ہفتہ، 2 اکتوبر، 2010

Nawaz Sharif; connecting the dots

Dr. Ghayur Ayub

The illusory highway leading to Constitution Avenue is jam-packed with vehicles painted with; NRO, NAB; Corruption; 18th Amendment; Petitions; Law & Order; Target Killings; Floods; Terrorism; Poor governance; Change of government; Mistrust among allies etc. Free media is filling up each vehicle with gas according to their rating points. Looking like dots from a height, they are moving in one direction; some slow, some fast, and some in between. Let me pick a few dots from past and present and connect them with regards to Nawaz Sharif’s politics.

Dot one; it was in mid-1990 that Shehbaz Sharif rang me from London asking me to visit his father who was admitted to PIMS with a heart problem. He sounded worried. A few days earlier, the elder Mian Sahib had been arrested by Rehman Malik in dubious circumstances. Immediately after, Ch Nisar also rang and asked me to see him in the hospital. He also sounded apprehensive which was unusual as he always kept calm in stressful situations. I rushed to the hospital and saw Ch Nisar in the corridor. We went to my office which was nearby. After settling down, he told me what I already knew from Shehbaz Sharif. I picked up the phone and called Dr. Nasir, the cardiologist. He was already in ICU. I left Ch Nisar in the office and walked through the corridor full of police.

In ICU, I met Dr Nasir. He took me to room number 10. Mian Sahib had an oxygen mask covering his pale and tired face. He looked weak and his hands were shaking. Dr. Nasir introduced me to him. I told him Shehbaz Sharif rang from London and was worried about his health. In a weak voice he told me to tell him not to worry and that God was looking after him. After staying for a while, we returned to my office. Dr Nasir updated Ch Nisar that Mian Sahib’s condition was serious but not critical and he needed complete rest at hospital. From there, we went to my home and rang Shehbaz Sharif and appraised him of the situation.

The next day, I was told by a friend in FIA that Rehman Malik was furious as to why I was allowed to see Mian Sahib and, still later, he objected to Dr Nasir being the treating cardiologist. He asked for a second opinion of specialists from Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology. His wish was granted but to his disappointment, the report from them was no different than the one written by Dr Nasir. Pressure developed and Mian Sahib was released against Rehman Malik’s wishes. His callous action deeply hurt the Sharif brothers.

Dot two; on May, 10, 2006, a meeting took place at the International Secretariat of PML-N, Duke Street, London to give final touches to the draft document of the CoD. The key leaders of the party were present. When it came to discussing the venue for the signing ceremony, some objected to having it at Rehman Malik’s residence. They still remembered his harsh treatment of late Main Sahib and suggested a neutral territory. A few, like Ch Nisar did not agree with them. They argued that the venue should not become an obstruction to the understanding which had developed between Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto since 2004. The final decision was left with Nawaz Sharif who agreed with Ch Nisar.

Dot three; on July 7, 2007 PML-N hosted the first meeting of APDM in London. The participants included leaders of the major political parties, judges, senior media gurus, and known civilian personalities. One of the agenda items was not to have political contacts with MQM. It was supported by most of the leaders like, JI, TIP, ANP and PPP. Nawaz Sharif personally was not against MQM participating, nevertheless he agreed for the greater good of unity between the various groups. It is pertinent to mention that while PML-N leadership was trying to create pressure against the dictatorial regime of Gen Musharaf, one of its primary partners - the PPP - was making contacts with Gen Musharraf and MQM through Rehman Malik. The MQM was made to believe that it was Nawaz Sharif who opposed their participation. The misunderstanding still persists between the two parties.

Dot four; in April 2008 when Musharraf was president, I wrote an article titled ‘Is Nawaz Sharif being marginalised?’ in which I said that a conspiracy was hatched by the presidency to block the restoration of the deposed CJP; to keep Musharaf for the full term of five years; and to marginalise Nawaz Sharif and exclude PML-N from the coalition in the centre by making a new coalition between PPP, ANP, MQM and PML-Q. This would have been rewrite of a plan Musharaf made before sacking Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudry on March 9, 2007.

Dot five; on Feb, 26, 2009, President Zadari imposed Governor Rule in Punjab after the Zardari-friendly SC disqualified the Sharif brothers paving the way to isolate PML-N and install a government prescribed earlier by Musharraf. Meanwhile, a spiritual group in Islamabad became active to wash away the differences between PML-N and MQM. After a few unofficial meetings between the high-ups on both sides, a meeting was arranged with Shehbaz Sharif in the third week of March 2009 to clear the way for a meeting between Altaf Hussain and Nawaz Sharif. 10 days before the meeting in Lahore, the Long March headed by Nawaz Sharif turned the political tide on Zardari’s plan, delaying the proposed meeting.

Dot six; the August 2010 floods and its aftermath sparked discontent amongst a vast number of the public after the government failed to reach the victims in their time of need and, instead, they heard influential politicians diverting flood water to save their lands at the expense of drowning what little the poor people had. To top it all, foreign governments showed reservations funding the government for its poor governance and spiralling corruption. It ignited conspiracy theories leading to the appearance of a new slogan and politicians, political activists and members of society started demanding a ‘change’.

In this confusion, Gen (Rtd) Musharaf decided to launch his own party. An early announcement by Altaf Hussain acted like oil on the fire and the sidelined political parties started moving fast in the direction of Pir Pagaro. Pir Sahib on his behalf started giving predictions in his usual style calling Bilawal his nephew, Musharraf his friend, the religious leaders his buddies and MQM his future ally. As if this wasn’t enough, he invited Gen. Kayani to his dera.

Dot seven; while various parties were gathering around Pir Pagaro, Ishaq Dar was having a one-on-one meeting with Governor Ishratul Ibad, after offering his condolences at Nine Zero on the assassination of Dr Imran Farooq. He couldn’t have gone there without the blessing of Nawaz Sharif and it would be naive to presume that Altaf Hussain was not put in the picture about his visit.

Dot eight; the top leadership of ANP has always had close links with Ch Nisar and Nawaz Sharif.

Now, let us connect these dots vis-a-vis Nawaz Sharif who knows where he stands with Zardari as long as his intriguing cronies such as Rehman Malik, Salman Taseer and Babar Awan stay around him.

That derailment of democracy will wash away his struggle of the last 10 years.

His association with the army hierarchy is not as cosy as some would like him to have.

His relationship with America is not as cordial as the Americans have with other political forces.

That the public has a perception of PML-N having a soft spot for the Taliban which is made obvious by statements of certain PML-N leaders.

That thrice before, his opponents had tried to isolate him from mainstream politics and failed. They are trying for the fourth time, but they can’t do it without the support of MQM. Also, this time, ANP for its own interest can turn around for a handshake with PML-N.

