Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Taliban 'angry' at missile strike
The Taliban are unusually angry about the latest suspected US missile strike in Pakistan, indicating that a top militant may have died, officials and residents said as the death toll from the attack rose to 24.
The US has ramped up cross-border strikes on alleged al-Qaida and Taliban targets along Pakistan's side of the border with Afghanistan, straining the nations' anti-terrorism alliance.
The US says pockets of Pakistan's border region, especially in its semiautonomous tribal areas, are bases for militants attacking American and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
It has pushed nuclear-armed Pakistan to eliminate the safe havens.
The frontier region is believed to be a possible hiding place for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri, and several Arab militants were said to be among the dead in Friday's strike in North Waziristan tribal region.
Two Pakistani intelligence officials said that over the weekend two people wounded in the attack died at a hospital in Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to news media.
Based on information from informants and agents in the field, the intelligence officials said the Taliban appeared unusually perturbed over the latest attack.
The anger was a signal that a senior militant may have been killed, but that has yet to be confirmed, they said.
The insurgents were moving aggressively in the area while using harsh language against locals, including calling them "saleable commodities" -- a reference to people serving as government spies, the officials said.
Two area residents said Taliban fighters had warned people not to discuss the missile strike or inspect the rubble at the site. The residents asked not to be named for fear of Taliban retaliation.
Pakistanis eye US Presidential Elections
Pakistanis eye US presidential candidates
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani wish list for the next U.S. president might read something like this: an end to cross-border strikes on militants, more aid for the country's battered economy and greater support for its elected government.
But few people here expect to be satisfied whoever enters the White House — a sign of the difficulties ahead for the U.S. in winning public sympathy at a critical time in the war on terrorism.
Pakistanis, many of whom speak English well, have been treated to considerable coverage of the U.S. race via local newspapers and television channels. Few, however, are seeing substantive differences between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
"Maybe Obama appears harsher, but McCain is sugarcoating the same bitter pill," said Anwar Mahmood, a small business owner among many ordinary Pakistanis, analysts and politicians interviewed by Associated Press reporters across the country.
Dealing with nuclear-armed Pakistan and the spillover of the Afghanistan war into its territory is one of the biggest foreign policy challenges awaiting the next president.
With the Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan, the U.S. is pushing Pakistan to eliminate militant bases on its side of the border and has carried out a surge of missile strikes against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban targets.
Pakistan is battling rising terrorist violence of its own, underscored by last month's bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that killed 54 people.
The Muslim nation of 170 million is hit by soaring inflation, food costs and deficits, while the government — less than seven months old — is still struggling to establish its authority.
Obama has openly supported U.S. strikes in the lawless and rugged border region, and has questioned whether Pakistan has done enough to fight militants despite receiving more than $10 billion in U.S. aid since 2001.
McCain says engaging Pakistanis is vital to defeating extremists, and that cross-border strikes shouldn't be discussed "out loud."
His vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, raised eyebrows when she appeared to endorse Obama's more hawkish tone on Pakistan. McCain was forced to defend the remark, saying it was not meant to be taken as a policy statement.
"I don't see much difference in essence in their approaches, so I don't see any change in the policy, whoever comes to power," said Khalid Mahmood, a longtime Pakistani diplomat.
Many fear the financial crisis roiling America could mean a drop in aid and trade with Pakistan.
"Things are going to be worse for Pakistan in the post-election scenario," predicted Irum Khan, a 28-year-old psychologist in Karachi. "The new U.S. government will face immense financial pressure and they will not be able to look after Pakistani interests, financial or political."
Obama has several advantages in Pakistani eyes.
He is a Democrat, offering hope for a fresh American foreign policy after eight years of President Bush, who is deeply unpopular in Pakistan.
The notion of a U.S. president with African roots is attractive to many Pakistanis, who believe he may be more receptive to developing world concerns.
Some like Obama because they believe — incorrectly — that he is Muslim.
McCain is seen as too close to Bush, but his less aggressive stance on the cross-border operations has been noted, while his foreign policy experience and military background are also cited as pluses.
"He is right in saying it is impossible to win the war on terror without the support of the people of Pakistan," said Shahid Rana, a lawyer in Lahore.
Pakistan government officials have been careful not to publicly support one candidate versus the other, noting they'll have to work with the winner, whoever he is.
Farzana Raja, a senior member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, said the next U.S. president should support democracy in Pakistan, something that would be helped by more economic aid.
The Bush administration supported Pervez Musharraf, a one-time army chief who took power in a 1999 military coup. He quit Pakistan's presidency in August to avoid impeachment.
Cutting off aid "will not combat the terrorism in our country," Raja added.
Pakistanis are savvy enough to distinguish between election rhetoric and the realities of office.
