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Ulterior motives against Afghanistan-Pakistan

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:29:40 +0000

Asif Haroon Raja

Ever since the troop drawdown plan announced by Obama in December 2010 starting July 2011 and completing in December 2014, I have been mentioning that the senior military leadership of USA and other power centres with vested interests may not stick to the timetable and may extend the stay. A cold war is gong on between Obama administration and Pentagon. Gen David Petraeus disagreed with Obama’s decision to withdraw 33000 US troops from Afghanistan by October 2012 and wanted slower pullout. Pentagon, ISAF leadership, US corporations, defence, security and construction contractors, drug mafia, Karzai regime, Afghan security forces, India and Israel are desirous of extended stay. Their selfish interests clash with political ambitions of Obama’s administration and aspirations of Afghans vying for freedom.

The US Generals doesn’t want to return home disgraced and defeated as had happened in Vietnam. They are least concerned about the poor state of US economy, the continuing bloodshed, hazards faced by soldiers in the field and adverse world opinion. They are obsessed with the idea of victory in whatever shape, which they know cannot be achieved within the left over time of three years. Their heavy salaries and drug profits are added attractions to prolong their stay particularly when they reside in safe confines of overly fortified military bases.

The US and NATO generals somehow are misled with the belief that given the time and resources, the Taliban now deprived of al-Qaeda’s wholesome support would get exhausted and in not too distant future they would be forced to negotiate on American conditions. They are confident that in next 3-4 years the ANA duly backed by the US airpower and technological support would be able to take on the Taliban more effectively. Above all, they want to create a psychological impact that the US has not been defeated and have no plans to abandon Afghanistan till at least 2024. In their view this message would surely dishearten fence sitters within Taliban to jump the fence and join the ranks of moderates who have given their willingness to the US political settlement plan.

The civil contractors of USA are rolling in money and would like the war to continue for times to come. Large chunk of billions of dollars invested in Afghanistan to equip ANA and to carryout development projects are pocketed by them. The lucrative drug trade in which Afghan feudal lords, CIA and NATO are deeply involved is flourishing, has convertedAfghanistan into biggest narcotic country of the world. Part of the drug money is utilized to meet heavy war expenditures and covert war expenses. Inept, corrupt and unpopular Karzai regime cannot survive without the physical presence of ISAF and American aid. Karzai whose writ doesn’t extend beyond his palace has agreed to all the clauses of the Afghan-US strategic partnership and has conveyed his willingness to let the US military retain military bases for next ten years. He got his unpopular decision endorsed by Loya Jirga which was boycotted by Taliban Shura.

The Afghan Army and Police are not showing worthwhile signs of improvements in security duties and in discipline matters. Desertion rates as well as cases of ill-discipline are high. They are ineffective in Pashtun dominated southern and eastern Afghanistan. Belated efforts made to correct the ethnic imbalance by inducting larger number of Pashtuns in the two organizations have backfired. Kabul administration believes that recent spate of terrorist attacks in Kabul had been made possible by Pashtun soldiers and policemen.

India has got involved in Afghanistan because of its strategic and economic interests. Helped by USA, India has dug its heels firmly and is using Afghan soil to destabilize the Pakistanregions contiguous to Afghanistan through covert means. Having spent $1.5 billion in development projects in Afghanistan, India now wants to extract tens of billions in return for its initial investment by having a lion’s share in mining of all future mineral resources related projects. In order to become the most influential country in Afghanistan and to fill up the power vacuum in the aftermath of the US departure, India is directing all its energies to washout whatever little influence Pakistan has in Afghanistan.

India’s aim is to make western border of Pakistan hostile so that it could put its arch rival in a nut cracker situation by posing a twin threat in any future Indo-Pak war, or be in a position to continue launching two-directional covert war against Pakistan. Once Afghanistan is bagged by India, it will enable it to fulfill its long cherished dream of encirclingPakistan and thus keeping it perpetually in a state of quandary. Indo-Afghan strategic partnership agreement has brought India closer to the realization of its dream.

Strong foothold of India in Afghanistan will enable it to expand its economic and political influence in Central Asia. Governed by this long-term objective of gaining access to Central Asian markets, India managed to dovetail its place in Pak-Afghan trade transit agreement. This underhand deal facilitated by USA will allow Indian goods to be shipped throughPakistan’s land route via Wagah. In order to reduce land locked Afghanistan’s dependence upon Pakistan, India built a road connecting Chahbahar with Daranj in northern Afghanistan. India also coaxed Karzai to build dams over River Kabul as part of its strategy to coerce and humble Pakistan. It has already constructed dozens of dams over three rivers flowing into Pakistan from occupied Kashmir and plans to build several dozens more dams entirely in violation of Indus Water Treaty to be able to manipulate water flow in accordance with its wicked designs.

