India’s subversive activities in Pakistan using Afghan soil
Asif Haroon Raja
http://www.makepakistanbetter.com/why_how_what_forum.asp?GroupID=5&ArticleID=13552
PM Gilani accompanied by Gen Kayani visited Kabul at a time when a visible thaw has occurred in Pak-Afghan relations. Karzai has repeatedly expressed his keenness to remove misgivings and to establish friendly ties with Pakistan since dawn of 2010. He wants Pakistan to play its role in finding an amicable solution to Afghan problem. While agreeing to establish tension-free cordial ties, the visitors gave proofs of Afghan and Indian subversive activities in Balochistan. The hosts were pressed to give an undertaking that in future the Afghan government would not allow Indian interference in Balochistan or any other part of Pakistan. Presence of certain undesirable elements in Afghanistan since the establishment of Northern Alliance heavy regime of Hamid Karzai has been the cause of sour relations between the two neighbors. Afghanistan-Pakistan constructive dialogue is possible only after Afghan rulers make a solemn pledge that it would not allow Afghan soil to be used by India for launching covert operations against Pakistan.
While Pakistan has always vied to maintain cordial and tension free relations with Afghanistan and has never tried to exploit its land lock handicap, successive regimes in Kabul have traditionally treaded hostile path towards Pakistan and have remained inclined towards India. Pakistan’s softness towards Afghanistan has stemmed from commonality of religion and centuries old cultural ties. It was only during the Taliban rule that Pak-Afghan relations were friendly and Indian influence had waned.
Afghanistan is currently in deep trouble since it is an occupied country and ruled by a puppet regime installed by USA. Resistance forces are engaged in Jihad against occupation forces duly supplemented by US trained Afghan National Army which is non-Pashtun heavy. Unlike in 1980s when Pakistan was supporting Afghan Mujahideen to push out occupying Soviet forces, this time Pakistan stands on the side of occupiers and is acting as the conduit to provide logistic support to 152,000 strong ISAF in Afghanistan.
Pakistan position is very dicey since non-Pashtun Afghans have a grudge against Pakistan for having helped Taliban in capturing power in 1996. The Taliban are resentful that Pakistan had ditched them in their hour of crisis and sided with their enemies. The current regime friendly to India strongly suspect that Pakistan is assisting Taliban and hence is hostile to Pakistan. The US-NATO have its own set of grievances against Pakistan because of which it treats Pakistan less as an ally and more as an enemy country. Pakistan is up against massive covert war launched by its adversaries having common objectives against Pakistan. India having no role in war on terror is having the best of everything at the cost of Pakistan.
Faced with multiple challenges, Pakistan is still trying to maintain friendly ties with USA, Afghanistan and India. Since Afghanistan is faced with multiple challenges, Pakistan doesn’t want to add to its woes and is keen to help solve Afghan imbroglio. Stable, friendly and peaceful Afghanistan is in the overall interest of Pakistan. Despite its friendly overtures, Afghan government in the tight grip of USA and India is creating extreme problems for the national security and internal stability of Pakistan. The Indian Embassy in Kabul and string of Pakistan specific Indian consulates are involved in training and launching of terrorists and saboteurs into Pakistan.
India desires that Pakistan should open its land route through Wagah border to Afghanistan for two-way trade so that it could flood Afghanistan’s markets with Indian goods and thus in the name of reconstruction grab Afghan market and resources. The Indians know that they can reach the coveted riches of Central Asia only through the land route passing through Pakistan and Afghanistan since air business is unfeasible. India has been making strenuous efforts to expand its influence in Afghanistan since 2002. Governed by this strategy, it has been siding with Karzai and now when India has established itself firmly in Afghanistan, it has become that much easy for it to carryout subversive activities against Pakistan, particularly when it enjoys complete blessing of USA. The latter has helped India in gaining a foothold in Afghanistan and gradually expanding it.
It is unfortunate that today very few recall the huge sacrifices made by Pakistan in the 1980s when Afghanistan had been forcibly occupied by Soviet forces and none had come forward to contest Soviet aggression. Had Pakistan under Gen Ziaul Haq not put Pakistan’s security at stake and not stood up to Soviet challenge and not given full support to the Mujahideen, Afghanistan would have become a satellite of Soviet Union dancing to the tunes of Moscow. The latter had embarked upon massive Sovietization program to shatter Afghan’s Islamic identity, culture, customs, traditions and historical heritage.
Who doesn’t know the pathetic fate of Muslim Central Asian states which were brutally traumatized and their rich culture and identity demolished by Russia? But for Pakistan’s role, history of the globe would have been different since Soviet Union would not have fragmented. It was because of Pakistan’s principled stand that it had to inherit innumerable problems from which it is suffering to this day. In 1980s, Pakistan faced the brunt of KGB-KHAD-RAW-AlZulfiqar sabotage and subversion for over a decade. Now it is facing CIA-RAW-RAAM-Mossad-MI6 covert war as well as drone war since 2004.
It is an undeniable fact that Karzai regime has offered Afghan soil to anti-Pakistan intelligence agencies to indulge in cross border terrorism against Pakistan. The saboteurs, arms, ammunition, explosives and funds are all being funneled into Pakistan from Afghanistan to aid anti-Pakistan forces in Balochistan and FATA, which are fighting security forces and indulging in acts of terrorism. This inflow is not possible without the active collusion of Afghan government. How is it possible to barge into someone else’s house through your house without your permission?
