The Unsung Hero of Bajaur

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Lieutenant. Omer Tirmizi, a young and dynamic individual and a brave solider was posted to Bajaur Agency to counter Taliban insurgency in 2008. He comes from a family of soldiers, who devoted their entire lives to protecting our motherland. Most of the young officers of his age and experience are hesitant to face these highly trained and well equipped barbarians in their home ground, but the day he received his orders of being posted to the war-struck area of Bajaur, he knew he his dream had come true and the reason he was made for will be tested to the core.

I still remember his words when he was about to leave for Bajaur: ” I will be lucky to come back alive, but I dont wish for that luck, I just pray that He gives me the courage and faith to live upto my name, this uniform I wear and the flag that is pasted on my forearm ” 

Having known him for years, as a friend and as a brother, I knew he was special and made for “war”. Since the day he left for Bajaur, I started waiting for the “good” news.

And the news came, Omer had been critically injured and from fighting the so-called talibs, he was now battling for life. The news got to me when he was being flown in a helicopter to CMH Peshawar, and doctors had informed his retired father and loving mother about his critical condition. ” We would lose him, WE WOULD LOSE HIM ” were the words of the doctor in the air urging the pilot to fly as quickly as possible.

The mother who used to worry about his son’s habit of not taking breakfast and running after him around the house, had lost her senses. Her loved one was battling for life!

The moment of truth had actually passed few hours ago, when he was ordered to lead a team of a few jawans into a talib-controlled stronghold. He being the only officer had to coordinate with his superior as to when to send the Cobras after his team’s mission was accomplished. He lead his brave jawans into the compound, knowing that his enemy were veterans in the field of guerilla warfare, an art of war neither he or his team was trained to counter. They had to adapt to this way of war, in areas their hostiles knew like their own backyards. And so did they! They fought bravely for hours and though overnumbered significantly, with limited ammunition and supply. They managed to distract over 200 talibans and as per their plan, called for backup support of helicopters and artillery shelling but to their surprize were told not to wait for the back-up as the promised support had to be diverted somewhere else.

Moments like these, test the faith of a soldier. Surrounded by enemy, with bullets and rockets hurling past their ears, they could not retrieve. Omer ordered his men to lay down and hide in the fields initially, thinking it would be madness to try and fight in such a situation where death was inevitable. He assembled his men, head to head, laying down in the fields and informed them of the situation.
“ This is the moment we were made for, this is the day we were trained for, this is the day our mothers fed us for and this is the moment our fathers prayed for glory! I cannot force you to embrace death, which seems inevitable in this situation, so I beg for your advice. We all have to die, if somehow He wishes to give us some more time, we might end up dying on beds, but we all used to shout back in our training days – LIVE LIKE ALI * , DIE LIKE HUSSEIN * . So do you want to live like Hazrat Ali Sher-e-Khuda and die like Hazrat Imam Hussein ? “

Listening to these words of their commander, the jawaans without even slightest of utters stood up together and pointed their guns towards the trees their enemies were firing from. Omer had lost his senses, the Nasha of shahadat and the will to defeat these ignorants who had defamed Islam and Pakistan overwhelmed his ability to think. He jumped out of the fields, came in the open ground where there was not even a single inch of earth that was not hit by bullets and rockets.

7 men were now face to face with enemy 20 times more. ” Nayar-e-Haidri ” – ” Ya ALI ” was heard amongst the sound of bullets. ” Himmat-e-Marda’n – Madad-e-Khuda ” saw its real interpretation and they saw their enemy falling down from the trees hit by their shots. Some who managed to jump down and moved towards this little army of only a few men, got hit before reaching 10 feet closer and died near their boots damped with blood. Omer saw one of his jawaans leg flying towards him, blood and human flesh plagued his uniform but he still stood strong and kept on reciting the praises to His lord.

Omer was drunk in the wine of martyrdom, he did not realize he was hit by a sharpnel until he found himself lying in the fields, he felt something in left leg and when he looked, a shower of blood was flowing out. He could not see his jawaans, as some of them had been martyred and some had retrieved. He lay alone, in the fields, wounded but still wanting to stand up and fight. Having tried two or three times, he realized that he could not move his leg. He heard his enemies coming closer and talking in the local language that they have an officer injured, which meant a lot of money! He had heard stories of them peeling off officer’s skins and disgracing their uniform. He could not let that happen! His hands pierced in his pockets, grabbing a grenade, and waiting for them to come closer so that he could blow himself up. Each second seemed like an hour, the time was moving in slow-motiom. They were near now, his grenade’s pin was in his mouth, ready to take it out and kill them, so what if he had died with them! But then “khota” – his favorite jawaan of relatively chubby stature came running towards him along with some jawaans who had retrieved, forcing the enemy backwards. “Khota” managed to pick Omer and started running towards their base, bullets and rockets passed them by but khota ran like leopard then, and Omer still found an element of humor in it .
He was brought to the base, given first aid and was boarded on a helicopter for immediate surgery in CMH Peshawar. He could hear the words of the doctor narrated above ” We would lose him, WE WOULD LOSE HIM ” but now having felt death so closely, his fear of it had vanished.

Omer had undergone several surgeries since then, he is on wheelchair with one leg disabled. And he still says with vigour, ”It was just net practice, the real moment of truth will come again”

His team had managed to kill over 50 insurgents that day, his Commanding Officer had a leg amputated and then lost his life afterwards. Many of his close friends and coursemates embraced shahadayt’
In midst of all the negativity that one witnesses in the country, brave men and women like Omer give us hope. If they are ready to blow themselves them, we have an army of 16 Crore willing to die for the green flag! HONOR THEM!!

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Deliberate Misperceptions created about defence budget

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Military capability is required to protect the country from internal and external threats, while political stability and economic prosperity is essential for development. The three components help in protecting the sovereignty, integrity and security of a state as well as well-being of the people. The three are interlinked and cannot be separated from each other. It will be ideal to concentrate entire energies of the state towards economic prosperity and to build up democratic institutions attuned towards welfare of people. An ideal state should be bestowed with sound system of justice where cheap justice is available at doorsteps, one law applicable to all, negligible gap between the rich and poor, the society free of curses of corruption, bribe, nepotism, favoritism and jobbery, equal chances for social growth irrespective of the social status. This is not only idealistic but also subject to geo-political environment in which the country is placed.

