Pakistan terrorists getting outside funding: Holbrooke

ISLAMABAD: Terrorists in Pakistan are getting funding from outside the country, US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has said.

Sources of funding for terrorists come from outside the country as well as through extortion of NATO supply convoys, Holbrooke said at the Special Radio Roundtable discussion Sunday.

Without elaborating on the funding sources, he said he was aware of the sacrifices made by the Pakistan Army in the war against terror and that too in difficult terrain.

The army is battling heavily armed Taliban guerrillas in the rugged mountainous Waziristan region. The fight against terror has been a challenge for the army as the militants are well-entrenched.

Holbrooke, who is here to represent the US at the Pakistan Development Forum, said this was a serious issue and they were working to address it. The forum is an international consortium that provides economic aid to Pakistan.

The US has provided billions in assistance to help Pakistan cope with the aftermath of the recent floods, Daily Times quoted Holbrooke as saying.

Pakistan was one of the most under-taxed countries in the world, the US envoy said. He added that it was the obligation of the rich to contribute from their income for the welfare of the people and mitigate the sufferings of people in distress.

Pakistan and US Don,t Have Common Enemy and Interests

We Often Hear Different US Officials and Corrupt Pro US Pakistani Politicians Claiming that Pakistan and United States Have Common Enemies and Common Interests. Many People who don,t know the Exact Ground Situation in Afghanistan and Pakistani Tribal Areas may also get agree with this Statement but the Reality is very different than this. Pakistan and US Don,t Have Common Enemies or Interests. Now I Will Be Explaining One By One That How This Statement is Wrong?

First of All those Taliban Groups Such As Mullah Omar, Haqqani, Hikmat Yar That are Fighting in Afghanistan Against US and Nato Forces are not enemy of Pakistan nor they have ever attacked Pakistan. Pakistan is Under attack by a Group Called Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) That is backed by RAW through Afghanistan. This Group has no Links with the Afghan Taliban and it is also created in last couple of years. Secondly Present Afghanistan Government of Hamid Karzai is Pro Indian and Anti Pakistan which Keeps on blaming Pakistan for Everything. So Pakistan's Interest Is in End of Karzai Government. Thirdly Under US Umbrella Indians are also operating in Afghanistan to Promote Terrorism in Pakistan and if US Leaves Afghanistan Indians will also have to run. In Short Pakistan and US Don,t Have Common Enemy or Interests.

Govt to deploy army for population census

Pakistan has decided to conduct the upcoming population census under the supervision of Pakistan Army, a source said yesterday. The services of some 30,000 officers and soldiers will be sought from GHQ for deployment in various parts of the country to accomplish this exercise by ensuring foolproof security arrangements. Keeping in view the ground “situation, the authorities reduced the number of required army personnel from 155,000 to around 30,000, who would be assigned to supervise the civilian workforce and provide them help where required. Initially, it was the desire of the government that the Pakistan Army should be engaged for holding the upcoming census.

Pakistani security forces kill 6 militants in clashes in Swat Valley

By Sherin Zada (CP)

MINGORA, Pakistan — Pakistani security forces killed six militants in clashes in the Swat Valley, a northwest region where the military has largely routed the Taliban but where sporadic violence persists, an army spokesman said Sunday.

The militants attacked a security checkpoint near Shakar Dara on Saturday night, Maj. Mushtaq Ahmed said. Authorities imposed a curfew as they searched for the assailants. Clashes during the search operation killed six militants and wounded one soldier in the Matta area.

The Pakistani army launched a major anti-Taliban offensive in 2009 in Swat, a one-time tourist haven largely overrun by militants beginning in 2007.

Though the months-long offensive was hailed a success, militant activity is still reported in the picturesque region and concerns are growing that the insurgents could rise again unless redevelopment efforts move faster.

Also Sunday, a suicide bomber apparently targeting a militant commander from a rival faction attacked a vegetable market in a region along the Afghan border, wounding nine people, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The attack occurred in South Waziristan, a lawless tribal area that is also the focus of an army offensive against the Pakistani Taliban, a network that is focused on attacking the Pakistani state. However, the bomber struck territory controlled by Maulvi Nazir, a militant commander whose focus is the war in Afghanistan and who has been left alone by the Pakistani army.

