Comments on 'The Washington Post'

2011-06-20T22:14:00.001-07:00

You are cordially invited to view my comments at the links below on articles and news published in "The Washington Post" from 2007 to date. WP is the most influential newspaper in Washington with estimated daily circulation of a million copies.

COMMENT:

U.S. Fears Greater Turmoil In Region |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 12/31/2007 8:38:36 AM

The best choice that the president now has for the last time around is to become 100% neutral in the... more >

COMMENT:
U.S. Fears Greater Turmoil In Region |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 12/31/2007 8:31:22 AM

The politically conscious people in Pakistan, by and large, do not buy what the U.S. government fear... more >

COMMENT:
Bhutto Assassination Sparks Chaos |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 12/27/2007 1:10:41 PM

Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto's tragic death must have jolted the whole Pakistani nation. It is part of P... more >

COMMENT:
The Troubled Afghan-Pakistani Border |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 12/7/2007 4:14:09 AM

I suggest the Americans and the U.S. government reads http://american-asian-agenda.blogspot.com

COMMENT:
The Troubled Afghan-Pakistani Border |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 12/7/2007 4:09:58 AM

Jayshree Bajoria has done a good job in digging out facts and, indirectly indicating fallacies, to w... more >

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/community/mypost/index.html?newspaperUserId=mumtazapiracha

COMMENT:
Clinton visits Pakistan in bid to improve ties |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 10/28/2009 3:28:12 AM

Every US dignitary that visits Pakistan speaks of extremism, militancy and terrorism. Nobody speaks ... more >

COMMENT:
In Pakistan, Militants Attack Army Bastion |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 10/11/2009 11:55:37 AM

The suicidal terrorist attack on General Headquarters, popularly known as the GHQ, houses the office... more >

COMMENT:
Pakistan's Critical Hour |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 5/5/2009 3:20:09 AM

I fully endorse Ahmed Rashid's opening statement in the first para of his article but the question i... more >

COMMENT:
Obama Outlines Afghan Strategy |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 3/27/2009 1:27:25 PM

President Obama's plan extracts reproduced below will certainly and absolutely NEED good governance ... more >

COMMENT:
Pakistani Leader Bows to Pressure |
washingtonpost.com
Posted : 3/16/2009 1:25:22 PM

"The move reflected the weakening position of President Asif Ali Zardari, a key U.S. ally." The U.S.... more >

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/community/mypost/index.html?newspaperUserId=goodgovernance&plckPersonaPage=PersonaHome

Comment on: U.S.-Pakistan relations frayed even further with case of jailed diplomat at 2/9/2011 2:12 AM EST

More and more pressure on the government of Pakistan to release Raymond Davis will only make things worst for the US. The PPP-led coalition at the centre and the PMLN-lead coalition in Punjab, where the accused is held, cannot release the accused without the court verdict. Pakistanis are not vindictive but would not tolerate unwarranted interference from the US or flouting of the law. It would be better if the US lets the court in Pakistan decide what to do with the accused in a free, fair and transparent manner. That would help in improving the image of the American administration in Pakistan and worldwide.

Comment on: How you can help flood victims in Pakistan at 8/31/2010 6:33 AM EDT

Good Governance Forum, the First and the Only interactive think tank on governance in Pakistan, has posted this list on its blogsite http://pakistanfloodvictims.blogspot.com. There are also other organizations, domestic as well as foreign, posted on our blogsite.

Comment on: Arrests suggest U.S. Muslims, like those in Europe, can be radicalized abroad at 12/14/2009 10:21 AM EST

Terrorism by Muslims is a complex phenomenon and demands an independently-conducted authentic research, analysis, and interpretation for designing and implementing corrective measures by the respective governments in close liaison with the community leaders including the Muslim clergy.

It is often observed in Pakistan that extremism, militancy and terrorism are rooted in abject poverty, unemployment and underemployment, absence of basic amenities, lack of modern education, socio-economic injustice and violation of human rights enshrined in the country's constitution, and above all, absence of mutual understanding and cooperation between the public representatives and the masses. Improving governance is the ONLY solution to Pakistan'woes and worries. Backing of the government on the part of the US and the West of the enormously corrupt, incompetent and crooked politicians sends a disturbing message to the civil society and the masses at large in Pakistan.

It needs to be understood that extremism, militancy and terrorism are different modes of expressing one's anger against one's environment. Human frustration, especially amongst the youth, starts with extremism and ends with terrorism.