Pakistan is among the few states whose existence was not accepted by India and from the day one it conspired to reabsorb it into Indian Union. It succeeded partially in 1971 when it broke Pakistan into two and converted its eastern wing into Bangladesh. It is now conspiring to further truncate Pakistan. On its west is unfriendly Afghanistan, which has traditionally remained pro-India and anti-Pakistan. Of late, India and Afghanistan have become strategic partners and India has increased its influence in Afghanistan manifold. Perpetual hostility of India and deceitful behavior of Afghanistan has kept Pakistan on tenterhooks and in a constant state of insecurity. It was essentially the factor of insecurity which impelled Pakistan’s earlier leaders to gravitate towards the west and seek security in western defence pacts. Although alignment with USA helped Pakistan in building its armed forces, but it was certainly at the cost of development of Pakistan and welfare of the people. Above all, western pacts didn’t help in reducing Pakistan’s security concerns or in preventing breakup of Pakistan in 1971.

An influential lobby in Pakistan at the behest of detractors of Pakistan has all along been critical of armed forces and its defence expenditure. It sells a mischievous misperception that but for 60% of national budget getting consumed in defence; Pakistan would have become a prosperous state. Maulana Fazlur Rahman alleged that ‘one day’s Army budget is the combined annual budget of education and health’. He forgot that one day corruption in Pakistan comes to Rupees eight billion as disclosed by Chairman NAB. He also forgot that unlike military run institutions which are welfare oriented, they pay taxes and are running in profit, all public sector enterprises are running in losses and second largest portion of budget gets consumed in keeping them afloat. Losses incurred by them can meet the needs of defence. Another falsehood in circulation is that the military consumes a very big portion of government expenditures. The reality is that in 2012/13, defence affairs and services consumed only 17% of all government expenditures. Largest amount of budget is spent on domestic debt servicing.

Those propagating curtailment of defence expenditure to be able to develop economy forget that militarily weak Pakistan will tempt adventurers to either step in or destabilize it from within employing covert means. Economic prosperity is possible only when the country is free of external and internal threats, or is militarily in a position to thwart the threats, or has abundant mineral resources. All economic deals and bilateral trade agreements will remain mutually beneficial if the deals have been signed from a position of equivalent or near parity military strength. Diplomatic and political clout will be of some substance if one has military capability matching the hostile neighbor wanting to have its way.

China couldn’t have made such an impressive progress in its four-point modernization program and turned into an economic giant on the strength of its economy alone. While pursuing an overall defensive strategy, it never ignored the growth of its military potential to keep its adversaries at bay. There was a time when it was militarily weak, Britain imposed opium wars on China to force it to buy and consume opium from it. Learning a lesson from history, China has been spending huge amounts to build its military might, both conventional and unconventional to deter its enemies.

Likewise, India’s military muscle enabled it to extract benefits from the current and former super power as well as western world, Muslim world and Japan. The US is keen to make India a world power and a bulwark against China because of its military and economic strengths. India’s expanding military prowess motivated China to push border dispute on the backburner and to forge trade and cultural ties with India. India couldn’t have pursued its hegemonic policies against all its neighbors in South Asia on its economic strength alone. Its vast military capacity propels India to nurture grandiose plans of converting India into Mahabharat stretching as far as Afghanistan and Indonesia including Pakistan.

On 16 November 2012, Indian journalist Kuldip Nayar on the occasion of his book launching ceremony at Dhaka, ‘Beyond the Lines’, held the partition of subcontinent fallacious and expressed his utopian desire of reunifying the countries of the subcontinent to single entity of Akhand Bharat. He advocated formation of ‘South Asian Union’ on the lines of European Union, which is yet another Indian floated idea of ‘confederation’. It gives a fair idea that even after passage of 65 years Indian political leaders and elites have not given up the hope of undoing Pakistan and Bangladesh and establishing mythical Akhand Bharat.

India’s ambitious force modernization program has been at the cost of 70% Indians living below poverty line. Despite such a high a rate of poverty and illiteracy, there has hardly been any dissenting voice heard from within India objecting to lavish defence spending. No demand has been made to cut its ever increasing defence budget each year. But for the huge defence budget allocation of $40.44 billion, India couldn’t have employed over 1500,000 security forces to combat insurgents and separatists in its 19 states including occupied Kashmir where 700,000 troops are deployed since 1989. Its military which is in illegal occupation of Siachin Glacier since June 1984 couldn’t have sustained a corps size force for that long. But for its military clout, India which remained in the Soviet camp from 1947 till 1990 would not have been gladly accepted as a strategic partner by the sole super power and let it regain its lost influence in Afghanistan.

Had Pakistan not striven to maintain military balance with India at the cost of economic development, Pakistan by now might have got fragmented or turned into a satellite of India. One of the main contributory reasons of political chaos and economic meltdown in Pakistan has been the meddlesome role of India, which has been impeding its economic and political growth through intrigues and coercive tactics. Although Indian military has outpaced Pakistan’s military with a big margin, Pakistan’s minimum nuclear deterrence has restrained it from embarking upon high-cost risky venture. It is Pakistan’s nuclear capability which impelled India to resort to indirect strategy. Having put on the mask of friendship, it has been involved in covert war in concert with its strategic partners since 2002 to destabilize, denuclearize, de-Islamize and balkanize Pakistan.

Pakistan has been deviously embroiled in the futile war on terror imposed by USA which is eating into its vitals. Pakistan military resources are progressively dwindling in fighting this war with no end in sight, impacting its operational, technical and administrative fitness for war. Despite being so heavily engaged in this war for a decade, which is termed by some as an existential war, and despite being faced with three dimensional threats, it is indeed surprising that Pak Army has curtailed rather than increased its annual defence budget. Yet it is being propagated that military expenditure have been constantly on the increase. This is far from truth. Since 1990s, there has been a steady decline from 3.6% of GDP to 2.5% of GDP in 2012/13.

