The Fire Within

Britain helping to radicalize Muslim extremists: George Galloway - British MP

2013-05-24T18:16:00.002-07:00

The butchering of a British soldier recently by two radicals has created much uproar in Britain and has led the British Prime Minister hurriedly calling the two that they have betrayed Islam.

But British MP George Galloway has a different view point and he blames the Britain and its allies for having radicalized the Muslim extremists.

In a recent interview to RT, British MP George Galloway alleges:

"Through support for Israeli occupations and participation in American invasions of Muslim countries, Britain has ended up spawning tens or even hundreds of millions of “radicalized Muslims” across the world."

He further says:

"Britain has been helping to radicalize these extremist fanatics for a very long time with its support for Israel and its crimes against the Palestinian people, with its participation in US invasions and occupations of Muslim countries. We have spawned across the world maybe tens, maybe hundreds of millions of radicalized Muslims, fanaticized by the injustice and the double-standards of Western policy towards the Muslim world. And all I see is that in a kind of grotesque double whammy we’ve now added to that by reprising our policy in the 1980s of actually helping to build a Frankenstein monster in Syria. And the very same raw material of radicalized fanaticized extremists is being used. And It came back to hunt the United State, Spain and Britain and many places after the Afghan experience, when we built the first Frankenstein monster. And now we are doing it all over again in Syria as we did a year or so ago in Libya."

Answering a question "Couldn't it be said that there's something about Islam that pushes people to do such extremist acts?" the Brish MP replied:

No, I don’t accept that at all anymore than the butchery of Franco the Spanish Fascist dictator had anything to do with Jesus Christ even if the people doing the torturing and the butchering were wearing the cross on their sleeves. George W. Bush was a fanatic, born again Christian he said. But again that had nothing to do with Jesus. So I don’t accept that at all.

See the interview below:

via RT
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When I'm 64 - A Must Read for 'those' Getting Old

2013-05-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

'Long time' back in my teens, the Beatles sang 'When I am Sixty Four' and I just shrugged off the song as I thought I was too far away from that stage. But I never knew then in my prime age that there is something called old age that creeps in even before you know it - I did not know it then, but know it now.

Yesterday, I read an interesting post at Facebook shared by friend of friends Muhammad Ali - and I found it full of depth and meaning to our real day life. Whatever is written from herein under is for those crossing 60s and have grown up children. Getting old is the stark 'reality' one cannot escape from - but one can make a difference if one is rational, logical and positive about realities of getting old.

So read on this beautifully written post with its far fetched implications on our lives.

Here it goes:

Don't worry about what will happen after you are gone, because when you return to dust, you will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

Don't worry too much about your children; for children will have their own destiny and find their own way. Don't be your children's slave.

Don't expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render any help. Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties.

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but you have no claims to their money.

Friends falling in category of 60s or who will one day be in 60s also, please don't trade in your health for wealth anymore, because your money may not be able to buy your health!!! When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)? This is what is always in our mind.

Out of the thousand hectares of good farm land, you can only consume three quarts (of rice) in your meals daily; Out of so many houses and places, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night. So as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough. So you should live happily. Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare yourself with others either for fame and or for social status and see whose children are doing better. What you must compare with others is in happiness, health and longevity.

Don't worry about things that you can't change because it doesn't help and it may result in your health being spoilt. You have to create your own well-being and find your own happiness; As long as you are in good mood, think about happy things, do things daily which make you happy and have fun in doing them. Then you will pass your time in a far better and in a contented manner every day.

One day passes, you will. lose one day; but when One day passes with happiness and contentment then you gain one day. In good spirit, sickness will cure; in happy spirit, sickness will cure fast; in good and happy spirit; sickness will never come close to you...With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, time in the sun light, variety of food, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years of healthy life.

Above all learn to cherish the goodness around ……and FRIENDS..........They all make you feel young and "Wanted"…without them you will surely feel lost!!

Don’t forget to love and respect those around you and in turn you will see that you will be loved and respected. Remember Fear is not respect or love but being caring and committed is.... Wishing you all the best.

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World’s most and least racially tolerant countries - you will be surprised about Pakistan

2013-05-15T18:51:00.001-07:00

We may have different ideas about the radical countries around the world, but two Swedish scientists have found the world entirely different from the way the world is otherwise perceived.

When two Swedish economists set out to examine whether economic freedom made people any more or less racist, they knew how they would gauge economic freedom, but they needed to find a way to measure a country’s level of racial tolerance. So they turned to something called the World Values Survey, which has been measuring global attitudes and opinions for decades.

Among the dozens of questions that World Values asks, the Swedish economists found one that, they believe, could be a pretty good indicator of tolerance for other races. The survey asked respondents in more than 80 different countries to identify kinds of people they would not want as neighbors. Some respondents, picking from a list, chose “people of a different race.”

The more frequently that people in a given country say they don’t want neighbors from other races, the economists reasoned, the less racially tolerant you could call that society. (The study concluded that economic freedom had no correlation with racial tolerance, but it does appear to correlate with tolerance toward homosexuals.)

And you will be surprised to know that as per the study Pakistan remarkably turns out to be a tolerant country. The study concludes:

Although the country has a number of factors that coincide with racial intolerance – sectarian violence, its location in the least-tolerant region of the world, low economic and human development indices – only 6.5 percent of Pakistanis objected to a neighbor of a different race. This would appear to suggest Pakistanis are more racially tolerant than even the Germans or the Dutch.

The study finds India, Jordan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong by far the least tolerant countries. In only three of 81 surveyed countries, more than 40 percent of respondents said they would not want a neighbor of a different race. This included 43.5 percent of Indians, 51.4 percent of Jordanians and an astonishingly high 71.8 percent of Hong Kongers and 71.7 percent of Bangladeshis.

Read the complete report at Washington Post

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Pakistan Election Day Today 11 May: Polls Open In Landmark Democratic Transition

2013-05-11T00:57:00.000-07:00

Pakistan goes to polls today, Saturday 11 May in a landmark election that will bring the first transition between civilian governments in a country ruled by the military for more than half of its turbulent history.

The people of Pakistan hope the polls will deliver change and ease frustrations with a feeble economy, widespread corruption, chronic power cuts and crumbling infrastructure, reports Huffington Post.

Although the Pakistan Muslim League of Nawaz faction is making tall claims for a big win, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Imran Khan's dark-horse challenge could deprive Sharif of a majority and dash his hopes for a return to power 14 years after he was ousted in a military coup, jailed and later exiled.

Pakistan's best-known sportsman, who led a playboy lifestyle in his younger days, Khan is seen by many as a refreshing change from the dynastic politicians who long relied on a patronage system to win votes and are often accused of corruption.

Khan appeals mostly to young, urban voters because of his calls for an end to corruption, a new political landscape and a halt to U.S. drone strikes on Pakistani soil.

At present, the 60-year-old Mr Khan is in hospital after injuring himself in a fall at a party rally, which may also win him sympathy votes. A survey released on Wednesday showed 24.98 percent of voters nationally planned to vote for Mr Khan's party, just a whisker behind Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N).

(via Huffington Post )

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The Existential Threat

2013-05-09T23:25:00.001-07:00

Brigadier Nadir Mir ®

The COAS, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said: “The armed forces remain fully prepared to defeat any external direct threat.” This was, indeed, an apt, timely and direly needed statement. Undoubtedly, its primary task is to defend Pakistan from external threats. This threat from 1947 till date has been from the east – i.e. India. Despite this, since 9/11, both by default and design, confusion was added to the threat perception. After the US-Nato invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan was embroiled on its western borders. More so, due to a tragic, yet ferocious terrorist campaign within Pakistan, the threat perception was engulfed by fog.

Trending Discussions:
Anyway, the existential threat to Pakistan is from external foes, who likewise comprise an indirect internal threat. India also supports asymmetrical war or covert operations against Pakistan; more so, on its western border and Balochistan.

The Pakistan Army has bravely dealt with great challenges and defeated the strongest antagonists. In the 1980s, Pakistan was hemmed in between the Soviet occupied Afghanistan and hostile India. The Soviet retreat from Afghanistan and the Indian failure in Operation Brasstacks was due to its valiant military and the ISI. Since 2001, if the Nato forces did not cross Pakistan’s western border, and India its eastern border, it was all because of the army’s vigilance, supported by brave tribesmen in its West and freedom-loving Pakistanis in its east. Nuclear deterrence and an alert ISI, however, were part and parcel of the national defence effort.

September 2001 to 2012 has been a very challenging period for Pakistan. On its eastern border, the Indian military threat was gradually increasing; whereas, on its western side, the US-Nato forces were bogged down in a protracted, unwinnable war in Afghanistan. Besides an internal terrorist campaign, led by local extremists and sponsored by foreign hostile forces, was growing worse. Fortunately, the worst part is over for Pakistan and it is regaining its strategic balance. Indeed, the Pakistan Army’s resilience and the ISI’s fortitude is paying off. In addition, the geopolitical winds are in Pakistan’s favour.

Afghanistan: The US and Nato plans to withdraw a bulk of their troops. Keeping in view our national interests, Pakistan must support their exit strategy; indeed, it will help reduce the conflict in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s army must avoid being entangled with the Afghan militants, as its enemies would desire. Pakistan must have friendly relations with the Afghan Taliban. It is important to realize that the Americans are leaving, but the Taliban are staying.

USA: It will need Pakistan for peace-making in Afghanistan. Besides, the US is likely to be busy with numerous other global concerns, including North Korea.

Iran: With Iran, the geo-economic confluence should proceed. The gas pipeline linking Iran and Pakistan would benefit both nations.

China: The emerging global giant and Pakistan’s strategic ally should be further embraced. With China developing and managing the Gwadar port, Pakistan’s economy will boom.

Turkey: With Turkey, the relations can only grow stronger that is in the mutual interest of both nations. Turkey is a rising power and Pakistan’s future strategic ally.

Saudi Arabia: The Pak-Saudi relationship is not only historical, but also futuristic; not only religious, but also geopolitical.

Russia: It is Pakistan’s new friend. In the world of tomorrow, the past will be buried and the Moscow-Islamabad relationship will take a tangible shape.

