I know that as a nation, we don’t really rank high in the eyes of
the world. I am quite sure some might even think we deserve what is
happening to us because we “harbor terrorists.” Maybe its my naivete
that makes me wish that at least our dear President had a little bit
of compassion for his own people, had sympathy for the families of
those killed in the attacks and maybe even offer a few kind words.
Perhaps its too much to ask. After all as Muslims, we are supposed
to give solace to our Muslim Brothers and Sisters. Our President,
with all the advances in media technology, must still find it
difficult to address the nation during its times of trial because
after all, each time Pakistan has had a crisis of some sort, our
beloved President was out of the country! Do you know where he is?
Amazing how he manages to time his absence from Pakistan to coincide
with all the attacks. I hope someone poses these questions to our
dear beloved President. —Via email
Seestan tragedy & our neglect
General Mirza Aslam Beg
The tragic suicide attack in the Seestan Province of Iran , causing
the death of about 50 Pasdarans, including their senior commanders,
indeed is deplorable. This is not for the first time that such act
of terrorism has taken place inside Iran , using Pakistani soil. As
a matter of fact, since 1980, the terrorist group, called
Fidaeen-e-Khalk have been operating against Iran . After occupation
of Afghanistan in 2001, CIA jointed hands with the Indian spy
network in Afghanistan , and formed the anti-Iran terrorist
organization called Jindullah and used it against Iran .
Two years back, I wrote a detailed article titled: “Global
Conspiracies against Pakistan ” about the Indo-US espionage
activities against all the neighbours of Afghanistan . About
Jindullah and their terror operations in Iran , I said: “The forward
bases at Herat and Farah (in Afghanistan ) are manned by RAW, CIA,
MI-6 and Mossad for subversive activities inside Iran . Jointly
operating from inside Pakistan, from the anchorages of Kot Kalamat,
and Jiwani, (facility granted for war in Afghanistan) the saboteurs
are heli-lifted to Mand (a Pakistani town, close to Iranian border)
to undertake terrorist actions inside Iran.”
General Musharraf quite deliberately ignored my revelations and the
acts against our brotherly neighbour – Iran . But the indifference
of the present government is rather shocking. To create a wedge
between Iran and Pakistan is the objective of such subversive acts,
which is much too dangerous a game. Pakistan cannot afford to ignore
it. It is no less than the magnitude of insult the nation faced
through the passing of the KLB which has ominous consequences for
Pakistan . It is time now for the Pakistan Government to eliminate
such activities taking place from our soil. The crimes Jindullah
commit are attributed to Pakistan as if Pakistan were the culprit in
supporting terrorist activities inside Iran , which is a blatant
lie. The so called flag bearers of international norms of justice
and fair play are involved in “Terrorism through consensus.” And
they are not even ashamed of putting this clause in the Kerry-Lugar
Bill: “Prevent attacks into neighbouring countries. Eliminate
terrorist threats and close safe havens in Pakistan, requires the
development of a comprehensive plan that utilizes all elements of
national power, including coordination and cooperation with other
concerned governments and that it is critical to Pakistan’s
long-term prosperity and security, to strengthen regional
relationships among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.” Iran has been
purportley left-out.!!—Via email
Central Asian security
Kishwar sultana
Following the attacks on 9/11, Central Asian countries have featured
much more prominently on NATO’s security agenda. The US-led
intervention in Afghanistan and the subsequent creation of the
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) led by NATO under the
authority of the UN Security Council, made acutely clear the
surrounding region’s importance to the security and stability of
Afghanistan. Regional security concerns, including terrorism, ethnic
conflicts, human- and drug-trafficking, as well as political and
economic instability, pose serious problems whose consequences are
felt far beyond the region. Bordering Russia, China, Iran and
Afghanistan, the Central Asian countries are strategically
important. The region has become the advanced post in fighting
terrorism, religious extremism and drug-trafficking.
Due to their geographic remoteness and their relatively small, and
declining, populations, Central Asian countries are, to varying
degrees, weak countries. Mostly feudal Khanates before Russian
absorption in the 19th century, the Central Asian countries have
only recently begun to develop a firm sense of national identity.