Current Army’s expenditure is at the lowest in history of Pakistan. While Pakistan’s total budget for the financial year 2012/2013 is Rupees 2960 billion, defence budget is Rupees 545, that is, 18.4% of total budget. Defence budget for Army, Navy and Air Force is 50% (Rupees 272 billions), Navy 25% (Rupees 136 billion), and Air Force 25% (136 billion). Army gets only 9% of total budget and not 60% as propagated. Further slashing the defence budget would be at the cost of compromising our defensive posture with crippling effects. Another myth which has been given publicity by US media is that the Army pocketed $ 10 billion Coalition Support Funds whereas in actuality it received only $1.8 billion as reimbursement for services it rendered.

Pakistan military would have certainly drastically cut down its defence budget and even its force structure had India been willing to do the same. Or India had given a written commitment that it wouldn’t resort to covert or overt war and would live as a peaceful and friendly neighbor. The US which is continuously preaching that India poses no threat to Pakistan has also not given any guarantee. Even if it gives a guarantee, it will have little value since it didn’t honor its 1959 agreement in 1971. Pakistan could have given up its weapon grade nuclear capability if India had reciprocated to Pakistan’s suggestion of making South Asia a nuclear free zone. India’s plea of upgrading its military potential because of threat from China is frivolous.

Given the hostile track record of India, bulk of strike formations poised against Pakistan, its Pakistan specific Cold Start doctrine, its refusal to resolve longstanding disputes of Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek, its resort to water terrorism to dry up Pakistan, its heavy involvement in FATA and Balochistan, its efforts to isolate and strategically encircle Pakistan and make it a failed state, it will be utterly foolish to suggest downgrading our defensive effort. It is like joining hands with enemies of Pakistan and fulfilling the long cherished desire of our arch enemy which misses no opportunity to harm Pakistan. Willful misperceptions by a handful of misguided politicians, journalists and pseudo intellectuals about defence budget to misguide the people and to defame and undermine the Army must end. Its huge sacrifices under extremely adverse conditions must be acknowledged and lauded.

By Asif Haroon Raja
The writer is a freelance columnist and a defence analyst Email: asifharoon7751@yahoo.com

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Pakistan successfully test-fires MRBM Hatf V (Ghauri)

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan today successfully conducted the training launch of Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) Hatf V (Ghauri).The launch was conducted by a Strategic Missile Group of the Army Strategic Force Command on the culmination of a field training exercise that was aimed at testing the operational readiness of the Army Strategic Force Command. Ghauri ballistic missile is a liquid fuel missile which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads over a distance of 1300 kms.The test monitoring of the launch was conducted at the National Command Centre through the medium of National Command Authority s fully automated Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS). 

It may be recalled that the SCCSS enables robust Command and Control capability of all strategic assets with round the clock situational awareness in a digitized network centric environment to decision makers at the National Command Centre (NCC). The test consolidates and strengthens Pakistan s deterrence capability, and national security.The President and Prime Minister congratulated all ranks of the Army Strategic Force Command on the excellent standard achieved during training which was reflected in the proficient handling of the weapon system in the field and the accuracy of the training launch

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COAS warns all state institutions to work within their constitutional limits

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While addressing a group of officers at GHQ on November 5, the Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani warned that much is desired for all state institutions to work within their constitutional limits. The political pundits observed that the statement carried veiled challenges to the judiciary as well as media creating uproar in political, legal and social circles. The statement provided an opportunity to the detractors to denounce ‘institutional bashing campaign’ with a pledge to forward their energies to forge harmony amongst the national institutions. Interpreting the contents of the statement, it appeared that it entails a warning to all the critics who unnecessarily target and defame the sacred institution with an aim to draw a wedge between the people and armed forces. The COAS’s statement has given some respite to the anxiety of questioned generals, emboldening them for an opportunity to defend themselves publicly against the one-sided media onslaught. Reviving their images, the generals are now giving documentary evidence to clarify their position on private TV Channels and the print media as well.

Why General Kayani was compelled to give that statement? What were the reasons that led to the address? Many talk-shows and news analysis conducted on different private TV news Channels cited various reasons for this prompting. An in-depth scrutiny and introspective examination of the statement of COAS will unravel its latent manifestation that was shrouded under the veiled warning to Judiciary and media. The COAS seemed to be referring the severe criticism of the institution where nine former generals are facing allegations of meddling into political process or financial corruption in the courts. Some of the reasons put forth are: a)The famous Asghar Khan case, which had been pending since 1996, was finally decided by the Supreme Court and the government was directed to take action against former COAS General Mirza Aslam Beg and ex-chief of Military Intelligence and ISI Asad Durrani for their role in sponsoring the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) in the 1990 general elections, b) During last couple of years, the superior courts have been hearing several high-profile cases related to the security forces and intelligence agencies, especially Inter-Services Intelligence.

Scores of ‘enforced disappearances’ cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Balochistan are pending with different courts, c) the involvement of three retired Generals, Maj.Gen Khalid Zaheer, Lt. Gen Khalid Munir and Lt. Gen Afzal Muzzafar in the corruption case in National Logistic Cell (NLC) in 2008, d) the connection of retired generals in Pakistan Railways and Fauji Fertilizer Company – Lt. Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi, former Secretary Defence, Lt Gen. Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Lt Gen. Saeeduz Zafar, and Major General Hamid Hassan Butt in connection with leasing 150 acres of Pakistan Railways land in Lahore to a private party on much cheaper rates as compared to the open market, e) Pakistan’s military is facing open media trial on the inaction of Pakistan Armed forces against NATO forces on two accounts – US unilateral air raid on Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad on the May 2, 2011 and NATO air strike on army border Salala check posts bordering Afghanistan Nov 26, in which 24 Pakistani troops were martyred, f) a smear media campaign against state institutions by anchorpersons like, Asma Jehangir, Hamid Mir and Najam Sethi creating inter and intra-institutional clashes.

And g) On the external front, the United States is leaving no stone unturned in belittling the image of Pakistan Armed forces in the media. Starting from the Raymond Davis affair, in which a CIA contractor shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, to the accusing of ISI as a “veritable arm” of Talibans, to pressurizing Pakistan Army for the operation against Haqqani group in North Waziristan.