It needs to be noted that religion plays a pivotal role in the lives of Muslims of all castes and classes. There is a growing perception in the Muslim world that the US-sponsored 'war on terror' is in essence a 'war on Islam and Muslims.' Labeling extremists, militants and terrorists as Talibans and Jihadists is construed as insult to Islam and the Muslims. There is no such word as Talibans. It is Taliban, the plural form of the word Talib which means seeker of knowledge, especially Islamic theology. Likewise, there is no such word as Jihadists. The word Jihad means struggle and the struggle is aimed at achieving freedom from atrocities of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Jihad is one of the fundamental tenets of Islam and using it for extremists, militants and terrorists is perceived to be derogatory and insulting to the Muslims and their religion Islam.

Comment on: Obama: U.S. security is still at stake at 12/2/2009 3:01 AM EST

President Obama's assurance in the following words may have a soothing effect on the battered nerves of the government and the people of Pakistan. "In the past, we too often defined our relationship with Pakistan narrowly," he said. "Those days are over. Moving forward, we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a foundation of mutual interests, mutual respect and mutual trust."

However, it is not just the words that would matter for too long but the delivery of the commitment to the people of Pakistan in letter and spirit. Commitment is not just to be heard but also to be seen on the ground by the Pakistani people.

There is no doubt that the Afghan conflict cannot be resolved by the US and the Nato by the use of military force alone. The military might has to be backed fully by political dialogue with the stakeholders in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. The extent to which the political dialogue succeeds will determine the success of the US and the Nato offensive within Afghanistan and along the Pak-Afghan border in the tribal belt.

It goes without saying that the US would have to focus on building a new relationship with the people of Pakistan, not just the government and the military, based on "mutual interests, mutual respect and mutual trust."

It is good that the US has finally realized that it is the government and the people of Afghanistan who have the primary responsibility to do the nation-building of their war-torn country. That would be possible only when the present Afghan government improves governance, strips itself of the alleged deep-rooted corruption, and extends cordiality and understanding to the stakeholders within and outside Afghanistan.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, a great majority of the people would go for elimination of extremism, militancy and terrorism through home-grown strategies, plans and programs. The US might play the role of a catalyst but not that of the Master of the destiny of the people. The people of Pakistan have immense respect for its military and largely approve the way the military is handling its operations in the troubled areas. So, it would be better for the US and the Nato to let the Pakistan's military deal with the conflict in close liaison with the civilian government.

The civilian government in Pakistan, perceived to be weak by a section of the US and the Western media, should be able to extend a forceful helping hand to the government and the people of Afghanistan by first drastically improving governance in its own homeland. A civilian government needs to be fully backed by a majority of its own people to do what is needed to be done in playing its pivotal role in the most volatile region of the world today.

Comment on: DIGEST at 11/30/2009 2:21 AM EST

President Zardari is left with only two options. First, he transfers all the powers back to the prime minister that had been usurped by his predecessor former president Gen Pervez Musharraf and retain his constitutional role as the ceremonial head of state. He will remain in the presidency and enjoy immunity to trial for numerous criminal and corruption cases against him. Second, he resigns and leaves the country or face the court cases as an ordinary citizen.

The first option is very likely to be exercised. President Zardari will neither have to quit the presidency nor leave the country and will also be able to hold onto his position as the co-chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party.

Mr Zardari has been under constant pressure from his main adversary Mian Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) to do away with the 17th amendment, remove the bar on 3rd time prime ministership of the country and implement the charter of democracy signed between Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif while both were out of power and out of country and Gen Pervez Musharraf was in power.

Comment on: Clinton visits Pakistan in bid to improve ties at 10/28/2009 3:28 AM EDT

Every US dignitary that visits Pakistan speaks of extremism, militancy and terrorism. Nobody speaks of improving governance in Pakistan, stopping massive corruption from top to bottom, cutting edges of maladministration at all levels of the bureaucracy in collusion with the parliamentarians, feudal lords and politicians, and removing gross disparities in the economic, social, political, religious and constitutional rights and privileges of the 90% of the population of Pakistan who have no say in the working of the government at any level in the country.

The US can NEVER improve its image and impact amongst the people of Pakistan UNLESS and UNTIL it starts working with the true and dedicated representatives of the people who belong to the civil society, not the so-called deaf and dumb parliamentarians.

Good Governance Forum, the Largest, Most Diversified and Most Globally Searched platform, has been endeavouring to bring together the educated and enlightened class in Pakistan to join hands and work together for improving governance in Pakistan. Our weblog is ranked amongst TOP 3 on both Google and Yahoo! out of millions of listings under the search term good governance forum.