One of Nazir's deputies, Tahsil Khan, was sitting in a restaurant at the market in Shakai town during the attack, said the two intelligence officials. The bomber was heading toward the restaurant but Khan's bodyguards opened fire on him, which detonated his explosives.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media on the record, said they suspect the Pakistani Taliban was behind the attack as part of a turf war with Nazir.

Targeting Economic Capital of Pakistan

BY Zaheerul Hassan
On November 11, 2010 a group of four to five heavily armed terrorists detonated an explosives- laden truck at the office of the CID spearheading the drive against terrorists in the southern port city of Karachi, killing at least 18 people and injuring 115 others. According to the locals and eye witness the attackers initially exchanged fire with guards outside the office of the Crime Investigation Department, located in a high security zone at a short distance from the Chief Minister's official residence and several five-star hotels and consulates. Apart from the targeting killing, 14 suicidal blasts have been carried out in which more than 700 individuals killed and thousands injured since 2002. The intensity of the blast was so severe that it was heard in a 15 kilometers radius, destroying many of the high rises and shanty settlements in its path. The blast left a 10 to 15 feet wide crater at the spot. According to bomb disposal experts around 1,000kg explosive was used in the blast filling the entire area with smoke. In this attack the building collapsed trapping people under the rubble. The CID office is located in the sensitive declared area of the Karachi. The red zone also includes the CM House, Governor House, Qaiser Naz, three luxury hotels, the US Consulate and government offices.

Regarding the latest Karachi blast, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak said that a truck bearing a Peshawar registration number reached the main gate of the CID building, where some suspects came out from the truck and started firing for at least 10 minutes. Later, they threw crackers inside the CID building, killing the security guards deployed at the main gate. The blast was carried out near the residential area of CID. It would be worth mentioning here that in 2009 similar nature of attacks on investigation agencies’ (FIA and ISI) buildings were carried out in Lahore, Multan and Peshawar too. The objectives and pattern of the quoted terrorists’ attacks were the same. According to experts the terrorists have used RDX explosive, potassium and mortar bombs. Moreover, in first week of the November and last week of October 2010 more than 100 people were killed in two bomb blasts in the mosques of Waali Masjid, Derra Adam Khel and Pushta Khurra area of Peshawar Pakistan.

Earlier, on October 7, 2010 at least 8 individuals have been killed and more than 85 injured in two successive blasts near a prominent shrine in Karachi. More than 32 people killed and over 200 injured on September 1, 2010 when three suicide bombers blew themselves up in Shia Procession. We all knew that Karachi is Pakistan’s economic capital, home to the country’s stock exchange and the Arabian Sea port where NATO supplies dock to be trucked overland to support more than 150,000 US-led troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Reportedly, NATO is planning to avoid using Pakistani territory and will likely to go for alternate route of supply soon. In October 2010 Pakistani authorities stopped NATO and ISAF to use its territory for provision of supplies to their troops, at this occasion NATO’s and Pentagon discussed the alternate option in length. The heavy damage has also been done to the containers by the Taliban when 300 containers have been hit which were parked after the NATO’s attack on Pakistani troops.

It is notable here too that since couple of months terrorists activities like blasts, target killing, robberies and kidnapping are on peek in Karachi, Peshawar and other areas of the country. Thus security situation has become pathetic just because of poor law and order problems as a result of militants activities. Evidences are there that unrest and terrorists’ activities are being supported from the across. In this connection RAW and MOSSAD are fully activated in Balochistan, Karachi and Peshawar. The terrorists are operating covertly under the cover of religious and political individuals. More than 430 persons have been killed in Karachi this year alone. One more indicator is there that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan almost claimed responsibility of every attack whether is in the mosque or on the Shia procession or on the security agencies’ buildings. Actual facts are very much clear because no Muslim can think of attacking mosques and other religious places. These are those terrorists which are being supported by the foreign agencies. The second indicator is that these terrorists are being highly trained and always came fully equipped and in most of the cases were in possession of Indian manufactured guns and explosive.