Keeping this in view, Pakistan’s geopolitical future seems bright. But the three major problems for it will be economy, militancy and India. The economy will improve and militancy will reduce, but after the Afghan war ends. Yet, it is necessary that the Pakistani military pursues reconciliation with both the Taliban and Baloch militants. Ultimately, except for a minority of hardliners, the bulk should be brought back to the national mainstream.

Against this backdrop, the external direct threat to Pakistan is from India. The Hindu-Muslim animosity of 1,000 years did not end with the creation of Pakistan; in fact, it worsened. This was primarily because of the Indian stance of ‘Akhand Bharat’ or ‘Mother India’, and the incorrect notion that the subcontinent or South Asia was indivisible, which was negated by the Two Nation Theory. This is why the Indian atrocities in Kashmir and wars against Pakistan have now reached a new level, creating difficulty for New Delhi to seek peace with Islamabad. On the contrary, as the world’s biggest arms importer, India is preparing for ‘Cold Start’ or a surprise offensive war against Pakistan. The recent Indian tirades against Pakistan were reflections of the same.

Pakistan, however, should opt for ‘Cold Peace’; it means peace, but no friendship. While stressing India to resolve the Kashmir issue, its efforts to destabilize Balochistan and Gwadar should be thwarted. Pakistan should forge unity at home and redeploy its army in the east, once the USA exits from Afghanistan in 2014. The world must know that our army can do more than defend Pakistan.

'The Existential Threat' was published in The Nation on 4 May 2013

The writer is a retired brigadier and has authored a book titled Gwadar on the Global Chessboard.

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Boston Marathon Bomb Blasts and US Drone Attacks

2013-04-16T01:03:00.002-07:00

Two bomb blasts exploded at the finish line of the famous Boston Marathon on 15th April, leaving four dead and countless injured - some of whom will me maimed for life or will lose their limbs forever. A gory and awesome incident which must be condemned as targeting and killing of innocent people is not only act of cowardice but also inhuman and barbaric.

The entire world media is showing headlines and footage of the blast and photos showing of the blast victims. One really feels for those who instead of watching a sport event since 1897 has been a regular annual event of Boston, USA.

But I was just wondering why not the world media shows the victims of US drone attacks carried out heartlessly which kill more innocent civilians, mostly women and children, in Pakistan and other US targeted countries?

Are these victims children of a lesser God? Aren't these humans just like that eight years old boy that lost his life in the Boston blasts? Doesn't world conscious cry when they see these children dying for no fault of theirs? Why such deaths do not make headlines around the world?

Doesn't this picture of a mother cuddling her two daughters while dying move the conscious of the world and the world media, which only report of the militants and Taliban - but not these innocent people and children who die as a consequence of collateral damage?

The US soldiers in Afghanistan pee on the dead - one soldier goes on shooting spree and kills sixteen women and children - even some soldiers cut parts of the dead bodies of the militants and pose with their war 'trophies' - but the world remains a silent spectator. Even those found guilty of crimes above are given very light punishments attributing their crimes to stress es of war, rather than vengeance and cruelty of highest order.

When would the world conscious awake?

Also read: Join anti drone days this April

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Support LA Rally against US Drone Attacks Today 13th April

2013-04-12T21:21:00.002-07:00

On 5th April I talked about the Anti Drone Days this April by the US select group which is protesting against the killing of innocent civilians, mostly children and women. The group is continuing to protest throughout the month of April for those over 5,000 victims of US drone attacks of which about 3,500 were from Pakistan only.

Today, on 13th April, a huge anti drone rally is being organized at the LA City Hall (West Steps), 1st St. between Spring & Main, Los Angeles, California.

This humane group is of the view that:

'The U.S. functions as a death squad government, permitting the president and military leaders to create secret “kill lists” of people who have been selected for assassination. There is no due process, no trial, no evidence – the individuals are selected to be murdered and they are killed, and many civilians who are nearby also die. Drones are the weapon of choice.'

It may be added that in the 19th century, it was a common tactic of imperialists to use gunboats to move around the world and assert their will, answering challenges to their authority with bullets and cannon shot. The use, or threat of the use, of naval force was used by Britain, the United States and other imperialist nations to force exploitative terms of trade and political accommodations on various political entities around the world.

The United States government’s drone program serves the same general purpose as gunboat diplomacy. It enables the United States to extend its military power over any country that lacks the ability, or will, to shoot down the aircraft.

So if you are in LA, no matter of what country you belong to, join the rally and raise your voice against the drones that are killing people more and militants hardly 1.5% of the total.

Those who are away, must raise voice through social media networks to support those ge4tting together in LA today.

Join at LA City Hall for a rally on Saturday, April 13 to let the world know that the people of this country are demanding “Drones Out of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Everywhere!”

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Join Anti Drone Days this April - Be part of the Voice Against US Drone Attacks Killing Children in Pakistan [Graphic Content]

2013-04-05T02:56:00.002-07:00

Beware: This post contains graphic content

Since the so called war on terror began in Iraq based on lies and false claims, the spectrum of this War of Error has spread to many countries like Yemen and Afghanistan. With this war, also came the menace of deadly drone attacks, that were not only restricted to the targeted countries but also spread over to their neighbours to root out havens of terrorists.

In case of Pakistan, it is the most hard hit countries as far drone attacks are concerned Here in more than 366 strikes, approximately 3,860 people have been killed, of which only 2% (1.5% to be exact) have been high value targets. Other than that a survey shows it included 884 children beside innocent men and women, beside 'suspected' militants. In war you may suspect anyone and kill him - who cares. However, US officials refuse to publicly discuss any details of the covert program and the death toll from drone strikes remains a mystery.

When Malal Yousafzai, a small school girl from Swat Pakistan was hit by the militants, the US backed media projected her as a victim of militancy and she has been treated free of cost in one of the best available facilities in UK. But what about those countless innocent children who were ruthlessly killed by American drones - children who did not even know why their homes were being attacked. See the photo above - see the charred and burnt bodies of children and in one case the head is being blown out (centre above).

Most of the attacks are usually undertaken in the early morning when most of the people are asleep. And one's heart shrieks with pain when one sees photos of mothers and daughters lying dead on their cots since attack came even before they could wake up and run for shelters. While we talk of the children killed, we forget about those countless children who have been maimed for life as a result of drone attacks. Don't these children deserve treatment just like Malala?

In Pakistan, perhaps Imran Khan is the only politician who has raised voice against the menace of drone attacks not only in Pakistan but also in many parts of the world. He has also gone to the Waziristan, where most drone attacks occur with a large procession to sympathies with the drone victims and create awareness about this never-ending menace.

His efforts and efforts of those who car for humanity and children have kick-started a month long campaign in USA and even other parts of the world to condemn the US government for their faulty policies and the way the war on terror is being fought. It may be added here that out of 366 drone hits till a report was compiled by Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 314 have been undertaken under Obama administration.

Pitch Interactive, a Berkeley-based data visualization unit, has created a graphic tracking every drone strike the United States has carried out in Pakistan since 2004 (as shown above). The graph clearly shows a mere 1.5% high value targets were killed while remaining were all civilians, children, wone and 'suspected' militants. Wesley Grubbs, who created the visualization, joined HuffPost Live host Ahmed Shihab-Eldin Tuesday to explain the motivation behind the visualization.

"We want to shock people," Grubbs said. "What we tried to do though with this was not just shock people with the number of casualties, but to shock people with the amount of information that we really don't know."

"There is a tremendous amount of skepticism with the public about drone attacks in other countries. There is concern that innocent people are killed and enemies of the United States are being made," said Nick Mottern, founder of Know Drones, an educational organization that is helping co-ordinate the protests.

The campaign in USA has opposition to drone warfare based on stand for peace and justice and following factors:

Armed drones are weapons of terror. They kill combatants and civilians, children and adults, men and women, alike. Their presence overhead terrorizes entire communities.
Extrajudicial assassinations by killer drones violate U. S. and international law.
Surveillance drones threaten our liberties, spying on communities and borders, invading our personal privacy.
Drones make our families less secure by making it easier for military and paramilitary agencies (like the CIA) to continue endless war without limits in either space or time.

The world has awakened to the atrocities being committed under the garb of drone attacks to hit the militants. But the fact of the matter is that the collateral damage is far more severe and unethical than the desired results. Please join hands with the people and campaigner of anti-drone attacks and raise voice to save our children and people form being targeted, killed and maimed for life.

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Life without devotion is disgrace - Persian Poetry of Rumi

2013-04-03T05:55:00.000-07:00

زندگی بے بندگی شرمندگی

When i was a small kid, I used to accompany my family to visit an uncle living in the then emerging and thriving colony 'Shad Bagh,' near Lahore Railways station across the 'Do Moria Pull - A bridge with two entrances)'. En route there was a mosque on which there was a big board displaying three words as written above. These were my father's favourite but I was too small to understand the literal meaning of these words.

And it was not many decades later when before proceeding on a year long course in Iran, I underwent a diploma level Persian language course at the National Institute of Modern Languages 'NIML' (now NUML after being elevated to the level of a university) that I came to know the true meaning of these three words:

زندگی آمد، برائے بندگی

زندگی بے بندگی شرمندگی

Zindagi Aamad Bara'ay Bandagi

Zindagi Be Bandagi Sharmindagi

Life is only for devotion.

Life without devotion (worship or total submission) is disgrace

And more so, it dawned on me that these mystical words flowed from the mind and pen of none other than one of the great Persian language poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī (جلال‌الدین محمد بلخى‎) - also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (جلال‌الدین محمد رومی).

Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic, was born in Wakhsh (present-day Tajikistan) and rose to be highly revered poet and religious scholar.

Rumi drew spiritual aspiration from one of the great name in the mystic world Shams-i-Tabrīzī or Shams al-Din Mohammad. It is said that one day Rumi was reading next to a large stack of books. Shams Tabriz, passing by, asked him, "What are you doing?" Rumi scoffingly replied, "Something you cannot understand." On hearing this, Shams threw the stack of books into a nearby pool of water. Rumi hastily rescued the books and to his surprise they were all dry. Rumi then asked Shams, "What is this?" To which Shams replied, "Mowlana, this is what you cannot understand."

