Self-inflicted afflictions

By Mohammad Jamil

 Whether it was the decision to enter into defence pacts with the West; becoming frontline state during Afghan jihad or joining the war on terror with the US, our civil and military bureaucracy and inept political eminences in the past have had the penchant for self-inflicted affliction. During 1965 and 1971 wars with India, the uselessness of the defence pacts had become obvious, yet our leaders did not abandon the policy of putting all eggs in one basket. Now they have also bought some of our anchorpersons, analysts and ‘brilliant’ panelists, who advise Pakistan to obey the super power, even if it is against our national interest. It is well thought out policy that WikiLeaks disclosures are made whenever they wish to put Pakistan on the mat. According to recent WikiLeaks’ leaks, the US authorities described Pakistan’s ISI intelligence agency as a terrorist organization. The leaked documents distributed by WikiLeaks website stated that “the US saw the ISI as a threat at par with al-Qaeda and the Taliban”. Can these ‘eminences’ understand that the US after facing defeat in Afghanistan is planning to make Pakistan a whipping boy? And god forbid if anything happens to Pakistan, they all stand to lose.

 On our home front, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s tirade against the ISI for intervening in politics provided further ‘ammunition’ to America’s arsenal. It is of course duty of the politicians, writers, analysts and media to criticize and even condemn when pillars of the state and/or institutions transgress their limits and encroach upon other’s domains. Some media men while flaunting their independence are carried away by the newly found freedom of speech, and wittingly or unwittingly act in a manner that brings ignominy to the country and its national institutions. We do not hold brief for the military or intelligence agencies, but to accuse the military or agencies of supporting some political parties without any evidence is downright vulgar. Anyhow, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday categorically stated that the country’s intelligence agencies were subservient to the government and act under government’s instructions and guidance. Speaking in the National Assembly, the prime minister said the country’s institutions should not be looked at with suspicion, adding, whatever the intelligence agencies including ISI do it is on the government’s instructions.

It has to be mentioned that after 2008 elections the PPP-led government had tried to bring the ISI under ministry of interior on the behest of Pentagon or US administration to make it ineffective. For some weeks now Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of PML-N has started a smearing campaign against the ISI, not realizing that the agency is trying to identify the CIA and Blackwater operatives roaming around the cities of Pakistan. Anyhow, Chaudhry Nisar is once again playing hawk; but the PML-N is likely to lose the support of the people, as it already stands isolated whereby there is hardly a political party of substance that stands with it. According to reports, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was the one who had advised Mian Nawaz Sharif to act tough with civil and military bureaucracy. Of course, Mian Nawaz Sharif got rid of a President, two army chiefs and one chief justice, but ultimately wasted 10 years of his prime life in exile. The timing of Chaudhry Nisar Ali’s tirade against the ISI is also wrong when the US has already opened the front with the ISI especially after the Raymond Davis case. Anyhow, the people of Pakistan are angry over the insults being inflicted on this nation by the Americans so blithely.

One is astonished to hear some anchor persons on Pakistani channels saying that “America has a point when it says that Pakistan is only conducting military operation on the militants that pose threat to Pakistan but turns a blind to the Haqqani network holed in North Waziristan”. Any patriotic Pakistan would argue that when America and India, who have no borders with Afghanistan, wish to protect their strategic interests in Afghanistan, what is wrong for Pakistan to desire a friendly government next door, which is logical and reasonable. Pakistan, indeed, has genuine concern, as Afghanistan was the only country that had voted against Pakistan’s membership in United Nations in 1947, and except for a brief period of Taliban era, the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained strained. Yet our pseudo-intellectuals smirk and insinuate Pakistan for finding strategic depth in Afghanistan, which has never been an official policy. Of course, some defence analysts have been using the term but not to convey that Pakistan should maneuver to have a govt of its choice in Afghanistan.

There are indeed patriotic elements in Pakistani print and electronic media who are aware of their national responsibility, and they do not project our enemies’ point of view. But there are others who are chivalrous and obstreperous as a result of the newfound media freedom. Pseudo-intellectuals and a few politicians also continue to spread despondency in a bid to prove that Pakistan is a failed state, at a time when India is trying to get Pakistan the stigma of a state supporting and promoting terrorism. However, it is only the urban-centric anchorpersons and their ‘brilliant’ panelists that remain preoccupied with proving each and every act of the government, military and intelligence agencies wrong. During their TV programmes, they take bleeper from Indian journalists who support their government on every count, but our ‘intelligentsia’ does not feel qualms over denigrating Pakistan. These anchorpersons and analysts often badmouth the military while discussing Martial Laws of the past, though elected governments, civilian and military dictators were responsible in equal measure for having brought the country to the present pass. There is a perception that elements at the social pyramid - the educated class, pseudo-intellectuals, or intelligentsia both Mandarins and Resistantes - have not performed their rightful duty of providing adequate leads to the overwhelming illiterate and immensely religious hoi polloi.

However, the irresponsible minority needs strong sanctions from within the media to protect the good name and integrity of those who act responsibly. Media in the past had played prodigious role during Pakistan movement in uniting the Muslims of the subcontinent. And it was because of this unity that Muslims of the undivided India were able to carve out a separate homeland under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam. During 1965 war also, the media had made a commendable contribution towards uniting the nation and boosting the morale of the armed forces.

The result was that Pakistan could resist and repulse attack by India - much larger in size and having enormous resources. At this point in time when Pakistan is confronting challenges to its internal and external security, Pakistani media men should rise to the occasion and play their role to counter hostile Indian and western propaganda and protect national interests. It is not being suggested that they should become embedded journalists and hold brief for the government, military or intelligence agencies, but should act in a responsible manner, which is emblematic of patriotism.

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US facing default

In addition to the two US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down to something no so far short of defeat, Washington is now writhing is fiscal crisis, the coin of the realm is losing its credit worthiness, and longtime allies are forging economic and even military ties to rival China and Russia. To all of this, Washington should feel free now to add the certain loss of loyal surrogates across the Middle East.
These so-called loyal allies increasingly look like an empire of failed or insubordinate states, ending half a century of absolute. US control over the Middle East in general and the Persian Gulf in particular. Not a good time to be a hegemonic power !

The United States may default on its debt obligations as the deadline for reaching the borrowing limit to cover the budget deficit draws nearer. The country is in for a financial disaster if Congress fails to increase the debt limit in the near future.

Warnings to this effect have been coming from representatives of the Obama administration. According to the Treasury Department, the 14.3 trillion-dollar debt limit will be reached by May 16th. After that, the US will no longer be able to repay its debts.

Viktor Supyan, Deputy Director of the Institute of the US and Canada, has doubts about these forecasts:

"The US economy is the world’s strongest, and the US financial mechanism is poised to receive loans from creditors across the globe because investment in US securities is the safest. Nevertheless, this leads to an increase in state debt which has to be serviced. As a result, the US has to increase the debt limit all the time, and this time is no exception. No one wants the US to default – nor the US proper, nor its creditors. The lion’s share of all international payments are in dollars. If the dollar collapses, the entire global economy will go down the drain."

Even though all this makes sense, building up state debt cannot go on indefinitely. An increase in debt is fraught with risks for the US economy. This fiscal year, federal budget expenditures will total 3.7 trillion dollars, whereas revenues will reach 2.2 trillion.

US Congress is currently witnessing fierce debates among those in favor of austerity measures in order to cut debt and proponents of a further economic growth at the expense of extending credits. The Republicans, who have a majority in the House of Representatives, insist on reducing budgetary spending, first of all, as regards state-run healthcare programs. Simultaneously, they are raising the issue of cutting taxes. Naturally, the incumbent Democrats cannot agree to the moves, given the unfolding presidential campaign and because of party interests.

As American lawmakers discuss debt-related issues, the US solvency ratings are falling down. Foreign investors fear a drop in American securities ratings. Wall Street has been sounding alarm too.

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Horrendous bombings of Pak Navy buses

There could be several reasons behind the latest attacks as Pakistan Navy is playing an important role to stop the arms and narcotics smuggling as well. Sucide attacks against the security forces are not new and are carried out to demoralize them but these attempts have further strengthened the determination of the guardians of our borders. Pakistan armed forces had risen to the occasion in war and peace in the past and we have no doubt that they have the will and capacity to defeat all conspiracies against the motherland. The need however is to show greater alertness and bring an end to the attacks as we witnessed in Karachi. For this the intelligence agencies must redouble their efforts and unearth the hideouts of the militants, the planners and executioners of dastardly acts and those financing them. 

