ANP: Never say die!

By Benazir Shah
ZoneAsia-Pk

HE’S LOST 819 OF HIS PARTY COLLEAGUES TO TERRORISM, AND SURVIVED AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN 2008. WE RECENTLY SPOKE WITH ASFANDYAR WALI KHAN, CHIEF OF THE TALIBAN-THREATENED AWAMI NATIONAL PARTY, WHICH GOVERNED KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA PROVINCE UNTIL MARCH, ABOUT SATURDAY’S ELECTIONS AND MORE. EXCERPTS:

The ANP has been mercilessly attacked by the Taliban in the run-up to the elections. As a result your party has been unable to campaign freely. At any point, did you consider not participating in the May 11 polls?

In the last four years, our party has lost a total of 819 workers. Why are we being targeted? Simple: [the Pakistani Taliban] want to keep us out of the elections. For Pakistan these are not just any elections, the new Parliament will have to deal with 2014, when NATO and ISAF forces withdraw from the region. When 2014 comes around, they do not want liberal people to be in the government. These forces want a free hand to do whatever they want, but they will not keep us out. This is not just a war between ANP and the Taliban or Asfandyar Wali and [Taliban kingpin] Hakimullah Mehsud, this is a war between two mindsets. The liberal, progressive, and democratic are on one side. On the other end are those who ruled Afghanistan and later surfaced in Swat. If we back off now, we let them win. The more the elections are delayed, the more bloodshed there will be. It is not going to get any better.

How is your party campaigning?

We cannot run advertisements like the other parties. We just don’t have that kind of money. It is common knowledge how much these [cable news] channels charge for broadcasting ads. Our local workers move door to door. The day Haroon and Ghulam Ahmed Bilour were attacked in Peshawar [on April 16], we lost 17 workers. The very next day pamphlets were distributed in the city warning people not to hoist any flags of the ANP or display its posters and stickers. And the same evening in Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi, and Mardan our party circulated thousands of stickers. The stickers had the party’s [electoral] symbol on it, which is the lantern, and a slogan, “Country or Coffin.”

Your partner parties the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Peoples Party have also been specifically targeted by the Taliban.

There is some misunderstanding. ANP has not gone into an electoral alliance with the MQM. PPP, MQM, and ANP have borne the brunt of terrorist attacks. We thought that if we got together to raise our voice against the bloodshed, the impact would be different. But let me clarify, again, that this is not an electoral alliance. It might not help the situation, but the three of us share an enemy. The people of Pakistan had been fooled for a very long time in believing that Karachi is the turf of the MQM and ANP. Now at least everyone knows the truth.

Is it accurate to say that the bloodshed in Karachi over the past five years is a result of turf wars among militias affiliated with the ANP, MQM, and PPP?

If I had a Pakhtun militant wing in Karachi, would I be targeted the way I am today? Please do not push us to the wall. That is my biggest fear. Do not push us to a situation where we decide to defend ourselves. The day we start defending ourselves, things are going to take a very ugly turn! If I had a militant wing in Karachi, I don’t think anyone would have had the guts to attack me.

‘The true referee of the electoral showdown is Hakimullah Mehsud.’

Will election results accurately reflect voters’ choice?

Let me make it very clear, ANP has been shoved into a wrestling ring with its hands tied. The opponents stand across from us and their hands are free. Until now, we were under the impression that the referee for these elections was the chief of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim. I have the utmost respect for him. But the true referee of the electoral showdown is Hakimullah Mehsud. Look at his statements, he’s “allowed” Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to hold public rallies, and he’s not “permitted” ANP, MQM or PPP to do the same. Is this his decision to make? Mehsud has clearly defined his friends and his foes.

After the attack on Haroon Bilour, you wrote to the Election Commission demanding more security. What became of that?

Copies of the letter were also sent to the president, the caretaker prime minister, and to the chief justice. Nine days lapsed and nothing happened. There wasn’t a word from the ECP. On the 10th day, Ebrahim showed up on television claiming he never received any such letter. That is the last I heard of that. The Election Commission is telling us to make our own security arrangements. Use your own untrained security guards, they say. Now, if these untrained security guards are enough to guard me and my candidates, then they must be capable of also guarding the country? The government took my security away in a very awkward manner, at 9:30 p.m. one night, without even informing me. The security that had been provided to me consisted of one policeman and four guards. The Election Commission denies it ordered it, but then there is written evidence proving it requested all security be withdrawn.

Will you accept the election results without any hesitation?

No, that will depend. It will depend on the results and how things shape up. As far as electoral alliances are concerned, it is still too early to decide that. Let me repeat, since this is a war between two mindsets, I will not go for an alliance with a party which belongs to the other camp. Let’s not name anyone. However, I would like to add that of late there is a new phenomenon arising before the elections. A few days ago, two Jamaat-e-Islami workers were caught with 90,000 fake ballot papers. Now new reports are emerging-I am still trying to confirm them-that a Jamaat aspirant’s house was raided and another 30,000 to 35,000 bogus ballot papers have been recovered. If these things start developing then there will be a big question mark on the upcoming elections.

