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As far as General
Musharraf’s assurance to America, Europe or India is concerned, it’s not
new. Every one knows that Musharraf is a clever person who is always
quick to condemn acts of terrorism anywhere in the world in spite of
Pakistan’s own involvement. Condemning recent bomb blasts at Malegaon and
Mumbai is a good example of this. In past also Pakistan was the first
country to condemn Taliban and Al-Qaida for terrorist attack on Twin
Towers in New York. This strategy has officially been adopted by the
Military Ruler to befool the world community. Pakistan establishment, on
a number of occasions has arrested its own terrorists (Al-Qaida and
Talibaan) to defuse the international pressure, but it did not register
any punishable case against these terrorists. It may be recalled that
recently, Pakistani Military rulers arrested Lashkar-e-Toiba Chief under
16 MPO, which is not a criminal section of the law and was kept in a
Government rest house in Lahore like a foreign dignitary. Later on Lahore
High Court was told to release him. Such kind of acts has been repeated
several times in the past.
Now, I would like to mention the possible aims and
objectives of General Musharraf behind the ‘JOINT MECHANISM’. Every one
knows about the pattern by which General Musharraf and Bush are jointly
dealing the terrorism. As a matter of fact, Musharraf has handed over
many Al-Qaida and Talibaan terrorists to USA and killed some of them
also. In spite of that no one can be sure to say that terrorism and its
threat would decline.
Musharraf and ISI instead of reining in Al-Qaida and
Talibaans are supporting them. For example, if one terrorist of Talibaan/Al-Qaida
is killed or arrested, ISI replaces it with two trained cadres. Not only
this, these groups in Pakistan are being alerted by giving them advance
information about the operations being launched by USA. Although,
Pakistan is sharing some of its intelligence information with the USA,
yet vital information are being kept veiled. ISI had learned many
tricks/lessons from CIA during Afghan war with USSR and even after 9/11
bombing. ISI is using these tricks against USA and getting appreciation
from USA.
I fear, the information, which will be passed to ISI
by American or Indian Intelligence, in the coming days, to curb
terrorists, would be passed on to the concerned terrorists. Secondly, ISI
will shift the most wanted terrorists like Dawood Ibrahim and Syed
Salahuddin to any other country before implementing this agreement.
It’s my humble suggestion that India should accept
General Musharraf’s proposal for joint control over J&K including
Gilgit, Baltistan, Astore, Chilas, Darel, Tangir, Chitral and other
places to destroy the terrorist camps according to the “Joint Mechanism”
to curb the terrorism. It should be kept in mind, that Gilgit - Baltistan
is the weakness of Pakistan and India should ask Pakistan to hand over
these areas to overcome the terror menace, if Musharraf’s offer is
genuine. Handling of Gilgit-Baltistan by India and Pakistan jointly would
not only help in wiping out the terrorism from the area but would also be
useful for the settlement of J&K dispute.
Terrorist camps after being kept dormant for some
time have been again re-activated by ISI in Gilgit- Baltistan and other
areas. One can imagine, that temporary camps have been established in
summer of 2006 in the small villages and high altitude pastures in the
Tehsil of Yasen by ISI with the help of the local Wahabi fundamentalist
administration and Police. The places, where Taliban and Al-Qaida
terrorists were settled are Giyekoshi and Doolong, Darkoot, Yasen and
Damalgan, Yasen and high pasture of Tesil Ishkomen bordering with Afghanistan.
In the first week of July 2006, some 40 terrorists including 13 from
Punjab of Pakistan in the leadership of a local
Al-Qaida supporter Mir Jahan Shah from Damalgan,
Yasen stayed a month in Dooloong Darkot. Tehsil dar/Magistare of Yasen
Shah Zaman the guidance of ISI is the main facilitator of these
terrorists. The other main Al-Qaida/Taliban local Wahabi activists are
government employees.