The security situation of Pakistan has aggravated to such an alarming extent that it is no more possible to tolerate Afghanistan’s collusion in subversive activities in Pakistan. The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan who have suffered the most on account of cross border terrorism from Afghanistan are writhing in agony. They are blaming provincial governments for failing to provide them security and for their docility towards adversaries of Pakistan. Their pent up anger has reached a boiling point which may spin out of control anytime.
It has been seen that despite all our goodwill and cooperative gestures, Karzai regime has continued to maintain a hypocritical attitude because of which our efforts have proved fruitless. It is high time that our rulers should come out of their mode of one-sided appeasement and convey firmly to Karzai regime to stop allowing Afghan soil as a launching pad for India to harm Pakistan. We should also review our Afghan policy without further loss of time. If we continue with our policy of ignoring unconcealed foreign interference particularly in Balochistan, it would embolden Indians to continue with their dual policy of extending a hand of friendship as well as stabbing us in the back.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Who will reshape the Arab world: its people, or the US?
Who will reshape the Arab world: its people, or the US?
Phase one of the Arab spring is over. Phase two – the attempt to crush or contain genuine popular movements – has begun
Tariq Ali
guardian.co.uk, Friday 29 April 2011 21.00 BST
Article history
The patchwork political landscape of the Arab world – the client monarchies, degenerated nationalist dictatorships and the imperial petrol stations known as the Gulf states – was the outcome of an intensive experience of Anglo-French colonialism. This was followed after the second world war by a complex process of imperial transition to the United States. The result was a radical anticolonial Arab nationalism and Zionist expansionism within the wider framework of the cold war.
When the cold war ended Washington took charge of the region, initially through local potentates then through military bases and direct occupation. Democracy never entered the frame, enabling the Israelis to boast that they alone were an oasis of light in the heart of Arab darkness. How has all this been affected by the Arab intifada that began four months ago?
In January, Arab streets resounded to the slogan that united the masses regardless of class or creed: "Al-Sha'b yurid isquat al-nizam!" – "The people want the downfall of the regime!" The images streaming out from Tunis to Cairo, Saana to Bahrain, are of Arab peoples on their feet once again. On 14 January, as chanting crowds converged on the ministry of interior, Tunisia's President Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia. On 11 February the national uprising in Egypt toppled the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak as mass rebellion erupted in Libya and the Yemen.
In occupied Iraq, demonstrators protested against the corruption of the Maliki regime and, more recently, against the presence of US troops and bases. Jordan was shaken by nationwide strikes and tribal rebellion. Protests in Bahrain spiralled into calls for the overthrow of the monarchy, an event that scared the neighbouring Saudi kleptocrats and their western patrons, who can't conceive of an Arabia without sultans. Even as I write, the corrupt and brutal Ba'athist outfit in Syria, under siege by its own people, is struggling for its life.
The dual determinants of the uprisings were both economic – with mass unemployment, rising prices, scarcity of essential commodities – and political: cronyism, corruption, repression, torture. Egypt and Saudi Arabia were the crucial pillars of US strategy in the region, as confirmed recently by US vice-president Jo Biden, who stated that he was more concerned about Egypt than Libya. The worry here is Israel; the fear that an out-of-control democratic government might renege on the peace treaty. And Washington has, for the time being, succeeded in rerouting the political process into a carefully orchestrated change, led by Mubarak's defence minister and chief of staff, the latter being particularly close to the Americans.
Most of the regime is still in place. Its key messages are the need for stability and a return to work, putting a stop to the strike wave. Fevered behind-the scenes negotiations between Washington and the Muslim Brotherhood are continuing. A slightly amended old constitution remains in force and the South American model of huge social movements producing new political organisations that triumph at the polls and institute social reforms is far from being replicated in the Arab world, thus not posing any serious challenge, until now, to the economic status quo.
The mass movement remains alert in both Tunisia and Egypt but is short of political instruments that reflect the general will. The first phase is over. The second, that of rolling back the movements, has begun.
The Nato bombing of Libya was an attempt by the west to regain the "democratic" initiative after its dictators were toppled elsewhere. It has made the situation worse. The so-called pre-empting of a massacre has led to the killing of hundreds of soldiers, many of whom were fighting under duress, and permitted the ghastly Muammar Gaddafi to masquerade as an anti-imperialist.
Here one has to say that whatever the final outcome, the Libyan people have lost. The country will either be partitioned into a Gaddafi state and a squalid pro-west protectorate led by selected businessmen, or the west will take out Gaddafi and control the whole of Libya and its huge oil reserves. This display of affection for "democracy" does not extend elsewhere in the region.
In Bahrain, the US green-lighted a Saudi intervention to crush local democrats, enhance religious sectarianism, organise secret trials and sentence protesters to death. Bahrain today is a prison camp, a poisonous mixture of Guantánamo and Saudi Arabia.
In Syria the security apparatus led by the Assad family is killing at will, but without being able to crush the democratic movement. The opposition is not under the control of Islamists: it is a broad coalition that includes every social layer apart from the capitalist class that remains loyal to the regime.
Unlike in other Arab countries, many Syrian intellectuals stayed at home, suffering prison and torture, and secular socialists like Riad Turk and many others are part of the underground leadership in Damascus and Aleppo. Nobody wants western military intervention. They don't want a repeat of Iraq or Libya. The Israelis and the US would prefer Assad to stay as they once did Mubarak, but the dice are still in the air.
In Yemen, the despot has killed hundreds of citizens but the army has split, and Americans and Saudis are trying desperately to stitch together a new coalition (as in Egypt) – but the mass movement is resisting any deals with the incumbent.