The question is where do these dots lead to? The Pagaro gathering and Ishaq Dar’s dash to 90 is part of an end game. Involving Gen Kayani in this game by Zardari was a political blunder. The SC gave a breathing space to the PPP government to correct its position with regards to NRO and corruption. As a result, the cronies around Zardari will soon start falling like shooting stars until the dot stops at him. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif, so far, has played this game wisely by making contacts with MQM to counter the Pagaro gathering and ANP’s deep links with the US as a window to clear the latter’s worries about PML-N. It looks like the ten years exile has turned Nawaz Sharif into a statesman. It is interesting that a year ago Zardari told someone that Nawaz Sharif should learn a lesson or two from him in politics ignoring the fact that politics without statesmanship is like syrup without a sweetener.

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India you are the mother of RAW the Rascal

AFTER going through the pages of “India’s External Intelligence” written by Gen. V. K. Singh, a true face given by an ex stalwart of RAW, the agency appears to be a “Lazy Lizard” which is very much articulate of manipulation, money laundering and its spies always keeping their own interest on the forefront even much superior to the national cause. But when its character is seen since its inception the only art to its credit which stands towering embedded in its personality is the violence in Asia. Every Intelligence Organization of the World has some moral fibers but the RAW universally remains alien to those, for it, killing of innocent civilians is a joyful ride to a Disney Land but with the brave nations this catharsis would be seen as a chapter of shame and cowardice. Today Asia bleeds and the peace is galling at the hands of India which is scrupulously using RAW to satisfy its designs of expansionism & the dream of becoming super power.

Fragmentation

1: Sri Lanka

The Jain Commission Report for the Indian government has confirmed that the Indian intelligence services Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) has been fomenting violence to destabilize within the domestic polities of the South Asian Countries. When examining the political behaviour of the countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and other states, it appears to be more militant much violent on the canvas of South Asia.
In the back ground of all the evils the face of the RAW appears like a monster which feeds on to nothing but the human blood. A senior leader of the opposition Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) has alleged the ruling Congress Party that RAW had nurtured the abhorrent Liberation Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) to destabilize Sri Lanka. For nefarious acts the LTTE’s were funded and equipped with arms by the government of India, said Venkiah Naidu the former president of the opposition party, in a statement while adding, the Congress Party is totally connected to all the terrorist activities being conducted in and around the sub continent.
Sri Lanka having multi-sectarian population happened to be a peaceful country up to the mid seventies as in and outside it sang the song together with India. But the trouble began in 1977 when Sri Lanka extended arms to host United States and stood against the illogical demand of India to oust all the foreign naval forces from the Indian Ocean. Pakistan has never forgotten its benefactor Sri Lanka who allowed in 1971 war the landing and fuelling facilities to Pakistan. Pakistan herself has been the victim of militancy forged by India & fully understands the role assigned to LTTE by RAW is to destabilize a peaceful country thus compelling Sri Lanka to bow to the dictates of India. RAW has never left an opportunity to propagate negatively and unfold the friendship knot exists between the two countries i.e. Pak-Sri Lanka brother hood which is much stronger than Himalaya & more sacred than Ganges. The tactics used by India is first to establish a group of terrorists against a country which is funded, supported with arms, trained, dispatched to terrorize the targeted country like the LTTE in Sri Lanka and then compel her to yell for help from India.
Recently the Sri Lankan got outraged at the Indian national security advisor’s bluster that for their defence needs they can look only to India and can not go to China, Pakistan or anyone else. And the beauty is the Sri Lanka was not only refrained by India to purchase sophisticated weapons for its safety but also this would remain the prerogative of India to decide what categories of weapons be given to Sri Lanka. It has been learnt through reliable sources that when India tried to sell out its weapons to Sri Lanka to fight back her illegitimate son the “LTTE”, simultaneously RAW ferried sophisticated weapons to her brother the “LTTE” to various sanctuaries existed across the border, to gun down the Sri Lankan Army.
Sri Lanka also allowed installation of high powered transmitter by Voice of America (VOA) on its territory, which was resented by India. It also permitted Israel to establish a nominal presence of its intelligence training set up. It was due to such very irritants in the Indo-Sri Lanka relationship that Mrs. Indira Gandhi decided to bring Sri Lanka in to fold of the so called Indira Doctrine (India Doctrine). Kao the chief of the RAW was told by Gandhi to repeat the episode of Bangladesh.
That’s how the mother India gave birth to an illegitimate son the “LTTE” exactly on the lines of Mukti Bahini to piecemeal the peace of Sri Lanka. Accordingly for the LTTE, the training camps at places like Gunda & Gorakhpur were set up. Sri Lanka was forced in to Indian power web when Indo - Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 was signed & Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in light of the same landed in Sri Lanka. This Indian adventure killed 60,000 men, women & children of the innocent Sri Lankan and situation prevailing at that time compelled Indian forces to withdraw to her own territory.
The price has been quite high for the Sri Lanka & is still continuing to pay the same for this Indian initiated & RAW inspired polarised conflict. The former Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, J.N.Dixit even accused RAW of having given Rs. Five crore to the LTTE as a token of reward for carrying out subversive activities in Sri Lanka.

2. Maldives

The operation conducted on Nov 30, 1988; by RAW in MALDIVES is a role model for the World & especially for the South Asian countries. When the Indian forces got bogged in Sri Lanka, RAW created a ludicrous drama in the Maldives. Terrorists belonging to the RAW - funded Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) staged an attack on Male, which resorted to indiscriminate shooting and took high level government officials as hostages. The situation forced the President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to shift to a safe place, where he according to the plan of RAW issued urgent appeals for help from India. The Indian Prime Minister reacted promptly and dispatched about 1600 combat troops coupled with Indian Naval Units escorted by fighter aircrafts to conduct the Operation-Cactus, which met success effortlessly. The whole drama ended with in 24 hours. However, no one at home or abroad was deceived by this RAW engineered drama. What a comedian tragedy it is that India plays with the fate of small nations in the funniest & deceitful manner.

3: Nepal

India has been openly meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs by contriving internal strife and conflicts through RAW to destabilize the successive legitimate governments & prop up puppet regimes which would be more amenable Indian mechanization. Armed insurrections were sponsored and abetted by RAW and later requests for military assistance to control these were managed through pro-India leaders. India has been aiding & inciting the Nepalese to collaborate with the Nepali Congress. For this they were supplied arms whenever the king or the Nepalese Government appeared to be drifting away from the Indian dictates & impinging on Indian hegemonic designs in the region. In fact under the garb of democratization process, the Maoists were actively encouraged by the RAW to collect arms to resort to open rebellion against the legitimate Nepalese governments.The contrived rebellions provided India an opportunity to intervene militarily in Nepal, ostensibly to control the insurrections which were the brain child of the RAW. RAW is particularly aiding the people of the Indian-origin who have been made settled in Nepal and recently have acquired the right of citizenship are also being provided arms and ammunition to look after the vested interests of India. RAW has also infiltrated in the ethnic Nepali refugees who have been extradited by Bhutan and have taken refuge in the eastern part of Nepal. RAW can easily exploit its links with these refugees to create turbulence in Nepal if the situation clashes with the Indian interests. Besides this the total economy of Nepal is being controlled by Indian money lenders, financiers & business tycoons in Nepal.