The blast on security agency in Karachi has been carried out once President Zardari is on his visit to China just after the completion of Obama’s tour to India. Pakistani President also carried out negotiation with his Chinese counter part. China also handed over the first of four Chinese ZDK-03 Airborne Warning And Control Systems (AWACS) aircrafts for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in a roll out ceremony held at Hanzhong in China. PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was the chief guest at the ceremony, which was attended by the Commander of the PLA Air Force and other military and civil officials of China. PAF chief also said that AWACS will strengthen the Pakistani Defence against our adversary. Beijing also promised to give fifth nuclear reactor to Islamabad. Chinese’s president also promised to visit Pakistan in March 2011. Thus blast in Karachi could also be a try to eclipse Pak-China growing relations.

The prevailing wave of terrorism would likely to be continued till Muharram and militants would try to carry out the blasts on Ashura day. Therefore there is a need to deal with the terrorists with the iron hands. Government, public, politicians, religious leaders, law enforcing and security agencies and honorable judges of the courts should get themselves united to crush the militants and do not pay any mercy to the enemies of humanity. At the same time UNO, should pressurize India to resolve the burning regional issue like Kashmir, water issues and border disputes with Pakistan and other regional countries. Political leadership should also stand up to defeat Indian design of targeting Pakistan and its economic capital.

The writer is defence and security analyst and can be contacted on zameer36@gmail.com

Musharraf refutes charges against ISI

WASHINGTON: Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has rejected allegations that elements from the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had supported the Taliban over the years, saying that such accusations were unhelpful in the fight against militants.

“It is absolutely wrong to say that the ISI is still connected to the Taliban. I can give proof that the Pakistan Army has suffered over 2,500 deaths for which al Qaeda and the Taliban were responsible,” he said during a speaking tour of the US.

He admitted that he expected serious repercussions from Taliban elements on his possible return to Pakistan, because he had taken stringent action against them. While acknowledging that the army was unlikely to welcome him back, he said he wanted to return “through the mandate of the people.”

He also scoffed at being compared to current political leaders, especially Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, adding that all elected governments have failed the country.

“The important thing for an elected government is to deliver to the people and to the state. If that is not happening, then it’s a problem,” Musharraf remarked.

“Unfortunately, the civil governments have never performed. And I repeat, never performed in their history,” he added.

Referring to cases against him, he said that despite serious allegations, there were no cases against him in any court of Pakistan. Out of the many cases filed by the PML-N, some have already fizzled out, while the rest were politically motivated. He vowed to defend all politically-inspired cases.

During other appearances before the US audiences, Musharraf criticised the response of President Asif Ali Zardari and the civilian government to floods that affected 21 million people.

When inquired about the US drone attacks in Pakistan, he stated, “Drone attacks violate

Pakistan’s sovereignty and have caused too many civilian deaths. I always suggested that the drones should be handed over to Pakistan.”

He also declared the statement of former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali regarding Musharraf’s endeavours to have his portrait imprinted on currency notes as a sheer joke, adding that Jamali was either delirious or was overwhelmed by Nawaz Sharif.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2010.