When the local Shia Imami Ismailia majority
population raised strong objection, ISI shifted them to other places, by
declaring them as Tablighis (religious preachers). Later Shah zaman the
Wahabi Terrorist leader warned the local people of Dahrkoot of dire
consequences. Though this is Ismailia dominated Tehsil where Wahabis are
in small number one can imagine, how ISI has managed to establish
terrorist network under Musharraf regime in other Wahabi dominated places
of Occupied Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir,
besides Pakistan. These terrorists of Yasen Tehsil killed a local
Ismailia person Niat Baig a retired soldier, in the leadership of
Tehsildar Shah zaman and Saboor s/o Abdul Qayoom of Thawoos an ISI agent.
The victim was the main hurdle in the way of the terrorists. Shah Zaman
himself discovered the dead body and claimed that he was killed in the
accident of his car, though bullet marks were found on his body. Yet, no
arrest has been made because of the terrorist administration and its ISI
support. It would be a grave mistake, if USA, UK, India, Afghanistan or
any other country trust Musharraf and ISI by neglecting their past
tricks, lies and evil designs. Joint Mechanism to curb the terrorism with
Pakistan by India or even USA or UK, is just like an appeal to a killer
to reveal his crime to the kin of the victim. ISI is behind all the killings,
bombings, kidnappings and rape cases not only in J&K but all over the
world particularly India. Would it not be unwise to expect that a victim
(India) will get justice from the killer (Pakistan)? The world community and the
Indian Government particularly should know Musharraf’s pretext of not
allowing Kargil Skardu and Kashmir Astore road, while many routes across
the LOC have been opened. First is Pakistan’s nuclear installation on the
Skardu Airport under the mountain and second is the presence of terrorists
and their camps in Ghowadi in Baltistan and Domel in the Astore district.
In the light of the above mentioned facts, I don’t
agree with your views that Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism. If
Pakistan is a victim, who is compelling Pakistan to establish terrorists
camps on its soil? Why Pakistan does not destroy the terrorist camps? Why
Pakistan allows terrorists to handle all kinds of Military weapons
freely? Why terrorists did not kill any leader in Pakistan so far? Why
terrorist leaders are allowed to deliver speeches of hatred freely? If
Nawab Akbar Bugti a political leader can be killed, why terrorist leaders
like Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Salahuddin and thousands of terrorists are
safe in Pakistan? How the activities of Talibans are increasing day by
day if Pakistan does not support them? Who supplies heavy arms and
ammunitions to Taliban and Al-Qaida, if ISI is not involved? How retired ISI persons can
manage huge quantity of arms and ammunitions to Talibaan, without active
support of Pakistan Government that Musharraf has admitted in an
interview during
his recent visit to USA? Why Osama and his
colleagues are safe, if Musharraf is serious in dealing with terrorism?
If it is not ISI then who is
managing to deliver and carry the speech of Osama and Al-Zawahiri to Al-Jazira TV and other news media?
Pakistan has deployed more than 80000 troops on the
borders of Afghanistan and getting huge aid in terms of money and weapons
from USA to stop the infiltration of terrorists. In reality, Musharraf
and ISI are using their forces and American technology to facilitate
Taliban and providing them arms and ammunitions so that they could fight
against the coalition forces in Afghanistan. But Bush still praises
Musharraf. I don’t know whether it is his strategy or ignorance of
Musharraf’s double game. Musharraf could befool the USA and the world
leaders, but not the people of Gilgit-Baltistan because they are the
eyewitness of Pakistan’s atrocities and evil designs. As far as attacks
on Musharraf are concerned, I don’t believe they were genuine; rather
those were manipulated to show the world community that he is being
targeted because he is fighting against terrorism.
Karzai Hails US Position on
Pakistan
President Hamid Karzai has
hailed the United State’s new stance on terrorism and said its policy was
becoming further clear on the issue that could help Afghanistan get rid
of problems. Sadiq Mudabbir, deputy chief of the authority for the
administrative affairs, said the President informed the cabinet meeting
about the recent remarks by the US National Intellig-ence Director (NID)
John Negroponte and Hillary Clinton who have said that Al-Qaeda had found
a secure hideout in Pakistan, from which it was rebuilding its strength.
A member of the Parliament from Andar district Abdul Jabar Shilgaray has
also said, “Al-Qaeda has found a secure hideout in Pakistan, from which
it is rebuilding its strength”.