Our greatest hurdle is the lack of support from the government to listen to us and to take recommended measures to address burning public issues of paramount importance. We have to seek remedies from the superior judiciary. Even then, the orders of the superior judiciary have to be implemented through the bureaucracy which is highly politicized, corrupt and incompetent.

There is also no financial support from any non-partisan source in and out of Pakistan to enable us to carry on our mission. We have to largely depend on our meager self-generated resources. As such, a lot many actions cannot be taken for the welfare of the people.

Comment on: In Pakistan, Militants Attack Army Bastion at 10/11/2009 11:55 AM EDT

The suicidal terrorist attack on General Headquarters, popularly known as the GHQ, houses the offices of the top brass of the Pakistan Army including the Chief of the Army Staff. It was obviously a symbolic but deadly attack to manifest vulnerability of the Pakistan Army's establishment. The GHQ has never been the target of such an attack in its history.

It is time for the stakeholders to think about the ongoing war with the Talibans in and out of Afghanistan and their supporters within and outside Pakistan.

The people of Pakistan has suffered more than enough since the US started its War on Terror in 2001 and launched an attack on Afghanistan. The people in general reject militancy, extremism and terrorism but they also question the involvement of Pakistan in the American War on Terror. What has Pakistan and its people got in return for their support to the US War on Terror is a big question mark in the minds of the people, in both rural and urban areas. The lives of the majority have remained infested with poverty, unemployment, hyper-inflation, and lack of basic amenities such as potable drinking water, electricity, gas, housing, transport, education, health and, above all, food.

Good governance is nowhere in sight. Transparency, rule of law and accountability remain far-fetched dreams. The change-over from the military rule to the civilian rule has hardly brought any material change in the lives of the people. Instead, the economic, social and political conditions have gone from bad to worse.

Comment on: Pakistan's Critical Hour at 5/5/2009 3:20 AM EDT

I fully endorse Ahmed Rashid's opening statement in the first para of his article but the question is: who is responsible for the present sorry state of Pakistan. The US cant take the blame off its back. It supported every military coup in Pakistan: it supported every civilian dictatorship. It never bothered for once to demand good governance in return for its military and non-military aid to Pakistan. It is for the first time that President Obama has spoken of accountability and good governance in relation to Pakistan.

The ongoing insurgency in Pakistan is the direct outcome of neglect of people's rights as citizens. Over the past 60 years, the smaller provinces always suffered in economic, social and political development, not because of the big brother Punjab, so often accused of stepmotherly treatment, but because of their own feudal lords who did not let development take place in their constituencies. The feudal lords occupied the parliament, president's house, prime minister's house, governor's house and chief minister's house but remained aloof to the miseries of the people in their home provinces.

Pakistan has come to a pass where it has become imperative to launch both short-term and long-term development plans in Balochistan, NWFP, and interior of Sindh and Punjab. This will have to be done on war-footing through good governance of the country's resources, internal as well as external. At the same, social, economic and judicial justice will have to be imparted to the people across the country. According to the statistics released by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and published in today's paper, there are 15.65 million cases pending in courts in the country. For how long? Only the sufferers know. The under-trials spend the maximum of their sentences or more in many cases but remain in captivity in heavily over-crowded prisons devoid of basic amenities.

The entire civilian bureaucracy needs to be revamped, retrieved from the clutches of the politicians, cleansed of the black sheep within, and made accountability to the core of their functions.

The politicians need to be grilled to take the black spots out of their heads and hearts. They must be made accountability for their deeds. They must surrender all ill-gotten money or go to prison. It is a shame that our billionaire politicians misdeclare their assets and liabilities and evade taxes to the utmost.

A massive reforms program is needed to cleanse the country of corrupt, incompetent and unprincipled politicians, bureaucracy, and feudal lords as fast as possible.

Comment on: Obama Outlines Afghan Strategy at 3/27/2009 1:27 PM EDT

President Obama's plan extracts reproduced below will certainly and absolutely NEED good governance practices, translated into plans, progrms and practices, short-term as well as long-term, in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Our question to the Obama administration is: how and when and by whom good governance practices will be conceived, programmed and implemented and how and by whom good governance practices will be monitored, evaluated and reinforced.

There is no doubt in our opinion that both Pakistan and Afghanistan have all along been plagued by maladministration of resources over the past several years.

"In going forward," he said, "we will not blindly stay the course," but will monitor progress with a series of benchmarks and metrics imposed on Pakistan, Afghanistan and U.S. efforts. "And after years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al-Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders," Obama said.