So this the level of these two great names in poetry and spiritual world and both are revered til today by Iranians, Turks, Afghans, Tajiks, and other Central Asian Muslims as well as the Muslims of the Pakistan and India. However, the name of Shams-i-Tabrīzī should not be confused with Shah Shams Tabrizi buried in Multan, Pakistan.

Now with this background (or if you want to read more about these two spiritual personalities, hit on the highlighted links for details given in Wikipedia), I came to understand the true meaning of the three words which did not make sense to me in my childhood and I wondered then as to why my father liked these three words so much. Since my father knew Persian very well, he must have known the background, which I learnt many years later in my life.

Read the full poetry of Rumi given here in under and see how beautiful spiritual and mystic thinking can be be. And you would also know the correlation between زندگی بے بندگی شرمندگی with the rest of the poetry:

تو کریمی، من کمینہ بردہ عم

لیکں از لطف شمار پروردہ عم

Too Karimi Mun Kamina Barda Um

Laikin Az Lutf E Shuma Parwarda Um

You are the gracious and I am the ignoble, standing at your door.

You are my cherisher.

زندگی آمد، برائے بندگی

زندگی بے بندگی شرمندگی

Zindagi Aamad Bara'ay Bandagi

Zindagi Be Bandagi Sharmindagi

Life is only for devotion.

Life without devotion (worship or total submission) is disgrace.

یاد اے او سرمایہ ایماں بو ند

ھر جگہ، از یاد او سلطاں بوند

Yaad E Oo Sarmaya E Eeman Bo'ad

Har Gada Az Yaad E Oo Sultan Bo'ad

Remembrance of him is the foundation of faith.

The beggars are like kings due to his remembrance.

سید و سرور محمد(صلی اللا علیہ وسلم) نور جاں

معتر او بھتر شفیع مجرمان

Sayyad O Sarwar Mohammad Noor E Jaan

Mehtar O Behtar Shafi E Mujrimaan

Mohammad (pbuh) was purified of worldly things,

he got this reward:

God said to him, Whatever direction you face your prayer,

My face is to that direction.

His soul like an eagle of Heaven as God called him Mercy for all the creations of God.

چوں محمد(صلی اللا علیہ وسلم) پاک شد از نار او دود

ھر کجا روح کرد وج اوللا بود

Choon Muhammad Pak E Shud Az Nar O Dood

Her Kaja Roo Karad Wajhullah Bood

There is no greater or better of all the prophets than Mohammad (pbuh).

He is the praise of God and therefore has been praised very much.

He is the reflection of God in the shape of a worshipper of God.

شھباز لاماکانی جان او

رحمت لل عالعمیں در شان او

Shahbaaz Lamakani Jaan E Oo

Rehmatal Lil Aalameen Dar Shaan E Oo

The friends of God are like God because God is their friend and in this way he who has seen his spiritual leader, sees God.

one who doesn't see his spiritual leader as God is not a true spiritual disciple.

معترین او بھترین انبیاہ

جز محمد(صلی اللا علیہ وسلم) نیست در ارض و سماں

Mehtareen O Behtareen E Ambiyaah

Juz Muhammad Naist Dar Arz O Samaa

There is no greater or better of all the prophets than Mohammad (S.A.W)*.

* SallaAllah-u-Alaih-e-Wasslam (Peace be upon him)

آں محمد(صلی اللا علیہ وسلم) حامر او محمود شد

شکل عابد،صورت معبود شد

Aan Mohammad Hamid O Mahmoud Shud

Shakal E Abid, Sorat E Ma'bood Shud

اولیاہ، اللا ہ اللا اولیاہ،

یعنی دید پیر، دید کبریاہ

Auliyah Allah O Allah Auliyah

Yani Deed E Peer Deed E Kibriyah

ھرکہ پیر او زات حق راہ یک نہ دید

نے مرید او نے مرید او نے مرید

Her Ka Peer O Zaat Haqra Aik Na Deed

Nai Mureed O Nai Mureed O Nai Mureed

مولوی ھر گز نہ شر مولائے روم

تا غلام شمس تبریزی نہ شد

Maulvi Hargiz Na Shud Maula E Rum

Ta Ghulaam E Shams Tabraizi Na Shud

Maulvi ( Rumi was also called Maulana / Maulvi Rumi for being a religious teacher as well )could never be Maula-i-Rum (spiritual leader or Master)

if he had not devoted himself to Shams Tabrizi - The spiritual Master of Maulana Rumi (Rehmatullah-e-Alayeh)

The last verses are attributed by Rumi to his spiritual teacher and guide Shams Tabrizi - a great thing only great minds and hearts can do. Otherwise small people like us disregard any attribution to our elders and take all undue credit to show our false elevation in literature and spiritualism. And perhaps for this Tabrizi had told Rumi: 'Mowlana, this is what you cannot understand' - not intended for Rumi but for us......

Rumi's Poetry/Persian Text/Translation courtesy Sufi Music

Crime Scene: Help, Take Photos or Walk Away

2013-03-04T23:54:00.000-08:00

Not very often, but sometimes we do across live crime scenes, like someone snatching a purse, a woman being beaten or even a murder taking place.

What do you do if you see this? Help, Take Photos or Walk Away

What do we do? Do we help, ignore and walk away for not being implicated in the crime or make videos with our cell phones to send these to YouTube or Social Media networks for showing our ability to report crime 'LIVE.'

We often listen to the news of nude parading of victims by the so called bigwigs in villages of our country and despite the entire village witnessing the gory incident, no one takes a step forward to help ease the suffering of the victim or even challenging the bigwig. May be we are to fragile morally to stand up to the occasion and act as the crime demands of our obligations.

We are not alone in this - even in civilized countries, while some react, some tend to ignore and walk away - or some even have the guts to take a photo or make a video from their cell phones rather than helping.

Well recently an elevator prank (pictured above) captured people's reaction to a fake 'killing' and onlookers reactions were recorded to see how do the ordinary react to a crime scene. The results were awesome and in some cases showed indifference of people specially when a person's life is at stake.

While even women tried to stop the 'would be killer' by beating the assailant with their bouquet and bags, and a man tried to cool off the murderer with a spraying the fire extinguisher, many showed signs of horror and seemingly froze - unable to decide what to do.

But the best of all was one onlooker who chose to catch the 'moment' - and do nothing to stop the 'killing.'

This was just a prank - but it showed our real instincts and reactions to a live situation. What would you have done in such a situation?

Read more about the prank at Mail Online

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Army supports democracy

2013-02-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

Nadir Mir

Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa made an excellent statement that the military supports free, fair and timely elections in the country. In the same vein, COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani has categorically stated: “The army supports democracy.” Indeed, this is the need of the hour and it should lay to rest all speculations about the delay in elections or military coup.

It is a fact that despite bad governance by the federal and provincial governments about to complete their five-year terms, the army has supported the democratic process. Undoubtedly, reforms are needed for a better Pakistan and it will be the next government’s responsibility to plan for it.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif is right in his demand for timely elections. The people must decide their future. With the army, government and main opposition party on the same page, democracy should proceed ahead. But there is more than that. A secure and prosperous national environment also contributes to democracy. For this, all elements of national power need to be employed and there are some key issues that Pakistan has to deal with before this happens:

US-Nato exit from Afghanistan: The withdrawal of the occupation forces from Afghanistan will be a positive development for Pakistan. So, it is in our interest to facilitate their exit strategy that should be accompanied by a negotiated settlement.

The USA’s major concern is that Afghanistan may be used against it after the troops’ exit. Hence, Islamabad must ensure that anti-US and anti-Pakistan forces do not find solace there. Pakistan has suffered enough during the Afghan war; it must not suffer more, once it ends.

The US-Nato exit will be good for America, Pakistan and, of course, Afghanistan. Misgivings between Washington and Islamabad should be removed and friendly relations should prevail. President Barack Obama’s new team, especially with Secretary of State John Kerry, should help strengthen the Pak-US relationship.

Gwadar and China: The management of Gwadar Port has rightly been handed over to a Chinese firm. Indeed, it will change Pakistan’s destiny. Connectivity with China from Gwadar, in the form of road, rail, pipelines and later to Central Asia, will bring great wealth to the state. Also, it will bind Pakistan geoeconomically and geo-politically with China, Central Asia and West Asia. It is a multi-regional state and not merely a South Asian state.

Despite the fact that Gwadar is a force multiplier of economics and security for Pakistan, yet a word of caution is necessary. Balochistan needs to be stabilised and made peaceful, so that the Gwadar concept reaches full potential. China’s presence at Gwadar has deterred India. It is because it will bring Pakistan and China more closer.

Besides, China through the port will have access to the Indian Ocean. With this, India’s hegemonic dreams stand challenged.

Moreover, Gwadar will make Pakistan prosperous and secure that the Indians dislike. So, the terrorist attacks in Balochistan and Gwadar may have Indian linkage. The latest attack at Pasni is a case in point. Pakistan, therefore, should respond accordingly.

President Valdimir Putin, while denouncing terrorism in Quetta, had termed it an effort to destabilise Pakistan. Obviously, he was not referring to local extremists, but an international game plan. Gwadar has to be built, but it also needs to be guarded against foreign funded and backed terrorists.

Similarly, Iran’s gas flowing into Pakistan will somewhat reduce the latter’s energy woes. The IP gas pipeline, like Gwadar, will have to be protected from the country’s enemies.

The army is non-political and professional: By distancing itself from politics and supporting timely polls, the military is maintaining a non-political stance. The ISI under its dynamic leadership has contributed a lot to maintaining peace in Afghanistan and consequently in Pakistan.

Our military must plan for the future. That should include peacemaking with the Taliban and Baloch dissidents for peace in Pakistan in particular and South Asia in general.

Further, after US-Nato’s exit, the army should shift its focus to the eastern frontier and resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan’s clash with India may extend to Afghanistan (due to Indian ambitions) and Gwadar-Balochistan (due to Indian interference). All things considered, Pak-India relations will not improve; cold peace is the most optimistic view.

Needless to say, Pak Army by supporting democracy is also freeing itself to concentrate on its basic task, i.e. to defend the country’s borders. Not only is martial law as a concept obsolete, but it also diverts the military from its primary duty. Already with patience, vision and courage, the army’s Afghan policy is paying dividends. Pakistan is poised as the winner in Afghanistan; and a stable Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest.