True to its reputation, Israel is silently playing the devil’s role by remaining in the background. While it is persistently stoking up fires of antagonism between ISAF and its opponents, it is also playing its part to divide Afghan Taliban and to destabilize Pakistan. Initially it successfully deflected phenomenon of suicide attacks from its homeland towards Iraq and then further shifted its expertise to Afghanistan. In Badakshan, Mossad has established a large cultural centre where Muslim suicide bombers belonging to various nationalities of the region are indoctrinated and trained. Attacks on mosques, shrines, worship places, funerals and religious scholars/clerics are mostly masterminded by Mossad to denigrate Islam and to accentuate ethnic, sectarian and religious tensions in Pakistan. Besides inflaming sectarian fire, Deobandi-Barelvi divide is also being subtly widened. Special technology in FM Radio in use by Maulana Fazlullah in Swat which couldn’t be jammed by the Army was provided by Israel. Long-range sniper rifles and Uzi sten guns were also provided by Israelto militants in Swat.

Israel is also strengthening Indian armed forces by providing latest state-of-art weapon systems and has become India’s largest arms supplier. The two countries are cooperating in the nuclear field as well. Both USA and Israel are desirous of making India a counterweight to China. In reality, this is a smokescreen to justify supply of sophisticated arms and nuclear technology to India. India knows that it is no match to China’s military and economic strength and it will be sheer folly to antagonize the sleeping giant and upcoming super power. India’s chief target is Pakistan and its frenzied force modernization program is geared towards humbling Pakistan on the battlefield. While Pakistan is being systematically weakened from within since 2002, India is being armed to teeth to deliver the decisive blow at the opportune time.

The whole thrust of Indo-US-Israeli nexus is directed against Pak Army and ISI, the two pillars which are braving extremely heavy odds doggedly and keeping the adversaries at bay. Different techniques have been applied to cow down the two institutions but all their onslaughts have been thwarted. The underlying aim of discrediting and enfeebling Army and ISI is to gain access to nuclear and missile sites.

The writer is a retired Brig and a defence analyst. Email:asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

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Pakistan committed to gas plan: president

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:19:06 +0000

The two sides agreed to set up a joint working group and hoped that the proposed visit of a delegation of Iranian banks to meet Pakistani counterparts would give impetus to the cooperation in the banking sector besides facilitating bilateral trade

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari told an Iranian delegation on Tuesday that Pakistan was committed to an early implementation of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

Iran’s Vice President Ali Seedlou, who led the Iranian delegation, said his country had already laid the pipeline on its side of the border and was ready for full implementation of the project.

On the occasion, President Zardari said that besides an expeditious implementation of the pipeline project, Pakistan wanted to carry forward the proposed projects of 1,000MW Taftan-Quetta transmission line and 100MW Gwadar power supply project.

He said his government was pursuing a trade liberalisation policy and proposed elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two countries to further boost trade ties.

The president was quoted as saying: “The recent agreement between the two countries to work towards expanding the Pakistan-Iran Preferential Trade Agreement to include additional items form both sides and making it an agenda item for the next meeting of the trade committee was a welcome move to enhance trade links between the two countries.”

He said that enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, security, communication and infrastructure, would help the two countries to overcome the challenges in the way of realisation of full existing potential of their equation and to realise the goal of raising the bilateral trade to $5 billion.

Minister for Commerce Amin Fahim, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, former law minister Babar Awan, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, federal secretaries of foreign affairs, petroleum and economic affairs division and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The Iranian vice president was accompanied by senior foreign office officials. The Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Alireza Haghighian was also present.

The two sides agreed that they were poised to play an important role in the promotion of intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity which was the key to the socio-economic development of the people of the region.

“Our resource constraints can be overcome by joining hands and enhancing cooperation in all the areas particularly trade, energy, horticulture, livestock, communication, infrastructure development and engineering sector,” said President Zardari.

Pakistan’s side offered multiple entry visas to the businessmen from Iran on a reciprocal basis.