"Lawmakers and the administration itself have questioned the ability and will of the Afghan government to fight corruption and the narcotics trade and have criticized the Pakistani military's performance against al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups. U.S. intelligence officials believe that elements of Pakistan's intelligence service continue to actively collaborate with the Taliban."

"We'll consistently assess our efforts to train Afghan security forces, and our progress in combating insurgents," Obama said. "We will measure the growth of Afghanistan's economy, and its illicit narcotics production. And we will review whether we are using the right tools and tactics to make progress towards accomplishing our goals."

Comment on: Pakistani Leader Bows to Pressure at 3/16/2009 1:25 PM EDT

"The move reflected the weakening position of President Asif Ali Zardari, a key U.S. ally." The U.S. needs to learn by now that it has to make Pakistan an ally, not an individual head of state or government.

I greatly appreciate the relentless efforts of the US Ambassador in Pakistan and the US Secretary of State to defuse the crisis which might have led to a bloody revolution in the country.

The lawyers' movement for the restoration of the deposed judges was the longest, most persistent and highly principled in the history of Pakistan. It lasted for two years inspite of all government's machinations to make holes in it.

The Pakistani nation has once again proved that it is composed of vibrant, conscious and freedom-loving people. The civil society rose to the occasion with overwhelming support on the streets, on the Internet and on the forums demanding independence of judiciary in the country.

Good Governance Forum spearheaded the Internet campaign two years back via weblogs on the issue and emails to create awareness and generate support amongst the various segments of the society. Our weblogs included http://windsofchangepakistan.blogspot.com,http://judiciaryinpakistan.blogspot.com, http://definingmomentpakistan.blogspot.com, http://reclaimingdemocracypakistan.blogspot.com, http://politicaltroikapakistan.blogspot.com, http://changingtimespakistan.blogspot.com and http://ggovernance.blogspot.com. Today, the Good Governance Forum is the largest, most diversified and globally-searched platform of the educated and enlightened people of Pakistan.

There should be no doubt that Mian Nawaz Sharif, the most popular political leader in Pakistan today, took the brave initiative to defy his detention by the government and lead the marchers. That single step proved to be a giant leap forward to push the government into the restoration of the deposed judges.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group)has all along vehemently supported the restoration of the judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts of the pre-emergency period.

Gen Kiyani, the Chief of Army Staff, played a pivotal role in strengthening the position of the Prime Minister Gilani and encouraging him to take the democratic route to resolve the issue.

I hope the future of Pakistan will now be in safe hands and bring peace, progress and prosperity to the nation.

Comment on: Pakistani Leader Bows to Pressure at 3/15/2009 12:42 PM EDT

To the best of my understanding, the US would prefer power-sharing between the PPP and the PMLN for the sake of continuity of the present civilian political setup and to ensure peace and stability at the same time; while the Pakistan military would prefer midterm elections to bring unity, cohesion and good governance in the country.

Absolute power never suits Pakistan; it breeds corruption, maladministration and stalls progress and prosperity to the people at large, irrespective of whether it is the civilian government or the military rule.

We need two-party system in Pakistan; one party in power and the other in opposition. The history tells us that military steps in whenever the party in power becomes unpopular with the people or with the military or with the US. There is no second choice. The party in power does not let the opposition play its role as a body to exercise checks and balances on the executive branch of the government and remain intact as a second choice.

It is so unfortunate that every government in Pakistan, civilian or military, has invariably resorted to the same tactics aimed at taming the bureaucracy, judiciary, parliament, media and military.

At this critical juncture, the long lasting solution lies in midterm elections under an interim multi-party national government with the support of the military and the independent election commission. It is only through fresh elections that the political parties/groups sitting outside the legislatures at the centre and the provinces can be inducted to bringabout national cohesion. Likewise, the representatives of smaller parties/groups in smaller provinces in particular can be given the opportunity to enter the legislatures with the support of the leading parties in the larger national interest. The general sense of deprivation in the smaller provinces especially in the rural areas can be minimized by the participation of the representatives of all parties/groups in the decision making of the federal and provincial governments.

A truce and patchup between the PPP and the PMLN is not likely to work. That time has already passed. The leader of the PMLN, Mian Nawaz Sharif, is now heading a mass people's movement rather than a merely lawyers' movement. That difference needs to be understood by all that matter in the politics and power of Pakistan.

At the moment, there is no check on the functioning of the government at the centre or the provinces. There is no will and no competence to address public issues. The whole country is beset with unbearably high inflation, widespread poverty, extremely poor law and order, economic stagnation or recession in the commercial and industrial sectors, absence of fair legal and social justice, political wranglings, sectarian, ethnic and religious divides of all sorts.