Pakistan under renewed pressure for nuke freeze

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is under immense pressure from powerful countries led by the US to freeze its nuclear programme by agreeing to a controversial treaty that bans production of fissile materials to make atomic bomb.
Western powers, which are pushing for a deal on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), have threatened to take Pakistan’s case to the UN Security Council if it did not sign the longstanding agreement, disclosed a senior official of the country’s nuclear establishment.
“You can’t even imagine what kind of pressures is being exerted on Pakistan,” said the official, who is associated with the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Headed by Gen Khalid Kidwai, the SPD controls the country’s nuclear arsenal.
In a rare background conversation, the SPD official told The Express Tribune that Western powers particularly the US have been using ‘coercive measures’ for the last several months against Pakistan.
“They have threatened to take our case to the UNSC … they are even threatening us with isolation,” he added.
However, the country’s political and military leadership have so far resisted the pressure as they believe bowing to such demands will seriously undermine the country’s national security, said a top foreign office official. “It’s a Pakistan-specific treaty,” the official added. “The FMCT will not harm big powers because they have surplus nuclear fuel,” he said.
He said Pakistan will have to open its nuclear facilities to international inspections if it signs the FMCT. “This is certainly unacceptable,” he maintained.
The idea of placing a ban on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons has been discussed for a long time, and the talks broke down in 1995. Since then, there has been very little formal progress.
However, US President Barack Obama is trying to revive the process. At the nuclear summit held in January this year in Washington, President Obama expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s refusal to sign the FMCT. Islamabad has been accused of being a major roadblock in the way of finalising an accord on FMCT, which envisages a ban on the production of highly enriched uranium and plutonium.
One of the key objectives of the FMCT is to prevent terrorists from getting their hands on the fissile material. Western countries fear Pakistan is the most likely country, where this could happen. “This is ridiculous,” said another official.
Pakistan believes FMCT must include existing stocks otherwise the imbalance of power in the world will simply be further enhanced. Its reluctance to sign the treaty is also attributed to the discriminatory policies of the West on civilian nuclear cooperation.
“Some states have been denied the right to peaceful nuclear cooperation while others are supported in promoting unsafe nuclear programmes,” asserted the official in a clear reference to Indo-US nuclear deal.
“With its current form and conditions, Pakistan will never sign the FMCT,” remarked Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit.

How Pakistan secures its nuclear weapons

Islamabad, Sept. 3: There has often been speculation about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, and added to that, is a fear that they might fall into the hands of extremists. But Islamabad, it seems, has taken appropriate measures to safeguard them from extraneous forces.
Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and other related weapons are controlled by the National Command Authority (NCA), which has an Employment Control Committee (ECC) that decides on doctrine, posture and nuclear use.


Weapons development falls under the purview of the Development Control Committee (DCC), and according to Owen Bennett Jones, centralized control of these weapons is maintained by a two-key system and launch codes.

A three-man rule is also in place in that authority to launch the weapons has to be taken jointly by Pakistan’s President, Prime Minister and Chief of Army Staff.

Internal security of nuclear storage is the responsibility of a 10,000-strong force headed by a Strategic Force Commander of Major-General rank.

It is generally believed that the weapons are not fully assembled and that warheads, detonators and missiles are kept separately. This storage method ensures against unauthorized launches.

All these steps for making Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal safe were necessitated after Washington expressed concern in 2002 that it wanted “sufficient forces on the ground” to control access to “Pakistan’s nuclear facilities”.

It was then felt that the nuclear weapons should not be made accessible to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or to Pakistani scientists, particularly those involved with nuclear research.

In March 2002, non-uniformed American defense personnel were even sent to man Pakistan’s nuclear reactor establishments with the objective of taking an inventory of what was there and to examine records of “what ought and ought not to be there”.

“The technology found (then) indicated that Pakistan was certainly in no condition to deliver a small nuclear device to Al Qaeda, given that the US was monitoring their facilities,” says one report.

In spite of all these protective measures, there is still concern in the international community about how safe is Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. From Pakistan’s point of view, there are certain sections of the society, which belief that the US is waiting to “seize or disable” Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal “in the event of a collapse of government or an outbreak of civil war”.

China rolls out AWACS aircrafts for PAF - Hindustan Times

The rollout ceremony of first of four Chinese ZDK-03 airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) aircrafts for the Pakistan Air Force was held at Hanzhong in China today. The rollout coincided with President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China – his sixth since assuming the position in 2008.

PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was the chief guest at the ceremony, which was attended by the Commander of the PLA Air Force and other military and civil officials of China.

The PAF signed a contract in 2008 with China Electronics Technology Group Corporation for the joint development of four ZDK-03 AWACS aircraft configured to Pakistan's specifications.