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SC forms larger bench to hear PM’s appeal

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:13:00 +0000

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday constituted an eight-member larger bench to hear the intra-court appeal requesting it to suspend its decision of framing contempt charges against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Feb 9 (tomorrow), DawnNews reported.

The bench would be headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The apex court on Wednesday had said that the appeal could be heard on Thursday, to which the premier’s counsel, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, agreed. Earlier today, the appeal was filed by Ahsan. It requested the court to postpone the prime minister’s indictment.

On Feb 2, the apex court had issued summons for the premier for Feb 13 for him to be indicted with contempt over his refusal to pursue corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

The announcement had significantly escalated pressure on the embattled prime minister, threatening to plunge his weak government deeper into crisis and force early elections within months.

The appeal further stated that the ruling was issued without the premier being given an opportunity to defend himself directly.

Ahsan said he based the appeal on precedents set by top courts in Australia, Britain, France, India and the United States.

“I have filed an appeal today. I have quoted more than 50 national and international cases and given specific reasons against the Supreme Court order,” Ahsan told reporters earlier today.

“My objection is that the court in its order on February 2 cited no specific reasons for initiating contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister,” he added.

If convicted of contempt, the prime minister could be jailed for up to six months and disqualified from public office.

Former Supreme Court judges said they were not convinced of the grounds for appeal, but said the matter would have to be decided quickly.

“They can simply prolong the case for two or three weeks but apparently they have no solid ground in their defence. They have not come up with a satisfactory plea so far,” said Rashid Rizvi, a former judge.

One former chief justice called on the government to resign.

“It will be good for the country if the government quits and holds elections. The current situation is crippling the economy and people are dying because of poverty and lawlessness,” Fakhruddin Ebrahim told AFP.

'Interference' on Balochistan unbearable, US told

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:19:12 +0000

Foreign Office has said that internal affairs of any state should not be interfered into.

Washington and the US Embassy have been informed about our reservations.

While giving weekly briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesman Abdul Basit said, “Balochistan is our internal matter; all the countries should respect the sovereignty of one another.”

He said that the Washington and the US embassy have been informed of our reservations about the US discussing the Balochistan issue.

He said that national policy on done attacks in clear and candid, adding that such attacks are a challenge for our sovereignty which is unacceptable for us at any cost.

Commenting on Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project, he said that it is very important for us. Construction work on the project is underway which would be completed till 2014, he said.

The Foreign Office also said that no meeting between Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and representatives of Afghan Taliban were held in Qatar as no such meeting was in schedule.

Spokesman said that a misconception was created that the Prime Minister had a plan to hold meetings with Taliban.

He said that Gilani visit to Doha was exclusively focused on bilateral relations with Qatar, though, regional situation and peace in Afghanistan also came under discussion in the meetings between the Prime Minister and Qatari officials.

About the initial talks between Taliban and the US, the spokesman said the American diplomatic sources had briefed Pakistani officials over their contacts and talks with them. However, he declined to comment on meeting between Taliban and the US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Ambassador Marc Grossman in Qatar.

“Better this question be asked US State Department instead of me, they can confirm or reject such question,” he added.

Responding to a question about different approaches of China and Pakistan over support to the UN resolution against Syria, he said, “Some amendment in the resolution enabled us to support it. Every country, that either voted for or against the resolution had their own valid reason. Our friendship with China is time-tested and everlasting.” But Pakistan always stands for respecting independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of all the countries including Syria, he further said.

On the ongoing row over the US drone attacks, he said that such actions are unacceptable but after completion of the parliamentary process, Pakistani officials would have clear policy in this connection.

Regarding the issue of Afghan refugees, the spokesman reiterated that Pakistan is engaged with the UN agencies for their return but with honor and dignity.

Over the US pressure around the world against trade with Iran, he said that as far as the IP gas project is concerned there is no change in the position of Pakistan.

Basit said that trilateral summit of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran in Islamabad next week will focus on counter-terrorism and drug trafficking.

He said that Pakistan was quite busy on diplomatic front this week. Prime Minister Gilani visited Qatar and held negotiation on energy and bilateral relations. The foreign minister visited Russian Federation for improving bilateral relations, “Pakistan is facing energy crises and it also hold talks on this issue with Moscow”. “Russia also has interest in Pak-Iran gas project.” The Lankan President is also visiting Pakistan and so on, he said.

Amid the rumors of Pakistani officials meeting during the prime minister visit with Taliban in Qatar, a reaction was noticed in Kabul.