4: Sikkim & Bhutan

Sikkim was the most ductile and a doddle for the RAW to swallow. Indira Gandhi annexed the kingdom of Sikkim in mid-1970s to be an integral part of India. The deposed king Chogyal Tenzig Wangehuck was closely followed RAW’s agents until he embraced death in 1962. Bhutan like Nepal & Sikkim is a land - locked country, totally depended on India. RAW has developed links with members of the royal family as well as the top bureaucrats to implements its policies. It has cultivated its agents amongst Nepalese settlers and is in a position to create impediments for the government of Bhutan. In actual fact, the king of Bhutan has been reduced to the position of merely acquiescing in to India’s decision & go by the dictates of the RAW on the international platform.

Finale
India has a self assigned role of a policeman of South Asia which keeps dictating to the countries which are considered to be its neighbours. RAW is the main villain which plays the role of a SHYLOCK who asks a piece of heart in lieu of the money it lends to the people of South Asia. RAW draws pleasure in incinerating the living human beings as witnessed the world, the burning of a Samjhota Express having confined the hundreds of people inside the moving train. India you are the mother of RAW THE RASCAL!!!!!

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India frets over PAF’s modernisation

Terming US arms aid to Pakistan as a challenge, India on Friday said the latest F-16s, missiles and ammunition being supplied to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) could “reduce the technological gap” with the Indian Air Force (IAF).
“It (US arms aid) is certainly a challenge, no doubt about that,” IAF’s Western Air Command chief Air Marshal N A K Browne told a press conference here. “Earlier the difference of assets was a certain amount. But their acquisitions have seen to have reduced (the gap) between the PAF and IAF in terms of capability of their aircraft, Beyond Visual Range missile systems, day and night operations and precision guided munitions,” Browne said. He was replying to questions on the US arms aid to Pakistan including F-16s purportedly for counter-terrorism operations along its Afghanistan border.
“There are things actually that tend to reduce the gap. Pakistan is catching up with the IAF, which has always had an edge in terms of its size and platforms. But let me also tell you thing will change in future,” he said. Citing an example, Browne said the 16 F-16 Block-50/52 being delivered to PAF was a conventional weapon platform. “It can switch its roles from sub-conventional to conventional warfare. It can be done while flying in the air itself. These modern aircraft all have that capability,” he added.
PAF received the first batch of four latest F-16s in June this year and have based them in the Shahbaz Air Base. When pointed out that the arms supplies were supposedly meant for the war on terror that Pakistan was aiding against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Browne said, “It is all hocus-pocus very frankly.” On PAF’s modernisation, Browne said Pakistan had been modernising their air force since 2004-05 onwards “substantially.” In IAF’s assessment, he said, Pakistan’s modernisation plan was to a maximum extent focused on its air force with support and supplies from China and the US.
“This has resulted in them coming up to be fairly potent at this point of time. PAF is doing well on all air force matters,” he added. Asked if India may think twice about F-16s in the $10-billion MMRCA tenders in which the aircraft was a contender as PAF would have the platform in its inventory, Browne countered: “It will make no difference. The configuration of the F-16s given to Pakistan will be quite different from the aircraft (for MMRCA tenders) that you are talking about.” Lockheed Martin’s F-16IN is in the contest for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tenders of the IAF against American Boeing’s F/A-18s, Russian RAC-MiG’s MiG-35, French D’Assault’s Rafale, European consortium EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon, and Swedish SAAB’s Gripen.
Defence Minister AK Antony has in the recent months voiced India’s concerns over US military aid to Pakistan to fight the war against terror, pointing out that these weapons could be diverted against India, and demanded a “monitoring mechanism” to ensure this does not happen.

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Independence of Kashmir draws near!

Qasir M. Chaudhry

An Indian delegation, which visited Kashmir recently to assess the gravity of the current Kashmiri-intifada, must now realise that weak foundations cannot support skyscrapers, and flowers of peace and prosperity do not blossom on the shrubs of injustice and atrocity. The sooner New Delhi understands this, the better it will be for the 1.5 billion people in the region.

Indian policymakers, however, have so far managed to neglect historical, geographical, political and cultural facts. They have successfully subjugated millions of Kashmiris and misguided the international community for decades, at the expense of peace and development in the region. Perhaps it is now time to realise that the brutalities of Indian security forces cannot deter the determined Kashmiri people for long in their fight for their right to freedom.

To assess the reasons for the current episode of intense and inclusive insurgency in Kashmir (which are very obvious if one is willing to read the "writing on the wall"), an Indian delegation, led by the Home minister, visited and suffered in the occupied valley, amongst people shouting "We want freedom" and "Go, India go." It is unclear whether Indian politicians and policy makers in Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha and Rashtrapati Bhavan are too blind to see the horizon, or whether they have decided not to learn from history? One day every subjugating force has to withdraw and honour people with their right to freedom.

Dialogue and negotiations are favourite, well-known Indian tactics for buying time, prolonging problems and diverting attention from the severity of real issues. Thus, Kashmiri leaders initially refused to meet Indian delegates to indulge in talks which would probably go nowhere. However, when the Indian delegation arrived, Kashmiri leaders chose to have an informal meeting and made their wishes perfectly clear.

Syed Ali Geelani, a separatist Kashmiri leader who met the Indian delegation, told a British media outlet that he demanded India accept Kashmir as an international dispute, withdraw special and emergency powers from its security forces, withdraw troops from the region and release all political prisoners.

Completely ignoring history, India declared Kashmir as its integral part, which means that Kashmir is not an international dispute. As it is very evident, Kashmir has been an international dispute since partition in 1947. Pakistan and India would not have waged war three times had Kashmir been an internal problem of the latter. At the United Nations both countries agreed that Kashmir is an international dispute, and that a plebiscite would be held to decide the status of the disputed territory. U.N. resolutions also record that the Kashmir issue must be solved in accordance with the will of the Kashmiri people. Instead of listening to the global conscience and respecting the legitimate rights of the Kashmiri people, India preferred to ignore U.N. resolutions, suppress the Kashmiris’ movement with guns, and crush their demands under military boots.