A peaceful and prosperous Pakistan is the wish of all Pakistanis. The entire nation must work to that end.

The writer is a retired brigadier and has authored a book titled Gwadar on the Global Chessboard. Email: nadirmir13@gmail.com Blog: wwwpakistangeopolitics.blogspot.com

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A state of the art rehabilitation clinic in Pakistan to rehabilitate maimed Pakistani soldiers in fight against militants

2013-02-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Army is engaged for almost a decade now to root out militancy in the country and is operating in some of the most formidable, inhospitable and difficult areas of the Pakistan - never stepped in by army before.

Although, the success rate of rooting out militants is very high, it is at the price of life of the soldiers engaged in the war on terror.

Those who lay down their lives, attain the highest honour any Muslim and soldier can achieve - the martyrdom. It may be added that nearly 3,000 soldiers have laid down their lives in defence of the motherland since 2004 - more than the NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Those who survive and come back alive and unharmed are willing to go back again to take sides with their commrades en arm once again.

But there is a fairly large number of soldiers, who are reported injured, 9,000 to be exact. And out of these there are many who in reality have been rendered maimed for life by losing their limbs and by suffering emotional and mental stresses.

A Pakistan army soldier who was injured during fighting against Islamist militants lies on a treatment table as a doctor exercises his wrist

Had it not been a state of art rehab facility managed and operated by the Pakistan Army, these soldiers would have lived a crippled life for ever. The most common injuries the rehab hospital has had to deal with have been from homemade bombs the militants bury throughout the tribal region, said the head of the institute, Maj. Gen. Akthar Waheed. These weapons also pose the greatest threat to U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Artificial limbs specially crafted for the maimed soldiers

Captain Kaleem Nasar was part of an operation elsewhere in the northwest in January of this year when he stepped on a bomb. The explosion blew off one of his legs, and the other had to be amputated below the knee. He visited the rehab hospital recently so doctors could work on his artificial limbs.

Despite his injuries, he does not regret going to war against the Taliban and hopes he can return to active duty.

'I am satisfied I have done something for my country,' said the 27-year-old soldier. 'If I can go back to that area and serve my country, God willing I will.'

But Waheed, the head of the hospital, is worried that Pakistani troops wounded in battle don't receive enough recognition in the country. None of Pakistan's civilian leaders or other politicians have visited the hospital in the five years he has been running it, he said.

'They need much more recognition because they have done so much sacrifice for the cause,' said Waheed.

This post is based on a report in Daily Mail England - but the irony is that none of Pakistan's news channels and newspapers have ever talked of this facility and commended the efforts of creating such a facility in Pakistan to help rehabilitate the lives of so many limbless soldiers and young officers.

Not even a single politician seems to have visited the facility and encouraged these badly hurt and wounded soldiers, who despite their wounds, both mental and physical, are charged with such a high level of motivation and patriotism that they are still willing to go back and fight.

Captain Qasim with brain injuries undergoing rehab exercises - raises 'V' message for his comrades fighting militants

Captain Qasim Abbas with brain injuries when asked would he still go back and fight? The proud captain said, though slowly because of his brain injuries:

'Fight, fight, keep fighting,' but with purpose. When asked if he had a message for his colleagues still battling the Taliban. He raised his fist in the air to drive home his point.

via Mail Online
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The Gawadar Port Control to China - a Strtaegic Decision with far reaching effects on Pakistan's Economy

2013-02-20T06:42:00.000-08:00

The picturesque Gwadar coastline - Photo: MyPak

So it is finally done - the handing over the control strategically placed Gwadar port to China's to the state-owned China Overseas Port Holdings Authority (COPHA). The official transfer of Concession Agreement from the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) to the China Overseas Port Holding Company was carried out in the presence of Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday, 18 February 2013.

It may be added for information that earlier the control was given to a Singapore based PSA International in 2007 in Pervez Musharraf's regime ostensibly to appease the Americans - but with no benefit to Pakistan.

However, the recent decision to take over control from the Singapore company and give it to Pakistan's most tested ally China will have far reaching effects not only on Pakistan's economy and future development but also to enhance the already very cordial and mutually beneficial relations between Pakistan and China.

Although, the decision by the Pakistan's government is much to the annoyance of India and the United States who view the move with suspicion and and take it has a harbinger for increasing Chinese presence in one of the most important oil trade route of the world. But seeing the decision in the Pakistan's perspective, it is a decision that should have been taken much earlier which would have now started giving its dividends.

The Pakistan coastline along Arabian Sea and ports of Jiwani, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara

Gwadar Port is strategically placed on the mouth of Strait of Hormuz, located approximately 460 km (290 mi) west of Karachi, 75 km (47 mi) east of Pakistan's border with Iran and 380 km (240 mi) km northeast of the nearest point in Oman across the Arabian Sea. It is situated on the eastern bay of a natural hammerhead-shaped Peninsula protruding into the Arabian Sea from the coastline. Gwadar is connected to the major port city of Karachi through N-10 or the Mekran Coastal highway, which can extend and divert goods movement from / to Gwadar to Karachi.

Gwadar is situated on the eastern bay of a natural hammerhead-shaped Peninsula protruding into the Arabian Sea from the coastline

Gwadar is also located on one of the busiest oil trade route from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean A Chinese foothold thus definitely irks India which is trying its best to control the sea routes in and out of the Indian Ocean, specially those leading to the Persian Gulf.

Likewise the USA is perturbed over the Pakistan government's decision as China may develop the Gwadar port into a naval base to ensure its strategic presence, thus thwarting any move by the US alone or a joint Indo-USA move to control the oil routes emanating from the Persian Gulf.

However, the strong reaction comes form India which thinks that with the presence of China right on the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the Gwadar Port will act as a listening post observation post to keep watch on the movement of its Navy around Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden.

Gwadar Port: Strategically placed between mouth of Persian Gulf (Strait of Hormuz) and Indian Ocean

But seeing the decision purely from the Pakistan's future economic growth, the Chinese control of Gwadar will provide a number of benefits to Pakistan:

The Chinese presence will open a secure and easy route for China to the hot waters of Arabia Sea, which will mean development of road infrastructure from China to the entire length of Pakistan till Gwadar - ushering in a new era of development, specially that of severely under developed Balochistan province.

The development North-South Trans Energy Corridor (TEC), linking Pakistan with China will improve the fragile health of Pakistan economy as the movement of cargo to/from China to Gwadar will mean payment o f transit route fees by China to Pakistan. The transit route envisages widening of exiting Karakoram Highway (KKH)as well.

The trade route between Pakistan and China will also open vistas for the Central Asian Republics (CARs) and Afghanistan to utilize the TEC as it would also provide these republics with far shorter route than their exiting trade routes through Iran.

The Gwadar city itself will transform into a modern and thriving business city on its virgin beaches, attracting investment from Gulf and other countries. This will also help improvement of facilities and enhance tourism.

The development of Gwadar port will enhance the geo-political significance and importance of Pakistan in the area.

The development and port activities will boost Socio economic uplift of the province of Balochistan and create immense employment opportunities to the local youth in the emerging shipping related industries, oil refineries, oil storage facilities.

The port activities well before the Karachi port and handling of cargo from Gulf states at Gwadar will reduce congestion & dependency on existing Ports Complex at Karachi Port and Port Bin Qasim.

The availability of Gwadar deep sea port, like Karachi and Bin Qasim, the vulnerability of Pakistan vis-a-vis Indian Naval Threat to Karachi will reduce manifold as Pakistan would now have an early off-loading point from Gulf of its oil imports which otherwise got threatened during hostilities with India.

Brig Nadir Mir, in an interview to D S Hurrell of Dallas College, highlighted the importance of Gwadar Port by saying:

"Gwadar Concept is not limited to the Mekran Coast. It is in fact an Economy Changer for all of Pakistan - a Bonanza for Baluchistan, Optimizing Pakistan’s Multiregional Geography for Geo-economics gains and Pakistan’s economic bonding with China, Central Asian States – Russia, West Asia – Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Gulf States and Africa."

"Gwadar Port is concept based. The concept is to synergize Pakistan’s multiregional (Geo-Strategic) location, Open Sea Board for Oil – Gas Pipelines, Energy Centre, Transshipment, Transit, Trade, and Finance Generation."

"In fact, Gwadar is the future of Pakistan."

The American author Robert D Kaplan sums it all, “At the intersection of Empires, the Port City of Gwadar could become the new silk route nexus.”

Like Dubai, which provides transit-shipment facilities and is presently handling 322,050 tons of cargo annually, the Gwadar port can also be developed into providing transit-shipment facilities. The transit cargo (liquid and dry both) can easily be undertaken from Gwadar and transported to any part of the world in a short span of time, in comparison to other ports. Imagine a ship carrying 5,000 – 8,000 containers, the enormity of warehousing, transportation and manpower required to handle all this.

With the Gwadar port under China's control, many other related developments that were not undertaken by Port of Singapore Authority would now be realized, such as:

The immediate investment of $750 million to improve the infrastructure and addition of additional berths for increased shipment activity.
Development of Gwadar-Rattodero Motorway to link Gwadar with Indus Highway through Turbat, Awaran and Khuzdar.
Development of rail link from Gwadar to Quetta for easy flow of goods towards north.
Expansion of Gwadar airport for wide bodied aircraft.

For China, it is the best thing that could be happen to it as it would flourish its economy due to shortened trade route from the Sea of Japan / East China Sea to the Middle East by thousands of miles and provide an easy access almost to the doorstep of the Middle East.

China will be now be able to import oil from the Middle East and roue it to China through South-North corridor provided by Pakistan and reduce transportation costs otherwise costing very dearly to China at present.

The port which has a limited ship handling facility, is going to be expanded to handle over fifty ships in time. This expansion would make Gwadar a central hub of trade and transit activities for all sea traffic from/to Persian Gulf.

Andrew Small, an expert on China-Pakistan relations, told AFP "In the near-to-medium term, it appears that China's interests in this part of the world lean far more towards developing capacities to deal with threats to sea lanes of communication, Chinese citizens overseas and so on."