In two horrendous bombings of Navy buses transporting personnel to work early morning in Karachi on Tuesday, four people were killed and 56 wounded of a total of 85 passengers on both buses. This is the first major attack on the armed forces since the 2004 attack on the Karachi corps commander in which he luckily escaped harm. The modus operandi was to use remote detonators imbedded in cell phones. It is also an eerie reminder of the attacks in Rawalpindi some time ago on an army surgeon and a bus transporting ISI personnel. The police say it seems that the terrorists were in sight of the two buses and detonated the bombs as the buses went by. Since the Navy buses carried commercial number plates rather than official Navy ones, it is obvious that the terrorists not only displayed extraordinary coordination in detonating the two devices within minutes of each other, they had probably been watching and casing out the route and timings of the buses before the incident.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility and vowed more attacks on the security forces on the argument that “...they are killing their own people in Waziristan and elsewhere at the behest of the US”. Taking this argument at face value, what are the Taliban themselves doing? Are they not also “killing their own people”? Whereas Imran Khan and the right wing parties are raising Cain over the drone attacks, one comparison of the lethal toll of bombings and drone attacks shows the former have swallowed up more than 35,000 lives since the terror campaign began in 2007, whereas drone strikes have accounted for less than 2,000. Not that any innocent life can be measured in this grisly game of numbers. But there needs to be some perspective brought to the debate. The greater threat, not only to the armed forces, but also ordinary citizens is from the terrorist bombers. The hullabaloo of the right about the innocent victims of the drones has yet to demonstrate how many of the 2,000 killed in such strikes were terrorists and how many ‘collateral damage’.

The Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah has revealed that the government had received intelligence reports about a potential terrorist attack. However, he defended the police and security forces on the argument that in a metropolis like Karachi, it is not possible to search every inch of the city. That is reasonable, but it points to the need for better real time intelligence if such attacks are to be pre-empted. That is only possible if timely information is available from within the ranks of the terrorist organisations, implying that pre-emption is not possible without the intelligence services infiltrating the bombers’ groups.

The Karachi bombings are a grim reminder of the caution that COAS General Kayani’s assertion the other day that the terrorists’ “back has been broken” should not make us complacent. Even if, as the COAS argued, terrorism in Pakistan is in its death throes, it still retains the capability of deadly asymmetrical strikes that involve heavy loss of life and property. The terrorists are a formidable foe, not to be taken lightly, even if their formerly safe base areas in FATA have been under military attack with considerable success. Nevertheless, both in FATA and in the rest of the country, the hydra of terrorism still has enough breath to wreak havoc from time to time. This protracted struggle against this Frankenstein’s monster requires many years yet of intense effort before peace can be restored to the country. And achieving that peace is unfortunately tied up with events in Afghanistan and their spillover effects, for which a revisit to the distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Taliban is necessary to reassess the internal nexus between the two sides of this artificial division between those who challenge the writ of the Pakistani state and those who serve its strategic purposes.

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Collapse of the Afghan army is not far

The US and NATO allies, who mostly rely on warlords and war criminals, must understand that the majority of the commanders and leaders of the alliance are former fundamentalist mujahideen and Taliban fighters.

By Musa Khan Jalalzai

The cold war between the Afghan national army generals and the US/NATO commanders on civilian killings and the secret suicide units within the army and police force has exposed the failed military strategy of ISAF and NATO allies in bringing peace and stability to the country. As mistrust prevails, hindrances and hurdles increase. Recently, the Afghan army chief, General Sher Mohammad Karimi complained about the US mistrust of Afghan military intelligence information. Frustration within the army and police headquarters is increasing. Poverty-stricken and low paid soldiers, their poor living conditions, inadequate equipment and ethnically divided leadership have become big problems.

Defection is increasing while hundreds of soldiers are fleeing their battalions every month because they have no idea about the consequences of this unpopular war. They have been taught that by killing Taliban fighters, they will never win the title of shaheed or ghazi and will not even enter heaven. To escape the dangerous consequences of siding with NATO forces against the Taliban insurgents, the only way out is for them to defect or carry out suicide attacks within the army units. Afghan soldiers are not willing to fight the Taliban — they are anxious about the future of their families.

They are living in rented houses and need their salaries on time. They need medication and education of their children. The recent suicide attack carried out by an Afghan soldier in the defence ministry of Afghanistan is viewed by experts as a result of frustration. An Italian journalist, Mewati, reported that Afghan army personnel had close contacts with Taliban groups while recently a senior Afghan army official confirmed that 50 soldiers had reportedly abandoned their uniforms and joined the ranks of the Taliban.

In 2011, there has been a shift in the Taliban war strategy and suicide mission. They recruit suicide bombers for the Afghan national army to accomplish suicide missions. In some cases, Mewati disclosed that Pashtun soldiers of the army pass on secret information to Taliban groups and receive compensation. Mewati understands that discrimination in the Afghan army and the defection of soldiers to the Taliban, overtly or covertly, indicates that the collapse of the Afghan factional army is not far.

The ethno-sectarian infrastructure of the Afghan intelligence agencies and their way of politico-ethnic retaliation is another major problem for NATO allies. This ethnicised and sectarianised military and civil intelligence network cannot prevent warlordism, regionalism and federalism as it runs various terror networks in Pakistan. In my previous articles, I have already warned about the establishment of possible suicide units in the Afghan national army. The recent suicide attack in the Afghan defence ministry proved the reality that some elements in the defence ministry have established close contacts with Taliban insurgents. Senior government sources in Afghanistan said that the failed bomber’s name and other personal details were forwarded to London, suggesting that he had been living in Britain.

The US and NATO allies, which mostly rely on warlords and war criminals, must understand that the majority of the commanders and leaders of the alliance are former fundamentalist mujahideen and Taliban fighters. Their social, political and business relations with the Taliban groups are not hidden from the general public. Their direct and indirect control of the ethnically divided army is a sign of a future civil war. These non-professional commanders and warlords are considered to be a big hindrance in the way of building a competent, professional Afghan army.

As per my understanding, the Afghan army represents four main ideologies. A majority of the military generals, commanders and soldiers have three to four backgrounds — they have been nationalists, communists, mujahideen and Taliban as well. They remained in the army of king Zahir Shah and President Daud who were demanding an independent Pashtunistan. After the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, they became mujahideen. Civil war turned them against the mujahideen and they became Taliban and, finally, they took up arms against the Taliban, and are now planning to fight the US and NATO forces.

This contradictory and gloomy religious and military background of the Afghan army remains a major question. The clash of different political ideologies is more irksome. Fear about Taliban infiltration into the Afghan army units arose after an Afghan soldier carried out a suicide attack within the Afghan defence ministry.

This attack created more fear among Afghan officials, who are uneasy about their own safety and the fate of their country. A former head of the UN’s drug and crime office in Afghanistan, Dr Antonio Maria Costa, once said that Taliban sleeper cells had been set up inside the Afghan security forces. “We have plenty of evidence that we had a number of suicide attacks carried out by people who had been in the army, trusted because they were affiliated,” Dr Costa told the BBC. “Certainly there are sleeper cells, certainly there are individuals who are waiting for instruction to hit, and that is one of the biggest problems,” she said.

The Afghan police and army officials are dismayed at finding out how suicidals are infiltrating their rank and file. The screening of new recruits has been intensified. A surveillance system has been developed while some senate members in Afghanistan have demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak. A Taliban commander, Sirajuddin Haqqani, in a recent interview, revealed that Afghan intelligence agents are sharing information with militants about US and NATO troop movements. “The Afghan intelligence officials are sympathetic to the Taliban and they communicate the movements of the occupying forces (US and NATO) to us,” he said.

In February 2010, an Afghan military spokesman confirmed more than 25 Afghan soldiers had left their check post with heavy weapons in the eastern part of the country and had joined the Taliban. As we have experienced in the past 10 years, Afghan secret agencies are fighting in the wrong directions. During the Soviet intervention and civil war, Afghan intelligence agencies (KHAD, WAD and RAMA) mostly targeted Pashtuns in the northern parts of the country.

From Assadullah Sarwari to Amrullah Saleh, all intelligence heads were non-professional and not adequately qualified. They have been on the payroll, became political tools and treated their own people in a brutal way. We have no record of KHAD brutalities on hand — its records were either destroyed by the Taliban or were taken to Moscow by the KGB. However, one thing is clear: the agency still needs to be restructured. How many young Pashtuns were killed, disappeared and were falsely implicated in cases under the Amrullah Saleh leadership needs to be thoroughly investigated.

The writer is author of Britain’s National Security Challenges and can be reached at zai.musakhan222@gmail.com

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Indian connection in Balochistan

India wanted to stop Pakistan from becoming a hub of economic activity. India is doing psychological operations by publicizing incidents of human rights violation in Balochistan via highlighting the so-called miseries of Balochs, like disappearance, political victimization, displacement due to military operations,etc.