The official stance of the Indian government on Kashmir is completely unfounded, a fact further strengthened by the way Indian security forces treat Kashmiri people. Rather, it suggests that India is occupying the territory with brute force. Have Indian security forces ever riddled the chests of protesters in New Delhi? Have Indian police shot similar participants through their heads in Mumbai? Have Indian forces razed a Hindu temple in Madhaya Pradesh? Never! However, Indian security forces have practised all of the above-mentioned gruesome atrocities on innocent men and women of occupied Kashmir. While Indian forces do not consider Kashmiri people eligible for the same rights enjoyed by animals in Western countries, and soldiers of the Indian Army consider Kashmiri women as a source to pacify their lust, how can they declare that Kashmir is an integral part of India?

It is not only people who denounce this occupation. The history, religion, geography, natural water ways and culture of Kashmir suggest that Kashmir was not a part of India, and will not be in the future. Thus, one wonders who gave New Delhi the right to declare Kashmir as its integral part, since Kashmiri people, hills, rivers and mountains do not consider India as their homeland?

Kashmir is burning in the fire of Indian subjugation and atrocities. The struggle of the Kashmiri people has entered a decisive phase and is moving towards its logical and pre-ordained conclusion. Today, the struggle of Kashmir is in the hands of 32,000 widows, more than 100,000 orphans, and relatives of thousands of martyrs. What makes this intifada different from Kashmir's own history of struggle is that today Kashmiri women are also in the streets and on the roads, pelting their hate-filled stones at Indian armed forces, and shouting against heartless, Indian subjugation. One wonders, when a mother incites her four-year-old son to participate in protest, as a way to take revenge for the killing of his older brother, how long can the Indian government manage to maintain its illegitimate occupation?

Insensitive silence in the Western world and at United Nations, regarding the ongoing massacre of Kashmiri people, is striking and unexpected. However, Indian population numbers, geographical size and a big market makes this quiescence easy to understand. It may force Kashmiris to think that in the eyes of the West, freedom and human rights are not such universal values, and principles could be sacrificed for commercial interests. It has become increasingly difficult for India to suppress Kashmir's struggle for freedom, and sooner or later India will have to grant Kashmiris their inalienable right to live freely.

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Srinagar

Kashmir

جمعہ، 1 اکتوبر، 2010

Obama's War Against Pakistanis

by Jack D. Douglas

I watched an interview with Bob Woodward about his new book, Obama's War. It was mostly inside-dopsterish Woodward at his worst. But at the end a young anchor asked him what the U.S. attacks in Pakistan were going to produce in the near future. He smiled in his all-knowing and impish way, said he could not really say [of course], but "I think you should strap yourself in!" Translation: you ain't seen nothing yet, so hang on Sloopy and fasten your seatbelt for a wild ride ahead.

This time he was right. In the last few days since then the U.S. has openly attacked Pakistan twice and today the enraged and humiliated Pakistani military shut the vital U.S. supply lines from the Pakistani ports into Afghanistan. Supplies are the carotid and aorta of U.S. and Nato forces in Afghanistan where they are already losing the nine-year-old war.
I doubt the Pakistanis will actually launch military attacks on the U.S. at this point. But they are showing they mean business. They don't plan to be another victim of American imperialism any more than they already have been. They are not a defenseless Cambodia or Afghanistan the U.S. can bomb into the stone age without serious fighting.

I have said for the past few years that the U.S. was pushing Pakistan into civil wars and disintegration that would lead to the overthrow in some way of the totally corrupt puppet regime there. Several days ago the Pakistani military told the regime they've had enough and now demand effective action to deal with all of Pakistan's ghastly problems.

The U.S. is already fighting the vast Pashtun nation of roughly 40 million in fierce and effective fighters in the whole Afpak region who have finally gotten some of their vast forces well enough trained and armed to defeat U.S. and Nato forces piecemeal in the ancient guerilla ways they use. They are already defeating the U.S., which is why Obama et al. have increased the drone murders of Pakistani Pashtun drastically and are now openly attacking with Special Ops and helicopter gun ships.
The U.S. is blinded by Hubris and wounded Vanity and cannot see that no one but the criminals getting U.S. payoffs support the U.S. regime in Kabul. Everyone is attacking the U.S., Nato, and the Kabul Criminal Regime. The now open cyber-warfare against Iran will encourage Iran to secretly ship more weapons to the guerillas and they may unite with Pakistan to crush the U.S. between them. They can each field many millions of trained and armed young men who loathe the U.S. Everyone in Pakistan except the criminals now loathe the U.S., who used to be their trusted ally.

The U.S. fortress in Baghdad, the Green Zone, is now a free fire target for Shia Iraqis. Their mortars have hit the Green Zone on at least 22 days in Sept., a vast new record, especially for the Shia. The Americans say the Iranians are sending weapons to the Shia.
If the U.S. forces the Pakistanis, the Pashtun, the rest of Afghanistan, Iran, and the Iraqis into an alliance of sorts against the U.S. in the whole region, they could send tens of millions of young men into battle against the tiny U.S. forces, They have a population of around 300 million and an average age that is very youthful and gives them an immense numerical superiority over the U.S.

If anyone can unite them against us, it's Obama and his mickey mouse strategists at the Pentagon and White House and State Department.

The Pashtun have a favorite strategy of suddenly uniting in the hills to surround and annihilate an invading army. The Pakis and Persians and Arabs in Iraq are good at that too.

Stay tuned and tighten your seat belt.

Jack D. Douglas [send him mail] is a retired professor of sociology from the University of California at San Diego. He has published widely on all major aspects of human beings, most notably The Myth of the Welfare State.

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Inauspicious signs for Pakistan

Written by Brig. Asif Haroon Raja

After occupying Afghanistan, the US conceptualized several plans to destabilize, denuclearize, secularize and fragment or balkanize Pakistan.

Gen Musharraf was persuaded to cut off links with Mullah Umar led Taliban regime in Kabul, help US in militarily occupying Afghanistan, and to become a frontline state to fight US war on terror. Once Afghanistan was occupied, Pakistan was forced to accept pro-India non-Pashtun heavy regime led by Hamid Karzai hostile to Pakistan.

When Pakistan expressed its disinclination to dispatch regular troops to South Waziristan (SW) to oust foreign terrorists since it was in violation of unwritten agreement with FATA, Washington threatened that US forces would barge in if Pakistan failed to abide by its orders. Pakistan was induced to do Washington’s commands by deferring payment of foreign debts and offering five-year package of $10.5 billion. As against this paltry amount the US spent $5 billion monthly in Afghanistan.

Once the Army moved into SW, it was ensured that it got irretrievably embroiled in fighting futile war on terror. When foreigners were pushed out and Ahmadzai Wazir dominated SW was stabilized after inking peace deal in July 2005, Army was pressed to move over into Baitullah Mehsud controlled Mehsud belt within SW. Abdullah Mehsud, brainwashed by CIA during his captivity in Guantanamo Bay, operated in Jandola-Tank area. He abducted and killed Chinese engineers working in Gomal Zam Dam project to spoil Pak-China relations. When the Army inked peace accord with Baitullah Mehsud in early 2006, it was pushed into North Waziristan (NW) to confront Hafiz Gul Bahadur led Othmanzai Wazir militants. Another peace deal was signed in NW in September 2006.