The US has to contend with an altered political environment in the Arab world. It is too soon to predict the final outcome, except to say it is not over yet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/29/arab-politics-democracy-intervention
Phase one of the Arab spring is over. Phase two – the attempt to crush or contain genuine popular movements – has begun
Tariq Ali
guardian.co.uk, Friday 29 April 2011 21.00 BST
Article history
The patchwork political landscape of the Arab world – the client monarchies, degenerated nationalist dictatorships and the imperial petrol stations known as the Gulf states – was the outcome of an intensive experience of Anglo-French colonialism. This was followed after the second world war by a complex process of imperial transition to the United States. The result was a radical anticolonial Arab nationalism and Zionist expansionism within the wider framework of the cold war.
When the cold war ended Washington took charge of the region, initially through local potentates then through military bases and direct occupation. Democracy never entered the frame, enabling the Israelis to boast that they alone were an oasis of light in the heart of Arab darkness. How has all this been affected by the Arab intifada that began four months ago?
In January, Arab streets resounded to the slogan that united the masses regardless of class or creed: "Al-Sha'b yurid isquat al-nizam!" – "The people want the downfall of the regime!" The images streaming out from Tunis to Cairo, Saana to Bahrain, are of Arab peoples on their feet once again. On 14 January, as chanting crowds converged on the ministry of interior, Tunisia's President Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia. On 11 February the national uprising in Egypt toppled the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak as mass rebellion erupted in Libya and the Yemen.
In occupied Iraq, demonstrators protested against the corruption of the Maliki regime and, more recently, against the presence of US troops and bases. Jordan was shaken by nationwide strikes and tribal rebellion. Protests in Bahrain spiralled into calls for the overthrow of the monarchy, an event that scared the neighbouring Saudi kleptocrats and their western patrons, who can't conceive of an Arabia without sultans. Even as I write, the corrupt and brutal Ba'athist outfit in Syria, under siege by its own people, is struggling for its life.
The dual determinants of the uprisings were both economic – with mass unemployment, rising prices, scarcity of essential commodities – and political: cronyism, corruption, repression, torture. Egypt and Saudi Arabia were the crucial pillars of US strategy in the region, as confirmed recently by US vice-president Jo Biden, who stated that he was more concerned about Egypt than Libya. The worry here is Israel; the fear that an out-of-control democratic government might renege on the peace treaty. And Washington has, for the time being, succeeded in rerouting the political process into a carefully orchestrated change, led by Mubarak's defence minister and chief of staff, the latter being particularly close to the Americans.
Most of the regime is still in place. Its key messages are the need for stability and a return to work, putting a stop to the strike wave. Fevered behind-the scenes negotiations between Washington and the Muslim Brotherhood are continuing. A slightly amended old constitution remains in force and the South American model of huge social movements producing new political organisations that triumph at the polls and institute social reforms is far from being replicated in the Arab world, thus not posing any serious challenge, until now, to the economic status quo.
The mass movement remains alert in both Tunisia and Egypt but is short of political instruments that reflect the general will. The first phase is over. The second, that of rolling back the movements, has begun.
The Nato bombing of Libya was an attempt by the west to regain the "democratic" initiative after its dictators were toppled elsewhere. It has made the situation worse. The so-called pre-empting of a massacre has led to the killing of hundreds of soldiers, many of whom were fighting under duress, and permitted the ghastly Muammar Gaddafi to masquerade as an anti-imperialist.
Here one has to say that whatever the final outcome, the Libyan people have lost. The country will either be partitioned into a Gaddafi state and a squalid pro-west protectorate led by selected businessmen, or the west will take out Gaddafi and control the whole of Libya and its huge oil reserves. This display of affection for "democracy" does not extend elsewhere in the region.
In Bahrain, the US green-lighted a Saudi intervention to crush local democrats, enhance religious sectarianism, organise secret trials and sentence protesters to death. Bahrain today is a prison camp, a poisonous mixture of Guantánamo and Saudi Arabia.
In Syria the security apparatus led by the Assad family is killing at will, but without being able to crush the democratic movement. The opposition is not under the control of Islamists: it is a broad coalition that includes every social layer apart from the capitalist class that remains loyal to the regime.
Unlike in other Arab countries, many Syrian intellectuals stayed at home, suffering prison and torture, and secular socialists like Riad Turk and many others are part of the underground leadership in Damascus and Aleppo. Nobody wants western military intervention. They don't want a repeat of Iraq or Libya. The Israelis and the US would prefer Assad to stay as they once did Mubarak, but the dice are still in the air.
In Yemen, the despot has killed hundreds of citizens but the army has split, and Americans and Saudis are trying desperately to stitch together a new coalition (as in Egypt) – but the mass movement is resisting any deals with the incumbent.
The US has to contend with an altered political environment in the Arab world. It is too soon to predict the final outcome, except to say it is not over yet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/29/arab-politics-democracy-intervention
Academicians issue White Paper: Karakoram University den of criminals
SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2011
Academicians issue White Paper: Karakoram University den of criminals
Special Report
THE allegations of corruption and serious crime on campus have forced faculty members of the Karakoram International University (KIU) to make their voice public against the corrupt administration finally, saying that the KIU has become center of favoritism, corruption and unlawful activities in Gilgit-Baltistan.
“The Academic Staff Association KIU has issued a White Paper against the corrupt ‘regime’ of KIU, which is hereby attached with the supporting documents,” says Muhammad Shahnawaz, chairman KIU Academic Staff Association (ASA), in an email to The Terrorland group blogs. It also includes a statement and a pile of text and scanned files.