These countries suffer from a host of challenges, including
organized crime, corruption, poverty, civil strife, radicalism and
economic and environmental devastation. Small ruling elites have
consolidated political and economic power into their own hands.
Three of the five Central Asian countries have considerable energy
resources - oil in Kazakhstan and natural gas in Kazakhstan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - that can be either a boon or a bane
for them. However, the ability of the three energy rich states to
extract and export oil and gas has been significantly hampered by
aging infrastructure, underdevelopment and the cost of transport to
markets.
Moreover, low income levels fuel corruption and the wealth earned
from exported natural resources tends to consolidate and strengthen
the power of ruling elites. Relatively weak market economies mean
that many people depend on the government for their livelihood. In
comparison to other NATO partner countries Central Asian states
differ significantly in a number of areas. First and foremost, the
Central Asian countries are not applying for membership in the
Alliance. Central Asian republics are interested in co-operation
with NATO primarily for military and, to different degrees,
political reasons. Their main motivation is that they want to gain
experience, advice and assistance from NATO countries to improve the
capabilities of their armed forces. To that end they are eager to
build up the military infrastructure necessary to combat terrorism,
religious extremism and drug-trafficking. As their frontiers are
very porous they want to strengthen security along their borders. To
them, co-operation with NATO provides a level of assistance that
oftentimes involves the direct transfer of material such as border
monitoring equipment, patrol boats and the like.
Contributions from some NATO Members also enhance security against
outside threats such as internationally active terrorist groups and
against political enemies. The danger is that NATO engagement will
become associated with the repressive tendencies of the regimes
themselves. co-operation with NATO provides an enhanced sense of
international legitimacy to the Central Asian countries. This
international credibility can be very useful for attracting foreign
direct investment - an important goal for all the countries in the
region since most sit on natural resources that they have only part
of the expertise and money to fully exploit. —Via email
The killer KLB
Dr Ikram Azam
Pakistan is currently in the grip of
American-NATO-Indo-Afghan-Taliban terrorism, as symbolised in the
Kerry-Lugar Bill. The sole solution to all of Pakistan’s present
problems is sovereign self-reliance.
Pakistan is not a failed State, but its present Government has
failed to deliver. The time has come to declare a national emergency
to coincide with the imminent military action in South Waziristan,
and to install a truly consensual national government, whether
political or non-political, since the traditional politicians have
once again disappointed the nation. It is, truly, a crisis of
leadership. What a pity, a tragedy? It is suggested that retired
civil and military experts on national security, intelligence,
crisis management, conflict resolution and damage repair, may be
organised into an Advisory Committee of the Government, to cope
creatively with the curse of terrorism. —Islamabad
Evacuating TTP leaders?
Sher Khan
Does TTP have helicopters too parked on Afghan bases? It is now
clear that as Pakistan army closes in on the TTP bases, their secret
patrons in are scrambling to extricate them. According to a Pakistan
Observer report mysterious airlifting of some Taliban elements from
areas of Pakistan-Afghanistan border linking Waziristan has been
reported by several sources and fears are growing that anti-Pakistan
TTP terrorists are also being rescued by their foreign allies” from
across the border. “Source claimed that they were being transported
to the Eastern Afghanistan. Some experts believe that secret allies
of friendly-Talibans took the action in order to secure the
militants from an assault in South Waziristan by Pakistani Armed
Forces while others believe the secret evacuation was part of a
larger deal between some Western States and “good Taliban.”
An Iranian news site on October 18 reported that “British Army has
been relocating Taliban insurgents from southern Afghanistan to the
north by providing transportation means.” The Iranian site claimed
that insurgents are being airlifted from the southern province of
Helmand to the north amid increasing violence in the northern parts
of the country. The secret operation was being launched under the
supervision of Afghan Interior Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who
“was still operating under the British guidance.”
Who is behind this secret airlifting and what are their objectives
needs to be determined as it seems the international players are all
out to ditch Pakistan and give a big blow to our efforts against
terrorism.—Mardan