Ostensibly, any such development that hits the cultural norms and discipline of the military is bound to arouse the concern of the high echelons. Such like developments have undermined public’s confidence in the military, creating rifts amongst the high command with low-level command of the military. The judiciary has been seen to criticize the policies and actions of the military/intelligence agencies, followed by an unprecedented ‘misinformation drive’ in the electronic and print media. Gen. Kayani stressed that “While individual mistakes might have been made by all of us in the Country, these should be best left to the due process of law. As we all are striving for the rule of law, the fundamental principle; that no one is guilty until proven, should not be forgotten. Let us not pre judge anyone, be it a civilian or a military person and extend it, unnecessarily, to undermine respective institutions.” General Kayani put forward two fundamental questions; 1) Are we promoting the rule of law and the Constitution? 2) Are we strengthening or weakening the institutions?

It is generally talked that the Army Chief’s speech in the GHQ was reflective of the opinion of his fellow generals and the Pakistan Army as an institution. The Army Chief is hundred per cent right that no individual has right to determine interest of the country. The armed forces of Pakistan play a key role in guarding the national frontiers and securing its borders with heavy responsibility rests on their shoulders. The nation looks forward to its defence forces for protection and security in the event of foreign aggression or threat of invasion, therefore, the morale and spirit of the soldiers should be kept high. The CJP Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has expressed confidence in the role of the defence forces against external aggression, the soldiers have always lived up to their traditions whenever called upon to defend their motherland. 

Discipline is the essence of Armed forces, where laws, edicts, rules framed, hold good for the general community and if applied rigidly, the effect is lasting. No army man is going to move forward without discipline and complete obedience is the first requisite of good discipline. Therefore, any effort which wittingly or unwittingly draws a wedge between the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan undermines the larger national interest. Equally important is the trust between the leaders and the led (low tier of command) of the Armed Forces. Any effort to create a distinction between the two, undermines the very basis of this concept and is not tolerated, be it Pakistan or any other country. The on-going media trial is totally uncalled for and will cast unhealthy repercussion on the morale and discipline of serving personnel.
The country is passing through a critical stage. 

The truth is, Pakistan is in serious trouble and any misadventure will make the country is in a position of strategic peril. The whole nation needs institutional cooperation in forging unity and harmony in their files. The co-conspirators are working at the behest of foreign powers, because the enemies know they can weaken Pakistan only by weakening the Pakistan Army and ISI. Why they are trying to convert a purely legal matter into Army/ISI bashing? Dragging the military into politics would be disastrous blunder for the country, especially when Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence are still coping with militants in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, besides facing a perennial wave of suicide attacks and assaults on the security personnels inside settled area. Additionally, Asma Jehangir, Hamid Mir and Najam Sethi are the sharpest instruments in the campaign of damaging Army and ISI in particular and creating civil-military clash in general.

All these anchorpersons are being paid hefty amounts for creating an ambiance of confrontation between the civil-military leadership leading to anarchy-like conditions in the country, through their Talk shows on TV. This environment can only advance the interests of India and the United States as Indo-US nexus considers Pakistan army/ISI a real hurdle in attaining their respective goals in the region. At this critical juncture of Pakistan chequered history, it is the duty of every patriotic and peace-loving citizen of Pakistan to stop these anti-Pakistan elements from disparaging the army and the ISI and to declare that such criticisms will do more harm than good to the Statehood. The media needs to act responsibly and there should be somebody who should come forward and say that the media should follow the ‘code of ethic’ as specified for the conduct of Journalism in the country. As the cases of nine retired military generals are sub judice, journalists should report only the facts and do not attempt to influence the proceedings of the Court, come what may. Let the court do its work.

(Khalid Khokar)

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Capital suggestion... Generals

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What do the generals want? The Pakistan Army, like all other institutions, is a pyramid. But the Pakistan Army, unlike any other Pakistani institution, is the only Pakistani institution where soldiers rise from within to become commanding generals purely on the basis of merit. This military pyramid rests on two pillars: respect for the chain of command and the confidence of Pakistanis in their armed forces. As of right now, Pakistan Army’s two serving generals, 22 serving lieutenant generals, 150 serving major generals for a total of 620,000 Pakistani soldiers are in a state of war. This is the longest – and the bloodiest – war that the Pakistan Army has ever fought. This war has multiple fronts – Tirah Valley, Shawal Valley, Wana, Miranshah, Mir Ali, Swat, Sararogha, Bajaur, Orakzai, Khyber and Kurram. This is a war where the distinction between a combatant and a non-combatant is blurring. This is a war where the distinction between a soldier and a civilian is blurring – even the distinction between war and politics is blurring. This war truly has all the characteristics of a 4G war. Then there’s India with its ‘cold start military doctrine’. Then there’s the Indian army with its ‘Order of battle’, whereby at least half of all Indian army corps are stationed within a striking distance from the Pakistan-India border. The Indian army’s XV Corps with two infantry divisions in Srinagar, XIV Corps in Leh, XVI Corps with three infantry divisions, an artillery brigade and an armoured brigade in Nagrota, X Corps in Bhatinda, XI Corps in Jalandhar, IX Corps in Yol and II Corps in Ambala. Remember, generals around the world respond to ‘capacity’ not ‘intent’. Pakistani generals look at the Indian Army and see its inventory of 6,384 tanks as a threat (since none of those Arjun MBTs can cross the Himalayas into China, they must all be for Pakistan). Pakistani generals look at the Indian Air Force and see its inventory of 672 combat aircraft as a threat. Pakistani generals look at the Indian Army and find that XV, IX, XVI, XIV, XI, X and II Corps all pointing their guns at Pakistan. The Pakistani generals look at India’s 4th Armoured Division, 12th Infantry Division, 340th Mechanised Brigade and the 4th Armoured Brigade deployed to cut Pakistan into two halves. As of right now, the Pakistan Army is fighting a deadly 4G war within and must, at the same time, stand prepared to defend Pakistan from the 3G threat from the east. In essence, the Pakistan Army is fighting at three different levels – physical, mental and moral. To be certain, the Pakistan Army cannot win on the physical battlefield unless it also wins the mental combat, the ‘will to fight’ and the ‘belief in victory’. So, what do the serving generals want? The same thing that any serving general in a state of war would want – support from all other pillars of the state. So, what do the Pakistani generals need to guarantee the longevity of the Pakistani state? The same thing that any serving general in a state of war needs – esprit de corps, sense of unity, commonality of interests plus chain of command and the confidence of the public on the military. As of right now, one retired general, five retired lieutenant generals and two retired major generals are on trial – both in the courts of the law and the media. What do the retired generals want? They don’t want to be convicted – either by the courts or by the media. Well, there shouldn’t even be any debate on this count – anyone who breaks the law must be held responsible and punished. By Dr. Farrukh Saleem The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com

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Afghanistan should hand over Fazlullah to Pakistan: Grossman

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Pakistan has convincingly taken up the issue of cross-border attacks from Afghanistan with US special envoy Marc Grossman, and sought his help in persuading the Afghan government and ISAF to quell insurgents’ infiltrations into Pakistan side, diplomatic sources said on Sunday. “The civil and military leadership made clear to the US that militants, who had fled the country during the Swat military operation and were operating from Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nuristan provinces, should be extradited to Pakistan,” the sources confided to The Nation.