By Khalid Khokhar

Notwithstan-ding the fact that the four rounds of the stalled Composite Dialogue encompassing the whole range of disputes had passed without any substantial progress on any of the important issues since 2004, yet the resumption of talks between New Delhi and Islamabad is a welcome sign. It is hoped that those who re-took the initiative would create a climate conducive to the resolution of the issues bedeviling the relations between India and Pakistan ranging from Kashmir dispute, to matters of trade, people-to-people contacts, Samjhauta Express bombing of 2007, Mumbai carnage-2008, Siachen, Sir Creek and of course Balochistan issue. Pakistan will raise the issue of alleged Indian role in fomenting unrest in Balochistan and tribal areas at the next round of nascent peace process. In the backdrop of India’s pre-condition to discuss counter-terrorism, particularly progress on the trial of Mumbai suspects in Pakistan, the Balochistan imbroglio also falls in the same gamut that deserves to be discussed in Composite Dialogue process. Let us see what Balochistan issue is all about. The conflict in Balochistan is essentially about three issues. First, Balochs have grievances against the federal government which relate to exploitation of natural resources, in particular Sui gas, without adequate compensation and unfairly low share in the award of National Finance Commission. Second, the Baloch people also fear that the mega projects, in particular the Gwadar port city, would invite an influx of population from other provinces reducing the ethnic Baloch to a minority at some stage. They also complain about injustice in the grant of employment and fear that the benefits of the mega projects would go to the outsiders. Third, building of cantonments in the three most sensitive areas of Balochistan: Sui, with its gas-producing installations; Gwadar, with its port; and Kohlu, the “capital” of the Marri tribe. The tribal chiefs exhorted the common people to stand up against the so-called coercive policies of the government. Three tribal sardars (Marri, Bugti and Mengal) resorted to armed militancy and carried out attacks on FC posts, gas pipelines, bridges, railway tracks and killed innocent citizens in Balochistan. It is beyond comprehension that how few feudal sardars have made the country ‘hostage’. It is to say, if they have some genuine grievances against the policies of the government, they should raise it at the forum of National Assembly instead of destroying national property. In order to put a brake on Kashmiri freedom struggle, India has planned a well-documented strategy to exploit already bad situation of Balochistan by supporting angry Baloch leaders to bargain it on the negotiating table with Pakistan. Additionally, the mega development projects have become sore in the eyes of Indian strategists who wanted to extend their zone of influence in the Central Republics to lay a hand on its enormous natural wealth. To capture the market, India wanted to stop Pakistan from becoming a hub of economic activity. India is doing psychological operations by publicizing incidents of human rights violation in Balochistan via highlighting the so-called miseries of Balochs, like disappearances, political victimization, displacement due to military operations, etc. There is robust possibility of Indian involvement in the killing of Baloch nationalist leaders that achieved the purpose of thwarting the reconciliation efforts between the Government and the angry nationalist leaders. A mushroom of stories in the media circles are being echoed for quite some time regarding Indian internal strike in Balochistan with the singular purpose to destabilize Pakistan. Although, it is true that India does not share border with Balochistan but India cannot remain oblivious from its meddling through hundreds of RAW operatives and Indian regular troops prowling in Afghanistan bordering Balochistan. RAND scholar Christine Fair, a leading American expert on South Asia has validated Pakistan’s legitimate claim about India’s involvement in fanning unrest in Balochistan. There are some stories about the complicity of few angry tribal chieftains with India, as well as much-talked “Balochistan Dossier”, providing proofs of Indian involvement in Balochistan via its consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar along the border. Balochistan Dossier carries some strong evidences of Indian support in planning, commissioning and preparing acts of terrorism in Balochistan through setting up of 26 centres of terrorism (consulates) along the western border in Afghanistan. Side by side, India managed to seek support of angry faction of Bugti, Mengal and Marri tribes deeply involved in harbouring terrorist attacks on strategically important installation in Balochistan. The renegade tribal Balochs openly admit that they would accept any type of “moral help and material support” from India to create mayhem in Balochistan. It is beyond doubt that Brahamdagh’s sentiments were naturally hurt because of the death of Nawab Bugti, but then, the aggression should have been channelized through socially approved norms. The recent call from Baloch Society of North America for a one-day international conference on Balochistan on April 30, in Washington DC, aimed to examine the Baloch options and solutions to the Balochistan’s problem, has no bearing on the political scenario of Balochistan. These tribal Waderas have never done any welfare or developmental work for the common people of the areas when in power, but always tried to obstruct educational and developmental process because it does not suit them. In order to redress the grievances of the people of the province, “Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package” presented in joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, should be implemented in the first place. Although, the “Balochistan Empowerment Package” is unlikely to resolve all outstanding issues of Balochistan, yet it holds the promise of a better tomorrow for Balochs. Some of the salient features of the Package are: (1) Releasing political prisoners against whom terrorism cases are not pending. (2) Expeditious recovery of missing persons. (3) Stopping of the construction of new cantonments in Balochistan. (4) Withdrawing Army from Sui. (5) The basis of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award will be on the size, revenue generation and backwardness of the province. (6) Promising necessary constitutional amendments to strengthen provincial autonomy as demanded by Balochistan and other smaller provinces, as well as abolition of the Concurrent List of the Constitution. (7) Promises initiation of judicial inquiry into the killings of Nawab Akbar Bugti and other Baloch leaders. (8) An end to all operations except anti-terror actions. (9) Payment of royalty to the province (Rs120 billion) on the Gas Development Surcharge from 1954 to 1991 in 12 years. (10) The package promises a judicial inquiry into the allotment of land in Gwadar to accommodate the local population. Besides, a free economic zone will be established in this port city and all jobs will be offered to the local population. The chief minister will be the ex-officio chairperson of the Gwadar Development Authority. (11) There will be a special development package for the Sui area where 5,000 additional provincial cadre jobs will be created. (12) The province will be able to purchase up to 20 per cent of the shares of the PPL, the OGDCL and the Sui Southern when offered in the open market. (13) The Saindak project would be exclusively handed over to the province. (14) Similarly, Rs1 billion will be spent on the rehabilitation of IDPs from Dera Bugti. Once, the much needed reforms are implemented in true letter and spirit then, political and provincial autonomy disputes may be addressed through a policy of reconciliation and mutual accommodation. The meaningful dialogue process with all the stakeholders will bring perpetual peace in the province. On the one hand, inclusion of representatives like Nawab Marri, Sardar Mengal, Brahamdag Bugti and Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleiman Daud may influence the outcome the negotiations. The other players in the Baloch nationalist camp include Balochistan’s four political parties - the Balochistan National Party (BNP), National Party (NP), Baloch Republican Party (BRP), all factions of the Baloch Students’ Organisation (BSO) and other components of the Baloch National Front (BNF). Lastly, the most important phase of the reconciliation process would be bringing the armed resistance groups (the Baloch Liberation Army, Balochistan Liberation United Front, Baloch Republican Army, Baloch Liberation Front and Lashkar-e-Balochistan) on the negotiating table. The decision of the government to withdraw cases against annoyed Baloch leaders will go a long way in building confidence amongst all the stockholders.

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India would have been a better place without Sathya Sai Baba

 When Sathya Sai Baba died on 24th april 2010 at the age of 85 years, he proved once again that miracles and prediction fail. He had predicted at a public gathering at the head quarters in Puttaparthy, in 2000, and repeatedly many times, that he would die at the age of 96 only. And till the last moment, many of his devotees clung to his word and waited for a miracle. Many it be an eye opener for the millions of gullible people whom he misguided and deluded.

De mortuis nihil nisi bene, they say, say nothing but good of the dead. But I think Sathya Sai Baba’s case qualifies for an exception. Too great is the damage that he did to India. His devastating influence on reason and scientific temper caused huge setback to the country.
At a time, when scientific progress led to great social and economic leaps and scientific awakening started spreading all over India, Sathya Sai Baba launched a “counter revolution” of superstition, supported by irresponsible politicians and other public figures who should have known better.
In my judgment, this is his greatest crime. I have succeeded again and again to expose him publicly as a fraud, so did some other rationalists. But due to his political protectors he was never held responsible for his crimes against public reason. Nor was he ever booked for any other crime he was accused of. Numerous cases of sexual abuse and murder are yet to be investigated, not to mention the financial secrets of his empire.
Sathya Sai Baba insisted in all seriousness that he was god, the creator of the universe, and tried to “prove” his divinity with a couple of small “miracles”. As son of a village tantric he was familiar with the hand sleights and tricks of the trade. However, he did not only fascinate poor and uneducated villagers with his fraudulent performances. Over the years, he managed to attract a galaxy of India’s rich and powerful, among them ministers, prime ministers, presidents, chief justices, top industrialists and superstars.
Sathya Sai Baba had a special modus operandi that was the key for his astonishing success and the root of his enormous clout. Many of his high society devotees came to serve their own vested interests. Some came to rub shoulders with the prominent. Many joined the club because it was working as a powerful syndicate spreading its tentacles all over the political system.
It was a way to the top jobs and a way to get things done. Others were seeking financial support or wanted to get rid of ill-gotten black money: The 'empire', it is said, was based on money laundering, using foreign devotees and branches. In fact, the huge foreign donations to Sai Baba stood in contrast to the comparatively modest number of active foreign devotees and the sometimes quite weak foreign branches, some of them residing in private homes. That is no great surprise, when one considers that Sai Baba did not speak any other language than Telugu and traveled only once in his whole life abroad – to visit his friend the cannibal dictator, Idi Amin in Uganda.
On his 80th birthday, Sai Baba’s supporters announced that he would turn from a miracle man to a philanthropist. That was, after I had demonstrated his miracles so often in TV shows that many kids in the streets could imitate them. That he since spent a part of the great fortunes, swindled out of the gullible, for social development around his ancestral village, is highlighted now to present him as a saint. But as useful and welcome hospitals, schools and drinking water projects for the poor always may be: this kind of alibi-philanthropy is well known even from mafia-bosses. It cannot be weighed against his crimes and the damage he has done to the Indian society.
In December 2005, I wrote a letter to then President Dr. Abdul Kalam, one of Sai Baba’s ardent supporters, which was never answered. I demanded criminal investigations against Sai Baba. If his social development projects are meant to be indulgence to nullify his crimes, this procedure is unprecedented and unacceptable, I wrote. It is a shame for India that well-founded accusations and numerous reputed witnesses against Sai Baba are ignored without any investigation. Do saffron clothes make an offender untouchable for the law? Do we have to tolerate that political protectionism raises its head so boldly, mocking India's democracy?
Sathya Sai Baba caused great damage to India. His irresponsible political patrons corrupted the political culture of India. Encouraged by the clout of Sathya sai Baba, a new clan of self-styled miracle-mongers imitated him. India would have been a better place without Sathya Sai Baba.