Pakistan has today become a country where the values of its founding fathers are fading away to give way to greed, corruption, class conflict, religious intolerance, social and economic inequalities and non-participation of the people in the decision-making of the government at all levels. Even the political party in power does not engage its rank-and-file echelons in the decision-making process of the party and the government.

As the Founder of the Pakistan's largest, most diversified and globally-searched Good Governance Forum, I call upon the US and its allies as well as the Pakistan military to help establish and strengthen the institutions i.e. parliament, judiciary and media to exercise checks and balances on the functioning of the executive. All the stakeholders have to act with absolute determination and indomitable will to put the country on its track as fast as possible.

Comment on: Pakistani Jets Scramble As India Hardens Tone at 12/24/2008 3:01 AM EST

Many may find it hard to believe but it is a matter of fact that this time around India is going to be in real trouble if it chooses to attack Pakistan across the international border between the two countries. Writing on the wall is more than obvious for those who can see and understand.

India is probably desperate to prove to the powers-that-be that it has the capability of becoming a super power in the region to counter the growing threat of China vis-a-vis the US interests. Mumbai attacks exposed India's vulnerability after its intelligence and security agencies failed miserably to prevent the Mumbai attacks and/or to deal with the attackers swiftly. It took Indian commandos 60 hours to finish off just nine attackers. The whole city of Mumbai was virtually paralysed for three days.

India is probably convinced that the Mumbai attacks were masterminded by the ISI, the most-feared super military intelligence agency of Pakistan. But India does not realize that if the ISI could practically disable Indian intelligence and security establishment with just 10 attackers, it could paralyse the whole of India with a thousand or so trained and equipped attackers.

Hiding behind its own incompetence to deal with the militant elements within its own territory, India is trying hard to convince the world that Pakistan is a 'epicentre of terrorism' and, as such, a major threat to the peace and security of the region and the world at large.

India is probably of the view that if the powerful wings of the ISI are clipped, it will cause a major dent to the Pakistan military's effectiveness vis-a-vis India.

India probably knows it for sure that the freedom fighters in the Occupied Kashmir, presumably backed by the ISI-trained militant organizations, are causing a heavy drain on the Indian military and intelligence resources. India probably fears that continued support to the freedom fighters might ultimately leave no choice but to grant independence to the Occupied Kashmir. Once that happens, then there will be no end to the public uprising in other parts of India seeking independence from Hindu domination.

Over the years, the minorities in India did not receive the same perks and privileges that the Hindu Brahmins obtained from the urban 'Shining India' syndrome. For instance, how many billionaires are there amongst the Muslims, Sikhs, Parsis, Budhists, and low-caste Hindus in India is something to be looked into to find the truth.

India needs to know that Pakistan military is now far more advanced than the 60's and 70's. It needs to know that this time around it will not be just the Pakistan military that will be fighting India but also other armed outfits to cause far more damage to India than India can probably imagine.

It must be understood by the US and the West that any Indian incursion into Pakistan might lead to a much bigger war involving China, Russia and Iran, directly or indirectly. India's win will certainly be stopped at all costs by these regional powers, side by side Pakistan. This time around, it will not be just an Indo-Pak War.

The US and Nato will be draining their resources if India is engaged in a bigger war. They may also lose Afghanistan. If they refrain from supporting India with military hardware, then India will be lost to them as well. This time around, it is going to be a totally different ball game altogether.

Comment on: Indian Official Points to Pakistan at 12/8/2008 4:38 AM EST

President-elect Barack Obama has disclosed to the American media that the US has received positive indications from the Pakistan's president and suggested strategic partnership amongst Pakistan, Afghanistan and India to counter terrorism. At the same time, he defended the right of every country to repel an attack on its territory.

I am no expert on homeland security but I can express an opinion on the basis of decades of investigative reporting as a freelancer.

The various public statements made so far by the officials of the Indian government have created doubts and suspicions about the authenticity of the investigation carried out by India.

Let me briefly take the readers to the glimpses of the news published.

1. It is alleged that the terrorists 10-12 in number reached the shores of Mumbai via a ship and a rubber boat. This version is indeed mind-boggling for three reasons. First, it will be sheer stupidity of the organizers of the attack to risk sending their men from Karachi and, that too, through high seas. It should have been a better choice to send the men through Occupied Kashmir. Second, it is not yet disclosed whether the men brought their huge paraphenalia of explosives and weapons with them or were provided these in Mumbai. Third, how come the coast guards or Indian Navy were unable to detect the terrorists when these landed at Mumbai harbour.

