another worrying thing is how American officials are publicly signaling to the Pakistanis that Mrs. Benazir Bhutto has their backing as the next leader of the country. Such signals from Washington are not only a kiss of death for any public leader in Pakistan, but the Americans also know that their actions are inviting potential assassins to target Mrs. Bhutto. If she is killed in this way, there won't be enough time to find the real culprit, but what's certain is that unprecedented international pressure will be placed on Islamabad while everyone will use their local assets to create maximum internal chaos in the country. A dress rehearsal of this scenario has already taken place in October when no less than the U.N. Security Council itself intervened to ask the international community to "assist" in the investigations into the assassination attempt on Mrs. Bhutto on 18 October.
This generous move was sponsored by the U.S. and, interestingly, had no input from Pakistan which did not ask for help in investigations in the first place. Some Pakistani security analysts privately say that American 'chatter' about Musharraf or Bhutto getting killed is a serious matter that can't be easily dismissed. Getting Bhutto killed can generate the kind of pressure that could result in permanently putting the Pakistani military on a back foot, giving Washington enough room to push for installing a new pliant leadership in Islamabad.&n bsp; Having Musharraf killed isn't a bad option either. The unknown Islamists can always be blamed and the military will not be able to put another soldier at the top, and circumstances will be created to ensure that either Mrs. Bhutto or someone like her is eased into power. The Americans are very serious this time. They cannot let Pakistan get out of their hands. They have been kicked out of Uzbekistan last year, where they were maintaining bases. They are in trouble in Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran continues to be a mess for them and Russia and China are not making it any easier. Pakistan must be 'secured' at all costs. ! This is why most Pakistanis have never seen American diplomats in Pakistan active like this before. And it's not just the current U.S. ambassador, who has added one more address to her other most-frequently-visited address in Karachi, Mrs. Bhutto's house. The n ew address is the office of GEO, one of two news channels shut down by Islamabad for not signing the mandatory code-of-conduct. Thirty-eight other channels are operating and no one has censored the newspapers. But never mind this. The Americans have developed a 'thing' for GEO. No solace of course for ARY, the other banned channel. Now there's also one Bryan Hunt, the U.S. consul general in Lahore, who wears the national Pakistani dress, the long shirt and baggy trousers, and is moving around these days issuing tough warnings to Islamabad and to the Pakistani government and to President Musharraf to end emergency rule, res ign as army chief and give Mrs. Bhutto access to power. PAKISTAN'S OPTIONS So what should Pakistan do in the face of such a structured camp aign to bring Pakistan down on its knees and forcibly install a pro-Washington administration in Islamabad?There is increasing talk in Islamabad these days about Pakistan's new tough stand in the face of this malicious campaign.As a starter, Islamabad blew the wind out of the visit of Mr. John Negroponte, the no. 2 man in the U.S. State Department, who came to Pakistan last week "to deliver a tough message" to the Pakistani president. Musharraf, to his credit, told him he won't end emergency rule until all objectives are achieved. These objectives include:Cleaning up our northern and western parts of the country of all foreign operatives and their domestic pawns. Ensuring that Washington's plan for regime-change doesn't succeed. Purging the Pakistani media of all those elements that were willing or unwilling accomplices in the plan to destabilize the country. Musharraf has also told Washington publicly tha t "Pakistan is more important than democracy or the constitution." This is a bold position. This kind of boldness would have served Musharraf a lot had it come a little earlier. But even now, his media management team is unable to make the most out of it. Washington will not stand by watching as its plan for regime change in Islamabad goes down the drain. In case the Americans insist on interfering in Pakistani affairs, Islamabad, according to my sources, is looking at some tough measures: Cutting off oil supplies to U.S. military in Afghanistan. Pakistani officials are already enraged at how Afghanistan has turned into a staging ground for sabotage in Pakistan. If Islamabad continues to see Washington acting as a bully, Pakistani officials are seriously considering an announcement where Pakistan, for the first time since October 2001, will deny the United States use of Pakistani soil and air space to transport fuel to Afghanistan.
Reviewing Pakistan's role in the war on terror. Islamabad needs to fight terrorists on its border with Afghanistan. But our methods need to be different to Washington's when it comes to our domestic extremists. This is where Islamabad parts ways with Washington. Pakistani officials are considering the option of withdrawing from the war on terror while maintaining Pakistan's own war against the terrorists along Afghanistan's border.
Talks with the Talib an. Pakistan has no quarrel with Afghanistan's Taliban. They are Kabul's internal problem. But if reaching out to Afghan Taliban's Mullah Omar can have a positive impact on rebellious Pakistani extremists, then this step should be taken. The South Koreans can talk to the Taliban. Karzai has also called for talks with them. It is time that Islamabad does the same.
The Americans have been telling everyone in the world that they have paid Pakistan $10 billion dollars over the past five years. They might think this gives them the right to decide Pakistan's destiny. What they don't tell the world is how Pakistan's help secured for them their biggest footprint ever in energy-rich Central Asia.If they forget, Islamabad can always remind them by giving them the same treatment that Uzbekistan did last year.