What should be the chief priority of the next elected government?

Terrorism needs to be addressed immediately. One has to take control of the field. Right now, the ownership of the field is being challenged. We can continue to fight among ourselves about what we may want to plant in the field, but first we must own it.

Pakistan: Neither unwilling nor unable in Tirah Valley

By Zoon Ahmad Khan
SPEARHEAD RESEARCH

Tirah is a belt of valleys providing a convenient passage into Afghanistan, with a population of 1.5 million. Fertile for what Afghanis do best: opium, poppy fields have flourished in the region and the government has been for years trying to curb the epidemic. But the Tirah Valley people are slippery under the quivering thumb of the establishment since colonial times. It was in 2003 that the Pakistan Army entered the valley, that too after 9/11 and escalating Talibanization of the northern region when it was believed that Osama bin Laden could be hiding in one of these self governing regions.

For a month now, since March 2013, Tirah Valley has been making headlines. As over 300 militants have been eliminated and more than 30 army personnel have achieved martyrdom in less than thirty days. Due to fierce resistance, the military operation has gained momentum. Like the Swat operation, where Taliban had allied themselves with the local government promising better law enforcement and good riddance from the sloppy civil courts, in Tirah the emergence of TTP has also been gradual. Owing to poor infrastructure and isolation of the region (a tribal area that avoids foreign interference), news of the hundreds killed while resisting TTPs advancement in to the region, never reached mainstream media sources.

Three militant outfits are operating in the region presently: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), and Ansar ul Islam (AI) . The AI and LI have been battling with each other in the region for more than seven years over sectarian differences. When the LI joined hands with the TTP, AI reached out to the Pakistan army to protect its position against its adversary. It is noteworthy that the AI, a militant organization, has previously been banned for protecting the area from foreign influence (i.e. the government). How this support for the AI is any different from that of the Taliban back in the 1980s is not clear. For Pakistan, at the moment, fighting the Taliban is more crucial. What demons this war gives birth to can be dealt with later perhaps.

The TTP has not taken over the valley overnight, nor without assistance. Since last June, one step at a time the Tirah tribes have been coming under their fold. Even today, as the army marches against the Taliban with bursting force, launching aerial assaults to drive the Taliban out, few know the gravity of the situation. Few realize the dire consequences of this belt coming under full control of anti-state outfits. Thousands of the valley’s inhabitants have migrated out of their homes towards Peshawar. What will become of them and their families knowing the situation of IDPs amidst a fragile economy is another burden we are temporarily ignoring for a false peace of mind.

With three vital entry points: into Peshawar, Orakzai and the Khyber Pass (the main passageway for NATO supplies) the valley is an important stronghold for the TTP. With no road access, the army was initially only relying on aerial assaults. So far with scanty news, all we get a few days later is a death count of militants versus soldiers. Nothing about civilian casualties. Turns out we have an alternative for the drone strikes that have caused much discord between us and the United States. But the problems with an operation where only Pakistani blood is being spilt are manifold.

These quandaries can take the shape of a thought process. Firstly, Tirah was not above the regular drone drill. Rather the area has been a frequent target. Yet the LI joined hands with the Taliban, killed hundreds of civilians while fighting the local AI, took over the entire region over the course of a year. All of this while drone strikes were happening with unhampered discretion. Should this not make us question the effectiveness of drone strikes? The AI , temporary partner of the Government of Pakistan in this operation, is not our friend either. It is these temporary alliances with local militant outfits, and keeping our enemies ‘closer’ that has strengthened them to begin with. Before the Taliban took over completely, Ansar-ul-Islam were adamant that they could handle the situation. But with stiff resistance from TTP backed LI. Eventually the Pakistan army was forced to step in and save the region. The main question that arises from such situations is: why should we trust the security of such volatile and strategically important regions with militias who are not completely supportive of the government?

Initially when the wave of conflict erupted last month, media and ISPR reported that two militant groups were at war with each other and the death toll from both sides was being reported as “militant death toll”. TTP extended full support to LI, and AI was almost driven out of the region and increased TTP influence in the region was becoming evident. It was at this point when civilian casualties escalated and mass migration from the Tirah Valley started that the army stepped in. With General Elections only days away, it would have been catastrophic if hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of the valley had become IDPs. Additionally with Peshawar well within the range of rocket launchers the threat of TTP advancement in to the developed regions of the country had become too real. The AI-Army alliance is strategic and passing. Whether the army death toll includes the AI, or they aren’t dying at all is not certain. It is possible that the militant death include the AI, TTP, and LI, which would quite literally be true.