The authorities impressed upon Grossman to take the matter seriously, as cross-border attacks, led by former TTP Swat commander Maulvi Fazalullah and his fighters, were destabilising Pakistan. The US diplomat praised Pakistan’s role in stabilising the political process in Afghanistan, saying that Pak-US cooperation should continue on the matters of anti-terrorism. “We have many shared interests – including terrorism, supporting a stable and secure Afghanistan, increasing market access and economic opportunity, and supporting civilian democracy, tolerance, pluralism, and civil society,” Grossman was quoted as having said in a statement issued by the US Embassy at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Pakistan on Sunday.

Grossman appreciated Pakistan’s support for an Afghan political process through the US-Afghanistan-Pakistan Core Group, and noted that “we want to continue our important coordination on the border and to counter terrorism in the region. We want to work together to find ways to cooperate to make Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the region secure, stable, and prosperous”. “The frank, honest, and respectful conversations we had are essential to furthering the vital relationship between the United States and Pakistan and to ensuring our shared security and economic prosperity,” he added.The US top diplomat headed into talks with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Islamabad on how the United States and Pakistan could work together to identify shared interests and act on them jointly. Grossman’s visit follows recent engagements, including Secretary Clinton’s meetings with Foreign Minister Khar in Washington and President Zardari in New York in September, as well as the recent Pakistan-US Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism agreement.

(Zaheerul Hasan)

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Propaganda against Pak Army and Aman ki Asha bashed!

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The propaganda against Pakistani nuclear program started in 1982 when Indian govt. gave the task of propaganda against Pakistan through posts, columns, analysis etc. in magazines and newspapers to a team of Indian Foreign and Information Ministry. The term “Islamic Bomb” was invented by India for our nuclear program and India left no stone unturned to prove Islam as a terrorist religion (India even staged bomb blasts in its own cities targeting innocent Indians just to support her propaganda against Islam). Israel was special target of Indian propaganda and was forced to believe that Pakistani nukes are for Israel; if these nukes are not destroyed before their completion they will bring devastation for Israel. On the will of their Indian financers western intellectuals and journalists wrote in their columns, posts etc. that Pakistan will hand over these nukes to Arabs who have not accepted Israel as a separate country and are willing to remove Israel from the face of the world. Driven by the threat created by Indian propaganda Israel attempted twice to attack Pakistani nuclear assets but due to the tight air defenses Israel could not fulfill her plans.

Over the pressure of Israeli and Indian lobby USA imposed sanctions over Pakistan but due to the war in Afghanistan against Soviet Union USA avoided a direct attack or extreme steps. India has already justified her nuclear weapons in the eyes of the world through her propaganda as being the front-line state against Socialism while the pivot point of all the Indian war preparation is only and only Pakistan. Same situation is prevailing even now; in spite of serious border disputes with china, 80% of Indian army is deployed over cantonments with Pakistani border. Not only this all Indian war games designed for war with Pakistan.

After the American attack over Afghanistan 2001 the style of propaganda against Pakistani nukes has changed. Now world is being threatened that Pakistani nukes might fall in the hands of Taliban or other extremists and they will use it to wreak havoc against western developed nations. If one may remember, America justified her attack over Afghanistan through a fake interview of Osama bin Laden in which he had threatened America that he has two dirty bombs which he will use over USA and Americans will forget the destruction created by 9/11 if they (Americans) attacked Afghanistan. This should be also kept in mind that this interview was published in “The Dawn” through the pen of notorious Pakistani anchor ‘Hamid Mir’ (heavily paid for his anti-Pak Army rhetoric).

From the last ten years Indian and Western media is howling that religious extremism is at rise in Pakistan and terrorists might take over the nuclear weapons. But the American govt. was always repeating that nuclear assets are in the safe hands far away from the reach of terrorists.

But now suddenly the situation has changed; this does not mean that propaganda has been stopped; it is going on. But retired Generals of Indian army have issued the statement that Pakistani nukes are in the hands of Pak-Army and Army knows how to protect them. This voice from India is extremely dangerous because snake can never adhere itself from biting (Perhaps they have been ordered to issue such statements to divert the attention of international community from some loop holes in security of Indian nuclear assets or probably an illegal sale from Indian Nuclear power stations. As the diagrams of sensitive Indian nuclear assets are already present over the internet and deals between Indian scientists and underworld have been reported but due to biased corrupt media such reports posing serious threat to international peace have been kept away from the World).

From 2004 to 2006 American media pressurized American govt. to take over Pakistani nukes to such extremes that at one point American Foreign Minister Condoleezza Rice had to say that they are closely observing the situation and chalking out a plan to deal any inevitable situation. After protest from the Pakistan over the above mentioned statement of American Minister, White House had to issue the explanation that America is not planning to take over Pakistani nuclear assets but wants to help Pakistan to make them more secure. Public was not ready to accept this hypothesis that terrorists may get access to nuclear assets. In order to support Indian and western propaganda secret agencies of enemies planned and conducted attacks over military installations, head quarters of army and ISI, airbases etc. 