The KIU is the only university for the over 2 million population of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region which has no representation in the Pakistani federation (parliament) and is being ruled by the federal government on ad-hoc basis since 1947.
It says that Vice-Chancellor Dr. Najma Najam has put the KIU's existence in danger as there are “worst examples of favoritism, corruption and unlawful activities” on campus and there is no-one to take action against the accused and her team members.
“After taking over the charge of office, sitting Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Najma Najam) has illegally appointed a gang as Assistant Deans to gain undue support for her activities,” Mr. Shahnawaz said in the statement. “The Voice-Chancellor has completely bulldozed the prescribed procedures by appointing deans on ad-hoc basis since 2009.”
Dr. Najma Najam, who also 'heads' the ISI psychological warfare cell, faces charges of plagiarism besides attack on a female student, Nasira Parveen , with co-accused Dr. Ahsanullah Mir, Assistant Professor Manzoor Ali, Karim Khan, Dr. Salma Durrani, Dr. Muhammad Ramzan and others.
Assistant Professor Manzoor Ali is currently 'plagiarizing' a PhD thesis at the Physics department, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad besides being 'involved' in the murder of Shila, killing of a father and daughter in Hunza and many more 'honor-related' crimes in Gilgit. Locals allege that Prof. Manzoor Ali is working for the ISI, misusing his social position as president of the Ismaili Regional Council. "He is involved in the first 'blasphemy' case in Gilgit, just see his statement," said a foreign-educated local, requesting not to be named.
"A leader is there to save their people but Manzoor Ali is there to kill innocent people and be a part of the 'ghairat' (honor) brigade of the ISI to get promotion. Shia, Sunni and Ismaili all are Muslims, and they can't even imagine of committing blasphemy in normal conditions. This is a conspracy to Talibanize and polarize our peaceful society," the local added.
"In the guise of teachers, there are also some hardcore criminals, but out of terror no body can say anything to them," said a female student. "They can attack me directly or indirectly and run my life if I said something about on campus harassment in the presence of a female VC."
KIU female students become target of 'ISI agents' on campus
The Terrorland blogs have been exposing the inhuman activities of the ‘criminals on campus’ for over a year. “And now the truth has come out from the horse’s mouth," said a local journalist. "We can’t publish it in our newspaper. But The Terrorland can… and I know like some cheap journalists and media organizations, The Terrorland Team would not take credits with drumbeats!”
“Until the admin and its puppets among the teachers are suspended and FIRs are registered against them, the reputation of the university couldn’t be restored,” said a KIU staffer on condition of anonymity. “These people are actually agents of intelligence agencies who are playing with the lives of students, unfortunately, female students are their special target.”
While talking about Nasira’s case, the staffer said: “Everybody knows it was a big, big conspiracy against Habib (Sulemani) and people know how the agencies hire boys to make scandals about female family members of potential rivals. The criminals on campus have put the future of our nation in jeopardy.”
The university management issued appointment letters to their near-and-dear-ones not to the candidates who were recommended by members of the selection board. The statement said Rs. 5 million firewood allowance was allocated for the year 2010-2011, however, it was not fully granted to the staff.
The KIU Treasury was being run on ad-hoc basis for last four years and there are huge financial irregularities as the Vice-Chancellor and her powerful gang is misusing the Pakistani and foreign government funds. It said all tenders and contracts had been given to their relatives and favorite people as a part of the ‘collaborated’ corruption.
VC Dr. Najma Najam with 'gang' members Registrar
Dr. Ahsanullah Mir and Assistant Professor Manzoor Ali
The statement said that science laboratories, despite being well-equipped, were not functional. “The present regime of the university totally ignores the rules of HEC and also set aside the previous Syndicate’s approval regarding leave for higher studies.”
"Closing of GARNET (Gems Cutting laboratory) is illegal," the statement said.
“Gilgit-Baltistan is famous for gems and closing of this lab shows that the KIU admin is enemy of education and the people. The VC, Registrar and others must be removed as soon as possible,” a man dealing in precious stones remarked.
The anxiety among the students, academic staff, parents and in the corridors of power is increasing day by day... “No mater what happens, no one can remove Dr. Najma or Dr. Ahsan from the posts of VC and Registrar. They're the most influential people in the region,” said an official. "
--
Shahid Gilgiti contributed to this report. Images via Google. If anyone has to clarify a point feel free to write us.—The Terrorland Team
Academicians issue White Paper: Karakoram University den of criminals
Special Report
THE allegations of corruption and serious crime on campus have forced faculty members of the Karakoram International University (KIU) to make their voice public against the corrupt administration finally, saying that the KIU has become center of favoritism, corruption and unlawful activities in Gilgit-Baltistan.
“The Academic Staff Association KIU has issued a White Paper against the corrupt ‘regime’ of KIU, which is hereby attached with the supporting documents,” says Muhammad Shahnawaz, chairman KIU Academic Staff Association (ASA), in an email to The Terrorland group blogs. It also includes a statement and a pile of text and scanned files.
The KIU is the only university for the over 2 million population of Gilgit-Baltistan, a region which has no representation in the Pakistani federation (parliament) and is being ruled by the federal government on ad-hoc basis since 1947.
It says that Vice-Chancellor Dr. Najma Najam has put the KIU's existence in danger as there are “worst examples of favoritism, corruption and unlawful activities” on campus and there is no-one to take action against the accused and her team members.
“After taking over the charge of office, sitting Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Najma Najam) has illegally appointed a gang as Assistant Deans to gain undue support for her activities,” Mr. Shahnawaz said in the statement. “The Voice-Chancellor has completely bulldozed the prescribed procedures by appointing deans on ad-hoc basis since 2009.”