The new tagline for justifying drone strikes is ‘Unwilling and Unable’. The US claims that Pakistan is both, unwilling and unable to get rid of terrorists, and hence drones, are a final resort to secure their own national interest is justified. How they come up with new justifications for overstepping the boundaries and disrespecting sovereignty is fascinating. But after delegating the responsibility of keeping the terrorists out to anti-state elements, who haven’t pledged any loyalties to the region, what can we say about Pakistan’s sovereignty? Some argue that more than delegating authority the military and political establishments’ apparent absence was more about respecting the existing status quo that has been for centuries.

The expanding terrorism in the Northern areas can be solved not by drone attacks or killing the terrorists alone, rather by better law enforcement and presence of state sponsored security. The operation that Pakistan army troops are sacrificing their lives for concerns the US’ national security as well. After the drone method has proven ineffective and immoral both countries should look into alternatives. The US needs to decide: in or out? If out then they should completely rely on what the Pakistan army executes. But if they believe we are unwilling and unable then they must join in any battle against the Taliban, even if some blood will be spilt. But this would mean allowing US troops into our territory, and that is another breach of our sovereignty. And hence the dearth of solutions. As the army continues to sacrifice lives, while we acknowledge the courage it takes to execute such an operation, we must realize these lives and those of the civilians can be saved if preventive measures are taken. The upcoming government must get all local and foreign stakeholders on board and strategize better governance in the northern areas of Pakistan. The gun is only a temporary solution.

Human Rights Violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir

ZoneAsia-Pk

“In consistence with their policy that in the case of any State where the issue of accession has been the subject of dispute the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State, it is my Government’s wish that as soon as law and order have been restored in kashmir and her soil cleared of the invader, the question of State’s accession should be settled by a reference to the people”.

Lord Mountbatten, Governor General of India, October 27, 1947

The Violence Update Since 1989

Total Killings: 93,712
Houses/Shops Destroyed: 105,936
Orphaned: 107,434
Women Molested: 10,019
Widowed: 22,762

Redrawing the Map: the Balkanization of Pakistan

By Stuartbramhall

If Pakistan is an Ally, Why Are We Trying to Break Up Their Country?

After ten years of fighting unwinnable wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, many Americans recognize that the wars in the Middle East are really about oil and natural gas, rather than terrorism. Bush’s decision to invade Afghanistan (instead of Saudi Arabia – the 911 hijackers were Saudi) stemmed from the Taliban refusal to construct an Afghanistan pipeline transporting Turkmenistan oil to Pakistan and the Arabian sea (where it could be loaded onto US tankers). Likewise the decision to invade 17 months later (which had no connection whatsoever with 911 or Al Qaeda) seems linked to Saddam Hussein’s threat to crash the US dollar by trading Iraqi oil in Euros instead of dollars. Under Obama, the “war on terror” has shifted eastward to Pakistan. Yet there’s no reason to believe the strategic objectives for US military intervention in Pakistan are any different from the ones that led us to invade Afghanistan and Iraq – namely strategic control of energy resources.

Balkinization Defined

Although the subject receives little attention in the US media, various Pentagon analysts have been quite public about the strategic importance of energy and mineral rich Balochistan (a Pakistan province bordering Afghanistan and comprising 44% of the country’s geographic area) as an energy transit route. Several aggressively promote the “balkanization” of Pakistan. “Balkanization” is a term widely attributed to Carter’s national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski in his 1998 book The Grand Chessboard. It was one actively pursued by the Pentagon and CIA under Clinton in breaking up the former Yugoslavia, enabling US access to oil, natural gas and mineral resources in the former Soviet republics of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

At present the immediate Pentagon/CIA goal is to create a Free Balochistan, which would incorporate the Pakistan province of Balochistan, a sizable swath of Iran that was originally part of independent Balochistan and part of Afghanistan. In fact since 2006, the Pentagon has made no secrete of their desire to Pakistan Balochistan (which has a strong separatist movement) secede from Pakistan to become a US client state (like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan). It has cropped up in speeches by Condi Rice, in articles published by military journals and Pentagon think tanks and in trainings of senior military officers at the National War Academy and NATO’s Defense College.

Redrawing the Middle East

Condi Rice’s 2006 speech about “redrawing the Middle East” received the most attention in the US: http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=3882. The international press has been more interested in a 2006 article by Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters of the Pentagon’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence Armed Forces Journal. They are most concerned about a map he has drawn, which he has copyrighted, showing the Baloch areas of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan joined as Free Balochistan (and reducing the size of Pakistan by 50%). http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2006/06/1833899

Robert Wirsing of the US Army think tank Strategic Studies Institute, has published a similar analysis:Baloch Nationalism and the Geopolitics of Energy Resources: Context of Separatism in Pakistan(http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/pub853.pdf). (other references regarding Pentagon strategy in Balochistan can be found in Alexander Achmatowicz’ guest post athttp://stuartbramhall.aegauthorblogs.com/2010/09/29/balochistan-the-place-to-watch/ )

Map of Free Balochistan © Ralph Peters 2006

Peters, Wirsing and other military strategists argue the primary benefits of establishing Free Balochistan as a US client state would be

securing Central Asian energy resources for the continental US.
blocking Chinese access to these resources (via the Chinese-built Gwadar Port in Gwadar, Pakistan – China’s chief conduit for Iranian oil).
destabilizing Iran (which also has a sizable Baloch population seeking independence).