By: Sanal Edamaruku (President Indian Rationalist Association & Rationalist International)

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Test Tube Baby Ch Nisar ISI phobia

It is almost a daily occurrence that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and PML (N) stalwart Ch Nisar Ali Khan launches tirade and makes scathing remarks against Armed Forces of Pakistan particular the premier intelligence agency ISI in one way or the other. But ironically on Tuesday media reports put Ch Nisar and the US on the same page as far as ISI bashing was concerned with former criticising its chief for his US visit and the latter reported to have listed ISI among 36 terrorist organizations.

Ch Nisar Ali is otherwise considered to be a talented politician but his out-of-proportions criticism of the visit of the DG, ISI to Washington and Kabul is not only ridiculous but smacks of mental bankruptcy. Spy chiefs visit other countries and have interaction with their counterparts on professional matters and therefore, we should not unnecessarily attribute motives to the visit. Similarly, it would be unbelievable that the agency was meddling into political matters when it is wholeheartedly devoted to the sacred mission of safeguarding the motherland against all sorts of conspiracies. The agency is hundred percent focused on foiling designs of our enemies who want to weaken Pakistan through different means. As for categorisation of the ISI as a terrorist organisation by the United States, we believe it is indeed a tribute to the agency for its loyalty and commitment to Pakistan and this is a sort of certificate inscribed in gold letters. It is understood that there are hundreds of Raymond Davis operating in the country with mission to destabilise Pakistan and it is ISI that is foiling their designs and working as a China Wall against their nefarious objectives. One can understand American animosity towards ISI, which is highlighted with regular intervals by different statements emanating from Washington. Everyone knows at whose behest attempts were made to put ISI under the charge of the Interior Ministry and what Admiral Mike Mullen said about the role of the agency in one of his interviews during his recent visit to Pakistan. Washington’s ISI phobia is, therefore, understandable but one is shocked to hear venomous statements from a person who has been bestowed with highly responsible position in the democratic set up of the country.

Secret files and documents held in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre and obtained by the Guardian and New York Times show the US authorities’ view of the Pakistani ISI in a poor light. These files and documents are said to have been obtained by famous whistle-blower Wikileaks between 2002 and 2009, but at least the Times claims it received them from a different source. Whatever the source and acquisition route, these two prestigious newspapers have put the cat among the pigeons by publishing the US authorities’ assessment dating from 2007 that the ISI deserved to be ranked alongside such long-time enemies described as terrorist organisations as al Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since some (if not most) of these files relate to the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention facility, it needs to be noted that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay were instructed to treat association with the ISI as a justification for detaining prisoners in the facility since ISI had been classified as a “terrorist support entity”. The ISI joins the organisations mentioned above as well as Iranian intelligence amongst 32 groups on the list of “associated forces”, defined as “militant forces and organisations with which al Qaeda or the Taliban has an established working, supportive, or beneficiary relationship for the achievement of common goals”.

Although these revelations date from a US authorities’ assessment of four years ago, they shine the spotlight on, and may help explain, the current trust deficit between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and the US, a deficit that has by now eroded even the close military-to-military ties between the two countries. The spat between the ISI and American CIA broke out over the Raymond Davis affair and escalated over the drone attacks in FATA, which the Pakistani authorities say cause collateral damage in unrelated civilian deaths, which in turn produce pressures on the government.

Despite the relationship between the two sides being a symbiotic one, in which nether can part from the other without incurring negative consequences, the two issues of CIA operatives having the run of the land and the drones the run of the tribal areas have come to a head, provoking a rare candour from both sides. Admiral Mike Mullen on his recent visit weighed in with his take on the ISI’s connections with the Haqqani network (believed to have relations with al Qaeda) being the main problem in the relationship. Our military and security establishment in turn has stoked and later relied on public sentiment against the free run given to the CIA and drones by the Musharraf regime in a transparent attempt to renegotiate the terms of endearment. Why this is so critical at this moment is because all stakeholders are seeking to position themselves favourably for the endgame in Afghanistan. Who will sup with whom, in what pecking order at Kabul’s moveable feast is likely to loom large over the present course of events.

While the ISI is maintaining a meaningful silence over the Guantanamo files, it and the military establishment to which it reports came in for a bit of stick from an unexpected source within the country. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali came out all guns blazing on the floor of the house against the ISI and military establishment, accusing them of orchestrating the activities of “test-tube” politicians (a pointed reference to Imran Khan and his recent caravan march to Peshawar against the drone attacks). He went on to claim his party, the PML-N, had also been approached by these forces but had refused to go along with any agenda of destabilisation of the present dispensation or even any role for the military in politics. This diatribe from a political worthy known to be close to the military establishment acquires added significance and weight. Partly of course, Nisar was attempting to deflect criticism against him for meeting COAS General Kayani, but partly it was a broadside against the forces the PML-N believes were directly responsible for all they had to go through since the military coup in 1999. Nisar’s charge of the intelligence services and military establishment indulging in their usual bag of tricks was responded to by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The prime minister agreed to address the concerns of the opposition leader if he could present substantive proof. The question though remains: do the political forces have the will to restrain the powerful intelligence services and military establishment?

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Dead ended war in Afghanistan

Insurgency in Afghanistan is gaining momentum, making things worse for the Afghan Government and US-led alliance. From 2001 to 2010 the US- led Alliance has suffered 2,169 casualties. In the last two years more than 7,400 attacks had taken place in Afghanistan resulting in more than 2,400 civilian casualties. Public support of the US war in Afghanistan is also waning in the US, Afghanistan and regional countries. According to a recent CNN poll. only 37% percent of Americans favor the war in Afghanistan and more than half of Americans believe the war has turned into a Vietnam like quagmire.

