Today Pakistan needs tangible decisions not verbal promises or paper
work. We as a nation are blessed with so many treasures that other
nations just dream of or try to grab from others. And we are asking
for IMF loans. We are requesting other countries to help us
financially. We are expecting and begging from ‘Friends of
Pakistan’. On the agriculture side Pakistan is eleventh to produce
wheat and twelfth to produce rice. And we are going to construct or
maintain a road at the cost of ten crore rupees between Pakistan and
India to import potatoes, onions and food items which are already
produced in surplus in our own country. What are we doing and where
are we heading? Why are we not giving importance to our own
available resources and benefiting from them? Why are we not
breaking the beggar bowl and trying our best to achieve our
objectives of being strong, independent self-sufficient and
promoters of peace in the region. The only two aspects we have to
change are our priorities and decision making.—Rawalpindi
Spiritual guide
Rabia Shakir
I would like to expose the innovations of fake “i” Pir is a Persian
word meaning old person who guide and instruct his disciples the
teaching of Islam. Many people due to flawed causes and ignorance
have taken Piri-Mureedi to be a combination of weird rituals and
made-up innovations in the religion. When we see someone in this
community who claims to be able to guide others to Allah, but
slipshod in just one rule of the sacred law - even if he manifests
miracles that stagger the mind - asserting that his shortcoming is a
special dispensation for him is surely not a sheikh or pir, nor is
he speaking the truth because peer is person diligent in seeking the
knowledge of Islam based upon the Holy Quran, Sunnah and his utter
most desire is to gain the love of Allah through complete adherence
to the teachings of divine religion.
To enter the way to spiritual guidance, the seeker begins it by
finding a teacher, this however, may be accomplished from one who
has tramped this path and learned it from someone before him that
must have received the authorization to teach in an unbroken
succession (silsilah). Take the example of medicine; just as a
self-taught doctor is not reliable in the medical field, similarly,
the one who has not attained spirituality from a qualified and
reliable person is not a genuine Pir, rather he is a fake Pir. The
sign and distinguishing quality of a true Pir is his complete
pragmatism to the Holy Quran and Sunnah. The true Pir is the one who
guide his disciples without any proviso in return, his aim is to
enlighten the soul of people and guiding them towards Allah.—Karachi
Countering terrorism
Anwar Parveen
Since the operation against terrorism started, the nation is
standing with the army on its offensive against the miscreants and
killers of innocent men, women and children. The terrorists are also
playing tactics to create fear by increasing their activities of
threats and bomb blasts. In spite of all this the brave citizens of
Pakistan are carrying on their normal activities of life and facing
the hardships with patience and endurance.
At this crucial time the nation is looking at the top political
leadership for full support to fight against terrorism. What we get?
A few statements from the Govt functionaries as well as political
leaders. They are mere statements, just a rhetoric, which does not
display any emotion, belongingness or action. Media men are visiting
the battle area but the elected representatives of our nation are
more concerned about their security and confine themselves to their
secured fortresses. It is time they come out and acknowledge the
sacrifices of security forces and people. This is time to show that
they are concerned and capable to handle issues of national
integrity and importance. At this very stage the people need
assurance. They need the politicians to lead from the front and go
along with the army and people. Above all of us need that the
political leadership as well as our establishment should be
proactive in dealing with the menace of terrorism. Instead of
waiting and showing reaction on the activities of terrorists,
foresee and foil their plans.
It may not be an easy job to handle but when the nation stands
together then everything is possible. This is the time when
awareness campaign be launched, seminars, workshops, talk shows and
an active media can help to highlight the causes, implications in
the socio-economic, political, psychological and security context.
The clock is tickling, the time will pass and is not going to come
back to give another chance or opportunity to play our role in
countering terrorism.—Rawalpindi
Corruption, India tilt frets NATO
Fozia Niazi
Its ninth year the war in Afghanistan has been increasingly deadly
for US-NATO forces and faces waning public support in the United
States and allied nations. According to reports the Obama
administration is sending 1,000 additional troops in response to the
recommendation by US-NATO commander Gen. McChrsytal to send 40,000
more troops in Afghanistan but the General fears that rampant Karzai
government corruption may derail the fight against the Taliban and
al-Qaeda even if as many as 80,000 additional US troops are sent to
the war. Widespread frauds in the August 20 presidential election
threaten to scuttle the international strategy to combat the
burgeoning Taliban insurgency. The elections were marred by claims
of ballot box stuffing and voter coercion.
To Gen MacChrystal corruption can lead to rejecting the Karzai
government and, in some cases, aligning with rebel or insurgent
groups. That in turn creates chaos that can lead to security
problems and long-term instability. Discussions within the Obama
administration are ongoing about whether it is even possible to
“surge” enough troops to overcome the corruption and how crucial a
legitimate government in Afghanistan is to the overall war strategy.
Jay Parker, a Georgetown University foreign service professor and
retired Army colonel is of the opinion that sending in additional
troops would help secure Afghanistan, but only in the short term
because troops alone can’t fix the corruption which is the root of
the problem. Gen Stanley McChrystal’s 66-page report plainly points
to the unbridled Indian interference in Afghanistan, saying “India’s
political and economic influence is increasing in Afghanistan,
including significant development efforts and financial investment.”
His report tacitly acknowledges the Pakistani imperatives to counter
the Indian moves on the Afghan chessboard in order to safeguard its
vital national interests. “The current Afghan government is
perceived by Islamabad to be pro-Indian. Increasing Indian influence
is likely to exacerbate regional tensions and encourage Pakistani
counter measures.” In a clear acknowledgement of Pakistan’s genuine
security concerns, Gen. McChrystal’s report refers to the manner in
which India’s subversive machinations seeking to destabilize
Pakistan are cross grained to the US strategic interests in
Afghanistan. “Stability in Pakistan is essential, not only in its
own right, but also to enable progress in Afghanistan. While the
existence of safe havens in Pakistan doesn’t guarantee ISAF failure,
Afghanistan does require Pakistan’s cooperation and action against
violent militancy, particularly against those groups active in
Afghanistan.”
The realization is prevailing that the increasing Indian
interference is further adding the problems which could also affect
America’s interests in the long run. This necessitates building up
pressure on New Delhi by the international community to remain in
limits and close down the consulates established to launch
anti-Pakistan activities in connivance with the Northern Alliance
and other agencies. Troops surge in Afghanistan is not the solution
but only a help to delay the defeat.—Via email
Obama’s Afghan strategy
Dr Abdul Ruff Colachal
US President Obama has been, for quite some time, trying to end the
terror wars being illegally waged by NATO in Islamic world. In order
to force President Obama not to wind up terror wars in Afghanistan,
Iraq and Pakistan, the NATO has devised a strategy to ask for more
troops so that Obama could keep on the hold his total withdrawal
plans, exposing the US international fraudulence, terror instincts
and mischief under Republican regime. The NATO states occupying
Afghanistan and killing Muslims there are pressing the US President
Obama to quickly act upon the new strategy in Afghanistan readied by
the NATO for more troops. NATO war was launched in 2001 to oust the
Taliban from Afghanistan following the 11 September attacks on the
US. War lords in USA are unhappy Obama did not pledge to increase
troop numbers as his top general in Afghanistan wants or opt for a
strategy of merely targeting al-Qaeda leaders. Obama seems to be
eager to wind up the terror wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan,
mainly because he is more or less convinced of the terror wars being
illegal and immoral. Meanwhile, the NATO hawks are trying all tricks
to force Obama to release more troops to Afghanistan. —Via email