Enter Our CIA Freedom Fighters

Ironically the CIA also seems to endorse this strategy, at least indirectly, in a report predicting that Pakistan will be a failed state by 2015 (http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2005/02/pak-will-be-failed-state-by-2015-cia.html). For obvious reasons, the report doesn’t spell out the critical role they intend to play in Pakistan’s demise, via their systematic efforts to destabilize the Pakistan government (e.g. using CIA agents like Raymond Davis to support Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists) and separating off 50% of its territory as Free Balochistan.

Nevertheless, according to an explosive 2006 expose by investigative journalists at the London Institute of South Asia (http://www.lisauk.com/baluchistan.asp), this is exactly what the CIA has been doing since 2002, when it set up the first training camp to revive the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The London Institute indicates the CIA is collaborating in this effort with RAW (Indian intelligence), who have extensive spy networks throughout Pakistan and Afghanistan, and RAD (Russian intelligence), who started the BLA in 1980 during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and provide most of the weapons.

To be continued, with a discussion of the history of Balochistan and the KGB role in the formation of the BLA.

The City of Death

The bodies are piling up in Karachi because those struggling for power in the city are following a strategy of body counts. The dead are just names and statistics and in some cases they are nameless because that is how the media is reporting their senseless death. There is no mention of who they are, what they did for a living, whether they had a family and why they were shot dead on the street or snatched tortured killed and thrown like garbage in sacks. More than a hundred have died in five days with over 20 dead in the last two days—Sunday and Monday. Hundreds have died earlier. Today, Tuesday is a day of mourning In Karachi and Hyderabad because a political party has decreed that it be so but Karachiites do not know who they are mourning—just the dead in what has become the city of death.

The wise owls who regale us on the media with their wisdom and insight are explaining that this is a power struggle for control of the city or parts of it between three political parties—each representing a particular ethnic group. Each party has criminal gangs affiliated with it to do the killing on the streets. These criminal gangs hope to run drug, weapons, and gambling, extortion and prostitution rackets once their party gains control. They all have hit men—guns for hire—attracted to the city from all parts of the country and even from across the borders. Unlike gang and mafia wars in other countries the people being killed are not those vying for power or those involved in criminal activities—they are all safe. The ones being killed are ordinary citizens going about their lives or in some cases journalists or other professionals who have by some act angered those calling the shots. The struggle in Karachi is a sordid, disgusting and terribly macabre activity that defies logic and the norms of human behavior.

Karachi as seen on TV screens across the world for the last several months presents the spectacle of a city out of control in a country fast slipping into anarchy as its economy declines and the social fabric is ripped apart. Those with sectarian, ethnic, destabilization and other destructive agendas for Pakistan would be fools to pass up the opportunity to take advantage of the mayhem that is Karachi. No one believes anything that they are being told and everyone knows that you do not launch operations or surgical strikes by announcing beforehand that you are about to do so. The writing on the wall is that no one has an answer for what is going on in Karachi—not that anyone has an answer for what is going on in the rest of the country.

Instead of moaning, whining and crying on the media the need is for the people to be educated on the need for population control measures, on asking shopkeepers to pay taxes on sales and for people to protect themselves and articulate what they want from their government. A statement from the military saying that they were concerned over the situation in Karachi even though tempered by a stated confidence in the government sent hope surging and then another statement offering to bring Karachi under control told the people that at least someone thought they could control the situation before it reached a point of no return. The military is an institution of the government and part of the state resources for enforcement of its writ. The need is for a civil-military combine to tackle the problem but for that political sacrifices have to be made. Is anyone ready to do that?

By Ghalib Sultan
Tacstrat Analysis

P.I.A. Joint Counter Terrorism

Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan have agreed to jointly combat terrorism and foreign influence. According to the Iranian news agency, after the two-day counter-terrorism conference, a joint statement was issued which stated that the presidents of the three countries stressed on their commitment to eliminate terrorism, extremism, militancy and rejecting foreign influence in the region.

“All sides stressed their commitment to efforts aimed at eliminating extremism, militancy, terrorism, as well as rejecting foreign interference, which is in blatant opposition to the spirit of Islam, the peaceful cultural traditions of the region and its peoples’ interests,” the statement said.

“All sides agreed to continue meeting at foreign, interior, security and economy ministers’ level to prepare a roadmap for the next summit due to be held in Islamabad before the end of 2011,” added the statement carried by Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

Iran and Pakistan also “supported the ongoing national reconciliation in Afghanistan.”

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Asif Ali Zardari held three-way talks on Friday ahead of a six-nation counter-terrorism conference on Saturday.

The three leaders discussed “ways of battling terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking,” IRNA said on Friday.