In order to send a message to the international community that terrorists have penetrated within the Pakistani army and through this support attacks over GHQ, Kamra and Naval airbases were made possible while Pakistani media was the front line soldier of enemy in this propaganda war against Pakistan. However after a period of silence regarding safety of Pakistani nuclear assets once again this propaganda has been launched but with a new face; Tom Hundley has written a long Essay, “RACE TO THE END”. Astonishingly in this single essay the author has tried to prove that Pakistan as a failed state and Pakistani nuclear assets as a threat to the world while India has been portrayed as world’s largest democracy (author is advised to have a look at local Indian channels telecasting the true face of mother of democracy or redefine democracy as right of rich to crush the poor and rape their women) and un-beatable nuclear power. In his essay he dreams of India as a state full with peace and prosperity; just like as a heaven which Pakistan wants to destroy.

Another important aspect is that this essay has been published just after few days of a report of threats to Indian nuclear power stations that was reported in local Indian newspapers. According to Indian newspapers Indian nuclear installation are at the target of extremist Muslims and have been put on red alert. According to the reports 11 Muslims have been arrested accused for planning attacks over Kaiga Atomic Power station; this should be kept in mind that few years ago an Indian nuclear scientist was murdered at this station which was afterwards portrayed by Indian govt. as suicide case. This news were also widespread that including this scientist India was reported to be selling enriched uranium to other countries through Under-World. However Tom thinks China is the main cause behind the nuclear capabilities of Pakistan, in his essay he writes;

Pakistan, with an estimated 90 to 120 warheads, is now believed to be churning out more plutonium than any other country on the planet — thanks to two Chinese-built reactors that are now online, a third that is undergoing trials, and a fourth that is scheduled to become operational by 2016. It has already passed India in total number of warheads and is on course to overtake Britain as the world’s No. 5 nuclear power. Pakistan could end up in third place, behind Russia and the United States, within a decade.

In this essay the author expresses his views about Pakistan army; The guiding ideology of Pakistan’s Army — from the generals on down to their drivers — is that India represents a permanent existential threat. This is why Pakistan clings to its nukes and attempts to maintain at least the illusion of what its generals call “bilateral balance.”

In spite of paying tribute for the Pakistan’s sacrifices in the terrorist attacks due to Pakistan’s support for American war on terror (actually war on Islam) Tom writes;

The problem with this delicate state of affairs is not simply the two countries’ history of war, but Pakistan’s tactic of hiding behind its nuclear shield while allowing terrorist groups to launch proxy attacks against India. The 2001 attack on India’s Parliament building and the 2008 Mumbai attack are the most egregious examples.

According to Tom India has become the world’s largest democracy (if we consider the Rights of Americans sabotaged in democratic American than he might be right) while Pakistan is racing towards destruction; all big Indian cities are just like developed cities of the world while Pakistan’s capital seems like just like a prison because of security measures (of course Pakistan has to face attacks from Indian and US supported terrorists while Indian cities have only to face terrorist attacks planned by Indian Generals or riots of unarmed poor). In India break-down of two days became problem to Indian politicians while in Pakistan public gets electricity for few hours only a day.

Seems Tom knows India through Bollywood movies or few stat hotels that in few big Indian cities that were reserved for him by Indian RAW, he never had a chance to visit Indian cities otherwise he would had the information that New Delhi has to face 6 hour load-shedding regularly and more than half of the population does not know what is electricity or there are other means of getting light besides lamps burning oil.

This is irony of the fate that since after the partition Pakistan is the target of Indian conspiracies and terrorism. The Indian plan of Greater India is moving forward very slowly with the external support from America and other western imperialist forces probably because of the Indian markets. Within Pakistan India has support for GREATER INDIA including traitors in the form of politicians, intellectuals, journalists etc. and they does not feel any shame while selling their motherland for their voluptuous needs and lust.

During 1971 India had support of traitors within Pakistan and support from America as well because Pakistan had rejected American request to provide airbases and military bases to India during China-India war in 1962; so America wanted to provide support from eastern Pakistan to India in case of another expected war between China-India and it was inevitable to separate the Eastern Pakistan for this imperialistic plan. These were the reasons behind the fall of Dhaka while in the way Tom has presented Indian trial in the media this is not something new. Due to the money and facilities he secured from India or Indian agencies how was it possible that he mentions Indian violations of human rights in Indian Held Kashmir in the hands of 0.7 million Indian state terrorists, how could he has mentioned the real problems and issues causing tension between India and Pakistan? Could he write about the free-hand given to India by USA in Afghanistan after Western attack over Afghanistan and how India is utilizing her presence in Afghanistan against Pakistan?

He is well aware that India and USA are behind the Baloch Militants providing them financial support, training, weapons and safe heavens in Afghanistan. He should be aware of extremists present within Indian army and blasts in Samjhota Express and many more terrorist acts within India by these terrorist officers of Indian army in order defame ISI, Pak-Army and LeT with the support of pro-Indian journalists just like Tom. Tom should have sympathies for families of ATS officers including Hemant Karkare in Mumbai attacks in 2008 while the families of these murdered persons claim that these attacks in which Ajmal Qasab is accused were staged by Indian terrorists within Indian army to remove Hemant Karkare and his team because by arresting these soldiers of ATS had proved that India is staging bomb blasts in India just to make Pakistan secluded in the international community but at the cost of the lives of innocent Indians.

This is a humble request to Tom Hundley that just like Pakistani intellectual prostitutes getting paid in the name of AMAN KI ASHA from India; he should write in favor of India to secure his payments from India (this is his right) but he should not mutilate the history. If he thinks that Pakistani nuclear program is a threat to the world and Pakistani Generals are working against India under the shield of nuclear assets than what about USA? USA destroyed Japan, Iraq, Libya, Vietnam, Afghanistan and now Syria just because she had nuclear weapons of mass destruction which were used by Americans as well claiming lives of millions. US naval ships are in the gulf to attack Iran, drone attacks are going on in Pakistan as a new form of aerial terrorism, in order to keep American war factories running Americans cultivate the disputes and wars in different areas of the world between neighbors leading to bloody wars. Same like situation is prevailing in the Palestine where over the threat of nuclear weapons Israel has converted the whole area into hell from last half century; but Tom will never write on such bitter realities perhaps these are against the journalistic values of West guided by money or in other words INTELLECTUAL PROSTITUTION.

Written by: Khalid Baig

Pakistan Cyber Force

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Zionist Powers are exploiting Malala for their heinous Agenda

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US govt, military and #CIA are using Pakistani child activist Malala's tragic incident to revive support for the failed American war in Afghanistan and revive support for CIA's illegal drone attacks in Pakistan.