By Air Commodore (Retd) Khalid Iqbal

Defence Secretary Robert Gates is of the view that the US-led occupation forces in Afghanistan may “turn a corner” in its struggle against Taliban by the end of this year. “My own view is that this year is a critical year. Coalition forces have driven the Taliban out of areas they have controlled for years, including their heartland... They clearly intend to try and take that back... If we can prevent them... and we can continue to expand the security bubble, I think it’s possible that by the end of this year we will have turned a corner just because of the Taliban being driven out, and, more importantly, kept out…we are all expecting an increase in the level of violence and activity beginning in a few weeks.” Gates recently told the journalists in Washington. However, attacks on both foreign and Afghan troops, police and civilians are still frequent, with most of them taking place in volatile southern regions. Last week Admiral Michael Mullen made rather blunt remarks in Islamabad that ISI’s continued links with the Haqqani network were at the core of Pakistan’s problematic relations with the United States. “The ISI has a rich history of how they operated in this part of the world, to protect their own country…The Haqqani network had fuelled the Afghan insurgency by supporting, training and funding fighters who were killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan,” said the Admiral. Jockeying between the conflicting strategies of simultaneously wooing and weakening the Haqqani’s, Admiral is often fatigued enough to relapse into Bush era strategic environment. Dynamics of Afghan conflict have moved to new planes; it is an open secret that Admiral’s boys had been intimately negotiating with Haqqanis, both with and without ISI’s facilitation. Likewise, recently released biannual report of the White House to Congress on Pakistan and Afghanistan, has cast critical aspersions on Pakistan, both in the domain of governance and counter-insurgency operations. This report is an indictment on Pakistan; and it accepts no responsibility regarding deliberate ambiguities in American policies towards Afghanistan and Pakistan. White House is of the view that “There remains no clear path to defeating the insurgency in Pakistan, despite the unprecedented and sustained deployment of over 147,000 forces”. The latest phase of the Mohmand operations which concluded in March has been cited as an example of Pakistan’s inability to hold and build areas cleared of militants. The fact that 50,000 internally displaced persons have been able to return to their homes in Mohmand agency as a result of “Operation Brekhna” finds no appreciation. Pakistan’s political and military leadership have been assessed harshly. America expects Pakistan to perform a feat single-handed which Americans could not accomplish with the military might of over 40 countries at their disposal. America’s policy of measured vagueness in the context of troops’ pullout from Afghanistan has begun to haunt it; indeed the bluff has been called. Though tempo of the events in Libya has eclipsed the Afghan issue, it will soon reoccupy the centre stage. Libyan conflict cannot be resolved inline with American blueprints without inducting a large number of land forces into the North African theatre; and such numbers would only be available if and when troops could be de-inducted from Afghanistan, and Iraq. Though, Defence Secretary Robert Gates had told a recent West Point audience that “any future defence secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined”, he may already be busy in a number crunching exercise; challenges of extricating over 100,000 American troops from Afghanistan without a clear victory are indeed phenomenal. Morale of the American troops is marred by fatigue, homesickness, weariness and mental disorders. Suicide rate among the American soldiers is on the rise; there were 252 cases in 2010. This trend is linked to drug abuse, brain injuries, depression and back home worries. Apart from numerous cases of indiscipline in Iraq and Afghanistan, several cases of shootings within military establishments have also occurred inside American mainland. President Karzai has announced the start of the transition process in Afghanistan. Going by the numbers, recruitment of Afghan security forces is expected to achieve its target figure of around 300,000 Afghans by coming October. There have been a number of recent cases of Afghan security personnel killing foreign soldiers. Earlier this month, two American soldiers on a training mission were killed by a policeman. Representation of Pukhtuns in the security forces remains a challenge. Only 3.7 per cent of recruited Pukhtuns are from southern Afghanistan against a target figure of 10 per cent. Tajiks are over represented in the Afghan National Army by about 8 per cent and by more than 15 per cent in the police. With these compositional and psychological issues at hand, Afghan security forces represent a ticking bomb. Reconstitution of the upgraded ‘Peace Commission’ radiates a ray of hope. President Karzai has announced that the upgraded commission also enjoyed US support. However, track record of such earlier efforts is not quite enviable. Moreover any concept or terminology that originates from America is not likely to sell well amongst the masses of Afghanistan. Any solution that is not owned and led by Afghans is destined to doom. Turkey has since long been sincerely trying to play its role to sort out Afghanistan problem and for this purpose it has hosted several rounds of talks between Pakistani and Afghan leadership. Turkish initiative of allowing Taliban to set up their liaison office in Turkey is a positive development. This would bring various factions of Taliban closer to each other; and existence of a formal office would give legitimacy to an otherwise established reality of the political clout of Taliban. It would be appropriate if other countries as well as OIC, NAM, SAARC and the UN also allow such representation to Taliban. However, once again the fundamental error is exclusion of Iran from this process. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved in Afghanistan without taking Iran on board. If anything could restore normalcy in today’s troubled Afghanistan, it is a comprehensive national reconciliation in which all Afghans have a stake. Fast emerging unfavourable security situation has compelled the US to negotiate with Taliban for a political settlement. Strenuous efforts (read machinations) are being made by the USA to win over Taliban. Initially these contacts were made secretly with India as behind the door facilitator. Later on, secrecy had to be abandoned when the US as well as President Karzai concluded that without active participation of Pakistan no headway could be made. Main stream Taliban entities are still united under Mullah Omar and have rejected pre-conditions of USA. They are aware that the US is no longer in a position to call the shots. Despite two troop surges the balance remains tilted in favour of Taliban. Taliban could not be split up. They are convinced that they have already won the war, and the countdown has started. Hence they are in no mood to compromise on American terms. For them, the US is now like a wounded animal which has transformed from a hunter into a hunted prey. There are test balloons indicating an American stay up to 2024. President Karzai has recently stated that America intends to establish permanent military bases in Afghanistan. The US has for long been eying on Kabul, Baghram, Kandahar, Shindad and Herat as its military bases. These places are being speedily fortified and modernised. However, resurgence of Taliban, war weariness, haywire economy and uprisings in Middle East and Africa are compelling America to call it a day. Though Lisbon summit extended the tenure of this dead-ended war till 2014, a speedy withdrawal may be in the offing.

khalid3408@gmail.com

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India’s Commonwealth Shame

Indian investigators say they have arrested the chief organizer of last year’s scandal-plagued Commonwealth Games as part of a corruption probe.
The Central Bureau of Investigation said Monday that Suresh Kalmadi has been charged with conspiracy to favor a Swiss company in the purchase of equipment for timing and scoring events. It also says the prices were inflated, AP reported.
Two other officials on the Games’ organizing committee were arrested earlier for involvement in the same case.
The bureau, the Indian equivalent of the FBI, accuses Lalit Bhanot and V.K. Verma of causing a huge loss to the Indian government by paying 1.41 billion rupees ($31 million) to Swiss Timings Ltd. for equipment available from another company for much less.



According to local television reports, Indian federal police have arrested Suresh Kalmadi in an investigation into corruption claims during the October Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi is the former Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee chairman and ruling Congress party lawmaker.

The federal investigating body has raided homes and offices of Games organizers in a probe into $21.7 million worth of misplaced funds.

Local media reports that Kalmadi will be interrogated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation for the fourth time, in connection with irregularities in contracts for the games.

The Games, which cost $6 billion, were dogged by several cases of alleged corruption.

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Scent of the Saur Revolution

The madness of bloodshed in this conflict between imperialism and fundamentalism, which are two sides of the same coin, will only wreak more havoc upon this tragic land.

By Lal Khan

As the confrontation between the ‘allies’ of the War on Terror, the US and Pakistan, worsens, the chances of the prospects of any fruitful outcome of this war of attrition further fade away. The bloody conflict in Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan rages on. The colossal collateral damage caused by imperialist bombings and drone attacks, in reality means the brutal extermination of thousands of innocent souls. Fundamentalist terror does not spare the ordinary people either.

However, the latest accusations from the US military high command of the ISI’s covert support for the Haqqani network and other Islamist groupings against the US and NATO troops are the most outspoken and strongest since the beginning of the imperialist invasion of Afghanistan. The denial on the part of Pakistan’s military elite has further heightened tensions and exacerbated the conflict between the reluctant allies. The main reason for the aggravation of these contradictions and mudslinging is the sheer frustration of US military strategists due to failure in achieving any progress in this war.

The Americans have known all along about the ISI’s involvement and links with the fundamentalist outfits, but they could not do much about it. Now, with the worsening economic, diplomatic and military scenario facing imperialism, they have vented their impotent rage, knowing full well that they cannot alter the balance of forces or remove the nexus between these fundamentalist groups and sections of the Pakistani state.

In the first place, this nexus was created by the CIA more than three decades ago. The dollar jihad was unleashed by the Americans after the Afghan revolution of 1978. They had sponsored, financed and bred this counter-revolutionary insurgency for their own imperialist interests. It was in fact the CIA’s largest covert military operation in its history. To finance this jihad not only was Saudi money poured in but also a network of drug smuggling, ransoms and other criminal activities was set up, in connivance with the ISI.

After the Americans abandoned the region, this network not only remained intact but it prospered and expanded under the patronage of the Pakistan Army’s top brass. In the subsequent years, this enterprise developed into a massive black economy that is today more than twice the size of Pakistan’s GDP. Hence there are high stakes at risk for sections of the Pakistani ruling class and the state. This black economy finances the fundamentalist terror while at the same time uses these dark forces of obscurantism for its own protection. Religion is the ideological tool of these upstart billionaires who use it to coerce society.

US imperialism never completely abdicated this region and, in 1997, it was former US Under Secretary of State Robert Oakley who played the main role and gave $ 30 million for the capture of Kabul by the Taliban under Mullah Omar. The imperialists fell out with the Taliban not because of the latter’s reactionary role and terrorism but over a deal for an oil pipeline when the Taliban double-crossed them. However, after the US invasion in 2001, it was not only a case of dislodging the Taliban regime but the strategic and financial interests of the military elite that were threatened. They did not want the Americans to interfere in their policy of strategic depth, which was closely linked to this lucrative enterprise that gave them colossal profits. This is the real bone of contention that escalates the conflict of interests between the US and sections of the ISI. This is not going to be resolved any time soon. With the worsening crisis of capitalism, this atrocious war will keep on maiming thousands in the days ahead.

After the biggest financial crash in the history of capitalism since 1929 in 2008, the US economy is in a mess. The recovery is jobless and fragile. The Republican budget, which plans to cut $ 4.4 trillion, would drastically slash healthcare and social spending. Even Barack Obama has had to admit that such cuts would turn the US into a third world country.

However, the most devastating impact of this severe economic crisis has been the erosion of confidence of the imperialist politicians and strategists. This is reflected in their domestic and foreign policies and in the conflicting strategies of the Pentagon, the State Department and the CIA. The ramifications are evident in their diplomatic failures and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have gone terribly wrong for the imperialists. The NATO partners are looking for excuses to beat a retreat in Afghanistan. The mounting pressures in Europe and elsewhere against this unpopular war are forcing them to abdicate.

This quagmire of Afghanistan for the imperialists is of their own making. On April 27 falls the 33 anniversary of the Saur or Spring Revolution in Afghanistan. It was the only country in South Asia where landlordism and capitalism were overthrown by a revolutionary insurrection of the left officers of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), mainly of the Khalq faction. The revolutionary council immediately introduced the most radical reforms to eliminate poverty, misery, primitiveness and repression. More than 80 percent of the rural population was liberated from the clutches of the usurers who had subjugated the Afghan peasants and the poor for generations. The sale of women in wedlock was banned and declared a crime. Land was distributed amongst 300,000 landless peasants. Similar reforms were introduced in healthcare, education and other social sectors.