A statement posted on the Iranian presidency website said on Friday that the trio “expressed concern over a rising lack of security, extremism and terrorism, and insisted on the need for cooperation to combat these phenomena.”

“Off The Net” Kashmir Freedom Movement

Hamid Rajput has a sharp eye to pick between the lines, he always has something interesting to say. Not only that he has a good way to explain and express himself. I find him very interesting and always like to discuss with him.

Dead body of a woman is paraded to establish the Indian ruthless rule

When discussing over many issues, Kashmir had us fixed for the barbaric, inhuman and humiliating atrocities being committed over the Kashmiris. Thus our discussion developed in to deeper groves of the issues related to human sufferings there. Be it children, young, old women or anyone that dares to stand before the Indian authorities is crushed in every conceivable manner so as to break the will of the people. Least that the Indians realise that everything can be destroyed but for the will of the people. Now Kashmir movement has entered into a phase of no return, the violence will increase so will the killings who will check and intervene is a million dollar question. To pin hopes on the powers in the West including the UNO would mean living in a fools’ paradise.

Here see how the Indian women have come out of their clothes and asking Indian army to rape them is slap on the face of the world conscience but who cares. Likewise is the Kashmir issue, who cares.

Indian women protesting against rape by Indian army – can someone answer

Kashmir is a burning issue not from the near past but since the freedom of the sub-continent. The British played their cards and India fell trap to that; India accepted what was not hers hence the British succeeded so they have a permanent buyer of their weapons. Wasn’t that what David Cameron had come to visit New Delhi for? He could not see any state terrorism in Kashmir or elsewhere within India where Maoists and many more are fighting for their political rights and freedom from the yolks of India. If he had not kept his eyes close to these problems, how could he have bagged contracts worth 1.5 billion dollars? After all what’s a human value, what does it mean to few rich and powerful, nothing more than an ant that gets trodden under the feet without even being noticed.

Going back a little, during month of April, he wrote a paper, “Who attacked Mumbai” quoting Indian writers and intellectuals, that Indian thinker now realize that the fault lines lie within. Here some visible factors could be mentioned to think who is behind uprisings on the Indian side of Kashmir. Kuldeep Nayar in his recent article jog Indian memory that Nehru made promise with Kashmiri nation that they would be given an opportunity to decide what they wanted to do with their territory and later he backed out his words. Arun Dhati Roy a well respected journalist from India portrays Kashmir uprising in these words: “Not surprisingly, the voice that the government of India has tried so hard to silence in Kashmir has massed into a deafening roar. Raised in a playground of army camps, checkpoints, and bunkers, with screams from torture chambers for a soundtrack, the young generation has suddenly discovered the power of mass protest, and above all, the dignity of being able to straighten their shoulders and speak for themselves, represent themselves.” She has a very loud and strong voice compared to her frail body and structure. May be if asked, she

Kashmiri Women raped abducted and never to be seen again

could also turn around like Mr. Jinnah who was questioned for his loud and firm voice said, “Do not forget that I am a Rajput from Sahiwal.” But admirably this lady has the courage to say it loud and clear without mincing her words. The tragedy is that Indian leadership has no wish to read or hear such words that may bring them closer to peace.

B. Raman, a former Indian bureaucrat views the recent Kashmir uprising in these words: “We are facing an Intifada of the Palestinian model in J & K for the first time. It is a spontaneous outburst of anger by sections of the youth over what they allege is the disproportionate use of force by the police and the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force).” I took these words as a confession of thousands of killings inside Indian Kashmir. Ban Ki Moon the Secretary General of the UNO also observed similar developments in Kashmir.

Amnesty international’s report on Indian atrocities on Kashmiris reminds the Indian authorities that they have an obligation to protect the right to life in accordance with international law and it includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Law Enforcement Officials, can only use firearms when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. I leave it to readers to decide that who could be behind Kashmir movement, the infiltrators or internal fault lines?Indian troops forcing the kashmiri youth to march naked To protect the right to life is a far cry for the Indian leadership in power at any given time but their killings, rapes and humiliations of the Kashmiris is a routine matter that has no parallel in history. Just to prove the point, here is a video clipping of the Indian security forces herding the unarmed Kashmiri youth stark naked and abusing them. It has some very derogatory language that has been used in it. It’s a complete shame to humanity who are in a position to influence the Indians and yet they look the other side. This a serious cause that develops vengeance amongst the aggrieved who later over a period of time resort to violence and other means that are then termed as terrorism.

What the Israelis are doing in Gaza is simply deplorable that must not only be condemned with words but must be resisted by force of the international community but when it is compared to Kashmir situation, Gaza is just a shadow. When Ban Ki Moon has also seen with his own eyes and realizes the potential threat to world peace why he does not mobilize the international agencies to stem the atrocities of the Indians in Occupied Kashmir makes one wonder about the intentions of such bodies. To conclude, I would like to appeal to the Indian sane mind that please read the writings on the walls that are visible even to blind and do grant the Kashmiris their legitimate rights for self determination. If for some reason this is not heeded to, the consequence can be disastrous not only for India but for the whole region and world peace.