It was in this timeframe that Pakistani Taliban (PT) mysteriously surfaced in NW in late 2006 and made Mir Ali and Miranshah their bases. PT were later on duly trained, equipped, funded and protected by CIA, RAW, RAAM and Mossad based in Afghanistan and pitched against Pak Army to lock the two in deadly combat. Bleeding and weakening of Army was considered essential for the success of the gory plan since without its destruction none of the envisaged objectives could be achieved. Barbaric acts performed by PT helped USA in defaming Islam and Afghan Taliban.

After the death of Abdullah in Zhob in July 2007 at the hands of security forces, Baitullah was uplifted to take up the mantle. Ranks of PT swelled after botched Lal Masjid operation in July. Revenge of killings of women and children receiving education in Jamia Hafsa became the rallying point and led to spate of suicide attacks. Mohmand Agency also came in the grip of militancy. Reverses of Army at certain places in FATA further bolstered their spirits. By December 2007, Baitullah announced formation of Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) with tentacles in all tribal agencies.

RAW with easy money procured from illicit drug smuggling then started to equip TTP on a crash program. It took full advantage of hurt sentiments of the people of the area, and with the assistance of RAAM took upon itself to recruit fresh crop of fighters and to provide training, funds, equipment and reinforcement to TTP from Afghan soil. Foreign agencies kept fueling grievances of militants and eulogizing their dare devilry and their cause to introduce Shariah. Notwithstanding factor of revenge, chief causes of motivation of militants were regular handsome monthly salaries, perks and authority. Taste of adventure and heroism and easy availability of women to marry were other reasons to get lured. These were too stimulating pleasures for the uneducated, unemployed youth belonging to poor families to go to any lengths.

TTP was encouraged to launch suicide attacks and group attacks against defined targets within cities so as to create greater chaos and to make the task of security forces multifaceted. Bajaur, Swat and SW were converted into major strongholds where massive weapons, ammunition, explosives, suicide jackets, medical stores and other war munitions were stored in hundreds of caves, man-made tunnels, roofs and walls of houses and other secretive places.

Pak Army on the other hand was denied requisite funds and counter terrorism equipment on the plea of Indian unreal fears that equipment will be used against India. It was also kept dependent upon doctored intelligence provided by CIA and FBI till as late as 2007. Hidden motive was to prevent the Army from defeating militants. To lower its morale and to deprecate it, the Army was derided by USA for not doing enough and pressed to do more. It was also accused of being in cahoots with Taliban and al-Qaeda.

Ironically, the US instead of extending support to Pak Army to defeat TTP and Fazlullah led militants in Swat; it has been lending support to TTP. Thousands of US, Indian and Israeli origin weapons recovered from Swat and SW during recent operations is an irrefutable proof of their involvement. It implies that the US didn’t want Pak Army to defeat terrorism in Pakistan but to preferably get defeated or as a minimum get pinned down irreversibly.

Once the Army succeeded in capturing the fortresses of TTP and breaking its back, USA lost interest in TTP and other militant groups aligned to it. Instead, it started focusing on remnants of Al-Qaeda, Haqqani network and Gul Bahadur led militants in NW, Maulvi Nazir in SW and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Punjab. LeT is being projected as a global threat and blamed for current nonviolent unrest in India-Occupied Kashmir. India instead of grappling with Naxalites who control 20% of Indian Territory and are an existential threat, it is shortsightedly consuming all its energies in covert operations under the fond hope that destabilization of Pakistan would stabilize India.

While there has never been any doubt of RAW’s involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs, WikiLeaks has confirmed that CIA has all along based its evaluation on Afghanistan and Pakistan on the biased inputs provided by Afghan intelligence which gets fed by RAW. Bob Woodword’s recently published book has revealed America’s hostile intentions against Pakistan. Outburst of Hillary Clinton after failed Times Square attack, and James Jones and Leon Panetta’s warning to President Zardari on their visit to Islamabad soon after the incident that had the bomb gone off, the US would have been forced to strike Pakistan give an insight to thinking of US top leadership.

As if daily drone attacks killing people in Waziristan were not enough, (22 strikes in September) two offensive incursions by US Apaches on 26 September killing over 30 people under the plea of pursuing militants have made the situation along western border menacing. When NATO HQ in Brussels was informed of the incident and its repercussions, it brushed aside Pakistan’s concern asserting that ISAF/NATO troops in Afghanistan had a right to take defensive measures against militants. To add insult to injury another incursion was made on 30th on FC post in Kurram Agency killing three security persons. Extraordinary harsh sentence awarded to Aafia Siddiqui by a US court has further intensified anti-US sentiments. These acts are least helpful towards bridging trust deficit.

India flustered by happenings in occupied Kashmir and endgame in Afghanistan not to its liking, has stepped up its undercover activities in Balochistan and Karachi and is likely to stage-manage another drama to distract the attention of the world and put Pakistan in tight corner.

Confronted with tense geo-political situation, badly caught up in war on terror and devastating floods having adverse impact on economy, coupled with heightening judiciary-executive tussle and the sky overcast with clouds of change, signs are inauspicious for Pakistan. Supreme Court piqued by government is showing extraordinary restraint to avert confrontation. Although a healthy change is desirable, any change under the prevailing shaky internal situation and malevolent designs of our adversaries would prove more catastrophic particularly when no viable alternative option is available. Meeting between President-PM-COAS on 27th has for the time being helped in normalizing the fever of change.

Since 2001, a variety of methods have been applied by adversaries to weaken and undo Pakistan but with Allah’s blessings and resilience of the people, Pakistan survived series of destructive attempts some of which were close ones. Vested groups are discouraging the people and instigating them to spread anarchy and to bring down the whole edifice. In spite of prophets of gloom spreading doomsday scenarios and projecting that people have lost heart and are completely disenchanted and shattered, the reality is that each man-made and natural calamity has further steeled their resolve to endure the challenges with greater courage and fortitude.

The writer is a defence and security analyst.

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Muslims of India and Babri Masjid

By Syed Ali Raza Abidi

Indian Muslims are happy living in India and it should really not bother anybody else. They don’t want others to defend them or speak up for their right, as they feel their secular country has given them enough protection and freedom of religion. Especially when it comes to Pakistan criticizing decisions of the Indian Judiciary or the Government, the unity shown by Indians is so far exemplary.