-The Frontier Post
Pakistan should not include terrorism in foreign
policy: Spanta
Pakistan should be told not to
use terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy, Afghan Foreign Minister
Rangeen Dadfar Spanta said on Monday. Spanta made the remark while
visiting Kandahar, a Taliban hotbed, with his Canadian counterpart, Peter
MacKay, who was due to visit Pakistan. When asked by a reporter what
message he would like MacKay to pass on in Islamabad, Spanta replied,
“Dont use terrorists and terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy”.
Spanta reiterated in Kandahar, “We believe that terrorist sources are outside
Afghanistan”. MacKay met President Hamid Karzai and informed him about
Canadian government’s commitment to fighting the Taliban.
Canada is against the use of
landmines. A global treaty against their use was agreed in Ottawa in
1997; the accord has been ratified by more than 150 countries but
Pakistan is one of 40 countries that have not signed up. MacKay visited
some of the 2,500 Canadian troops based in Kandahar. The minister also
announced Canada would give 10 million Canadian dollars towards Afghanistan’s
fledgling police force, including salaries and uniforms.
-The
Daily Times
Baloch Parties Reject
Pak-Afghan Border Fencing, Mining
All
Parties Conference of Balochistan, (APC) has denounced the federal
government‘s plan to fence and mine the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, the provincial president of the Pakistan
People‘s Party-Parliamentarians (PPP-P), addressed the conference
opposing the fencing of the border. National Party President Dr. Abdul
Hai Baloch said all Baloch political parties opposed the fencing of the
border, saying it was an ‘anti-people measure‘. Pakistan‘s move to fence
and mine its border with Afghanistan has come in for flak from
Afghanistan, the UN and the six party religious alliance, the MMA.
Pakistan had in December announced its plan to fence and mine parts of
its border with Afghanistan to prevent cross border movement of
terrorists. While Kabul and the MMA said the move would besides
endangering lives divide the ethnic Pashtoon community, the UN said the
move had the possibility of causing more casualties in a region already
littered with ordnance.
Interestingly, tribesmen from the Federally Administered Tribal
Areas (FATA) have announced support for the federal government‘s decision
to fence the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a grand jirga at Wana,
capital of South Waziristan, on Saturday, tribesmen said the measure
would bring an end to the Afghan authority’s accusations of terrorist
infiltration. The jirga however, opposed the mining of the border, saying
it would risk the lives of innocent people and wildlife. ANI
PAIM on path of revolution
Sir Jamal Tako of Pakistan Awami Inqlab Movement (PAIM) has said
that political gimmicks of Nawaz Sharief and Benazir Bhutto were
misleading. “We are convinced that none of them will come in power. Both
have mastered in playing with public trust and it is they who are
responsible for the deteriorated political, social and economic
conditions of Pakistan. They spent their tenure in ‘honeymoon parades’.
They put national issues on the back burner and used public funds on
political maneuvering. Construction of Dams and Power Houses were
subjected to criminal neglect. No attention was paid towards industry and
separatist groups were encouraged. It was during their rule that land
grabbers and criminals were given free hand. Basic needs like drinking
water; power supply and employment were ignored. Favouritism and nepotism
were preferred upon merit that gave birth to incompetent bureaucracy on
whose guidance General Musharraf is ruling the country making Pakistan
den of all devils.
In
India on the other hand, Metro Railways, Power projects and Aerodromes
are being built and Industries set up. Value of Indian currency is
increasing in the global market eighty percent of which is already under
Indian control. India’s export component is fast growing and its products
are becoming more and more popular with the result that America, EU and
China have been showing eagerness to enter into various agreements with
this country. Indian industrialists are getting global encouragement and
takers of Indian stand on Kashmir are showing a considerable growth.
India’s foreign capital has swelled and its culture has spread world
over. Contrary to it, terrorism, narrow mindedness, sectarian divide and
separatism have occupied the centre stage in the land of pure. Pakistan
is being seen as fountain head of terrorism that compels foreign
investors to desist from investing here. Ignorance has spread across the
country and Pakistan has become a laughing stock in the eyes of world
community. But nobody is prepared to accept that these politicians in
their tenures have sown seeds of thorns for future generations.