Salmaan Taseer could have been alive…

By: Abid Suleri

I liked the Salmaan Taseer of the 1980s, when he resisted General Ziaul Haq’s dictatorship but felt let down when he accepted an offer to become interim federal minister during General Musharraf’s regime. I felt betrayed when the PPP government tipped his name as governor of Punjab after winning the 2008 elections. One could differ with Governor Salmaan Taseer’s political approach. His governorship might have been controversial; however, his bold stance against the blasphemy law was a reassurance that, despite his political compulsions, he would always uphold secular values.

His life was under threat. He was termed an infidel and a blasphemer. There were fatwas to kill him, with reward money for the killer. Yet one of his last tweets was: “Under huge pressure to cow down before rightist pressure on blasphemy. Refused. Even if I’mthe last man standing.”

He had courage and was bold enough to not be intimidated by so-called self-styled, self-made custodians of Islam and he was not only standing up, but also speaking openly against terrorism and against those who were misinterpreting religion. Many people have already said and written that his death was a shameful day in our history. He was killed because he chose to express his opinion on a law that has been much misused.

I am mourning not only his murder but also the murder of my own ideology – that of ‘live and let live’. And it is an ideology that is common in many religions. I didn’t know what to say to my nine-year-old son when he asked me why Salmaan Taseer had been killed. All I could think of in my mind was that Taseer’s life was as if he were trying to sell mirrors in a city of blind people.

One needs to understand the actors and factors responsible for spreading the cancer of religious extremism in our society. Our rulers, as well as civil and military establishments, have been misusing Islam (in their own way) to prolong their rule, to create ‘strategic assets’, to fight a proxy war and to blackmail the western world. Their shortsighted approach has poisoned society and state institutions to such an extent that not only the CIA and the Pentagon but even ordinary Pakistanis can no longer trust our law-enforcement agencies.

Just imagine the power of Islamic fundamentalist groups: the prime minister of the progressive PPP never publicly approved of Salmaan Taseer and Sherry Rehman’s stance of bringing reform to the blasphemy law and, in fact, the prime minister made it clear that the government would not change the law.

Perhaps Salmaan Taseer could have been alive had prompt action been taken against the mullahs who incited the Gojra carnage. He could have been alive had there been public condemnation by all political parties of the attack on Ahmadis in Lahore. He could have been alive had the government initiated an action against the mullah who announced a cash reward for killing Aasia Bibi. He would have been alive had our media promoted the cause of respecting religious diversity.

Silently bearing this pain will not help any of us. Extremist forces are trying to mute every voice of sanity. We need to say enough is enough and stand and rise against this monster of fanaticism in order to make this country a livable place for our future generations. Religion is a personal matter and we should not let fascist forces impose their version of it on us. We need to struggle for separating the state from religion in accordance with the vision of the founders of Pakistan – founders who were declared infidels and opposed by all Islamic parties of that time.

To me, the best way to pay homage to Salmaan Taseer is to pressurise the PPP government to complete his mission of reforming the blasphemy law. The question is, will the PPP-led government rise to the challenge?

We have to support sane voices like those of Taseer and Sherry Rehman to prove that Pakistan is not a barbarian land. Will Zardari and Gilani join us in paying homage to their deceased governor?

Yousuf Raza Gilani says Pakistan would accept no pressure for Waziristan ops

Pakistan premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today said his country would not succumb to any external pressure to launch a military operation in the North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan, asserting that no one can ‘dictate us’ on the when and where of things.

Pakistan has been under pressure from the US to launch a military operation in North Waziristan on the lines of the one it carried out in Swat, but it has remained non-committal.

Speaking in the National Assembly or lower house of the Parliament, Gilani said Pakistan will not accept any pressure from the US or any other country to launch a military operation against militants in the restive tribal region.

“We can sacrifice our lives for the defence and security of the country, so no one should have the impression that they can dictate when military operations should be conducted in North Waziristan and South Waziristan,” he said.

The US has stepped up pressure on Pakistan in recent months to launch a military action in North Waziristan, which senior American military officials have described as a safe haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda elements.

Observers have said Pakistan is reluctant to act against militant networks in the region as they have close links to the security establishment and only target US and allied forces across the border in Afghanistan.

“I want to tell the House that the decision will be made by Pakistan on where to conduct a military action. No one can dictate to us,” he said in response to concerns expressed by parliamentarians about pressure from the US to move troops into the lawless North Waziristan tribal region.

Gilani, however, made it clear that his government would act wherever its writ is challenged by militants, as it did in the northwestern Swat valley last year.

Describing the impression that Pakistan launches military actions on the dictates of “American or foreign elements” as wrong, he said there will be “no compromise on the sovereignty and integrity of the country”.