Dr. Najma Najam, who also 'heads' the ISI psychological warfare cell, faces charges of plagiarism besides attack on a female student, Nasira Parveen , with co-accused Dr. Ahsanullah Mir, Assistant Professor Manzoor Ali, Karim Khan, Dr. Salma Durrani, Dr. Muhammad Ramzan and others.
Assistant Professor Manzoor Ali is currently 'plagiarizing' a PhD thesis at the Physics department, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad besides being 'involved' in the murder of Shila, killing of a father and daughter in Hunza and many more 'honor-related' crimes in Gilgit. Locals allege that Prof. Manzoor Ali is working for the ISI, misusing his social position as president of the Ismaili Regional Council. "He is involved in the first 'blasphemy' case in Gilgit, just see his statement," said a foreign-educated local, requesting not to be named.
"A leader is there to save their people but Manzoor Ali is there to kill innocent people and be a part of the 'ghairat' (honor) brigade of the ISI to get promotion. Shia, Sunni and Ismaili all are Muslims, and they can't even imagine of committing blasphemy in normal conditions. This is a conspracy to Talibanize and polarize our peaceful society," the local added.
"In the guise of teachers, there are also some hardcore criminals, but out of terror no body can say anything to them," said a female student. "They can attack me directly or indirectly and run my life if I said something about on campus harassment in the presence of a female VC."
KIU female students become target of 'ISI agents' on campus
The Terrorland blogs have been exposing the inhuman activities of the ‘criminals on campus’ for over a year. “And now the truth has come out from the horse’s mouth," said a local journalist. "We can’t publish it in our newspaper. But The Terrorland can… and I know like some cheap journalists and media organizations, The Terrorland Team would not take credits with drumbeats!”
“Until the admin and its puppets among the teachers are suspended and FIRs are registered against them, the reputation of the university couldn’t be restored,” said a KIU staffer on condition of anonymity. “These people are actually agents of intelligence agencies who are playing with the lives of students, unfortunately, female students are their special target.”
While talking about Nasira’s case, the staffer said: “Everybody knows it was a big, big conspiracy against Habib (Sulemani) and people know how the agencies hire boys to make scandals about female family members of potential rivals. The criminals on campus have put the future of our nation in jeopardy.”
The university management issued appointment letters to their near-and-dear-ones not to the candidates who were recommended by members of the selection board. The statement said Rs. 5 million firewood allowance was allocated for the year 2010-2011, however, it was not fully granted to the staff.
The KIU Treasury was being run on ad-hoc basis for last four years and there are huge financial irregularities as the Vice-Chancellor and her powerful gang is misusing the Pakistani and foreign government funds. It said all tenders and contracts had been given to their relatives and favorite people as a part of the ‘collaborated’ corruption.
VC Dr. Najma Najam with 'gang' members Registrar
Dr. Ahsanullah Mir and Assistant Professor Manzoor Ali
The statement said that science laboratories, despite being well-equipped, were not functional. “The present regime of the university totally ignores the rules of HEC and also set aside the previous Syndicate’s approval regarding leave for higher studies.”
"Closing of GARNET (Gems Cutting laboratory) is illegal," the statement said.
“Gilgit-Baltistan is famous for gems and closing of this lab shows that the KIU admin is enemy of education and the people. The VC, Registrar and others must be removed as soon as possible,” a man dealing in precious stones remarked.
The anxiety among the students, academic staff, parents and in the corridors of power is increasing day by day... “No mater what happens, no one can remove Dr. Najma or Dr. Ahsan from the posts of VC and Registrar. They're the most influential people in the region,” said an official. "
--
Shahid Gilgiti contributed to this report. Images via Google. If anyone has to clarify a point feel free to write us.—The Terrorland Team
US to use Afghanistan as base of drone attacks in Pakistan PTI | Apr 30, 2011, 03.47pm IST
US to use Afghanistan as base of drone attacks in Pakistan
PTI | Apr 30, 2011, 03.47pm IST
WASHINGTON: US is shifting its terror-killer drones from Pakistan to Afghanistan after Islamabad asked it to shut down UAV bases on its territory, but America has vowed to continue hitting militants based in Pakistan's tribal areas.
Pakistan has asked CIA to remove its personnel from the Shamsi airbase, about 350 km southwest of Baluchistan's capital Quetta, where some of the drones are based, 'New York Times' reported quoting senior American officials.
"The withdrawal has not occurred but is expected soon," the official said adding that the drone attacks would then be flown out of Afghanistan where some of them are already based.
But even after shifting, the Predators and Reapers, top US military commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, in a private meeting in Islamabad last week told Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that CIA would not reduce the drone strikes until Pakistan launched a military operation against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan.
As tensions mount between the two nations, 'The Times' said the appointment of General David H Petraeus as America's top spy chief could further inflame relations as Pakistan military does not regard him as a "friend".
The usually secretive Kayani, has made little secret of his distaste for Petraeus, calling him a political general.
Petraeus has privately expressed outrage at what American officials say is the Pakistani main spy agency's most blatant support yet for fighters based in Pakistan who are carrying out attacks against American troops in Afghanistan.
Repairing the frayed ties between the CIA and Pakistan's military-run agency, ISI, will be difficult, American officials say.