2. The alleged terrorists were fully aware of the routes and places in Mumbai and moved conveniently and comfortably without causing suspicion. That is most likely to happen with the local people than men from Karachi.

3. The alleged terrorists attacked the various places in pairs. A pair attacking a huge public place like a railway station is indeed astonishing.

4. It is not yet known as to what happened to the internal security of the two hotels attacked. Was there internal security at the hotels? Did the security men resisted the attack? What role did they play before, during and after the attack?

5. The alleged terorist arrested from the railway station is shown wearing a dress and shoes that normally a professional terrorist wont wear. There are no signs of anxiety, tension or fear on his face in the picture loaded on the web.

6. The Indian government came up with the allegations against Pakistan, sponsoring the attack directly or indirectly, within hours. How is that possible to establish for a vulnerable and apparently ill-informed security and intelligence network that failed to prevent the attacks.

7. The attacks must have come as a big jolt to the US who is apparently building up India to counter China, Russia and Iran in the region. The US may have to rethink its strategy. A country that cannot protect its borders and cities cant be trusted with the task of countering countries China, Russia and Iran.

Comment on: Pakistan Picks New Chief For Intelligence Agency at 9/30/2008 11:22 AM EDT

With a new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in place, it becomes a matter of routine practice to reshuffle the army high command, especially when 2-star generals are promoted and need to be posted in their new rank.

General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, the new COAS, is moving very cautiously but confidently. He has multiple challenges on hand. He took over as COAS end of last year. He is faced with a new 6-month old, democratically-elected civilian government after almost 9 years of military rule. His military command is confronted with a high level of militancy in the tribal belt on Pak-Afghan border. The US is constantly demanding more and more from Pakistan in action against militants, placing both the military and the new government under tremendous pressure.

The people of Pakistan are, by and large, in favour of clamping a check on militancy but they are reluctant to accept the US version of militancy, involvement of the Taliban and the Al Qaeda. There has never been militancy of the present level in the tribal belt in Pakistan, as claimed now, prior to the US attack on Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.

The US and Nato should first put across their viewpoint to the people of Pakistan and convince them of the fairness of their demand before expecting more from Pakistan.

The US and Nato should realize that there is now a democratically-elected new government in Pakistan, answerable to the people, parliament and other political parties and interest groups.

Comment on: Governing Coalition Collapses in Pakistan at 8/25/2008 4:09 PM EDT

The un-natural alliance of the PPP and PML(N) has met with its natural death. Asif Zardari, undoubtedly, outwitted Mian Nawaz Sharif. He played his cards brilliantly well, nothwithstanding ethics, morals and values that are nowhere in Pakistan politics. Let us have a brief overview of what happened and what is going to happen.

1. AZ has proved to the 'powers that be' that he is " man of reconciliation". He honourably discharged the former president Pervez Musharraf inspite of the fact that he could have impeached him, pleasing America, Army and Agencies alike. He has brought ANP, JUI(F) and MQM to his fold.
2. AZ established his credentials by getting resolutions passed from the four provincial assemblies in favour of his becoming the next president.
3. AZ successfully resisted the restoration of deposed judges particularly that of Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in line with the wishes of America and Agencies.
4. AZ let the army move into the tribal areas to pursue and capture the militants or terrorists.
5. AZ appointed Wajid Shamsul Hassan and Hussain Haqqani as Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK and Pakistan's Ambassador to the US respectively. Both gentlemen belong to the media.
6. AZ despatched the PM to the US to assure the US administration (White House, Pentagon, Congress, CIA, Media) that his party will continue to remain on the trail of the terrorists and remain allied with the US on its 'War on Terror.'
7. AZ has been visiting the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad every ten days as reported by Anjum Niaz from Washington as published in the 'DAWN' Karachi.
8. AZ will retain the options and use them when inevitable to disqualify Mian Nawaz Sharif from contesting the NA seat and Mian Shehbaz Sharif from retaining chief ministership of Punjab on the basis of his election from Bhakkar seat (both issues are already lying with the Election Commission for adjudication).
9. AZ will avoid head-on collision with the MNS for the time being and try to live with his adversary till he is fully entrenched in the domestic politics and foreign relations.

What is going to happen NOW is a big question in the mind of every patriotic, politically conscious and concerned Pakistani. Let me briefly express my personal views.