Even otherwise China which paid almost 75% cost of the development of Gwadar port, justifiably deserved to have been given the rights to operate the port.

China which is a true ally of Pakistan, which has stood by us in all times of need, would with its presence at Gwadar port will be in a better position to support and assist Pakistan than what the Singapore based company could have.

For the land locked Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan, the development of Gwadar port will be of significant economic benefits than the Iranian Ports (Chah Bahar and Bandar Abbas), for these ports will not be able to attract and generate business while the Iranian state remains hostile to major western powers. Moreover, these ports are in creeks and require colossal maintenance cost, which from a business point of view, is not so attractive. Even for Afghanistan, transit trade route from Gwadar to Afghanistan is much shorter than the present Karachi-Afghanistan route.

As for the political situation of Balochistan which is very volatile and uncertain, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan did not look much worried about it. In a query that whether China was worried because of the law and order situation in Balochistan, Jian said security was the responsibility of the Pakistan government. He said at present China had been working on at least 120 different projects in Pakistan; the government had given them security and they were not worried at all.

The Arabian Sea coastline on the southern edge of Balochistan is very important to Pakistan as development of this coastline will provide many opportunities to Pakistan to develop the under developed and under privileged Balochistan province and develop it on the lines of Gulf states, provided it has the resources.

The Chinese control of Gwadar will provide Pakistan with the much need resources to go ahead and make Pakistan an important country all along the oil route from Strait of Hormuz on the mouth of Persian Gulf onward to the Indian Ocean. This will also usher in a new era in the friendship of Pakistan and China.

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Afghanistan: the Smell of Defeat

2013-02-19T23:37:00.001-08:00

by MIKE WHITNEY (shared from Counter Punch)

“These two visions, one of tyranny and murder, the other of liberty and life, clashed in Afghanistan. And thanks to brave US and coalition forces and to Afghan patriots, the nightmare of the Taliban is over and that nation is coming to life again.”

– George W. Bush, The War College Address, 2004

Not so fast, George.

The United States hasn’t liberated Afghanistan. It hasn’t rebuilt Afghanistan. It hasn’t removed the warlords from power, curtailed opium production, established strong democratic institutions, or improved life for ordinary working people. The US hasn’t achieved any of its strategic objectives. The Taliban are stronger than ever, the central government is a corrupt farce, and, after 11 years of war, the country is in a shambles.

This is what defeat looks like. The US military has been defeated by a poorly-armed militia which has demonstrated a superior grasp of modern warfare and asymmetric engagement. The Taliban has shown that they are more adaptable, more motivated, and smarter. That’s why they prevailed. That’s why they beat the world’s most celebrated army.

Americans don’t like to hear that kind of talk. They’re very proud of their military and are willing to pay upwards of $1 trillion per year to keep it outfitted in the most advanced weaponry on earth. But weapons don’t win wars, neither does propaganda. If they did, the US would have won long ago, but they don’t. What wins wars is tactics, operations, and strategy, and that’s where the emphasis must be if one expects to succeed.. Here’s an excerpt from an article by William S. Lind explaining why the US mission in Afghanistan failed:

“A general rule of warfare is that a higher level trumps a lower, and technique is the lowest level of all. Our SEALs, Rangers, Delta, SF, and all the rest are vastly superior to the Taliban or al-Qaeda at techniques. But those opponents have sometimes shown themselves able at tactics, operations, and strategy. We can only defeat them by making ourselves superior at those higher levels of war. There, regrettably, Special Operations Forces have nothing to offer. They are just another lead bullet in an obsolete Second Generation arsenal.” (“What’s so special about Special Ops?”, William S. Lind, The American Conservative)

The US military’s high-tech gadgetry and pilotless drones merely disguise the fact that America is still fighting the last war and hasn’t adapted to the new reality. Here’s more from Lind expanding on the same theory:

“The greatest intellectual challenge in Fourth Generation war—war against opponents that are not states—is how to fight it at the operational level. NATO in Afghanistan, like the Soviets three decades ago, has been unable to solve that riddle. But the Taliban appears to have done so….

The Soviet army focused its best talent on operational art. But in Afghanistan, it failed, just as we have failed. Like the Soviets, we can take and hold any piece of Afghan ground. And doing so brings us, like the Soviets, not one step closer to strategic victory. The Taliban, by contrast, have found an elegant way to connect strategy and tactics in decentralized modern warfare.

What passes for NATO’s strategy is to train sufficient Afghan forces to hold off the Taliban once we pull out. The Taliban’s response has been to have men in Afghan uniform— many of whom actually are Afghan government soldiers or police—turn their guns on their NATO advisers. That is a fatal blow against our strategy because it makes the training mission impossible. Behold operational art in Fourth Generation war……

The Taliban know this technique is operational, not just tactical. They can be expected to put all their effort into it. What counter do we have? Just order our troops to pretend it is not happening—to keep trusting their Afghan counterparts. That order, if enforced, will put our soldiers in such an untenable position that morale will collapse.” (“Unfriendly Fire”, William S. Lind, The American Conservative)

Lind does not underestimate the Taliban or dismiss them as “ignorant goat herders”. In fact, he appears to admire the way they have mastered 4-G warfare and routed an enemy that has vastly superior technology, communications and firepower. It helps to prove his basic thesis that tactics, operations, and strategy are what matter most.

For more than a decade, the Taliban have been carrying out an impressive guerrilla war frustrating attempts by the US to establish security, hold ground or expand the power of the central (Karzai) government. In the last year, however, the militia’s efforts have paid off as so-called “green on blue” shootings–where coalition troops have been killed by Afghan soldiers or policemen–have dashed US plans to maintain a client regime in Kabul when US combat operations end and American troops withdraw. The Taliban found the weak-link in the Pentagon’s strategy and has used it to full advantage. “As American Security Project Central and South Asia specialist Joshua Foust puts it, ‘The training mission is the foundation of the current strategy. Without that mission, the strategy collapses. The war is adrift, and it’s hard to see how anyone can avoid a complete disaster at this point.’” (“The Day we lost Afghanistan”, The National Interest)

TIME TO CUT AND RUN?

The persistent green on blue attacks have convinced US and NATO leaders that the war cannot be won which is why President Barack Obama has decided to throw in the towel. Here’s a clip from a speech Obama gave in May at a NATO confab in Chicago:

“I don’t think that there is ever going to be an optimal point where we say, this is all done, this is perfect, this is just the way we wanted it and now we can wrap up all our equipment and go home…Our coalition is committed to this plan to bring our war in Afghanistan to a responsible end.”

The political class is calling it quits. They’ve decided to cut their losses and leave. Here’s how the New York Times summed it up:

“After more than a decade of having American blood spilled in Afghanistan…it is time for United States forces to leave Afghanistan ….. It should not take more than a year. The United States will not achieve even President Obama’s narrowing goals, and prolonging the war will only do more harm….

Administration officials say they will not consider a secure “logistical withdrawal,” but they offer no hope of achieving broad governance and security goals. And the only final mission we know of, to provide security for a 2014 Afghan election, seems dubious at best …

…the idea of fully realizing broader democratic and security aims simply grows more elusive….More fighting will not consolidate the modest gains made by this war, and there seems little chance of guaranteeing that the Taliban do not “come back in..

Post-American Afghanistan is likely to be more presentable than North Korea, less presentable than Iraq and perhaps about the same as Vietnam. But it fits the same pattern of damaging stalemate. We need to exit as soon as we safely can.

America’s global interests suffer when it is mired in unwinnable wars in distant regions.” (“Time to Pack Up”, New York Times)

Notice how the Times fails to mention the War on Terror, al Qaida, or Bin Laden, all of which were used to garner support for the war. What matters now is “America’s global interests”. That’s quite a reversal, isn’t it?

What happened to the steely resolve to fight the good fight for as long as it takes; to liberate Afghan women, to spread democracy to far-flung Central Asia, and to crush the fanatical Taliban once and for all? Was it all just empty posturing aimed at ginning up the war machine and swaying public opinion?

And look how easy it is for the Times to do a 180 when just months ago they were trying to persuade readers that we should hang-in-there to protect Afghan women. Take a look at this August 2012 editorial titled “The Women of Afghanistan”:

“Afghanistan can be a hard and cruel land, especially for women and girls. Many fear they will be even more vulnerable to harsh tribal customs and the men who impose them after American troops withdraw by the end of 2014.

Womens’ rights have made modest but encouraging gains over the past decade. But these could disappear without a strong commitment to preserve and advance them from Afghan leaders, Washington and other international partners….

…all Afghans should be invested in empowering women. As Mrs. Clinton has argued, there is plenty of evidence to show that no country can grow and prosper in today’s world if women are marginalized and oppressed.” (“The Women of Afghanistan”, New York Times)

Ahh, but lending a hand to “marginalized and oppressed” women doesn’t really hold a candle to “America’s global interests”, now does it? As one might expect, the Times most heartfelt feelings are shaped by political expediency. In any event, the Times tacit admission proves that the war was never really about liberating women or spreading democracy or even killing bin Laden. It was about “America’s global interests”, particularly, pipeline corridors, mineral extraction and the Great Game, controlling real estate in thriving Eurasia, the economic center of the next century. That’s why the US invaded Afghanistan, the rest is propaganda.

There’s one other glaring omission in the Times article that’s worth noting. The editors tiptoe around the one word that most accurately summarises the situation: Defeat. The United States is not leaving Afghanistan voluntarily. It was defeated. The US military was defeated in the same way that the IDF was defeated by Hezbollah in the summer of 2006, by underestimating the tenacity, the skill, the ferocity, the adaptability, and the intelligence of their adversary. That’s why Israel lost the war in Lebanon. And that’s why the US lost the war in Afghanistan.

There’s a reason why the media won’t use the term defeat however applicable it may be. It’s because your average “Joe” understands defeat, the shame of defeat, the sting of defeat, the anger of defeat. Defeat is a repudiation of leadership, proof that we are ruled by fools and scoundrels. Defeat is also a powerful deterrent, the idea festers in people’s minds and turns them against foreign interventions, police actions and war. That’s why the Times won’t utter the word, because defeat is the antidote for aggression, and the Times doesn’t want that. None of the media do.