Need
of the hour therefore is that those responsible for the plight of the
country be stopped from damaging the country further more. They should
rather be punished for their sins. We strongly believe that a revolution
is on the anvil that will bring progressive revolutionaries on the center
stage that will ensure reconstruction of Pakistan because it is only they
who can put the nation on a firm saddle of peace and development” he
declared. -Issued by PAIM
Pakistan Strikes Taliban Hideouts
Pakistani military destroyed
three militant hideouts in the semi-autonomous tribal area of South
Waziristan along the Afghan border. Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said that
five hideouts used by militants in the restive South Waziristan tribal
area were destroyed, but “no high-value targets (Osama and Zawahiri) were
believed to be there”.
The official said that an important local militant
leader, Baitullah Mehsud, used the hideouts in Zamzola, but there were no
indications that he was present at the time of the air strikes. No ground
troops were used in the attack and only military gunship helicopters took
part in the early morning operation.
“It is a small forest where the bombing took place. We
noticed a drone hovering early in the morning and then a few helicopters
came and bombed three houses there”, Ali Muhammad, a villager told. The
semi-autonomous tribal areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan have long
been suspected of providing safe haven to al Qaeda and Taliban remnants.
Anti-American sentiments run high in these areas and the writ of law by
the federal government has traditionally been weak here. Today’s air
strike came hours after U.S Defence Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived in
Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has been strongly
critical of Pakistan for failing to root out militants in the border area. -The New York Times
Benazir Claims Candidature
Former premier Benazir Bhutto
has said that she alone was the Pakistan Peoples Party‘s (PPP) candidate
for the slot of prime minister. “I am the lone candidate for prime
minister ship. We appeal to the people to give us the constitutional
majority that every chief executive since 1960 has enjoyed except for PPP
under my leadership,” she was quoted as saying in an interview with an
Indian channel. “With a constitutional majority we will be able to build
a tolerant and modern society,” she claimed. Replying to another
question, Ms. Bhutto asserted that the bar on a person from becoming
prime minister for more than two occasions incorporated in the
constitution during the Military regime would not come in her way, if her
party wins the general elections likely to be held in October this year.
Ms. Bhutto said she will be the first choice for Prime Minister ship of
her country if her party returns to power. She also revealed what Nawaz
Sharif had told her in London two years ago that in case their parties
win elections her People‘s Party of Pakistan (PPP) should get the first
chance for the post. -The Nation
Waziristan pact to remain
intact
Foreign Minister Khursheed
Kasuri has said that his government would not withdraw from the North
Waziristan peace agreement, but would consider amending it if there were
any shortcomings in it. Kasuri told reporters here that Pakistani
military forces had not withdrawn from the area after the agreement, but
only pulled back from certain check posts. Their visibility is reduced,
but they are very much present in the area, he said. No force can fight
with its own people for ever. There has to be a political settlement.
Through the agreement we have involved the local people and the clerics,
he added
-The Daily Times
Nawaz’s letter for Akhtar
given to HRCP
A
leader of the Pakistan Muslim
League (Nawaz) has handed a letter written by the party’s chief Nawaz
Sharif to the secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of
Pakistan (HRCP), Iqbal Haider, to pass it to Akhtar Mengal, chief of his
own faction of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), who is in solitary
confinement in the Karachi Central Prison. PML-N additional secretary,
information, Sardar Rahim, on Tuesday called on Mr Haider and handed him
the letter, requesting him to give it to Mr Mengal at the next hearing of
a case against him inside the prison. Mr Mengal faces charges of taking
hostage and torturing two government officials. Mr Rahim said the letter had
been handed over to the HRCP official because the anti-terrorism court
judge concerned had allowed a representative of the commission to observe
the trial. “Similar letters written by our leader are being delivered to
other political leaders and civil society representatives to develop
consensus for making collective efforts to rid Pakistan of present social
and political crises,” said Mr Rahim. He said the letter also contained
an invitation for the conference being held by the PML-N in London in this
regard. -The Dawn
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