The government has taken all sections of the political leadership, both within and outside the parliament, into confidence before launching operations against militants in areas like Swat, Malakand and South Waziristan, he said.

“No section of the political leadership will say it favours terrorism, all are opposed to it. The whole nation is standing up against terrorism like a wall because it has spoiled our economy,” he added.

Pak-China Relationship: Newer Horizons

By: Dr. Raja Muhammad Khan

Chinese Prime Minister waving to the crowd at Islamabad Airport. PM Yusuf Raza Gilani, Fehmida Mirza, Speaker National Assembly and Farooq Naik, Chairman Senate are also there.

On the final day of his three days, historic visit to Pakistan, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, addressed the joint session of Pakistani Parliament. During the address, the distinguished guest lauded Pakistan’s role and sacrifices, it rendered in fighting out the terrorism. He said, “Pakistan has paid a heavy price in combating terrorism. The fight against terrorism should not be linked with any religion or ethnic group and there should be no double standards.” He further emphasized that, “The international community should affirm that and give great support as well as respect the path of development chosen by Pakistan.” He also promised to further enhance the strategic and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China in the days to come. Indeed, in conformity to the national interests of the peoples of both countries, this strategic partnership would promote, “peace, stability and prosperity of the region.”

Indeed, the three days visit of Chinese Premier Mr. Wen Jiabao, has attained another milestone in the history of bi-lateral relationship of Pakistan and China. This visit is of a unique significance, as it covers all aspects viz; the strategic, political and economic. In the wordings of the Premier Wen, “To cement and advance the all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Pakistan is our common strategic choice.” In the joint communiqué, issued by both countries, it was decided to boost the bi-lateral cooperation in the field of energy, defence, space technology, transportation, banking, infrastructure development, heavy machinery manufacturing, cultural exchange and finance.

Another distinctiveness of the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao is that he made sure to meets all stakeholders in Pakistan. Apart from the traditional meetings with the President and Prime Minister, Chinese Premier met with leaders of all political parties of Pakistan. Rather, it was a rare mosaic of Pakistani political, religious, and territorial leadership gathering to welcome their all time friend in Islamabad. This gathering was indicative of the fact that, there exists no second opinion about Pakistan’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China. This fact was amply highlighted in the welcoming address of the leader of opposition during joint session of Parliament once he said, “We are mired in a lot of controversies, but on one issue there is no controversy and that is our friendship with China.” No global leader ever has such a reception and united response and indeed a spirit of love from Pakistan ever. Chinese Premier also had a detail meeting with the Armed Forces heads under Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee and assured further enhancement in the ongoing cooperation in the field of defence. Premier Wen Jiabao declared that, “Beijing would never give up on Pakistan.” Seeing the unity among the leadership in Pakistan, Prime Minister Wen said that, “Government and people of Pakistan are united and moving forward to safeguard solidarity, prosperity, and sovereignty of the country.” He also announced 500 educational scholarships for the Pakistani students in Chinese educational institutions. This indeed, would enhance people-to-people contact in both countries.

Today China houses 20% global population and because of its overwhelming growth rate, it has become a powerhouse of Asia. The enormous Chinese development in the field of technology, industry and even in the field of defence has created a fear in the Western world. India too is jealously following the Chinese path. Since China has strategic partnership with Pakistan, therefore, this aspect seriously bothering India. Projects like; Karakoram highway, Gwadar port, and Chashma nuclear reactors are some of the aspects where both countries are having strategic cooperation. Besides, China is investing in a number of other projects like; 2.6 billion dollars Kohala Hydel project and 8 billion dollars Bunji dam project.

Following the establishment of Pak-China diplomatic relationship in May 1951, both countries has attained many milestones in their bi-lateral relationship. Pakistan, otherwise among the first few countries, which recognized this great communist state, proved its friendship by making strong lobby in getting the UN membership for China. The initial slow pace of mutual understanding got an impetus following the Sino-India war of 1962. In the era of Field Martial Muhammad Ayub, then Foreign Minister (later Prime Minister), Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto formalised this relationship on the strategic lines. Through his strategic vision, he made Pak-China relationship as an essential and never changing pillar of the Foreign Policy of Pakistan. The same vision exists even today and Pakistan maintained it as an inalienable part of its diplomatic relationship.

China has always appreciated its deep-rooted friendship with Pakistan and acknowledges Pakistan’s untiring efforts for getting her closer to United States in early 1970s. Indeed, through this collaboration during the peak days of the cold war, Pakistan lessened the tension, previously existed between U.S and the China, by becoming a bridge between two giants. Following this collaboration, China got an opening and diplomatic and trade excess into the Western world, whereas, U.S got a Communist friend in Asia. In a way, Pakistan proved its significance and vision as an international facilitator if not mediator. Thereafter, Chinese markets and goods were introduced at the global level and its economy started prospering to a level of second to U.S only in the contemporary world today. For the United States, this was the first moral and diplomatic pre-eminence over former Soviet Union.