However, the impact of these revolutionary events in the whole region caused grave concern among the imperialists and their local touts such as the vicious Zia dictatorship in Pakistan and the reactionary monarchy of Saudi Arabia. Thus it was this lust for imperialist expansionism and its strategic hegemony that began this devastating war that has bled Afghanistan for three generations. But there is a thing called the retribution of history. The imperialists are facing the perils of another humiliating defeat. The madness of bloodshed in this conflict between imperialism and fundamentalism, which are two sides of the same coin, will only wreak more havoc upon this tragic land. But the scent of the Saur brings a message for the new generation of Afghans: capitalism cannot solve any of the problems faced by the oppressed. In spite of the mistakes of some of the leaders of the Saur Revolution, it did set a revolutionary precedent for the coming generations. It is only the overthrow of this brutal system through a socialist revolution that can put an end to this horror without an end.



The writer is the editor of Asian Marxist Review and International Secretary of Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign. He can be reached at ptudc@hotmail.com

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India Accepts Pakistan Air Force is a Leading Force

The Pakistan Air Force is stronger than ever. Since the last Indo-Pak air war of 1971, the Pakistan Air Force has with steely determination built up numbers, lethal capabilities and a combat force now counted as one of the most disciplined and well-trained air forces in the world. Headlines Today has a disturbing proof that all this has made India worried.” India Today 20^th April 2011.

Over the years since 1971 the leadership and planners of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have not slept, they did not believe in status quo. 1971 was the watershed period of PAF when the country had fallen from grace and truncated through internal and external conspiracies.

To rise from ground zero is no mean job. But PAF has been lucky that by and large it remained in the hands of committed, dedicated professionals who took the challenge from the horn. The US, true to its traditions dried all sources of military hardware and economic resources. But those sanctions proved blessing in disguise. Pakistan looked inwards and laid the foundations for self reliance with technical assistance from dependable friendly countries like China, Ukraine, Sweden etc. France was also willing to provide but its costs were prohibitive that kept the cooperation to a minimum level.
The bulk work was done with the cooperation of China that helped Pakistan in almost all the defence production, overhauling and rebuilding. The foundation of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra was laid. Here a very modest beginning was made when the light Swedish aircraft (Mashak) was launched as a basic trainer to meet the needs of PAF and Pakistan Army. From assembly to manufacture and enhancement this aircraft became the training bed for a full fledged fighter aircraft production.
F-6 Rebuild Factory that rebuilt the Chinese MIG 19s re-designated by PAF as F-6. When all other sources had dried and Pakistan did not have the finances to go for highly expensive Mirage aircraft F-6 became the mainstay of PAF.

Source: FavStocks.com

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US qualms on Pakistan’s War on Terror

Stabilization in Afghanistan is a big challenge which needs lots of effort from international community. The security and stability of Pakistan is directly linked with the stability of Afghanistan, unless or until there is no peace in Afghanistan, we cannot expect peace in Pakistan. Sincere efforts are required by the regional states to bring long term viable peace in Afghanistan. The US has to change its policy in dealing with Pakistan, it has to respect and honour the sovereignty and independent stature of Pakistan.

By Alam Rind

In the continuation of “do more” syndrome Pakistan once again has been criticised by White House for its ineffectiveness against Islamic radicals. The key claim is that Pakistani Armed Forces recover territory from the control of Taliban, but fails to completely secure the area. That led to the assumption that Pakistan has no clear path to defeat insurgency. The American point of view has been sharply contested by the government and military circles. Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Tahmeena Janjua has asserted that “I would emphatically state that we do not share the assessment of the US.” The Americans continue to emphasise that Pakistan should disallow use of its soil by Taliban and other militants as safe haven. This rhetoric is continuously sounded to push Pakistan to launch operations in North Waziristan area. It also provides a plausible face saving excuse to US and NATO troops to cover up their failure in Afghanistan. Such mean statements only underline their disregard for the sacrifices made by the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan. Though about 147,000 Pakistani troops are in the area but what they are up against is a continuous and a streamed flow of terrorists and weapons from across the border. Under such environment complete and lasting peace cannot return to tribal areas after a one time operation. It has to be a long drawn struggle, which at one end should frustrate financers and sponsors of terrorists and on the other end induce confidence among locals as regards their safety and development of their area. Government and Armed Forces of Pakistan are well on their way towards achieving this objective. Pakistan is often blamed for not pulling troops from her eastern border to fight terrorists in the tribal areas. This is a strange argument especially once viewed in the backdrop of the facts that India is sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan from her bases in Afghanistan and critical disputes like Kashmir, Siachin and Sir Creak are yet to be resolved. Moreover peace time disposition of her army enables her to launch offensive against Pakistan at short notice. In the absence of tangible progress on resolution of disputes it certainly won’t be possible for Pakistan to overlook Indian capabilities for presumed friendly and positive intention. A common Pakistani would be reluctant to trust Americans either. It is so due to awful remarks by senior American politicians like Congressman Gary Ackerman who proposed that Pakistan should be abandoned as it is about to go broke or collapse. In a congressional discussion Mr. Ackerman remarked “so if we gave another $20 billion, I guess, would they like us in the morning - (laughter) - as we gave $20 billion through another night?” are mean by any standard. How on the earth they think that a self-respecting Pakistani would like them once they equate Pakistan and its people to a prostitute. To a common Pakistani, Americans are not sincere. They want to use Pakistan for their own end that is evident from Raymond Davis case, drone attacks that result in killing of innocent civilians and blatant contempt for Pakistan exhibited by seasoned politicians like Mr. Ackerman. Americans certainly need Pakistan to sustain their operations and to create enabling environment for their respectable exit from war-torn Afghanistan. During the last nine years they have been beating the shadow of al-Qaeda and mutilating local populace. Their COIN operations totally failed and they have had limited success in building governmental structure and security forces of Afghanistan. The biggest blunder was committed when President Obama announced that exit of US troops from Afghanistan will start from July 2011. According to Wall Street Journal al-Qaeda has started returning to Afghanistan. Thanks to the stupidity of Pastor Terry Jones, Taliban and other freedom fighters have regained public support. Afghanistan has witnessed severe public backlash and tempers are high against US and NATO personnel. Under such circumstances Americans need Pakistan more than ever before. US and Pakistan need to revitalise their relations to overcome recent bad patch. Few positive statements may be able to dispel present irritants. However, lasting relations can only be built through mutual respect. Americans can turn public opinion in their favour by helping resolve Kashmir dispute. It is a well established fact that peace in subcontinent will best serve interests of America, India and Pakistan and those of the people of the region. It is in the fitness of things that all the stakeholders exert to bridge gaps between the countries for mutual good and for the prosperity of the people.

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Imperialism through UN

At the start of the Libyan campaign, President Obama had emphatically stated that the action was not aimed at regime change in Libya but to protect the population being persecuted by Gaddafi. However, at the latest moot between the allies in Berlin, it has been unequivocally asserted that future of Libya with Gaddafi at the helm of affairs was inconceivable.

By Malik Muhammad Ashraf

History presents irrefutable evidence that great powers have invariably shown an irresistible propensity to subjugate small nations, intervene in their internal affairs on different pretexts, impose their cultures on them and even make attempts to create a world order conforming to their cultural values and political ambitions; a phenomenon known as imperialism. In the post-World War II era, imperialism has assumed a humane configuration and is being practised under different forms in the name of ‘humanitarian intervention’, using the UN as a conduit. The powers that be have manoeuvred the UN-adopted concept of ‘responsibility to protect’ to handle international affairs to their own liking.

The driving force behind this concept is that human rights are universal and every state should protect them and if a particular state fails to do so, other states must ensure their protection. Put in simple words, if a regime is guilty of abusing human rights and does not heed to the appeals of the international community or the UN in this regard, the other nations or the UN must intervene to save the population of that country from oppressive regimes. The concept was invoked for the first time for intervention in Nigeria in 1967 to end the civil war, followed by similar actions in Srebrenica in 1992, Rwanda in 1994 and Serbia in 1999.

The latest examples of this concept at play are the regime change in Ivory Coast through military action and the intervention in Libya under the umbrella of the UN. The UN resolution for intervention in Libya never authorised military action but the US and its allies, who, since long, had been looking for an opportunity to settle scores with Gaddafi have exceeded the UN mandate by resorting to air strikes against targets inside Libya — which reportedly have also done extensive collateral damage — and extending military support to anti-Gaddafi forces on the ground. At the start of the Libyan campaign, President Obama had emphatically stated that the action was not aimed at regime change in Libya but to protect the population being persecuted by Gaddafi. However, at the latest moot between the allies in Berlin, it has been unequivocally asserted that the future of Libya with Gaddafi at the helm of affairs was inconceivable, which means that they are definitely striving for a regime change in Libya. The most perturbing aspect of these ostensibly humanitarian interventions has been that they have resulted in more human casualties and bloodshed than they were meant to save and protect against. And, regrettably, they have been selectively used by the ‘assault gang’ comprising the US, Britain and NATO to achieve their non-humanitarian objectives. Their criminal apathy and indifference to the sufferings of the Palestinian, Kashmiris and other people around the globe groaning under oppression tells the whole story.