1. PML(N) will obviously leave the federal government and let PPP keep the presidency, prime ministership and the cabinet and come up with its performance, good or bad, on its own merits.
2. PML(N) will sit on the Opposition benches in the National Assembly but will not unnecessarily embarrass the PPP government.
3. PML(N) will do its best to keep the Punjab government by adding defectors from the PML(Q) to replace the PPP supporters.
4. PML(N) will continue to focus on the restoration of the deposed judges and make as much noise as possible without knowing that neither the America and nor the Army and the Agencies are interested in the restoration of the deposed judges. The public is also fast losing its interest in the issue which appears to be insoluble.
5. PPP will not attempt to dislodge the PML(N) government in the Punjab for the time being and wait for the right time to strike, depending upon the opportunity and the behaviour of the PML(N) in the NA and the Punjab.
6. PML(N) will become a regional party whereas the PPP will become a national party.
7. PML(Q) will keep its options open till the last minute to side with the PML(N) or PPP, openly or covertly. It will have real bargaining power if it is able to hold back its forward block from joining the PML(N) in Punjab.
8. Mian Nawaz Sharif will be reinforcing his image as a "man of confrontation" if he decides to go on a collision course with the PPP in Isb or Punjab. His previous track record is already known to the people in Pakistan and abroad.
9. PML(N) re-alliance with APDM will be suicidal at its best for damaging its reputation at home and abroad.

So long as the political and constitutional issues remain unsolved and peaceful co-existence does not materialize among the leading political parties as well as the regional parties, Pakistan will remain in trouble and its people will remain in a state of anxiety, tension, depression, despondency and despair.

Comment on: U.S., Afghan Troops Leave Combat Outpost After Deadly Clash at 7/17/2008 8:32 AM EDT

It is an irony of fate that the people of Afghanistan who fought the Soviet Union for nine long years from 1979-1989 at an unprecedented human cost are being labelled terrorists, militants, and extremists by the U.S. The American public needs to dig into the history of the Soviet-Afghan War to view the great sacrifices Afghans made to oust the Soviet Union and pave the way for the U.S. domination in the region.

"Over 1 million Afghans were killed.5 million Afghans fled to Pakistan and Iran, 1/3 of the prewar population of the country. Another 2 million Afghans were displaced within the country. In the 1980s, one out of two refugees in the world was an Afghan.

Along with fatalities were 1.2 million Afghans disabled (mujahideen, government soldiers and noncombatants) and 3 million maimed or wounded (primarily noncombatants).

Irrigation systems, crucial to agriculture in Afghanistan's arid climate, were destroyed by aerial bombing and strafing by Soviet or Afghan communist forces. In the worst year of the war, 1985, well over half of all the farmers who remained in Afghanistan had their fields bombed, and over one quarter had their irrigation systems destroyed and their livestock shot by Soviet or Afghan Communist troops, according to a survey conducted by Swedish relief experts.

The population of Afghanistan's second largest city, Kandahar, was reduced from 200,000 before the war to no more than 25,000 inhabitants, following a months-long campaign of carpet bombing and bulldozing by the Soviets and Afghan communist soldiers in 1987. Land mines had killed 25,000 Afghans during the war and another 10-15 million land mines, most planted by Soviet and Afghan government forces, were left scattered throughout the countryside to kill and maim.

A great deal of damage was done to the civilian children population by land mines. A 2005 report estimated 3-4% of the Afghan population were disabled due to Soviet and Afghan communist land mines. In the city of Quetta, a survey of refugee women and children taken shortly after the Soviet withdrawal found over 80% of the children refugees unregistered and child mortality at 31%. Of children who survived, 67% were severely malnourished, with malnutrition increasing with age.

Critics of Soviet and Afghan communist forces describe their effect on Afghan culture as working in three stages: first, the center of customary Afghan culture, Islam, was pushed aside; second, Soviet patterns of life, especially amongst the young, were imported; third, shared Afghan cultural characteristics were destroyed by the emphasis on so-called nationalities, with the outcome that the country was split into different ethnic groups, with no language, religion, or culture in common.

The Geneva accords of 1988, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of the Soviet forces in early 1989, left the Afghan government in ruins. The accords had failed to address adequately the issue of the post-occupation period and the future governance of Afghanistan. The assumption among most Western diplomats was that the Soviet-backed government in Kabul would soon collapse; however, this was not to happen for another three years. During this time the Interim Islamic Government of Afghanistan (IIGA) was established in exile. The exclusion of key groups such as refugees and members of the Shiite community, combined with major disagreements between the different mujaheddin factions meant that the IIGA never succeeded in acting as a functional government.

Before the war Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Afghanistan was already one of the world's poorest nations. The prolonged conflict left Afghanistan ranked 170 out of 174 in the UNDP's Human Development Index, making the Afghanistan one of the least developed countries in the world.