"The real face will emerge after either of them comes into power," said Ahsan Saeed, a 45-year-old from Karachi.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha - The new DG ISI
Change has finally taken place at the ISI top. Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha is replacing Lt Gen Nadeem Taj as the Director General Inter Services Intelligence. Having served as the Director General Military Operations (DG MO) Gen Pasha is a man of action and well known for his professional skills. He has served also as the Military Adviser, Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the UN. Apart from these postings in words of the UN Secretary General’s office he has had a distinguished 30-plus year career in the Pakistani Army. He has commanded an infantry division, a mechanized infantry brigade, an infantry battalion and has served as the Chief Instructor of the Command and Staff College of the Pakistani Army. From 2001-2002, General Pasha also served as a Contingent and Sector Commander with UNAMSIL, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. In this position, he was responsible for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former rebel groups. General Pasha, born in 1952, is married and has three children.
Now the actual question is that with such a distinguished career does anyone have a problem with the appointment? Apparently yes. Since he is relieving an alleged Musharraf loyalist from the key job, there evidently is heartburning in his support circles. A section of the press and the blogosphere is implying that the change has been brought upon the insistence of Washington. Folks, this is a lie. The US has had no problems with previous ISI chief either. If there was any problem it was the alleged Taliban appeasers among the operatives. The change has come because the Army Chief wants to depoliticize the military institutions and wants to restore the institution’s integrity damaged by a prolonged military rule and Gen Taj’s public perception was essentially partisan. That is two plus two folks. It is good for the ISI that we now have a person of Gen Pasha’s calibre heading the institution. Meanwhile Gen Taj will head Gujranwala Corps, another prestigious appointment. Folks, one appeal too. The country is very very seriously polarized. Let us not exacerbate the situation further by random guessing. Let us hope that the emerging order brings literal order.
Marriott Marines Mystery: Why hide the secret steel boxes
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani authorities are trying to solve the riddle of US Marines and their mysterious steel cases, which were shifted to the Marriott Hotel four days before the hotel was reduced to ashes by the worst ever terrorist attack in the history of the federal capital.
These authorities want to ascertain if it was a routine exercise or part of some special mission that does not have the approval of the Government of Pakistan.
The US embassy insists the activity witnessed was a team of support personnel that often and routinely precede and/or accompany certain US officials. However, the government authorities probing the matter have already got most of the facts ascertained as mentioned in The News story on Sunday.
According to an official source, the authorities were told that mysterious activity of the US Marines took place around 12:00 midnight on 16 September. Already the government has got the information that several rooms on the fourth floor of the Marriott were in permanent use of the US authorities. Three of these rooms were said to be inter-connected and contained some intelligence equipment and other material allegedly used for espionage.
Sadruddin Hashwani, the owner of the Marriott, when approached denied that the Americans had any such presence in the hotel and said that like any such hotel in the world his guests included people of different nationalities. “Why focus on the Americans unnecessarily,” Hashwani wondered. He refuted that the US embassy had permanently hired several rooms in his hotel.
The US embassy spokesperson Lou Fintor, however, when asked if the US embassy had hired several rooms in the Marriott Hotel for years, said in his written reply that the US embassy has been a frequent customer of the Marriott Hotel for many years. On any given day, he said, there were employees of the American embassy and official American visitors staying at the hotel. “There is nothing unusual, secretive or ‘mysterious’ about this,” he said.
When asked if three of these permanently hired rooms were interconnected, Fintor said, “For our frequent visiting delegations, the embassy often rented adjoining rooms — as we often do in other hotels in Pakistan and in the world.”
Responding to unconfirmed reports that the US-rented rooms in the Marriott Hotel were being used by the CIA for espionage purposes, he said, “Unfortunately, far too many things have been ‘said’ that have absolutely no basis in fact. There is no truth whatsoever in allegations that covert activity was taking place on the part of the United States government.”
The spokesman said that these allegations are inaccurate, irresponsible, baseless and completely without any foundation whatsoever.
About the Marines and the steel cases which were reported to have been shifted to the hotel between the night of 16 and 17 September and whether these Marines and the suitcases were in the hotel on the day of the blast or evacuated before, he said, “A team of support personnel often and routinely precede and/or accompany certain US government officials. They often carry communication and office equipment required to support large delegations, such as high-level administration officials and members of the US Congress.”
He added that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would travel with communications equipment. “It is quite possible that some saw this communications equipment moved into the hotel. This equipment would leave with the CJCS. If the equipment was transported in full public view then obviously there was no attempt made to conceal its movement.”
Witnessed by many, including a PPP MNA and his friends, a US embassy’s truckload of steel boxes was unloaded and shifted inside the Marriott Hotel on September 16 midnight only after Mike Mullen, the US Admiral, had met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and others in Islamabad and had already left. Both the main gates (the entrance and the exit) of the hotel were closed while no one except the US Marines was either allowed to go near the truck or get the steel boxes unloaded or shift them inside the hotel. These steel boxes were not being passed through the scanners installed at the entrance of the hotel’s lobby, and were reportedly shifted to the fourth and fifth floors of the Marriott.