A series of articles by celebrities, like Laura Bush, Madonna, etc. are appearing now in US media, deployed to convince Americans that the failed Afghan war, which is really Pentagon's war, should be sustained. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Ironically, these celebrities US government spokespeople are not telling the truth about how cynically they are using the Pakistani teenagers plight for dishonest political objectives. 

Fact is, the US is partially responsible for Malala Yousafzai's plight. The killers of Malala are a bunch of criminals known as 'Swat Taliban'/ 'Pakistan Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP)'. This terror group was roundly defeated by Pakistan Army in 2009 and flushed out from northern Pakistan. That action by Pakistani military was a lesson to American commanders in Afghanistan in how to successfully defeat terrorists. 

But Pakistani officials have discovered last year to their horror that the entire leadership of this terror group, the 'Swat Taliban' is alive and well and thriving in terror 'training and resting' camps inside Afghanistan under the watch of US Army. This terrorist proxy of the CIA/RAW is funded, trained and recruited under the safe havens of CIA at Kunar.  

The 'Swat Taliban' are not alone. The TTP terrorist group, another loose alliance of crime groups that use the name 'Pakistani Taliban', also has safe havens in Afghanistan under US Army watch. These havens help the group survive attempts by Pakistani military to eliminate it. [Both TTP and Swat Taliban should not be confused with Afghan Taliban, the original Taliban group that does not attack or kill Pakistanis and is exclusively fighting US military occupation of Afghanistan and is called "Afghan Taliban".] 

Islamabad has repeatedly asked US to end the safe havens of TTP and 'Swat Taliban' terrorists, who raid Pakistan to capture and butcher our soldiers and kill our civilians, like Malala. But US Army and CIA refuse to do so.  

On the one hand, US government is using Malala to draw sympathy for its failed war and illegal drone attacks that kill hundreds of Pakistani children. On the other hand, US Army and CIA are guilty of allowing Malala's killers to operate freely in Afghan territories that come under US control

(Pak Nationalists)

                                           ***************
According to Former Soviet Era Afghan Mujahid Syed Zaid Hamid: 

The Khawarij and their Congressi pro-Hindu Supporters have launched a massive propaganda campaign against Malala Yusuf Zai to justify their crime against her. She is being portrayed as a CIA agent who deserved what she got. We reject this shameless and sinister propaganda and ask all members not to fall for this rubbish. 

Malala is just a child and a national celebrity who met many local and foreign delegations over the years. That does not make her a CIA agent or an enemy of Pakistan. Stop this non-sense. 

Indeed she said that she like Benazir, Bacha Khan and Obama but does that mean she should be shot in the head????? Does that make her a CIA or Indian agent liable to be put to death??? Does that justify the Khawarij to kill her?? 

How many youngsters of her age in Pakistan idealize international celebrities?? Millions perhaps! Does that mean all should be shot or all are CIA paid agents??? She is a child and a brave one who got global fame for her stand against TZP (Tehrik-e-Zalimaan-e-Pakistan, formerly known as TTP)

Her father may be from the ANP and close to the Americans but then the entire PPP, MQM and ANP and even JUI is close to the Americans too. That does NOT mean their innocent children should be shot in head. Even if she has said something against the beard or Islamic values, which we do not believe, remember that she is just a child. Any child who is not properly informed will hate Islam after what TZP did in in the name of Islam in Swat. 

Stop falling for the Khawarij propaganda. She is our daughter and we love her for that. She has been shot by the Khawarij and that makes us her protector. We will defend her and take revenge from the Khawarij, the dogs of hell. May Allah give her health and wisdom to defend the honor of Ummat e Rasul (sm) and Pak Sarzameen.

Pakistan Cyber Force

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"Bugti committed Suicide", BrassTacks moves SC against SAFMA Swines

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The Supreme Court has been approached to appoint a high-level judicial inquiry to probe into the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti with the petitioner insisting that the Baloch leader had committed suicide but his unfortunate demise has been exploited by foreign agencies through the separatist elements to destabilise Pakistan. The petitioner in this case is Syed Zaid Hamid, who is represented through his counsel Raja Muhammad Irshad. Boththe petitioner and the counsel are generally known for their connections with the Pakistani establishment thus giving the impression as if they have been encouraged by military/ISI to get the issue of Bugti’s murder probed through an independent judicial inquiry commission.

Raja Irshad when approached said that though he has been representing the ISI and FC in different cases in various courts, in this particular case his services have been hired by the Zaid Hamid’s think tank - Brasstracks. The petition, according to Raja Irshad, submitted before the apex court a week back seeks from the apex court to order a judicial inquiry through serving or retired judges of the Supreme Court to reach the real author of this crime as “the unfortunate death of late Nawab Akbar Bugti has provided fuel to those playing in the hands of foreign agencies out to destabilise Pakistan in general and the province of Balochistan in particular to achieve their global designs”.

The respondents in the petition are DG ISI, DG MI, Mian Nawaz Sharif, General (R) Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, the then Balochistan governor Owais Ghani, ex-chief minister Jam Yousaf Khan, former interior minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, ministries of interior and law, Jamil Bugti, Ahmadan Khan Bugti, Talal Bugti and Tariq Bugti.

The petitioner contends that a team of five special forces commandos were invited by late Bugti into his hiding cave to settle terms of surrender but once the officers entered the cave, he triggered an explosive device which brought down the entire cave, killing Bugti and the SSG men. “He committed suicide and also murdered the army officers,” the petition reads.

The petition added that Bugti had desired to meet the army officers in the cave before he could hand over his custody to the law enforcement agencies. There was no doubt, it is said, that the late Nawab was going to be lodged in a room especially arranged for him in the Governor’s House in Quetta. The petition insisted that the latest insurgency in Balochistan has been ignited by a massive anti-state propaganda campaign that the Pakistan army and the state killed late Bugti in a well-planned conspiracy to eliminate the Baloch demands for rights.

“The judicial system of the country is also being exploited by the separatist sympathisers to attack and destroy the state of Pakistan through diabolic propaganda. The political parties in Pakistan like PML-N are also exploiting the situation to settle their personal score with former President Musharraf without looking into the facts of the case; hence are supporting the hostile and separatists’ propaganda and thus fuelling rebellion and insurgency,” the petition said.