The much awaited decision on the land of Babri Masjid, where 16th Century Masjid was destroyed in 1992 is decided to be distributed in three parts by the Allahabad High Court to satisfy all claims. The Sunni Waqf has immediately arranged to appeal against the verdict, as the courts did not find reasonable evidence that it was their property or the Mughal Emperor Babar in 1528, but agreed with the plea that Emperor Babar had built the Mosque on the birth place of their god “Ram.” It is not clear how the Judiciary believed the evidence that the land belonged to the Hindu’s prior to Babar taking possession of it. However, it is not clear if Babar had owned the land where the Mosque was constructed, there is no evidence if the builder was the owner, or if there was a third person who had ordered the construction had owned the land. The Sunni Waqf was not able to satisfy the courts with the evidence they could provide.
Hence, The High Court in UP decided to split the property into 3 parts, from which 2 parts will be for the Hindus and 1 part will be retained by the Muslims. The Hindus want to build a temple of Ram there, while Muslims wanted to rebuild the mosque. It is also clear that no Hindu Temple was destroyed by Babar for construction of the Mosque. However, it was believed that somewhere in the compound of the Mosque, Hindu’s lord Ram was born, but the courts could not pinpoint that precise location. During 1855, it was also believed that within the premises of the Masjid, Hindu’s and Muslims prayed to their creators, without any formal or evident partition, and this seems to be one of the reasons, the property was divided amongst both major religious sections in India.
Being a Hindu majority, the people of Ayodhya are three times more in number than the Muslims. PM Manmohan Singh reiterated that “There should be no attempt whatsoever made by any section of the people to provoke any other section or to indulge in any expression of emotion that would hurt the feelings of other people.” At the same time the government banned bulk text messaging, MMS, arrested thousands and also got affidavits signed by potential trouble makers. A heavy contingent of law enforcement agencies, including the military was standing guard around the cities of the country and Section 144 remained applicable nationally to avert any untoward incidents.
One may wonder, that if the judges did not find evidence of the Sunni Waqf being the owners of the land, then why was one third of land allotted to them? Similarly, the Hindu party was also not able to provide evidence if the land belonged to them. It appears that the Indian Judiciary has used the law of necessasity as a favor for the Muslims and Hindus, by offering one third of land to each (Hindu/Muslims/Nirmohi Akhara) in order to accommodate their sentiments in spite of improper evidence provided by the defense? At the moment, there is a Hindu Temple right where the dome of the Mosque was and that location is believed to be the birth place of their God Ram, and that particular place is allotted for the Temple to remain. The Nirmohi Akhara are allotted the place where according to them in 1855 Ram Chabutra and Seeta Rasoi came into existence.
This decision of sharing the land between three beneficiaries will start taking its course and set to sink into the communities in the days to come, with possible or no reactions from around the world. The courts have allowed three months for each of them to file for suggestion for preparing the final decree, which may be released with minor adjustments to accommodate amicably and the affected party compensated. The decision appears to be logical, however, I feel that the Muslims will continue to demand the full premises to be their property and will wish to reconstruct the Mosque as it was originally built, as when the structure was destroyed in 1992 there were no signs of Hindu temples or idols placed there, which hold the potential for sparking further controversies.
It is a wish that the decision is absorbed maturely, and acceptable to all parties for further negotiation. One can only hope there is not a repeat of 1992, when 2000 men, women and children lost their lives. There are reasonable chances the Supreme Court may overturn this verdict, if Law is superior to beliefs and ‘doctrine of necessity’ in secular India.

(AAJ News Pakistan Ki Awaz)
Syed Ali Raza Abidi is a businessman and a young politician. He writes on issues of national interest. The views expressed by the author are personal and do not reflect the policy of AAJ News.
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Ayodhya verdict

Babri Mosque

Allahabad High Court

Bharatiya Janata Party

Lucknow

Hindu

Immoral Delhi CWGs a blemish to noble Sports

Suresh Kalmadi broke all records of corruption, kickbacks. Three officials suspended, 2 sacked for gross financial irregularities.India`s former Sports Minister, Sports icon Bishan Bedi seek ban on India to host mega sports events in future.RAW Chief purposes postponement of event under the grab of fake terror attack.India bribed 72 nation to get Games hosting rights.

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From Christina Palmer and Ajay Mehta

Games are supposed to promote positive energy and have healthy impact on the society and in case of international events, sport have impact not only in the host country but more so in the fast shrinking global village. Since time eternal sports are considered to be a noble activity which, besides testing physical strength of athletes, is also a test of their spirit and fair play. That is the precise reason that so much stress is laid on ‘sportsman spirit’. However, The Daily Mail’s investigations indicate that the upcoming Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held at New Delhi, have badly tarnished the spirit of the games even before these have started. The corruption scandals involving no less than the CWG organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and his band of aides have irreparably damaged the Delhi Commonwealth Games. Erstwhile Chairman, besides being involved in scam of pilferage of funds spent in New Delhi was also involved in the transfer of about £250,000 ($430,000) to a British firm, AM Films. Scandal after scandal, unraveled revealing kickbacks, shady off-shore firms, forged e-mails of Indian High Commission London by Kalmadi that left External Affairs Ministry of India screaming and his reprimand by External Affairs Minister Krishna, inexplicable payments to bogus companies and inflated bills, eventually led to Kalmadi’s sacking days before the start of games. According to The Daily Mail’s findings, even the British government had raised questions about the payments with the Indian High Commission. These findings further indicate that earlier, games treasurer Anil Khanna was forced to resign following graft allegations. Three games officials were suspended following an investigation into financial irregularities.

The Daily Mail’s investigations reveal that even the neutral Indian observers are calling for cancelling the games and barring India from hosting such mega sporting event in future. These findings indicate that Mani Shankar Aiyar, a senior member of the ruling Indian National Congress party and former Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs was an early whistleblower from the Indian Union Cabinet who expressed concern over extensive delays in preparation leading to unplanned expenses which he said, could have been utilized for "ensuring a better sporting future for Indian children by providing them sports training". Aiyar also said that he would be "unhappy" if the Games were a success and wished for the "Commonwealth Games to be spoiled so that India may not bid for Asian Games or Olympics in future. Saritha Rai,a local journalist, feels that what was supposed to be India’s moment of glory is fast turning into the country's hour of shame. “This is a public relations disaster for India,” said Ashwini Nachappa, former international athlete, while talking to The Daily Mail. Nachappa and 10 other international athletes have spearheaded “Clean Sports in India”, a nationwide campaign to rid Indian sports of crooked officials, including those overseeing the games as well as match fixing and bookie mafia rampant in India. Former Indian cricket captain and spin bowler Bishan Singh Bedi said the "CWG organisers have taken the country for a ride" and urged international athletes to boycott the "embarrassing" Delhi games. Bhagat, a bestseller writer who is considered a youth icon in India with a huge fan following, called the Commonwealth games the "biggest and most blatant exercise in mass corruption since the country won independence six decades ago." Bhagat, who has sold more than 4 million books in India, also urged his readers to boycott the games event and not to watch them on TV, thereby using the "golden chance" to "put the corrupt and insensitive government to shame. The corruption is endless, said Rajesh Tomar, a former Indian international athlete on the committee overseeing the games. “It is one massive waste of public money, time and energy,” Tomar said. Tanvi Rajaram, a Bangalore-based insurance executive, jokingly asked: “Will the bride arrive at her wedding in a state of undress?”