The assault gang bypassed the UN to attack Iraq on the pretext of taking out weapons of mass destruction, which were never found. Nevertheless, they succeeded in their real objective to get Saddam Hussain and to seize control of the oil wealth of the country, remaining oblivious to the human lives that have been consumed by the conflict and the never-ending sectarian strife triggered by their blitzkrieg in Iraq. Do they care about it? Do they feel any grain of remorse for what they have done to that country? Certainly not.

The military action in Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11 with a mandate from UN is yet another manifestation of the imperialist mindset of the assault gang, considering the fact that some other options could have been tried to deal with the phenomenon of terrorism. Their actions in Afghanistan and the tribal belt of Pakistan have caused an exponential increase in terrorism worldwide instead of curbing it, the ostensible objective of their offensive in Afghanistan. It has also badly affected Pakistan. The madness continues with incalculable loss of human lives and resources. The imperialists refuse to recognise the demographic and historical ground realities in Afghanistan. It is, however, encouraging to note that the representative government in Pakistan, of late, has started resisting the arm-twisting tactics of the US imperialists and is exhibiting unswerving determination to regain the sovereignty that was surrendered by the outgoing dictator. A similar kind of approach and strategy is needed at the global level to forestall the designs of the imperialists.

The philosophy of making the world a better place through the use of military muscle, subscribed to and practised by the American imperialists and their cronies has certainly brought misery to the human race and is likely to trigger more conflicts and abuse of human rights. Therefore, to make the world a better place, the new form of imperialism in the name of ‘humanitarian intervention’ will have to be checked in its tracks through the collective efforts of the world community, particularly the Third World countries. They must strive for reforms in the UN structure and increase in the permanent members of the UN Security Council that gives equal representation to different geographical regions, vested with the veto power as enjoyed by the current five permanent members. Another option could be abolishing the veto power altogether and giving effect to the UN Security Council resolutions on the basis of simple majority. Undoing the monopoly of the western countries and their clout in securing the support of the UN for their ulterior motives can greatly help in saving the world from the depravity of the new form of imperialism. Apart from UN reforms, the developing countries can also ensure their security and obviate the chances of their vulnerability to the machinations of the assault gang through regional organisations designed to enhance regional security, and economic and political cooperation among the member countries

The writer is a former diplomat and can be
reached at ashpak10@gmail.com

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Brutish bullying

This is brutish bullying plain and simple, intended to blackmail and coerce a somewhat defiant Pakistani establishment into total submission to keep playing an obeisant slave to American adventurists as before. What else could it be? As the reports were still making the rounds that army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had done some tough talking to visiting US top commander Admiral Mike Mullen over the US tirades castigating the Pakistan military of having no clarity in its anti-terrorism war strategy as well as the CIA’s intensified drone incursions, came this deadly North Waziristan drone attack. At least 25 people were killed and dozens wounded. But isn’t it the same way the American adventurists had mocked at ISI chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha’s Washington rendezvous with his CIA counterpart Leon Panetta. He reportedly pressed on the CIA chief to drastically drawdown on their incursions in Pakistan’s territory? But he was still on his way back home that the CIA operators pressed the button and killed six people in a drone assault on South Waziristan. And wasn’t it no different when in a horrific drone attack on a tribal jirga in North Waziristan they killed 49 innocent tribesmen, including tribal elders and children just a day after the release of the CIA double-murder mercenary killer contractor Raymond Davis? Even then it was in wide speculation that the CIA had been asked to curtail its drone adventurism on our territory. But aren’t the eminences of our establishment stewing in their own juices, while the heavy price of their foibles and follies is actually being paid by our people with their lives and blood? It is this establishment of ours that for long has let the American adventurists of Uncle Sam to play their vile shenanigans with us, if not collusively, then nonchalantly? Just recall when our military launched a major operation to quell what unquestioningly was an insurrection precipitated by a horde of militants against the Pakistani state in Bajaur tribal agency, very intriguingly the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan vacated all their border posts in the adjoining areas. And not just mule-loads of weapons and munitions started pouring in at a rush speed in aid of the insurgents from across the border, even fighters in strength sneaked in to fight on their side. And this happened when the reports were afloat all over Afghanistan that huge quantities of war arsenals had inexplicably disappeared from the stores of the Afghan defence ministry as well as the occupying American military’s own armouries. It indeed was America’s own accountability hounds who had stumbled on this unaccountable disappearance of hundreds of thousands of weapons, including sophisticated deadly, and heaps of munitions, and blew the whistle. Yet the Pakistani establishment made no issue of even that military aid flowing in so freely from across the border to help the Bajaur insurrectionists. It studiedly kept quiet as has it resoundingly now over the Thursday’s reported assault of Afghan fighters on an FC post in Lower Dir. According to a contemporary, 30 FC men and 10 policemen as well as four Dir Levies personnel were statedly killed and over two dozens kidnapped. But strange indeed are the ways of the Pakistan establishment. Not even a third-rate establishment of even a banana republic would brook with the humiliations that the American adventurists slap on the Pakistan establishment so arrogantly and haughtily. So emboldened indeed are they that they feel no inhibition or fear in audaciously proclaiming that their CIA has laid out its own spy network in our tribal areas. What? Are we their colony or a vassal state? Panetta reportedly told Pasha that there could be no slowdown in his CIA’s drone incursions because he has as responsibility to protect the American people. Doesn’t Pasha too owe a responsibility to the people of Pakistan to protect them? The establishment may have sold itself cheap to the American lords and may have sold out the nation for a pittance. But our people know of no such bargain. They still keep their dignity, honour and self-respect. The establishment must perform the responsibility it owes to them to protect their lives and preserve their honour, dignity and sovereignty. Or they will take this task in their own hands. In the meantime, the establishment must bring up the officials who have confirmed the Friday’s North Waziristan drone strike before the media to be quizzed on their versions. The joke has gone too far. Enough is enough. The people can have no more of our own establishment’s perfidy too.

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Narendra Modi deliberately allowed anti-Muslim riots

A senior police officer`s sworn statement to India`s Supreme Court alleges the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi deliberately allowed anti-Muslim riots in the state.

Gujarat chief minister Norendra Modi is said to have instructed lawmen during the 2002 communal riot to stay indifferent to calls for help.

A senior officer of the state police, Sanjiv Bhatt, in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court told NDTV that on Feb 27, 2002, just after the Godhra train burning, Modi in a meeting with senior lawmen gave the direction.

"Modi in the meeting ordered, 'Muslims be taught a lesson," Bhatt alleged.

Bhatt was posted in the Intelligence Department when the India's worst communal riot, since the partition, killed 1,200 people across Gujarat.

Citing the reason behind his coming to the Supreme Court, the officer said he had no faith left in the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He rather accused the probe body of trying to protect the Gujarat government and hiding the truth and not working to bring in the limelight the conspiracy behind the Godhra riots.

It was the Supreme Court which constituted the agency to probe the case.

Bhatt said he had given testimony to the SIT in 2009 and last month. "In 2009, I was summoned by the SIT and then I disclosed what I knew," he said.

He also has complained to the Supreme Court that the SIT leaked his testimony to the Gujarat government and that he "is now worried about his security" and wants police protection for his family and himself.

Modi was interrogated on two consecutive days in March last year by the SIT, when he claimed that Bhatt was not present at the meeting in question. The other policemen who reportedly attended the meeting also backed Modi's version of events.

Bhatt, however, blamed that senior police officials blindly followed Modi's instructions during the 2002 turmoil.

The senior police officer alleges: "Modi further impressed upon the gathering that for too long the Gujarat police had been following the principle of balancing the actions against Hindus and Muslims while dealing with communal riots in Gujarat. This time the situation warranted that 'the Muslims be taught a lesson to ensure that such incidents do not recur ever again'."

The chief minister expressed the view that the emotions were running very high amongst the Hindus and it was imperative that they be allowed to 'vent out their anger'."

Bhatt claims that Modi was advised at the meeting that getting the bodies of Godhra victims to Ahmedabad and the BJP's support to a VHP call for bandh would lead to communal riots in the city and across the state and that the Gujarat police did not have the manpower resources to deal with such a situation.
But Modi, Bhatt claims in his affidavit, was adamant that his party had decided to support the bandh call "as incidents like the burning of karsevaks in Godhra could not be tolerated."

The senior police officer says that the "effect of these directions given by the chief minister were widely manifested in the half-hearted approach and the evident lack of determination on the part of the police while dealing with widespread incidents of orchestrated violence during the state-sponsored Gujarat bandh on Feb 28, 2002 and also during the weeks that followed."

Modi last year had denied that he was complicit in any way in the riots, or that he ordered policemen to ignore appeals for help from those being targeted in the riots.

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US stratagem

 In his meetings with leadership in Pakistan, Chairman US Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has conceded that relationship between the two countries was in turbulence but expressed satisfaction that there was willingness on both sides to improve it. It was not Admiral Mullen alone who expressed these views but other functionaries in the US Government have been frequently expressing discomfort over cooperation between the two countries in the war on terror.