Photo credit: The Star

But the truth is, the United States was defeated in Afghanistan. If we can grasp that fact, then maybe can stop the next war before it gets started.

About the Author: MIKE WHITNEY lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion (AK Press). Hopeless is also available in a Kindle edition. He can be reached at fergiewhitney@msn.com.

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Where is the chocolate for my Valentine?

2013-02-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

14th February is the Valentine Day - everyone across the world is already sending love for one's loved ones in the shape of gifts, SMS, flowers and even phone calls.

And so do many in out country as well. But at the same time, there is a caution being imposed by some/many upon those 'celebrating' the day and warning them of being sent to hell in the life hereafter for observing a day that is not allowed on many pretexts.

Facebook and Twitters are replete with such messages, cautions and road blocks for the Valentine Day friendly people. This leaves many confused what to do - celebrate and go to hell or not celebrate and go to heavens?

I do not know whether Valentine Day observers will go to hell or those not observing will go to paradise. But I do know that we do not know ourselves what is wrong and what is right and how to make a decision.

That is the general perspective.

And now coming back to the question: Where is the chocolate for my Valentine.

Well this part may be anti romantic and may cause me curse for having spoiled such a happy mood of festivity on this otherwise good day.

But in my reckoning sometimes we need to be unromantic and ponder over the share for our sweet Valentines who wear a different cloak.

Here is how my perspective goes: All the year round, we collect small sums of money from the paltry income we receive in return for our services and deposit these in the government's chocolaty making factories to make a big juicy slab of chocolate for our Valentine which has many faces like our basic needs, security, justice, food, living, shelter, education, roads and bridges and all those things that the state is responsible to provide us by proportionately breaking down the chocolate slab made from our tax money.

But then we see the squandering of this chocolate bar as is seen in a advertisement shown on the TV of a chocolate company, where the chocolate bar is squandered away vehemently by all those who lay hands on it - in our case our loved ones whom we voted are the sole beneficiaries These beneficiaries instead feeding our starving needs with the chocolate bits, eat it away to live in their palatial palaces spread all over the country, and all over the world as well.

And in the end, a small portion of that big chocolate bar finally trickles down to feed many of our Valentines almost starving to death.

Our chocolate gets eaten away for a 27-kilometers long metro bus route - some say it cost 'over' 30 billion, while other say that the 'over' sum actually goes up to 7- billion. For the love of few pedestrians and commuters who commute on the blessed 27 kilometres track, the Valentines of the rest of the province are told that there is no more chocolate left for their needs.

Most of the chocolate is spent away on the foreign tours and medical treatment abroad while in their rhetoric they claim to have established best hospitals in the country for the poor. And they are right - hospitals for poor do not necessarily be equipped with expensive machines and facilities as poor need only antibiotics an d a few shots of cheap injections to get cure or else get cheap treatment in the neighbouring country next door.

I do not need to list all my Valentines here who keeping waiting for their share.

But I have hardly found a size bale response against those who eat away the chocolate meant for our Valentines on Facebook or Twitter or elsewhere.

I do not find any punishment for them - whether they too like the celebrators of Valentine Day would go toe hell or not.

We know who all eat away the chocolate of our Valentines but we do not speak a word about it. Rather we we dance and raise slogans when these very special people are inaugurating some project, knowing fully well that this project is only a show off to consume the chocolate in the process and be-fool us so craftily that we forget about the chocolate and our dear Valentines. And in next elections, we vote for the same faces blind folded by the beautiful words they would speak before the election - only to forget about it thereafter and look for the chocolate once more.

And I would still be asking: where is the chocolate for my Valentine?

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Cold peace with India

2013-02-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

Nadir Mir

Pakistan and India need to opt for ‘cold peace’. Here it would imply peace, but no friendship between the two countries. The recent clashes in Kashmir, the threat of India’s cold start doctrine, the Kargil controversy and Kashmir Day celebrations in Pakistan make it amply clear why friendship cannot be maintained between them.

Indeed, it would be ridiculous to expect that they can have an amicable relationship without resolving the core issues. The animosity between Pakistan and India is a thousand years old, enhanced by seven decades of nationalistic programming. This geopolitical narrative cannot simply be wished away.

Pakistan’s problem: The root cause of adverse relations between the two neighbouring countries is Kashmir. Now, the river waters emanating from there have become even more critical for Pakistan.

The Kashmir freedom struggle cannot be extinguished by India’s brutality. The atrocities committed on hapless Kashmiris have been highlighted by several sane Indian columnist and political activists one of whom is Arundhati Roy. This has not only alienated the Kashmiris for good, but also antagonised the people of Pakistan.

Pakistan wants Kashmir, along with its people and rivers, returned to it. That, besides solving the problem, would mean the acceptance of the Two-Nation Theory by India.

India’s problem: An over sized geopolitical agenda has been New Delhi’s major issue. Its reluctance to accept the Two-Nation Theory, occupying Kashmir and now ‘global India’ are all manifestations of the same.

India has fought several wars against Pakistan and one with China, besides having problems with smaller neighbouring countries. It can become a big economic power considering its potential. However, conflict with its neighbours will retard its growth. India’s war with Pakistan and China, or even with one of them, will destroy everybody.

Also, without resolving the Kashmir issue, India cannot befriend Pakistan. So, it should relent on the disputed valley and make peace with Islamabad.

War avoidance: The first issue, however, is to avoid the threat of war between Pakistan and India; friendship can come later. For this, efforts should be made from both sides; they must seek peace.

‘Peace’ is the only option. Pakistan faces many internal problems that need to be resolved. Therefore, it is unlikely to provoke India that may lead to a war-like situation. Meanwhile, India needs to abort the cold start doctrine. The notion that space exits below the nuclear threshold for war fighting between Pakistan and India is not only absurd, but also suicidal.

Apparently, a conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours can quickly become an existential problem. Cold start or an Indian surprise attack on Pakistan can lead to a catastrophe. Not that the Indian army can defeat or conquer Pakistan, but it can initiate a nuclear war. Even the initial use of tactical nuclear weapons can lead to a strategic nuclear exchange.

War as an instrument of state policy is not doable. Especially, a nuclear war is neither winnable nor survivable! Building nuclear shelters in Kashmir can neither save Pakistan nor India, in case of a nuclear holocaust. Pakistani and Indian nuclear arsenals can utterly destroy not only each other, but also the world. Hence, avoiding war is the best recipe to avoid a nuclear war.

Conflict resolution: Permanent peace can be achieved only through conflict resolution.

Firstly, Kashmiris must be given the right to choose their destiny.
Secondly, brutality committed by the Indian security forces in Kashmir must end, which is increasing hatred and making the resolution of conflicts difficult.
Thirdly, the arms race between Pakistan and India must be controlled. Defence budgets must be limited so that more funds are available to both the countries for eliminating poverty. Even though India has more money than Pakistan or greater resources, yet it cannot stop Pakistan from seeking a strategic balance. This includes a bigger nuclear arsenal, strategic alliance with China, and friendship with USA, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran. In short, when India cannot hegemonise or defeat Pakistan, then why should it waste its resources on war-like preparations?

The view that simply a soft strategy of trade, travel and exchanges can wish away the core issues is flawed. Some Indians project the view that peace is required only by Pakistan; while others want to talk of friendship without resolving the key issues.

Logic dictates that confidence building and conflict resolution go hand-in-glove; you cannot be friends and threaten each other at the same time. The absence of conflict can itself bring friendship. It would be prudent to resolve issues, rather than brush them under the carpet. Till then, cold peace is likely to prevail between Pakistan and India.

The writer is a retired brigadier and a regular contributor to The Fire Within. He has authored a book titled Gwadar on the Global Chessboard. Email: nadirmir13@gmail.com Blog: wwwpakistangeopolitics.blogspot.com

The article was published in The Nation 12 February 2013

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Strengthen Pak-US friendship

2013-02-02T22:26:00.000-08:00

Nadir Mir

Pakistan and America were and, perhaps, still are friends. Nevertheless, mostly this relationship has been a roller coaster ride, especially after the Afghan war that is the major cause of instability in Pakistan. Consequently, the economy is collapsing, militancy is increasing impacting Pak-US relations. Despite geopolitical bondage Islamabad and Washington blamed each other for it. Now with America’s planned exit from Afghanistan, there is a need to strengthen Pak-US friendship.

The US should be seen by Islamabad as a friend after its forces leave the neighbourhood, and Washington needs to get rid of its obsessive thoughts about Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. It needs to realise that a strong, stable and economically vibrant nuclear Pakistan is required to bring about a nuclear balance in South Asia; it poses no threat to anyone.

Against this backdrop, Secretary of State John Kerry’s pragmatic and amiable views about Pakistan are a good omen. Hopefully, friendly relations with the US will develop in the future.

Pak-US Geopolitics: America is a global power, but also a non-Eurasian power. Washington has a long list of geopolitical concerns. Afghanistan should be on the wane, while Middle East and Africa are rising issues. The Afghan war has lasted too long. President Barack Obama, thus, has taken a bold and wise decision to drawdown the forces Afghanistan. Pakistan can facilitate America in its exit strategy and help stabilise the war-torn country after the occupation forces leave.

Having said that, Mali and Algeria and Africa at large would now be the US-Nato forces’ major concern. The turbulence in North Africa, West Africa and larger Middle East is linked. After all, the geographically and economically north and west Africa is closer to Europe than Afghanistan, and a greater concern of the western world.

Moreover, the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM or AFRICOM) was established to ensure American interests. Now, Washington needs to outsource its security concerns to Islamabad to achieve a negotiated peace in Afghanistan. For this purpose, the Pak-US relationship should be improved.

Pakistan seeks peace at home and peace abroad. Washington must respect the aspirations of Pakistani people and coordinate with the army and ISI for a peaceful Pakistan and Afghanistan. The ISI has greatly contributed to regional balance. All this is to America’s advantage so that it exits Afghanistan without worrying about leaving behind an explosive region. The reality is that Pakistan’s army would be the only professional, powerful military force between River Oxus and River Sutlej after the US has left Afghanistan.

All things considered, Pak-US geopolitical interests should coincide in future, only if Washington respects our national interests.