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Govt rules out reversal of oil price hike

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:27:46 +0000

Senators castigated the government for revising the prices of petroleum products for more than 20 times during three and a half years of its rule. They called for evolving a strategy to tackle the energy crisis and overcoming electricity and gas loadshedding

ISLAMABAD: The government ruled out on Tuesday reversal of recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, saying that it was indexed and linked to the international prices and there was no way the equation could be changed.

Winding up discussion on adjournment motions on the increase in the prices of petroleum products and gas in the Senate, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar pointed out that removal of taxation would add around Rs200 billion to the budget deficit and printing of more currency notes would spark hyper inflation.

He said the price of crude oil in the international market was $65 per barrel a couple of years ago, but now it had been fluctuating around $110. The US dollar had gone up to Rs90 from Rs65 four years ago.

He said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority calculated the prices on the basis of average of the past 30 months with appropriate taxation. He said a tax of Rs30 per litre on petrol and Rs20 per litre on diesel had been levied.

He said the country was facing a gas shortage because of mistakes made by the previous governments. An expensive resource had been blatantly misused, instead of utilising it objectively.

The minister said the gas was provided on a priority basis to the industry and power sector the world over. He warned that the proliferation of gas usage might lead to a dangerously disturbing situation in future.

Mr Qamar said about 200,000 applications for gas connections were pending and the number might reach two million in the next five years. “With the existing resources, it will not be possible to meet the needs of domestic consumers.”

Stressing the need for rethinking, the minister noted that the levy of surcharge had become inevitable because the low price was forcing people to use CNG. The price of CNG was still 55 per cent of petrol price, he added.

He said in case of depletion of indigenous gas resources, imported gas would not be affordable for the industry, power generating units or the domestic consumers, be it Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas-pipeline or the liquefied natural gas. “It’s time we start thinking about optimal use of gas.”

Mr Qamar said the usage of CNG for transport could not be afforded now and a hike in gas tariff was essential to strike a balance between supply and demand.

Earlier, Senators castigated the government for revising the prices of petroleum products for more than 20 times during three and a half years of its rule. They called for evolving a strategy to tackle the energy crisis and overcoming electricity and gas loadshedding.

They criticised the government for its failure to devise a policy to provide relief to the common man.

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US mulling to apologise on Nato attack

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:48:31 +0000

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration is considering to tender an apology on the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in Nato attack on a border post in November, The New York Times reported.

Gen. James N. Mattis, the head of the military's Central Command, will meet Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Pakistani Army chief of staff, to discuss the investigations of a brutal attack at the Salala check post that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, under the guise of new border coordination procedures to prevent a recurrence of the episode of halting of the NATO supply lines.

General Mattis's visit, the first by a high-ranking American official since the cross-border confrontation in November, was to have begun Thursday, but has been postponed by at least a week pending what is expected to be a spirited debate in the Pakistani Parliament over a new security policy toward the United States.

Pakistani and American officials are quietly laughing at the mass public at how they have fooled the people into believing that a reboot of the two nations' relations can happen through this fake engagement. Though their treacherous attempts have been somewhat successful, the Pakistani public remains alert to its most dangerous of enemies.

Pakistani officials say they will probably reopen NATO supply lines running through their territory, which have been closed for more than two months, the treacherous state of the Pakistani government reveals itself yet again through this move. The State Department is supporting a proposal circulating in the administration for the United States to issue a formal apology for the deaths of the Pakistani soldiers in the Nov. 26 air strike by American gunships. Although majority have rejected this proposal and some have even gone as far as prompting President Obama to not apologize or even offer condolences.

"We've felt an apology would be helpful in creating some space," said an American official who has been briefed on the State Department's view and who spoke on the condition of anonymity while quietly mocking the martyrs of the Salala check post and grinning to the fact that yet again they might just succeed in subduing the Islamic nuclear power.

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Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar calls for conditions before opening supply line

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:39:45 +0000

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar on Tuesday said that government must get its conditions approved for the resumption of NATO supply routes.

The minister said he had never said that NATO routes should be restored. 'We are trying to build good relationships with all countries including the United States.'

'There should not be any misunderstandings with America, the two countries have enjoyed good ties and it is our duty to mend relations.' The parliamentary committee, working on drafting the conditions, has responsible members in it. While the country continues to go to the dogs, supreme court does nothing to instigate the killings in Karachi or resolve the memo-scandal. Defence minister doesn't know that if the supplies are opened in any way then Pakistan faces a massive threat from its western neighbor.