The Daily Mail’s findings further indicate that India's main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has even raised fears that poor building work will put athletes at risk. ''Forging and fudging of various quality and safety checks has widely thrown open the possibility of mishaps, blackouts and accidents,'' said the leader, Vijay Goel The regional opposition leader, Lalu Prasad Yadav, while giving his comments to The Daily Mail, called the games ''an organized looting operation''.

The Daily Mail’s findings elaborate that incomplete preparations and serious security concerns are also being raised. The Daily Mail’s investigations reveal that during a Cabinet Security Committee meeting that was held at New Delhi on the 21st of September to review the Games Security, the Chief of Indian Intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) while briefing the participants recommended that Games must be deferred as he had plans in tact to create a mini terror drama to put the blame on Pakistan and get a face saving for India with regard to it being incapable of holding the extravaganza under the given circumstances. A participant of the said meeting, requesting anonymity, revealed to The Daily Mail that the RAW chief asserted that he had already hand picked three un-documented Pakistani nationals for using in this drama, who a few months back were freed from a prison in New Delhi and were picked up by RAW goons .however the final decision in this regard was left for the approval from high level.

The Daily Mail’s findings further indicate that in New Delhi, the stench of corruption is already beginning to rival the notoriously stinky Yamuna River flowing through the capital city. The budget has well overshot the originally allotted $75 million, the bulk of which is being paid by taxpayers. The final costs are expected to be about $8 billion. India’s corruption watchdog, The Central Vigilance Commission inspected 15 Games-related sites and found evidence of poor-quality work and that records of construction-related strength tests had been fabricated. Almost all the organizations involved had ''used inadmissible factors to jack up the reasonable price'', it said
The games are being highlighted as a total squander of public money. Television channels are focusing on the pathetic facilities provided for the hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers who have been employed to build the infrastructure for the games. City officials have gone on large-scale campaigns to rid the city of poor squatters and slum-dwellers. Yet, New Delhi still looks like a giant digging site. Huge piles of rubble and rubbish, a collapsed roof, hanging wires, leaky walls, broken tiles and an incomplete stadium have become the visual staple of daily newspapers and television channels.

These findings further indicate that at least 19 people have been injured in a bridge collapse on the site of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The steel walkway connected the main Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to car parks. The incident is the latest in a series of construction disasters to plague the project. In January a fire on site killed one worker and injured 12 after it started in construction workers’ living quarters. In August site deaths had reached 42, although human rights groups claimed the number was closer to 70.
In a ridiculous twist to the ongoing and unrelenting embarrassment that is the Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG), Secretary General of the four member CWG committee, Lalit K. Bhannot has alleged that Pakistani ’state-actors’ and ‘hired guns’ are behind the latest calamity to hit the games – the collapse of an under-construction foot over-bridge. This reminds one of the joke that once when top Indian Intelligence agency RAW’s boss was informed that his “wife is expecting”; the boss’s impromptu response was “ Oh shit! ISI officials must be responsible for this”.

The Daily Mail’s investigations conclude that the Indians have pioneered the immorality in sports too, be it the match fixing in cricket, corruption and misappropriation of Sports funds or sexual harassment of female players. Sports lovers must be remembering with great agony the incident of sexual harassment of Indian Female Hockey team members at the hands of the coach and Hockey India officials. While the immoral officials have routinely been looting funds, female players are not paid their allowances for months which had earlier led to a comprehensive strike by the country’s female hockey team. The story of Indian immorality does not end just back in India as the British newspaper Daily Telegraph has reported that the Indians bribed 72 nations to get the hosting of Games at Delhi with no denial of this report coming from Indian government. It is time now that global sports fraternity must take notice of this creeping immorality in the noble field of sports. It is high time that paying attention to the recommendation of Mani Shankar Aiyar, Bishan Singh Bedi and other Indian sports celebrities and experts, banning India from hosting such a high profile sports event in future to save sports from corruption..

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Commonwealth Games

Delhi

India

Why Indo-US media now target Gen Kayani

Salim Bokhari

After having failed to malign Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) as an institution and its chief Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the biased Indo-US media has now turned their guns at Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani. American newspapers and Indian print and electronic media is on the rampage, using unauthentic references from sponsored books and hearsay, bidding to cast aspersions on the professionalism of the Pakistani Army Chief. His sin, according to a series of statements issued by low level American officials, is that he (Mr Kayani) is paying no heed to US demand for decisive action against terrorists’ safe heavens in North Waziristan.
In a report published in the New York Times by Jane Perlez, another attempt was made to malign the Pakistan Army. The report said: “General Kayani, angered by the inept handling of the country’s devastating floods and alarmed by a collapse of the economy, is pushing for a shake-up of the elected government, and in the longer term, the removal of President Asif Ali Zardari and his top lieutenants”.
But in the second paragraph, the author of the report denies his own fact by saying: “The military, preoccupied by a war against militants and reluctant to assume direct responsibility for the economic crisis, has made it clear it is not eager to take over the government, as it has many times before”.
Which part of the report should one trust is one’s dilemma. The logical answer to this illogical reporting is that why the military or its chief would push for a shakeup or for that matter ouster of President Zardari if it is not willing to take over control.
The NYT reporter further quotes from the meeting of Gen Kayani with both the president and the prime minister on Monday and alleges that the COAS confronted the participants of the meeting over incompetence and corruption in the government. He did not stop here but also alleged that General Kayani demanded of them to dismiss some federal ministers.
But the fact of the matter is that Indo-US media is not willing to forgive Gen Kayani for taking a nationalistic line on major issues. Firstly; he refused to withdraw troops from the Eastern border with India and deploy them on the Western front as was demanded by the US to appease the Indian leadership.
Secondly, Gen Kayani was very critical of the provisions of the Kerry-Lugar Bill and it was for the first time in Pakistan’s 63-year history that the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) came out with a written statement expressing Army’s indignation over certain provisions regarding promotions and postings of senior officers to be reported to the US in advance.
Thirdly; General Kayani categorically refused to oblige the American demand to launch operation in North Waziristan soon after successful military strike in South Waziristan. His argument was that he troops need a breathing space to prepare for another offensive. This certainly displeased the American leadership and US media did not hesitate to express this displeasure in its reports, columns and editorials.
Fourthly; it was General Kayani who did not agree with Interior Minister Rehman Malik decision to send the ISI Director General to India in connection with investigation of Mumbai attacks accused. This nationalistic approach shocked New Dehli. It was a very daring decision on part of Gen Kayani since he was aware that Rehman Malik was acting on the directives of the president and the prime minister.
Finally, the COAS has restricted access of the American troops to fly over freely in Pakistani airspace on the pretext of supplying and distributing relief goods to the flood victims. It is generally believed that the aircraft and helicopter to be used by the American forces were fitted with espionage and sensitive camera equipments.
In view of the above mentioned facts, it is easier to understand why the Indo-US media has targeted General Kayani to malign him in imaginative situations. It is, without an iota of doubt, an attempt to discredit the otherwise a highly professional general.