Pak-US Geo-economics: America’s geo-strategy should give way to geo-economics in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian Region.

The Central Asian energy and mineral resources can be easily piped through existing conduits through Afghanistan to the deep Gwadar seaport on the Arabian Sea. Pakistan is already coordinating with China and, perhaps, even Russia for geo-economic confluence. Yet, this is not a zero-sum game.

The USA can also be an economic partner, or part of a greater consortium. Energy and transit highways from Central Asia, the old silk route (China-Pakistan), and even the new silk route (Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) are all possible only through Pakistan. Therefore, it can serve as a bridge between the regions of Central Asia, West Asia, China and South Asia. This can be achieved in an environment of peace. Otherwise, Pakistan has the potential of acting as an interposing state.

Future Geopolitics: With Iraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election, the chances of Israel-Iran conflict may rise. This may embroil the USA even if by default, while North Korea and USA’s relations can worsen. It seems that America is going to remain busy even after it departs from Afghanistan.

Pak-Afghan friendship and geo-economics ties are keys to regional peace. The training of the Afghan forces by Pakistan should go a long way in achieving the quest for stability. Islamabad can bring Kabul and Taliban on the negotiating table. On the whole, America, Pakistan, China and Russia can help achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan.

As Indian ambitions increase, there may be a divergence of interest with the US. Washington has leverage with Russia, China, the EU and other parts of the globe. On India, the main leverage is Pakistan. No matter how much New Delhi talks of ‘Shining India’, it would remain embroiled with Pakistan until it settles the Kashmir dispute.

Even as Israel, and even USA, come in conflict with Iran, a moderating and war-avoiding role can be played by Pakistan. Washington can benefit from Pakistan’s diplomacy that is not just limited to Afghanistan. By the same token, Washington should discourage centrifugual tendencies in Balochistan. Indeed, a united, peaceful, prosperous and nuclear-armed Pakistan is in the interest of regional balance and American efforts for a stable world.

The writer is a retired brigadier and has authored a book titled Gwadar on the Global Chessboard. Email: nadirmir13@gmail.com Blog: wwwpakistangeopolitics.blogspot.com

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Optimism is the best way to see life!!

2013-01-25T00:11:00.002-08:00

See more like the above at Jokideo

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The Mysterious Death of Kamran Faisal

2013-01-23T00:36:00.001-08:00

The news of mysterious death of Kamran Faisal of an investigating agency, who was carrying out investigation of RPP case at a time when the Supreme Court had asked the NAB to complete the proceedings of the case, has raised man an eyebrow.

There have been reports that the death of the official was not due to suicide as marks of beating all over his body have been found. Even his wrists show marks of being tied up with some sort of rope or other material.

Even today's newspaper carry a headline in which an official investigating agency has admitted that Kamran was called by the Chairman and DG on the night Kamran committed suicide.

The aim of this post is not to dwell on the circumstances that led to the death of an honest official but only to share the state of justice in our country where honest officials succumb to hidden hands.

The following piece of poetry that I found on Facebook suffices to say, what I want to say:

May the day comes when the rule of law prevails in our country - the same way it prevailed in t the time so of Umer, the second caliph after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, when even he was questioned by the ordinary and he was made to stand in his own court to satisfy the complainant with no 'follow up' by hidden hands.

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US assassination drone attacks amount to a “war crime” - says American Analyst

2013-01-21T01:39:00.000-08:00

The US drone attacks continuing in some of the countries as part of the war on terror unleashed by the US, specially in Pakistan where over 30,000 thousands have perished sine 2004, mostly women and children, has attracted world criticism on this inhuman act and question the wisdom behind killing a few militants with a colossal collateral damage.

US Drone Attacks: The indubitable war crime

Pakistan's emerging cricketer-turned-politician, the lone crusader against the drone attacks, has raised his voice against the drone attacks on many a fora around the world.

However, recently a political analyst in an interview with Press TV has stated that the US assassination drone attacks amount to a “war crime” against civilians by a government that claims moral leadership of the world.

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Press TV has conducted an interview with Mike Harris, financial editor of Veterans Today (Arizona), to further discuss the issue of US drone attacks. Harris is joined by two additional guests of the program: Lawrence J. Korb, senior fellow of American Progress (Washington), and Toby Blome, CodePink peace activist (Washington).

Mike Harris asserts that:

"If we look at the drone issue here, the drone issue is nothing more than a war crime. And the whole premise of war in Iraq, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, and in Yemen is a fraud. It is falsely based, these are illegal wars that US should not be involved in them. And we should get out and bring our troops home. End of discussion.”

Read the approximate transcription of the interview with Mike Harris at Press TV.

(source)

Pakistan: revolution and war

2013-01-19T04:48:00.001-08:00

Nadir Mir

Pakistan may face revolution at home and war on the border. The environment in Pakistan is charged, to say the least. This is a combination of internal dynamics and geopolitics, reaching critical mass.

For over a decade, the Pakistani nation has been squeezed on many fronts. Ever since the war on terror began, Pakistan’s western border has become a war zone; its economy has been ruined, inflation gallops and militancy prevails. On top of that Indian threats mount, even as America plans to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Against this backdrop, three major dynamics are combining. These include US draw-down from Afghanistan, Pakistani people’s demand for change and India’s overt hostility toward Pakistan.

Pakistan Revolution: In Pakistan, the people have been deprived of the basics of life. Law and order problems persist in the country. Many people, who joined the long march, merely wanted electricity, gas, affordable fuel, jobs, etc. Undoubtedly, they have been robbed and deprived of their basic rights for ages. Still the brave, frugal and patriotic people maintain great love for their country and faith in Allah for a bright future of their children.

Pakistan’s main problem is the corrupt and decadent elite that is self-serving and foreign influenced. They have robbed the wealth of this country and transferred it abroad. For this, they were either facilitated or blackmailed by the foreign powers. In power circles, thus, the elite continued to do their bidding for geopolitical ends. Resultantly, poor and middle income people are getting poorer, while the country is getting destabilized.

Certainly, the elite outlook is parochial and not nationalistic. They have entrenched themselves in lands, business, bureaucracy and other levers of power. They monopolize wealth and there is little trickle down effect. This has not only deprived the masses, but also marginalized and confused them. Every effort has been made to divide Pakistanis by our internal and external enemies.

But now they are awaking from their deep slumber. They are uniting for a new Pakistan; they are seeking their basic rights. The next wave of revolutionary fervour would obviously be much more radical. Of course, democracy is still the way out, and the elections must lead to a reformed Pakistan. In future, two hundred million Pakistanis must be shareholders and stakeholders.

War against Pakistan: Even as the Americans depart from Afghanistan, India has started beating the war drum. Pakistan had hoped for peace once the Americans had left Afghanistan, but the eastern border became hot. After the recent clashes in Kashmir, the Indian army and air chiefs threatened Pakistan. Even the Indian Prime Minister has changed his tone towards Pakistan.

The Pakistan Army, while bravely defending the country, has acted with restraint and prudence. Surprisingly, despite Islamabad’s sincere efforts for peace, New Delhi is moving away from it. In spite of the fact that recently no terror strike took place in India for which Pakistan could be blamed, India intends to increase military presence along the border.

There are three basic reasons why India could follow a policy of confrontation with Pakistan. First, the USA’s military withdrawal from Afghanistan is making it nervous. Second, India wants to exploit any turmoil in Pakistan before it regains balance. Thirdly, New Delhi itself was unnerved by the rape protests and the gloss being removed from ‘Shining India’.

Furthermore, Kashmir or other problems add to its internal woes. And then there is little point of being the world’s number one arms importer and having a big army, if the neighbours are not to be bullied.

Reform Pakistan: The time to reform Pakistan has arrived. In Pakistan, the elite-based society must give way to a welfare society. The new political future of Pakistan should be of a united, wealth-sharing, peace-oriented culture with nationalistic aspirations. In Turkey, for example, much has been achieved through free and fair elections, while Egypt represents the much-hyped Tahrir Square model. However, an elected government can reform the country; if not, then a revolution may be likely!

Cold Peace with India: Nuclear armed Pakistan and India must avoid war. By resolving the Kashmir dispute, permanent peace can be achieved. The Pakistani government should neither confront India, nor appease it. A middle course will be ‘cold peace’, which means “peace but not friendship.” Friendly relations, however, can be maintained between the two countries once the core issues are resolved.

Pakistan’s army is well prepared, but India can miscalculate. Spending billions of dollars for buying more arms or Rafael fighter aircraft after the Kashmir clash is suggestive of New Delhi’s militarist intent.

In addition to enhanced nuclear deterrence, Pakistani army needs to build up conventional deterrence, even while avoiding an arms race. This implies peace on the western border and internal front to refocus in the east. While pursuing peace with India, Pakistan must be fully prepared to deter war.

Having said that, the Kashmir border escalation has been controlled this time. But will the war be avoided next time?

About the Author: The writer is a retired brigadier and has authored a book titled Gwader on the Global Chessboard. He can be reached at e-mail: nadirmir13@gmail.com

Blog: Pakistan Geopolitics

Strategic direction of Pakistan Army

2013-01-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

Nadir Mir

What is Pakistan Army’s strategic direction? Is it to focus on western border, internal front/security, or eastern border? The simple answer to these questions is that existential threat remains from India and thus the primary focus must be on it.

The new army doctrine has done well to highlight the concept of deterrence and defence. Sub-conventional, conventional and nuclear tiers are the facets of warfare faced by Pakistan today. Yet, the Green Book and Pakistan’s new army doctrine are being misquoted, misunderstood and even exploited by sinister forces. The ISPR that is doing a good job needs to clarify again that the threat from India is increasing in terms of its military build-up, even as Pakistan deals with the post-9/11 non-state actors.

Western Border: By 2014, the US-Nato forces will be leaving Afghanistan, but the Taliban will be staying back! As they withdraw, it will be with the realisation that the use of military force proved inadequate. Also, the Afghan National Army that will be left on its own may collapse just like the South Vietnam Army did once the Americans left Vietnam. Even if Kabul does not fall for some time, the Afghan Taliban will emerge as a dominant force. So Pakistan’s army needs to build friendly relations with the Afghan Taliban.