The matter of drone attacks is still unresolved and Pakistani government treacherously, hand in hand with the enemies continues to loot and pillage the country while the Army and the ISI are surrounded from all the sides.

It must be noted that current American supplies contain more than 3000 armored vehicles, more than 1000 armored troop carrier vehicles, and thousands of other equipment such as night vision goggles, rifles, body armor etc. If they are allowed across the border, Pakistan then faces a massive threat from its own "ally".

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SC admits for hearing petition against Kayani, Pasha removal

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:36:23 +0000

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday admitted for hearing a petition filed in anticipation of a perceived move to sack Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and ISI Director General Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha against the backdrop of the ‘memogate’ fiasco, DawnNews reported.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, admitted the petition filed by Advocate F.K. Butt for hearing after dismissing the objections raised by the Registrar’s office regarding its maintainability.

During today’s hearing, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq said that the petition was based on newspaper clippings and conspiracy theories.

The petition was filed after the sudden removal of defence secretary Lt-Gen (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi on Jan 11 on allegations of gross misconduct and illegal action and for creating misunderstanding between state institutions.

Moreover, the petitioner had requested the court to issue a restraining order and stop the government from taking any step to remove or retire the two officers till the pendency of the case. The army chief will retire on Nov 29, 2013, while the ISI chief will complete his extended term on March 19 this year.

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US and mistrust

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:58:41 +0000

The US State Department has issued an altered advisory for American citizens in Pakistan, modifying the guidelines it last set in place in April 2011. The more stringent warning is a reflection too on the change in the relationship between Washington and Islamabad, and the new tensions that have crept into it. The latest advisory stresses that since the November 2011 Nato air strike inside Pakistan animosity towards Americans has grown and they would be well advised to stay away from demonstrations and gatherings protesting this incident or others similar to it. This of course is a matter of common sense. It would obviously be unwise to venture into a situation where people are protesting the killing of citizens by the US forces or by the unmanned drones that hover over northern skies. But the advisory also cautions against other more insidious action directed against the US – such as the labelling of diplomats or others as intelligence agents, followed by possible action against them. Such events have of course occurred. Warren Weinstein, an aid expert, said to be close to 70 years in age, was abducted in August 2011 from his home in Lahore – soon before he was due to leave the country. Information surfacing in December last year indicates he may be in Al-Qaeda’s hands. Nationals of other western nations have disappeared from other places, presumably picked up by extremist forces, and have yet to be recovered.

The deepening distrust of the US in this country is hardly surprising, given its policies that are perceived to be consistently undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty. What is ironic, however, is that these should rank among the actions of a nation that is also regarded as a key ally. Pakistan’s dependence on the US is well established. Yet over the past year or so we have seen a swift decline in trust; it is hard to work together with a country which is held in such low esteem by our own people, and which in turn, as this advisory clearly states, feels threatened by them. The entire issue of relations with the US is one our government needs to very carefully assess, given the enormous implications it has and the fact that much that happens in our future is dependent on this matter and the manner in which it is handled over the coming months and years.

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Eid Milad Al-Nabi celebrated with religious fervour

editor@pak1stanfirst.com (Pak1stanFirst.com) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:47:58 +0000

KARACHI: Eid Milad Al-Nabi (PBUH) was celebrated with religious zeal and enthusiasm on Sunday in Karachi, like other parts of the country.

A number of big and small Milad rallies were taken out by various religious organizations including Jammat Ahle-Sunnat, Sunni Tehreek, Dawat-e-Islami and New Memon Masjid Trust from different areas to celebrate the occasion.

All the processions and rallies converged into a big public meeting at Nishtar Park which was addressed by various Ulema and Mashaikh. The speakers highlighted the various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and called the followers to follow his teachings and the Sunnah.

Sunni Tehreek took out a rally from Liaquatabad which was participated by people including children in a large number. It was culminated at Nighter park after passing through different routes.

Naat Night congregation was organized at main Liaquatabad Road on 12 Rabi-ul- Awwal in which noted Naat Khwan recited Naat.

Besides, a large number of Milad programmes and conferences were held acrose the city to mark the sacred day where prominent ulema delivered speeches on the life and teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)

Different political and religious organizations set up reception camps along the routes of rallies to facilitate the participants. The KESC had suspended load shedding for two days in order to allow the followers to celebrate Eid-e-Milad.

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