The petition also said that the present MNA and cousin of late Nawab Mir Ahmadaan Bugti openly acknowledged that Bugti had committed suicide and had also murdered the army officers. “Every member of the Bugti clan knows this,” the petition added. Referring to a story published by a Lahore-based English language newspaper the petition said the newspaper, run by a close friend of Nawab Bugti, reported that Bugti had refused to give himself up and had committed suicide.

But his death, it is said, is exploited by hostile and anti-state elements to launch propaganda war to prove late Bugti a victim of state terrorism and a deliberate conspiracy of murder.

The petition said that the family of Nawab Bugti has now started to exploit the judicial system of the state to launch a murder case against former president (Musharraf), former governor and former interior minister. “This is not just massive distortion of facts and gross violation of fundamental rights but also initiating a fake case to implicate innocent men. It is also dangerous for the state and the nation as the judicial system is being exploited to establish that the state of Pakistan was involved in the deliberate murder of late Nawb Akbar Bugti which, of course, is opposed to facts on ground.”

“In reality he had committed a rebellion, waged a war against the state and his own tribe and when cornered, he committed suicide while also murdered five army personnel, but these facts have never been reported by the media, never taken up by the courts and the separatists are fully exploiting lies, deceptions and propaganda in the environment to wage a war against the state of Pakistan, against the army and against the former members of the government in dangerous times.”

The petition prayed: “That the factum of death of late Nawab Akbar Bugti is shrouded in mystery which has triggered militants, insurgency and fuelled the feelings of separatists. It is a matter of cardinal and paramount importance and eminently required the intervention of this honourable court of ultimate jurisdiction as a guardian of Constitution of Pakistan. The entire nation looks up to the apex court as a beacon of light to shake off despondency and acute insecurity in the minds of highly aggrieved and panic-stricken people of Pakistan.”

Pakistan Cyber Force

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Operation in North Waziristan not imminent!

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After his meeting with General James N. Mattis, Commander US CENTCOM on 17th August, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani categorically dispelled the speculative reporting in foreign media, regarding joint operations in North Waziristan. He had reiterated: “We might, if necessary, undertake operations in NWA, in the timeframe of our choosing and requirements. It will never be a result of any outside pressure."

Yet some local commentriat and politicos started criticising civil and military leadership. Of course Civil and military leaderships are on one page in this regard that if at all operation is required to be undertaken, its timings will be decided by Pakistan and not on America’s dictation. Anyhow, final decision whether the operation would be undertaken or not will be made keeping in view the Parliament’s resolution, which exhorts to negotiate with the militants. But there is a proviso that in the event all other efforts fail then the government could resort to military action. However, people of Pakistan would have to be taken on board before any military operation is launched in North Waziristan. The question is whether all strata of society is in favour of such an operation?

The situation on ground is that business community is divided; one group opposes the military operation taking the plea it could be disastrous for the national economy. The other group wants military operation should be undertaken to eliminate terrorism and extremism in every form and manifestation, as in the presence of deteriorating law and order situation, neither foreign nor domestic investment would be forthcoming. They believe that foreign forces are occupying Afghanistan, but the worldwide view is that they are UN mandated and supported by a legitimate Afghan government.

Pakistan is facing the dilemma in that it is facing the US plus 49 other countries, and will have to ensure that Pakistan’s soil is not used by the Taliban for attacking American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. At the same time, American and NATO forces will have to take measures that Tehrik-e-Taliban fighters holed in Kunar and Nuristan are stopped from attacking Pakistan’s security forces in areas bordering Afghanistan. The fact remains that these areas are under the control of ISAF forces. The question however is whether people of Pakistan would support an operation against, what they say Haqqani network and other militant groups? Anyhow, people of Pakistan and different strata of society would have to be taken on board, and there should be a consensus on an operation if it is deemed necessary. However, the same should be undertaken after taking into consideration certain pre-requisites including the fall out of such an operation. Of course, measures would have to be taken for temporarily accommodating the people migrating from that area, and again to rehabilitate them after the operation.

According to a defence analyst, “well-planned covert operations must be undertaken to isolate the militants from the locals, though a difficult proposition till the time locals carry the impression that militants are waging ‘jihad’ against foreign forces in Afghanistan. Speedy rehabilitation and initiation of political process after successful military operation are imperatives for a permanent solution, which must be planned in advance. The experience shows that successful military operations in Swat and South Waziristan were not backed by the required political process for seeking permanent solution. Therefore, any future military operation must be preceded by creating the consensus so that political leadership takes full ownership and media is effectively used to educate the masses”. During the last four years, our forces undertook operations in Swat and South Waziristan, and since the border on Afghan side was not sealed, the terrorists went across the border to Afghanistan, and since then they are conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan with impunity from their safe-havens in Afghanistan.

One would not know if it is trust deficit or pernicious designs of the US and the NATO countries when they point their fingers of accusation towards Pakistan either for not doing enough to rein in militants or for supporting and training them. It is puerile nonsense even to imagine that Pakistan is out to destabilize Afghanistan, as Pakistan can gain immensely from stable Afghanistan. It will present tremendous business opportunities because Afghanistan will be a bridge to Central Asian republics. If one dispassionately evaluates and examines the prevailing situation it is not difficult to draw conclusion that detractors of Pakistan have coalesced as their interests converge in the region. It goes without saying that India would be the greatest beneficiary if the gulf between two brotherly Muslim countries widens.

The US should review its policy and try to identify the causes for violence in Afghanistan, and address the issues. According to Nathaniel Fick, who served as a Marine officer in Afghanistan during the first year of the war and was again sent to Afghanistan to do research for the Centre for a New American Security said: “Based on what we heard while we were there, a lot of these guys are involved in the insurgency for economic reasons first and ideological reasons secondly”. There is no industry to create employment opportunities to the jobless, and no serious effort has been made by various governments to promote agriculture. This leaves the unemployed at the mercy of militants who look after them better than the state because of their income from drug-trafficking. During the last 11 years, warlords had a free hand to amass wealth by encouraging poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and were also involved in drug-trafficking under American and NATO forces’watch.

By Muhammed Jamil

Pakistan Cyber Force

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