"In its current form, the relationship is almost unworkable," said Dennis C Blair, a former American director of national intelligence. "There has to be a major restructuring. The ISI jams the CIA all it wants and pays no penalties."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-to-use-Afghanistan-as-base-of-drone-attacks-in-Pakistan/articleshow/8126474.cms
PTI | Apr 30, 2011, 03.47pm IST
WASHINGTON: US is shifting its terror-killer drones from Pakistan to Afghanistan after Islamabad asked it to shut down UAV bases on its territory, but America has vowed to continue hitting militants based in Pakistan's tribal areas.
Pakistan has asked CIA to remove its personnel from the Shamsi airbase, about 350 km southwest of Baluchistan's capital Quetta, where some of the drones are based, 'New York Times' reported quoting senior American officials.
"The withdrawal has not occurred but is expected soon," the official said adding that the drone attacks would then be flown out of Afghanistan where some of them are already based.
But even after shifting, the Predators and Reapers, top US military commander, Admiral Mike Mullen, in a private meeting in Islamabad last week told Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that CIA would not reduce the drone strikes until Pakistan launched a military operation against the Haqqani network in North Waziristan.
As tensions mount between the two nations, 'The Times' said the appointment of General David H Petraeus as America's top spy chief could further inflame relations as Pakistan military does not regard him as a "friend".
The usually secretive Kayani, has made little secret of his distaste for Petraeus, calling him a political general.
Petraeus has privately expressed outrage at what American officials say is the Pakistani main spy agency's most blatant support yet for fighters based in Pakistan who are carrying out attacks against American troops in Afghanistan.
Repairing the frayed ties between the CIA and Pakistan's military-run agency, ISI, will be difficult, American officials say.
"In its current form, the relationship is almost unworkable," said Dennis C Blair, a former American director of national intelligence. "There has to be a major restructuring. The ISI jams the CIA all it wants and pays no penalties."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-to-use-Afghanistan-as-base-of-drone-attacks-in-Pakistan/articleshow/8126474.cms
Terrorists safe havens in Pak a challenge: Pentagon
Terrorists safe havens in Pak a challenge: Pentagon
WASHINGTON: Continued presence of terrorist safe havens and role of certain "actors" in Pakistanremains a challenge in the war against terror, a US defence official has said.
"The concern about the role of safe havens in Pakistan and the role of actors in Pakistan, including the Haqqani Network, the Afghan Taliban who are located primarily, the leadership is located either in the south or in the north around Peshawar, that remains a significant challenge," a senior defense official said at a Pentagon briefing.
Pentagon has sent its six-monthly report to the Congress on progress made in Afghanistan, the official said, adding that the United States is looking for continued and increased cooperation with the Pakistanis on the border.
"As we've seen it some areas; other areas we've seen it doing very well in some areas; other areas it's gotten better; other areas we're seeking much more improvement. That's something that we continue to look at very closely. It's certainly an area of strategic risk," the official said.
"At the same time, given the progress that we've made in areas that we've put our effort into over the last 18 months ... are we through that success on the ground able to mitigate that?"
One of the keys is the fact that some of the people who are coming in to reintegrate were in Pakistan before, the official said adding that there was a recent ceremony in Kandahar where a group of about 40 or 50 Taliban fighters appear to have come in and reintegrated.
"So as we see more and more of the numbers are still small, but the numbers appear to be increasing, and that's the kind of thing that can mitigate against a risk of those existing safe havens. But it's still going to be a huge challenge."
In its report on 'Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan' submitted to the Congress, the Pentagon said there are significant hurdles to reaching the vision of pursuing a long-term US-Pakistani strategic partnership based on a foundation of "mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust guides a whole-of-government, civilian-military effort."
"The history of US-Pakistani relations is fraught with negative perceptions on both sides, leading many in both countries to see the others' pursuit of strategic objectives as being driven by transitory national security interests," the report said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Terrorists-safe-havens-in-Pak-a-challenge-Pentagon/articleshow/8123993.cms
WASHINGTON: Continued presence of terrorist safe havens and role of certain "actors" in Pakistanremains a challenge in the war against terror, a US defence official has said.
"The concern about the role of safe havens in Pakistan and the role of actors in Pakistan, including the Haqqani Network, the Afghan Taliban who are located primarily, the leadership is located either in the south or in the north around Peshawar, that remains a significant challenge," a senior defense official said at a Pentagon briefing.
Pentagon has sent its six-monthly report to the Congress on progress made in Afghanistan, the official said, adding that the United States is looking for continued and increased cooperation with the Pakistanis on the border.
"As we've seen it some areas; other areas we've seen it doing very well in some areas; other areas it's gotten better; other areas we're seeking much more improvement. That's something that we continue to look at very closely. It's certainly an area of strategic risk," the official said.
"At the same time, given the progress that we've made in areas that we've put our effort into over the last 18 months ... are we through that success on the ground able to mitigate that?"
One of the keys is the fact that some of the people who are coming in to reintegrate were in Pakistan before, the official said adding that there was a recent ceremony in Kandahar where a group of about 40 or 50 Taliban fighters appear to have come in and reintegrated.
"So as we see more and more of the numbers are still small, but the numbers appear to be increasing, and that's the kind of thing that can mitigate against a risk of those existing safe havens. But it's still going to be a huge challenge."
In its report on 'Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan' submitted to the Congress, the Pentagon said there are significant hurdles to reaching the vision of pursuing a long-term US-Pakistani strategic partnership based on a foundation of "mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust guides a whole-of-government, civilian-military effort."