Indeed, Pakistan has no conflict with the Taliban or other Afghans. A negotiated peace in Afghanistan facilitated by the ISI is in our national interest. After the withdrawal of the US-Nato troops from Afghanistan and reduced stress on the war on terror, the Pak Army’s focus on the Afghan border would reduce considerably. Therefore, logically the western border cannot be the strategic direction of our army in future.

Internal Front/Security: Terrorism has wrecked Pakistan’s internal fibre, economy, terrorised the society, resulted in thousands of deaths and untold tragedies. To deal with it, the state needs to pursue political, social and economic reforms. All elements of national power need to be harmonised to achieve synergetic effect against the terrorist malaise.

For the security component, an internal security force (perhaps under military command, but a separate organisation) must be established, trained and equipped. Globally, several internal security force models are available. The Pakistan Army was not created, nor is configured for policing duties. It should not be reduced to a glorified, elevated police force that is, probably, the intention of the state’s internal and external enemies.

Eastern Border: India continues to occupy Kashmir, the water issue has aggravated, resource clash with India rises. It arms feverishly and has become the world’s biggest arms importer. The Indian military developmental strategy (fleets of helicopters, high-tech airpower build up, etc) is to give teeth to its ‘Cold Start’ strategy. But the ‘Cold Start’ or attack within 72 hours of preparation cannot conquer Pakistan. Even the American view was that it could have mixed results.

In fact, now the ‘Cold Start’ offensive can lead to catastrophic effect. Pakistan’s defensive preparations, besides early mobilisation would be augmented by the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons Nasr against advancing Indian military forces. This, in turn, can lead to strategic nuclear exchange or an all-out nuclear war. A nuclear war will destroy the world in general, not just South Asia.

So a nuclear war must be avoided, which actually means that all wars between Pakistan and India need to be avoided. Peace is required between the two states. Diplomacy, trade and travel can prove helpful. However, absence of conflict can be the real guarantee of peace.

Nevertheless, Kashmir remains a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, and has to be resolved. A recent military clash in Kashmir could always escalate. If our army is oriented towards the western border and embroiled in the internal front, New Delhi will not even talk about Kashmir, let alone the desire to resolve it.

Peace with India: Peace talks with India, besides Kashmir, should focus on defence budget limits and military hardware inductions to ensure strategic balance. Both countries need to improve the quality of life of their citizens, rather than an open-ended arms race.

In future, the Pak Army will have to disengage from the western border, make peace on the internal front (Taliban, Baloch militants) and refocus on the eastern border.

After 2014, Pakistan Army will need to redeploy itself. This would add conventional deterrence to the ‘Cold Start’ and reduce the use of nuclear weapons, even though Pakistan’s credible nuclear deterrence would be in place.

However, peace with India can be achieved. For this, Pakistani statecraft should be backed by a lavishly nuclear armed, professional war fighting military machine called the Pakistan Army!

About the Author: The writer is a retired brigadier and has authored a book titled 'Gwadar on the Global Chessboard.' He is also a frequent contributor to The Fire Within.

The auther can be reached at e-mail: nadirmir13@gmail.com
Blog: Pakistangeopolitics

My heart is an idiot

2013-01-08T23:00:00.001-08:00

I am not much of poetry lover but I love poetry of Munir Niazi as he wrote something that moves others' emotions and heart.

However, I recently came across this brilliant piece of expression by Noon Seen Nayyer and thought of sharing with my viewers. Each verse and word of it is thought provoking and at least made me to ponder over when I correlate it with what is happening around us these days.

اب تو دل پیار کے انداز سمجھتا ہی نہیں
میری سنتا ہی نہیں مجھہ سے سنبھلتا ہی نہیں

میں جو پوچھوں کہ کوئی تجھکو اگر چاہنے لگے ؟
ان سنی کرتا ھے خوش ھو کے دھڑکتا ہی نہیں

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میری نظروں سے ملاتا ہی نہیں نظریں یہ اب
میں کہوں کچھہ بھی مجھے غور سے تکتا ہی نہیں

میری آنکھوں میں اترتی ہوئی تنہائی کو
دیکھتا روز ھے اس دکھہ پہ تڑپتا ہی نہیں

اپنی خاموشی و خود غرضی پہ اتراتا ھے
ایسا بے درد ھے غم سہہ کے سسکتا ہی نہیں

کیسے سمجھاؤں کہ یہ مجھہ سے صلاح پھر کر لے
کیسے بہلاؤں کہ دل مجھہ سے بہلتا ہی نہیں

میں ہی لے دے کے اسے ساتھہ لئے پھرتی ھوں
یہ تو پتھر ھے کسی بات پہ ہنستا ہی نہیں

کیسا بے حس سا نیر دل ھے تیرے پہلو میں
کچھہ بھی ھو غم یا خوشی تجھہ سے لپٹتا ہی نہیں

Poetry by Noon Seen Nayyer
Poster Credit: Chrispiascik

Change we need!

2013-01-07T00:25:00.000-08:00

by Nadir Mir

To begin with, Pakistan needs reforms. Historically all nations demand reforms. Ironically reforms have been planned and implemented by both evolutionary and revolutionary political systems in the world. The British evolutionary system (except for Oliver Cromwell) since Magna Carter till date has reformed itself continuously and constantly.

The French Revolution 1789, followed by the ‘Code Napoleon’ implemented reforms and the laws of France. Even earlier the American revolution of 1775 was actually a war of independence from the British Crown. What made this a real revolution were the numerous reforms which followed in the newly formed USA. Today, China and Turkey plus other successful economic models have reformed themselves. Both are brotherly states for Pakistan and sources of inspiration.

It is to be considered that Pakistan’s situation and environment is unique. Firstly, Pakistan’s geography is superb. It is pivotally located. The confluence of West Asia, Central Asia, China, South Asia and Indian Ocean is a unique factor. It has the potential of being a ‘bridge state’ or interposing state between these multi-regions. The geo-economic potential through Gwadar lies untapped as yet. Its mineral riches abound (Reko Diq riches alone are estimated at $1 trillion). Its variety of terrain and weather gives it numerous opportunities.

Secondly, Pakistan’s demography of 200 million (by 2015) has immense human potential. Its energetic youth is waiting to be tapped. The Muslim identity and culture synergize with numerous regions. Thirdly, Pakistan’s other assets include a long list of tangible or intangible factors.

Fourthly, Pakistan’s geopolitical situation is improving. Pakistan’s strategic and brotherly ally China is rising. USA is withdrawing from Afghanistan which should, however, rekindle friendly relations with America. Pakistan and Russia are befriending each other as well. Alongside peace talks, trade plans continue with India. Turkey, which is Pakistan’s fraternal ally, is also a rising power.

However, the internal dynamics of Pakistan present a different picture. The nation needs to be united; its political system reformed, economy built and elitism replaced by a welfare society. Militancy, law and order problems need to be resolved. The internal scene is often exploited by foreign hostile forces. In any event, Pakistan’s house needs to be put in order.

The question is what needs to be done and by whom? Pakistan needs to be reformed but who will do it? The conventional political parties with status quo mindsets claim it their democratic right. The change seeking political parties is the second group. Reform seekers form the third group. More revolutionary forces are likely to appear on the national scene in future.

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Conventional wisdom holds that a great majority of Pakistani people seek change. Real change can come only through reform. Moreover, before reforms are carried out the basic ingredient of unity has to be achieved or else reforms will not be worth the paper written on.

The political system of Pakistan has two major problems. It is divisive and elections are simply money based. A common perception is that an election costs Rs 10 crore as a conventional estimate. In that case 99.99 percent Pakistanis cannot even dream of fighting elections. It is election by the elite, of the elite, for the elite! Even if some from the middle class do make it, the overall system is elite based. Such a political system is a travesty of democracy. In a true republic, as per the constitution, Pakistan belongs to all the people of this country. Two hundred million Pakistanis by 2015 are shareholders and stakeholders.

Elections are not the question. Who gets elected is the question. Political reform in Pakistan must seek to unify not divide people. Difference of opinion does not mean war within Pakistan. The nation needs peace and unity at home. Secondly, unlimited money spent on politics must be controlled through legislation, media and public opinion building. A vibrant, expressive civil society can prove helpful. If a one dish limit can be placed on wedding meals, some financial limit should be imposed on election politics. Furthermore, foreign funding sources for politics in Pakistan need to be scrutinized. The Pakistani middle class must have opportunity to participate directly in politics. So a more balanced political order could emerge.

Pakistan’s woes emanate mainly from political problems. So it is essential that political reforms are carried out first. Only then will Pakistan be able to emerge as a great nation!

About the Author: The writer is a retired brigadier and has authored a book titled Gwadar on the Global Chessboard. He is a regular contributor to The Fire Within

'Change we need' also published in Nation Monday, January 07, 2013

Let 2013 rid us of the demagogues

2013-01-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I saw the sun going down and took many shots of it before along with it the year 2012 faded away in history for ever. The year was extremely bloody fro us in Pakistan as bomb blasts ripped apart buildings, buses carrying innocent people - leaving many dead, countless maimed fro life and carrying the horrific memories of the men becoming gods and ordering killing of men of own kind.

Then the night fell, but soon after the morning prayers, I scaled the stairs to the first floor of my house to catch a glimpse of the new rising sun - but I could not see any thing as a thick sheet of fog had blanketed everything around my house in Islamabad.

I just wondered whether this fog was to shield our sins and misdeeds that we committed in 2012 and allow us a day more to repent and ask forgiveness from our Creator of our misdeeds or was it provide shelter for those war mongers who had been playing a bloody game all through the last year to start over afresh. I could not find any answer.

It was then that I prayed the fog gives way to hope and bright sunlight to lighten up our hearts and souls. Just like the great Urdu writer Mustansir Hussain Tarrar wrote in his brief new year message as below:

I pray for the people to be free from the darkness and menace of illiteracy that breeds intolerance and hatred for others. Let there be justice, equal for everyone. Let 2013 rid us of the demagogues who play with our innocent emotions, take away our voice and rule us to take away what is left with us and of our country. Let us be free from militancy, terrorism and extremism.

Let us be free, finally.....