The US embassy spokesman also confirmed that the Marriott rooms, which were in use of the US officials, had the communication and office equipment, which were transported for use by Admiral Mullen.
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani authorities are trying to solve the riddle of US Marines and their mysterious steel cases, which were shifted to the Marriott Hotel four days before the hotel was reduced to ashes by the worst ever terrorist attack in the history of the federal capital.
These authorities want to ascertain if it was a routine exercise or part of some special mission that does not have the approval of the Government of Pakistan.
The US embassy insists the activity witnessed was a team of support personnel that often and routinely precede and/or accompany certain US officials. However, the government authorities probing the matter have already got most of the facts ascertained as mentioned in The News story on Sunday.
According to an official source, the authorities were told that mysterious activity of the US Marines took place around 12:00 midnight on 16 September. Already the government has got the information that several rooms on the fourth floor of the Marriott were in permanent use of the US authorities. Three of these rooms were said to be inter-connected and contained some intelligence equipment and other material allegedly used for espionage.
Sadruddin Hashwani, the owner of the Marriott, when approached denied that the Americans had any such presence in the hotel and said that like any such hotel in the world his guests included people of different nationalities. “Why focus on the Americans unnecessarily,” Hashwani wondered. He refuted that the US embassy had permanently hired several rooms in his hotel.
The US embassy spokesperson Lou Fintor, however, when asked if the US embassy had hired several rooms in the Marriott Hotel for years, said in his written reply that the US embassy has been a frequent customer of the Marriott Hotel for many years. On any given day, he said, there were employees of the American embassy and official American visitors staying at the hotel. “There is nothing unusual, secretive or ‘mysterious’ about this,” he said.
When asked if three of these permanently hired rooms were interconnected, Fintor said, “For our frequent visiting delegations, the embassy often rented adjoining rooms — as we often do in other hotels in Pakistan and in the world.”
Responding to unconfirmed reports that the US-rented rooms in the Marriott Hotel were being used by the CIA for espionage purposes, he said, “Unfortunately, far too many things have been ‘said’ that have absolutely no basis in fact. There is no truth whatsoever in allegations that covert activity was taking place on the part of the United States government.”
The spokesman said that these allegations are inaccurate, irresponsible, baseless and completely without any foundation whatsoever.
About the Marines and the steel cases which were reported to have been shifted to the hotel between the night of 16 and 17 September and whether these Marines and the suitcases were in the hotel on the day of the blast or evacuated before, he said, “A team of support personnel often and routinely precede and/or accompany certain US government officials. They often carry communication and office equipment required to support large delegations, such as high-level administration officials and members of the US Congress.”
He added that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would travel with communications equipment. “It is quite possible that some saw this communications equipment moved into the hotel. This equipment would leave with the CJCS. If the equipment was transported in full public view then obviously there was no attempt made to conceal its movement.”
Witnessed by many, including a PPP MNA and his friends, a US embassy’s truckload of steel boxes was unloaded and shifted inside the Marriott Hotel on September 16 midnight only after Mike Mullen, the US Admiral, had met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and others in Islamabad and had already left. Both the main gates (the entrance and the exit) of the hotel were closed while no one except the US Marines was either allowed to go near the truck or get the steel boxes unloaded or shift them inside the hotel. These steel boxes were not being passed through the scanners installed at the entrance of the hotel’s lobby, and were reportedly shifted to the fourth and fifth floors of the Marriott.
The US embassy spokesman also confirmed that the Marriott rooms, which were in use of the US officials, had the communication and office equipment, which were transported for use by Admiral Mullen.
Pakistan and Worldپاکستان اور عالم اسلام اور مغربی دنیا
میں نے یہ بلاگ اس لیے بنایا ہے کہ مجھے پاکستان کے بارے میں بہت سی باتیں کرنا ہوتی ہیں اس لیے میں نے سوچا کہ ایک بلاگ بنا لیتا ہوں جس میں اپنی باتیں اور پاکستان کے بارے میں ہر دلچسپ اور قابل غور باتوں کو شیر کر لیا کروں۔ پاکستان کی موجودہ حالت اور اس کی پالیسیاں اور پھر ان پالیسیوں کے پاکستانی عوام پر اثرات و مضمرات کا چرچا بھی چلتا رہے گا عالم اسلام اور پاکستان کے بارے میں مغربی میڈیا اور مغربی دنیا میں جو تاثر پیدا کر دیا گیا ہے اس پر بھی باتیں ہوتی رہیں گی اس بلاگ میں ہر اس آدمی کو خوش آمدید کہا جاےٗ گا جو پاکستان کے بارے میں کچھ کہنا چاھتا ہے عالم اسلام کے بارے میں لکھنا چاھتا ہے اور ان سب موضوعات کے بارے میں جاننا چاھتا ہے اس کے ساتھ اس بلاگ میں دنیا میں ہونیوالی ہر اہم تبدیلی اور واقعات پر بھی نظر لکھنے کی کوشش کروں گا
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