"The history of US-Pakistani relations is fraught with negative perceptions on both sides, leading many in both countries to see the others' pursuit of strategic objectives as being driven by transitory national security interests," the report said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Terrorists-safe-havens-in-Pak-a-challenge-Pentagon/articleshow/8123993.cms
Islamabad talks urge efforts for greater cooperation
Islamabad talks urge efforts for greater cooperation
* AJK prime minister urges to keep channels of communication open between the India and Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: High level policy makers from India and Pakistan welcomed the resumption of a dialogue between India and Pakistan at all levels and urged both governments to follow up the spirit of cooperation and friendship demonstrated at Mohali with innovative, bold and actionable confidence building measures (CBMs) between the two countries.
A delegation comprising of senior Indian diplomats, legislators, journalists, reporters and academics discussed a range of issues with prominent Pakistani opinion leaders, ranging from bilateral dialogue, Kashmir issue, terrorism and the role of the media in Indo-Pak relations at The Islamabad Dialogue, organised by the Jinnah Institute from April 28 to April 29. The conference was part of Jinnah Institute’s leading initiative on peace building through Track II diplomacy between India and Pakistan. Jinnah Institute partnered with Delhi based think tank Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) for the Islamabad Dialogue.
Jinnah Institute President, Sherry Rehman, highlighted the gains made through the track II dialogue process between India and Pakistan and urged more frequent interactions between members of civil society at the track II level so that they can continue to feed into and inform the official bilateral dialogue.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, observed that the unresolved Kashmir issue is a constant hurdle in the establishment and continuation of good relations between India and Pakistan. He urged participants to keep channels of communication open at all levels since dialogue was the only tested means of conflict resolution. Kashmiri delegates called for an end to human rights violations in AJK.
Baijayant Panda, member of the Indian Lok Sabha, said that the lack of peace in South Asia and the strained relationship between India and Pakistan has stymied economic growth in the region. He said that improving trade relations will help normalise the overall relationship between India and Pakistan. Aziz Khan and Humayun Khan both agreed that the peace process should proceed in increments, but remain uninterrupted. Salman Haider and General Durrani said that Kashmir is central to the peace process and needs an inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders in both parts of Kashmir.
The participants strongly condemned terrorism in South Asia. Pakistani participants agreed that terrorism posed a serious challenge to the country. Teesta Setalvad, a renowned human rights lawyer from Mumbai, noted with concerns the rise of extremism in India.
Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation Executive Director, Sushobha Barve, emphasised the need for continued engagement between civil society in India and Pakistan through track II and III dialogues. Riaz Khokhar and Mosharraf Zaidi noted with concern the shrinking constituencies for peace amongst young people in India and Pakistan. They flagged this as a potential threat to peaceful relations in the future and urged both countries to work towards curbing this negative trend.
Nasim Zehra, veteran journalist and the Hindu Strategic Affairs Editor Siddharth Vardarajan, chaired a panel on the role of the media in the Indo-Pak conflict. The participants stressed the need for professionalism and responsibility in their reportage on Indo-Pak affairs. The News Editor, Muhammad Maalick, urged the opening of the Indian airwaves to Pakistani media and news channels to provide an appropriate counter-narrative.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C04%5C30%5Cstory_30-4-2011_pg7_16
* AJK prime minister urges to keep channels of communication open between the India and Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: High level policy makers from India and Pakistan welcomed the resumption of a dialogue between India and Pakistan at all levels and urged both governments to follow up the spirit of cooperation and friendship demonstrated at Mohali with innovative, bold and actionable confidence building measures (CBMs) between the two countries.
A delegation comprising of senior Indian diplomats, legislators, journalists, reporters and academics discussed a range of issues with prominent Pakistani opinion leaders, ranging from bilateral dialogue, Kashmir issue, terrorism and the role of the media in Indo-Pak relations at The Islamabad Dialogue, organised by the Jinnah Institute from April 28 to April 29. The conference was part of Jinnah Institute’s leading initiative on peace building through Track II diplomacy between India and Pakistan. Jinnah Institute partnered with Delhi based think tank Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) for the Islamabad Dialogue.
Jinnah Institute President, Sherry Rehman, highlighted the gains made through the track II dialogue process between India and Pakistan and urged more frequent interactions between members of civil society at the track II level so that they can continue to feed into and inform the official bilateral dialogue.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, observed that the unresolved Kashmir issue is a constant hurdle in the establishment and continuation of good relations between India and Pakistan. He urged participants to keep channels of communication open at all levels since dialogue was the only tested means of conflict resolution. Kashmiri delegates called for an end to human rights violations in AJK.
Baijayant Panda, member of the Indian Lok Sabha, said that the lack of peace in South Asia and the strained relationship between India and Pakistan has stymied economic growth in the region. He said that improving trade relations will help normalise the overall relationship between India and Pakistan. Aziz Khan and Humayun Khan both agreed that the peace process should proceed in increments, but remain uninterrupted. Salman Haider and General Durrani said that Kashmir is central to the peace process and needs an inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders in both parts of Kashmir.
The participants strongly condemned terrorism in South Asia. Pakistani participants agreed that terrorism posed a serious challenge to the country. Teesta Setalvad, a renowned human rights lawyer from Mumbai, noted with concerns the rise of extremism in India.
Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation Executive Director, Sushobha Barve, emphasised the need for continued engagement between civil society in India and Pakistan through track II and III dialogues. Riaz Khokhar and Mosharraf Zaidi noted with concern the shrinking constituencies for peace amongst young people in India and Pakistan. They flagged this as a potential threat to peaceful relations in the future and urged both countries to work towards curbing this negative trend.