Once the Soviets withdrew American interests in Afghanistan also halted. The US decided not to help with reconstruction of the country and instead the US handed over the interests of the country to its allies: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_afghan_war#Damage_to_Afghanistan).

The U.S. needs to realize that its intrusion into the tribal belt of Pakistan will make it another Vietnam. The cost in terms of money, men and materials could be phenomenal, maybe much more than what it cost the U.S. in Vietnam. Maybe, the war spreads and becomes the "War on Islam" instead of the "War on Terror" engulfing the entire Muslim world in an identical manner when the Muslims from all over the world had joined the Soviet-Afghan War or most commonly called Afghan Jihad in the Muslim world.

Will Russia, Iran and China let the Allied forces entrench themselves in the region is another multi-million dollar question.

Comment on: Musharraf Delivers a Fierce Denial at 1/4/2008 1:29 PM EST

President Musharraf's statements extracted from your article and our comments there on might be of interest to your readers.

"saying the government lacked both the means and the motive." Killing an easy target can not be a problem for a marksman especially in these modern times. As far as the motive is concerned, President Musharraf might not have a motive but his allies did. PML (Q) would have been swept by PPP and PML(N). MQM would have lost many seats in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. Maulana Fazlurrehman of JUI(F) would not have possibly got enough seats to form government in NWFP and Balochistan.

"I have been brought up in a very educated and civilized family which believes in values, which believes in principles, which believes in character," he said at a news conference for foreign journalists held at the president's house. "My family is not a family which believes in killing people." President Musharraf has time and again proved beyond doubt that he has no principles, no values and no character. He should just refresh his memory of not too distant events. He had committed himself to doff military uniform by Dec 2004. He did it in 2007. He professed he believed in independence of judiciary and yet he made an abortive attempt to dislodge the Chief Justice of Pakistan in March 2007. Again in Nov 2007, he imposed emergency as Chief of Army Staff and deposed all the dissenting judges of the Supreme and High Courts. He often said he believed in freedom of the press and the electronic media. He imposed serious restrictions on both under cover of emergency.

"Musharraf added that he did not think the nation's powerful intelligence services were capable of recruiting someone to carry out a suicide bombing against Bhutto." President has used the word "powerful" while referring to Pakistan's intelligence agencies. If the powerful intelligence agencies cannot do it, then who can?

"Instead, he again pinned responsibility on Islamic extremists, citing Baitullah Mehsud and Maulana Fazlullah, two pro-Taliban commanders who have created armies of radical followers in the country's restive northwest." President Musharraf is in the habit of blaming such forces for every wrong in the country but he has no proof. His government let Maulana Fazalullah have a hay-day in Swat for five months and then finished him off in five days. Why was he given five months to rally support and entrench himself in Swat?

"But Musharraf said that the allegation that Elahi, or anyone else from the government, had participated in the attack was "baseless," and that Scotland Yard investigators he had invited to probe the matter would not be pursuing that possibility." How does President Musharraf know that Scotland Yard will not pursue the possibility of government's involvement in the murder of Benazir Bhutto? Has he already set the terms of reference for the Scotland Yard?

"I would like to know how she died, ultimately," Musharraf said. "But I will not like anyone to go on a wild-goose chase and start creating a disturbance." How come the president does not know what happened to Benazir Bhutto when he has the best military intelligence agencies under his command? Why did the government prohibit live coverage of political rallies and gatherings by the private television channels a couple of days before the killing of Benazir Bhutto?

"I cannot say that I am very, very secure. There are people gunning for me," Musharraf said. "But I know how to protect myself." How does the president protect himself? If he knows how to protect himself, then why could'nt he do it for Benazir Bhutto?

President Musharraf cannot absolve himself and his government of the responsibility to protect the political leaders in particular and the citizens in general. The mayhem that was created in the country and particularly in Karachi after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto speaks abundantly about the gross negligence, ill-planning and incompetence of law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agencies should have had a contingency plan on hand to meet the situation. Besides, the agencies must have known about the assassination much before the public came to know about it. The people in Pakistan are wondering as to whether the carnage was also preplanned to create fear among the voters of the opposition parties and stop them from going to polling stations on Jan 8 or it was done to postpone the elections. On the one hand, MQM claims Karachi belongs to them and on the other hand it let the city be put to large-scale arson, looting, and rape. Or did PPP have so much of public support in Karachi to generate so much of hue and cry?

President Musharraf must realize that he and his government have a legal and constitutional obligation to protect the life, honour and property of all and sundry irrespective of caste, creed, ethnicity, and political affiliations.

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