There is nothing new about this chant of Admiral Mike Mullen, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman. Every American who is anybody finds it convenient to demonise Pakistan for their deepening troubles in Afghanistan. But their insinuations like the ISI’s ties with the Afghan Haqqani insurgent group cannot pull them out of the pit they themselves have thrown themselves in with their own foibles, lackadaisicalness and collapses in Afghanistan. With this device they may perhaps be able to save their faces in the eye of a gullible and brainwashed American public, whose tremendous money and considerable blood they have consumed up in falteringly fighting the Afghan war. But the ground realities would alter not. They indeed are picking up the wages of their own blunders. Whether for poor war strategy or for sheer fear of accumulating body bags, they did not put enough boots on the ground after ousting the Taliban from power with a massive air campaign. They had invaded Afghanistan to decimate the Taliban, dismantle al-Qaeda and capture their top leaders dead or alive. Yet not just a puny force had they deployed to cope with the triumphant air action’s aftermath, they didn’t even venture mopping up the fleeing Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants. They let the Taliban rumpus to return safely to their families and tribes, regroup and acquire lethal fighting muscle. The invaders have thus missed the bus, with no new one now waiting for them. They have lost the opportunity of hobbling and prostrating the Taliban, when soon after their ouster they were a demoralised lot, dispirited and in disarray. Now they are reorganised, emboldened and aggressive, holding the country’s south and east in their sway and expanding to the north and west as well. It is only the embedded journalism narrating liltingly the invaders’ successes. The independent reporting is not sanguine. Indeed, for their own reasons the invaders have assumed to themselves as if Taliban are an isolated group, with no tribal links, loyalties or support. And this myth is being puritanically drummed by their embedded media. But the facts on the ground are otherwise. The insurgents, whether loyal to Mullah Omar or Jalaluddin Haqqani or Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, all Pakhtuns, are rooted acceptably in their own tribes. This reality was summed up aptly by a veteran Al Jazeera correspondent while reporting the Marjah operation when he cautioned not to take the local residents’ remarks critical of Taliban on face value. They say something to please their outsider interlocutors, but their hearts actually lie somewhere else, he underscored. In fact, there is a lot of unrealism and wistfulness, if not outright calculated perfidy, to the occupiers’ talk that the Taliban cannot wait them out as they may stay on even beyond 2014. But the time is clearly on the Taliban’s side, not their’s. Being the natives living with their families and their tribes, they can stay in their business indefinitely; the occupiers will have to leave at one time or the other ultimately. And what incentive in effect could the Pakhtuns have to shoo off the Taliban when they have been treated so shabbily by the occupiers as well as their Afghan allies all through these ten years of occupation? Despite being the country’s largest community, they have been kept shunted out of the power dispensation merely because of the Taliban’s predominant Pakhtun ethnicity. Consequently, they are very angry with the occupiers and their local allies alike. And for this, the Taliban are securely and strongly placed, with their various factions holding tight to their respective domains. The Haqqani group has the eastern Afghanistan in its grab for the most part. And it could only be a big joke to assert the group is based in Pakistan’s tribal North Waziristan agency from where it plans and launches attacks on the occupiers and their allies. By every reckoning, perfidious pursuits would do no good to the occupiers; their coming to terms with realities will certainly pay them off. Their badmouthing of Pakistan, its military and its ISI cannot change the harsh reality that the Afghan war has spun out of their hands and no military triumph could come by to them now. Given this, the most sensible course for them is exploring the political option of an all-inclusive power dispensation in Afghanistan. That in reality would be a big face-saver for them, and no lesser in the best interest of Afghanistan as also the region.

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The import and export of suicide bombers

In Tank district and in South and Waziristan, several suicide-bombing academies recruit young people and export them to different parts inside and outside the country.

By Musa Khan Jalalzai

Civil war in Afghanistan
brought many misadventures to Pakistani society. The unending war and foreign intervention exacerbated internal religious tensions and increased the flow of arms, suicide bombers, narcotics drugs and money into the country. Unauthorised weapons industries in the FATA region flourished and an illegal arms trade in all provinces of the country continued without the supervision of the state. These are the main reasons why extremism and militancy are getting worse and young people are becoming more radicalised. Bloodshed grows and kidnapping is now at a level that breaks all records.

The disturbance in Pakistan’s two provinces has ramifications for the country’s domestic security. Pakistani society paid a heavy price after backing the Afghan resistance against the former Soviet Union, and continues to witness suicide attacks despite sustained efforts to counter the deadly tactic. After the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the country joined the war on terror and now faces suicide terrorism in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The Taliban groups in Pakistan disrupted every reconciliatory effort and infiltrated into southern Punjab as well. They received training from Waziristan and, increasingly, rely on suicide attacks to achieve major political objectives. Their members are willing to die to accomplish their mission and to cause maximum damage to military and civilian targets. Suicide terrorism has been on the upswing in Pakistan since 2004; it is notable that most suicide bombers have been teenagers. They target and destroy mostly primary and secondary schools.

Analysts believe that one of the reasons behind sabotaging schools is to keep children away from modern education. They uphold the agenda of destroying everything in Pakistan through all available means. They use children in their terrorist attacks, seduce young people and invite women for martyrdom missions. Once they are recruited and trained, they are threatened with dire consequences if they refuse to blow themselves up.

In July 2009, the The Washington Times reported that the Taliban were buying children as young as seven years old to use them as suicide bombers in attacks against the police and army targets. “The ongoing price for child bombers has been fixed at $ 7,000 to $ 14,000; the price depends on how quickly the bomber is needed and how close the child is expected to get to the target,” the newspaper reported.

These well-trained bombers are used in mosques, Shia religious places, churches, markets, military installations, police centres, public places, shrines and government offices. These acts of suicide terrorism, whether directed against political leaders, security forces or civilians, have strategic as well as tactical objectives. There are several suicide factories in both Pakistan and Afghanistan that prepare suicide bombers for the purposes of import and export.

The sacrifices of suicide bombers become a form of political theatre in response to the reaction of the audience. Suicide terrorism has emerged as a modern insurgency tactic since the US intervention in Afghanistan and its illegal drone attacks in Pakistan. As in my previous research papers, I emphasised that the factors behind suicide terrorism needed to be addressed because poverty and unemployment are the breeding grounds of terrorism. Terrorist forces in Pakistan and Afghanistan represent no specific ideology, sect or religion; their religion is the killing of innocent people and depends on money laundering, narcotics trafficking, the black market economy and manpower. There are elements in both Pakistan and Afghanistan that are involved in the illegal business of blood and drugs who do not want stability in the country. Their interests are in danger, protected by war and not peace.

Brainwashed Pakistani and Afghani teenagers are being recruited and used by terrorist groups based in Waziristan, FATA and parts of Afghanistan. The induction of young women into the suicide business is another development. In a Russian railway station, a Muslim female suicide bomber killed innocent people. In a recent letter to law enforcement agencies, the home secretary of Punjab province warned about a female suicide bomber wearing a burqa. This is where Pakistan has scored another distinction in the field of suicide terrorism, where suicide bombers can be hired to settle political, commercial and religious disputes.

The business of the import and export of suicide bombers in Pakistan is not a new thing. Once, a police officer in Punjab told me that the business of suicide bombers had recently flourished. In 2008, in the Bhakkar district of southern Punjab, a suicide bomber was purchased and used in a family dispute. In Tank district and in South and North Waziristan, several suicide-bombing academies recruit young people and export them to different parts inside and outside the country.

A Punjabi Taliban member was arrested in Dera Ghazi Khan in April 2011 who confirmed that more than 350 suicide bombers were being trained in the Mir Ali district of North Waziristan. In future, the import and export of suicide bombers can be considered a big security threat and their use by rival states will put in danger international security. Pashtun and Punjabi Taliban are expected to resort to using women bombers.

In an incident, a teenager suicide bomber arrested in Karachi revealed information about Taliban suicide schools for the brainwashing of young men. Taliban teachers deliver lectures on religious issues to brainwash young men to join their ranks and carry out suicide attacks. These terrorists are looking for young boys day and night and turning them into suicide bombers. When they kidnap teenagers from schools, streets or parks, they then come into business with the parents of the kidnapped children.

They pay them three to ten thousand pounds sterling for one child. Recent confirmed reports revealed the recruitment of more than 5,000 to 6,000 young suicide bombers waiting for their turn. Afghanistan has boasted the same gory story of suicide terrorism since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. The Afghan Taliban have also set up several suicide training centres in the north-eastern, western and southern parts of the country. These training centres are now working on a permanent basis. They receive money and other financial assistance from the business communities based in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Long War Journal, in one of its articles, revealed that these terror centres have been established in eight districts of Kunar province. Afghan and Pakistani teenagers who were kidnapped by the Taliban for recruitment purposes reached Karachi and Peshawar to carry out target killings and suicide attacks. A DIG police in Punjab revealed to me the fact that the main source of Taliban terror financing in Punjab is kidnapping, which is now the single largest source of revenue. The ransoms paid tend to run high, ranging from $ 40,000 to $ 50,000.

The writer is author of Britain’s National Security Challenges and Punjabi
Taliban. He can be reached at zai.musakhan222@gmail.com

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