During the visit of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Pakistan and China concluded economic deals worth $35 billion in total. These deals include; 17 agreements, four memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a joint venture. This indeed is a new record of the economic deals and agreements in the history of traditional friends. Both Premiers attended the Pak-China Business Cooperation summit, participated by 260 Chinese delegates with their 150 Pakistani counterparts. China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCIT) and Board of Investment, Ministry of Commerce, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), jointly organized this summit. The agreements reached during the summit include; “development of energy sector, promotion of trade, exploration of natural resources and development of agriculture, livestock, finance and banking sectors.”

A $6.5 billion MoU was signed between China Three Gorges Corporation and Alternative Energy Development Board for the wind power projects and solar energy projects. Both the countries signed framework agreement in relation to Development Finance Cooperation Agreement besides inking agreement of purchasing seafood, guar products, cotton yarn purchase and yarn import contract. In addition, frozen fish agreement, import stone business agreement, leather purchasing contract and agreement for purchasing of Pakistan rapeseed meal, were also inked on the occasion. Cooperation agreement, medical equipments donation agreement, and stone import business were also signed during the daylong summit between the business communities of both the countries.

On this occasion, Chinese Premier, reiterated his resolve to enhance the bilateral trade with Pakistan in the coming years in a bid to improve the flow of investments between both countries. The bi-lateral trade between Pakistan and China rise from $1 billion in 2002, to $6.8 billion in 2009. Chinese Premier desires that volume of this trade should be brought to the level of $10 billion on earliest possible timeframe. For the betterment of economic cooperation and to facilitate the currency swap, both countries agreed to open the branches of ICBC in Pakistan and China. The Premier Wen said that, “China welcomes Pakistan’s effort to capitalize on the preferential terms in the bilateral FTA to expand exports to China. The Greater financial cooperation between China and Pakistan will provide a strong support for in-depth and sustained growth of our economic and trade ties.”

He said that, “his country would increase investment in Gwadar Port. The port currently administered by Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), was constructed by China in 2006. Chinese Premier promised that his country would remove the trade barrier between Pakistan and China by improving trade infrastructure and promoting Pakistani exports to his country. Earlier Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, appreciated Chinese investment in Pakistan, especially in the energy sector of Pakistan. Prime Minister Gillani said that, “We would encourage Chinese companies to consider investments in the energy sector, which assures certain returns. Our energy requirements are expected to increase from 20,000MWs to more than 160,000MWs by the year 2030.”

In fact, Pakistan is not a resource deficient country, but problem lies with the technical expertise, infrastructure development, and availability of capital. Today, apart from huge amount of unexplored oil and gas, “Pakistan has 185 billion tonnes of coal reserves, which would be converted into energy to satisfy Pakistan’s growing demand.” Besides, Pakistan welcomes Chinese experts for the exploration of its oil and gas resources. Prime Minister assured Chinese investors for special economic incentives like; “duty-free import of plant and machinery, exemption from sales tax and income tax.” In spite of a stiff resistance from New Delhi and Washington, China has agreed to establish two nuclear plants as part of the civil nuclear energy programme.

Pakistan and China are already working for the development of the Pak-China Trade Corridor along the Karakoram Highway (KKH). In this regard, the highway is being upgraded and lying of a railway track along the KKH is in progress. Upon development of this overland route, there would be further boost to the economic relationship. Pakistan is otherwise becoming a hub for the oil and gas from Central Asia and Middle East. With the improvement of communication infrastructure, oil and gas from these regions can easily be transported to the Chinese territories either through oil tankers or through an overland gas pipeline. Premier Gilani assured his counterpart for the safety of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan. He said, “Besides a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the Joint Five Year Economic Programme, we are now jointly endeavouring to establish closer financial and banking sector cooperation.” Chinese Premier also supported Pakistani point of view on Kashmir issue. China has a clear stand that, Kashmiri must get their right of self-determination as per UN resolutions. China indeed, rejects all Indian assertions of betraying Pak-China relationship and regional domination by India. China does not support Indian case for a permanent membership of UNSC. China also assured Pakistan for its full supports on Pakistani position on the Afghan issue.

Pakistan and China are bounded in, an inalienable relationship ever since the formal beginning of their diplomatic relationship in early 1950s. Nevertheless, Pakistan has more frequently served the U.S aims and objectives, even more than its European partners have. Nevertheless, it enjoyed a smooth relationship with China, but rocky, complicated, full of mutual mistrust and apprehensions with United States. Chinese Premier has the moral courage to laud the sacrifices of Pakistan while fighting against terrorism and extremism. This acknowledgement and praise indeed, is in stark contrast to a “cacophony of statements emanating out of Washington that urge Pakistan to do more.” Therefore, the red carpet reception for such a time tested friend and declaring the “Friendship with China as a matter of pride for Pakistani nation,” by Prime Minister Gilani was a true reflection of the national sentiments.