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India’s propaganda against Pakistan and China

Sajjad Shaukat

ALTHOUGH Indian officials and media have always implicated Pakistan and China on various issues, now with the help of American media, they have started a new phase of propaganda against these two countries in respect of Gilgit-Baltistan. In this respect, Indian writer B. Raman has already been maligning both Beijing and Islamabad, while Selig Harrison, former correspondent of the “Washington Post” in New Delhi has left no stone unturned in this regard.
On August 27, 2010, the “New York Times” carried an article by Selig Harrison who wrote, “While the world focuses on the flood-ravaged Indus River valley, a quiet geopolitical crisis is unfolding in the Himalayan borderlands of northern Pakistan, where Islamabad is handing over de facto control of the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region in the northwest corner of disputed Kashmir to China. The entire Pakistan-occupied western portion of Kashmir stretching from Gilgit in the north to Azad (Free) Kashmir in the south is closed to the world…but reports from a variety of foreign intelligence sources reveal, “two important new developments in Gilgit-Baltistan: a simmering rebellion against Pakistani rule and the influx of an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army.”
The report caused considerable sensation in India. The Government of India, while expressing its concern, ordered a verification of it by its agencies. A strong denial of the report came from the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing. “A senior Pakistani official on August 31 denied recent reports that Chinese troops are stationed in the area of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to build a high-speed rail and road there. Masood Khan, ambassador of Pakistan to China told the Global Times, “The story is not true,” and “It is totally fabricated.”
Selig Harrison, in his article referred to the Gilgit-Baltistan region as “Pakistan-controlled Kashmir”. On the other hand, Chinese Government officials and journalists describe Jammu and Kashmir as “Indian-controlled Kashmir.”
On the September 1, 2010, the Government-controlled Xinhua news agency disseminated the report: “China rejected reports of the presence of over 11,000 Chinese troops in northern Pakistan, saying that such “groundless reports” were made with “ulterior motives.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu remarked, “We believe the attempts of some people to fabricate stories to provoke China-Pakistan are doomed to fail.” The comment came in response to recent reports of some American and Indian press that China had deployed more than 10,000 troops in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan.
The next day, during the regular briefing of Bejing-based journalists including some from India, Jiang Yu reportedly used the expression “northern Pakistan” while referring to Gilgit-Baltistan in context of the article of Selig Harrison.
As Pakistan’s close neighbour and all-weather friend, China has been helping Pakistan for its severe natural disaster. The Chinese Government has offered several instalments of humanitarian relief supplies worth more than RMB 100 million. An international relief team sent by the Chinese Government has arrived in the hardest-hit southern part of Pakistan and set up a mobile hospital which is in operation now. Beijing has provided sincere and timely assistance to Pakistan without any strings attached.
According to reliable sources, China recently refused to grant a visa to Lieutenant General Jaswal, head of Indian Army’s Northern Command, and the Indian side said that the refusal was about the Kashmir issue. China’s visa policy towards the residents of Indian-held Kashmir is consistent and remains unchanged. Unlike the western countries, Beijing more strongly holds that the Kashmir issue should be properly handled through dialogue and consultation between India and Pakistan.
The fact of the matter is that the Chinese reference to northern Pakistan could have been the result of the use of a similar expression by Selig Harrison who has referred to Gilgit-Baltistan as “Himalayan borderlands of northern Pakistan.”
Nevertheless, it is evident that the Chinese, while sticking to the decisions to issue stapled visas to residents of Jummu and Kashmir and to assist Pakistan in the development of its infrastructure in Gilgit-Baltistan have irked the Indian eyes—whose high officials and journalists have misperceived the close ties of Beijing with Islamabad.
As regards Beijing’s contention that their troops were present in the Gilgit-Baltistan region only for humanitarian relief work, the Chinese have made two humanitarian interventions in the area this year. The first was in January last. On January 4, a landslide created a huge artificial lake in the Hunza area, which subsequently burst submerging a large number of villages in the Gojal Tehsil. About 22 KMs of the Karakoram Highway were submerged under water totally disrupting road communications with Xinjiang in China and with the rest of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Pakistan Army was able to go to the assistance of the affected villages only in the downstream area. It was not able to reach the affected villages in the upstream area for want of helicopters. The Pakistan Government appealed to the Chinese for assistance. Workers of the Chinese Red Cross and engineers of the People’s Liberation Army entered the Hunza area for relief.
In that connection, The Xinhua reported: “On January 19, at the request of the Pakistani government, the Chinese side made special arrangements to open the Kunjirap border and facilitate the purchase of relief goods from China and its clearance. The second humanitarian intervention at the request of Islamabad was made after the recent floods.
It is mentionable that during the visit of President Zardari, under Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) officials of the two Governments signed—that China will build the 165-km long Jaglot-Skardu road and the 135-km long Thakot-Sazin road. Under another MoU to be jointly executed by Chinese company Datang and Norwegian company EBT—500 MW electricity would be produced through wind power.
China and Pakistan plan on building a rail link, which would pass through Gilgit-Baltistan near the Karakoram Highway. This has sparked a debate in India. In this regard, Indian Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said, “It is definitely a matter of concern.”
Besides, the two leaders of Pakistan and China discussed a host of issues relating to strategic partnership. The most prominent area of this bolstering of ties—especially for the world is the Sino-Pak civilian nuclear deal which is now beginning to see complete formalisation and initiation. It is unfortunate that the US and India have expressed their concerns about this deal, where the main goal is to address the acute power crisis in Pakistan. While rejecting particularly US objections, China has once again clarified that it will supply two nuclear reactors to Pakistan under the old nuclear deal.
It is also regrettable that, until now, we have been denied the same right to civil nuclear technology that India was granted by the US in 2008. It provides the precedent, and in fact, has opened the door for any similar sort of nuclear deal in the future. Indeed, after setting precedent by themselves, both India and the US have no legal and moral grounds to challenge the legality of the Pak-China nuclear deal.
In fact, Pakistan’s province, Balochistan where China has invested billion of dollars to develop Gwadar seaport that could link Central Asian trade with rest of the world, irritates both Washington and New Delhi. It has even shifted the central gravity of the Great Game to Pakistan.
Returning to our earlier discussion, Selig Harrison’s information about the presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan has not independently be confirmed as it is part of a new propaganda game against China and Pakistan.

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Gilgit-Baltistan

People's Liberation Army