Nasim Zehra, veteran journalist and the Hindu Strategic Affairs Editor Siddharth Vardarajan, chaired a panel on the role of the media in the Indo-Pak conflict. The participants stressed the need for professionalism and responsibility in their reportage on Indo-Pak affairs. The News Editor, Muhammad Maalick, urged the opening of the Indian airwaves to Pakistani media and news channels to provide an appropriate counter-narrative.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C04%5C30%5Cstory_30-4-2011_pg7_16
Pakistan-India ties: To break the ice, demilitarise Kashmir, by Umer Nangiana
Pakistan-India ties: To break the ice, demilitarise Kashmir
By Umer Nangiana
Parliamentarians, mediapersons, bureaucrats, academia, former diplomats and peace activists from India and Pakistan have emphasised on measures to ensure uninterrupted talks, demilitarisation of Kashmir and no-war pact between the two nuclear states of the South Asian Subcontinnet.
They discussed promotion of regional cooperation and host of other contetious issues at a two-day ‘Islamabad Dialogue’, organised by two non-government organisations – the Jinnah Institute and the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, New Dehli – to welcome dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Welcoming the recent agreements on granting Most Favored Nation status for India and the removal of non-tariff barriers for Pakistan, the participants suggested that “a liberalised bilateral trade regime was of urgent importance and must be pursued vigorously”.
They agreed that terrorism should not be used as an instrument of policy. Sectarian and communal bias in the functioning of the agencies and institutions of the state were unacceptable and must be discouraged. They also stressed the need for an increased interaction between judges, members of bar councils and investigation agencies of the two countries. Media should maintain professional standards when reporting on bilateral issues.
They also called for giving highest priority to human rights in Kashmir. New Delhi and Islamabad should facilitate a dialogue between representatives from all parts of Jammu and Kashmir reflecting all shades of political opinion as part of an inclusive peace process. Former Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Haider and former ISI chief Gen (retd) Asad Durrani said that Kashmir is central to the peace process and needs an inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders in both parts of Kashmir.
Jinnah Institute president, MNA Sherry Rehman highlighted the gains made through the Track II dialogue process between India and Pakistan and urged more frequent interactions between members of civil society.
Baijayant Panda, a member of the Indian Lok Sabha, said that lack of peace in South Asia and the strained relationship between India and Pakistan has stymied economic growth in the region.
Aziz Khan and Humayun Khan agreed that the peace process should proceed in increments, but remain uninterrupted.
Participants condemned terrorism in South Asia. Pakistani participants agreed that terrorism posed a serious challenge to the country. Teesta Setalvad, a renowned human rights lawyer from Mumbai, noted with concern, the rise of extremism in India.
Former secretary foreign affairs Riaz Khokhar and columnist Mosharraf Zaidi, noted with concern, the shrinking constituencies for peace among young people in both the countries. They flagged this as a potential threat to peaceful relations in the future and urged both countries to work towards curbing this negative trend.
The dialogue concluded with a joint resolution, proposing measures including consideration of a no-war pact, a peace treaty between the two countries and the renunciation of the use of violence, in any form, by either country.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/159615/pakistan-india-ties-to-break-the-ice-demilitarise-kashmir/
By Umer Nangiana
Parliamentarians, mediapersons, bureaucrats, academia, former diplomats and peace activists from India and Pakistan have emphasised on measures to ensure uninterrupted talks, demilitarisation of Kashmir and no-war pact between the two nuclear states of the South Asian Subcontinnet.
They discussed promotion of regional cooperation and host of other contetious issues at a two-day ‘Islamabad Dialogue’, organised by two non-government organisations – the Jinnah Institute and the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, New Dehli – to welcome dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Welcoming the recent agreements on granting Most Favored Nation status for India and the removal of non-tariff barriers for Pakistan, the participants suggested that “a liberalised bilateral trade regime was of urgent importance and must be pursued vigorously”.
They agreed that terrorism should not be used as an instrument of policy. Sectarian and communal bias in the functioning of the agencies and institutions of the state were unacceptable and must be discouraged. They also stressed the need for an increased interaction between judges, members of bar councils and investigation agencies of the two countries. Media should maintain professional standards when reporting on bilateral issues.
They also called for giving highest priority to human rights in Kashmir. New Delhi and Islamabad should facilitate a dialogue between representatives from all parts of Jammu and Kashmir reflecting all shades of political opinion as part of an inclusive peace process. Former Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Haider and former ISI chief Gen (retd) Asad Durrani said that Kashmir is central to the peace process and needs an inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders in both parts of Kashmir.
Jinnah Institute president, MNA Sherry Rehman highlighted the gains made through the Track II dialogue process between India and Pakistan and urged more frequent interactions between members of civil society.
Baijayant Panda, a member of the Indian Lok Sabha, said that lack of peace in South Asia and the strained relationship between India and Pakistan has stymied economic growth in the region.
Aziz Khan and Humayun Khan agreed that the peace process should proceed in increments, but remain uninterrupted.
Participants condemned terrorism in South Asia. Pakistani participants agreed that terrorism posed a serious challenge to the country. Teesta Setalvad, a renowned human rights lawyer from Mumbai, noted with concern, the rise of extremism in India.
Former secretary foreign affairs Riaz Khokhar and columnist Mosharraf Zaidi, noted with concern, the shrinking constituencies for peace among young people in both the countries. They flagged this as a potential threat to peaceful relations in the future and urged both countries to work towards curbing this negative trend.
The dialogue concluded with a joint resolution, proposing measures including consideration of a no-war pact, a peace treaty between the two countries and the renunciation of the use of violence, in any form, by either country.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/159615/pakistan-india-ties-to-break-the-ice-demilitarise-kashmir/
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