The ZDK-03 is an advanced AWACS with sophisticated integrated sensors and communications suite, PAF said in a statement.

In his speech at the rollout, Air Chief Marshal Suleman described the event as "another milestone in the exemplary history of cooperation between Pakistan and China”.

This AWACS will strengthen the PAF's capabilities to maintain "peace with honour in the region", he said.

The AWACS is part of PAF's overall strategy of transforming itself into a "lean and technologically advanced air force", Suleman said.

The PAF will not spare any effort to make the defence of the country impregnable, he added.

CETC Chairman Wang Zhigang said the induction of the AWACS by the PAF will have a "positive impact on regional stability, peace and prosperity as well as on the close bond between the two military forces and two countries".

The PAF has also received two of four Saab-2000 AWACs aircraft ordered from Sweden.

The remaining two aircraft equipped with the Erieye radar system are expected to be delivered later this year.

Kashmir issue at top of Pentagon policy agenda, says Fai

ISLAMABAD (SANA): Executive Director Kashmir American Council/Centre Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, has asked the Pakistani government to call emergency summit of heads of state and government of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to examine the lingering issue of Kashmir.

While taking to senior journalists here in Islamabad on Saturday, he said that India had sent message to U.S before the visit of President Barack Obama that president Obama should not talk about Kashmir issue during his Indian visit.

Ghulam Nabi Fai said that it did not happened as U.S president cleared his policy regarding Kashmir issue and declared Kashmir as disputed area and declined the New Delhi stance regarding Kashmir issue.

“America accepted the Kashmir as disputed area from the very first day and the President (Obama) reiterated this stance by declining the New Delhi opinion that Kashmir is an Integral part of India,” he said.

He said that Kashmir is at the top list of policy agenda of the Pentagon headquarters of United States’ Department of Defence, adding that that is why the General Mike Mullen said in Islamabad that they would assist Pakistan and India to resolve Kashmir dispute.

He said that the defeat of Democratic Party in the mid-term elections is due to unemployment in the US, adding that the recent visit of President Obama to India is a plan to explore the jobs for Americans in India.

Dr. Fai said that before the Obama’s Indian visit, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani visited the U.S to participate in the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and U.S and stressed upon the Americans that no progress would be possible until the resolution of Kashmir issue.

He said that the issue of Kashmir had discussed during the meeting between General Kayani and Robert Gates, adding that after the meeting a leading U.S newspaper revealed that Pentagon is forcing the government to make their role to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

He stressed on the Pakistani leadership to highlight this issue on international-level and built pressure on India to resolve Kashmir issue.

Pakistan should ask the OIC Secretary General Professor Dr Ekmeluddin Ehsanoglu to call urgent summit of OIC heads of state and government on the Kashmir issue, he suggested.

He said that Kashmir issue had connected with the solution of Afghanistan, adding that this reality had acknowledged by the U.S policy makers.

He said in that context the dialogue process between India and Pakistan should be restarted, adding that Kashmiri leadership has to entail in the composite dialogue between Pakistan and India.

He said that the media of the world including India is saying that the recent movement of Kashmiris for freedom struggle is locally motivated and Pakistan has nothing to do with the recent boost in freedom movement, adding that the support of this movement is mandatory on us.

Dr. Fai emphasized on the need of early resolution of Kashmir issue, saying that India and Pakistan have to start dialogue process while dialogue should be Kashmir centric.

He said that the people of are agreed on the opinion that Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Shah, Yasin Malik and Syed Salahuddin are real leaders of the Kashmiris. These leaders would decide about the representation of Kashmiris in the trilateral dialogues.

He said that Syed Ali Gilani is not a hardliner he reached on the conclusion after 108 rounds of talks held between Pakistan and Indian without bearing positive results, adding that after no positive results Gilani reached on the conclusion that the inclusion of Kashmiris in these talks is mandatory for making them result-oriented.

Pakistani prosecutors decline cases against militants

Islamabad, Nov 13 (IANS) Public prosecutors in Pakistan have refused to proceed with cases involving suspected militants on the pretext that the banned terror outfits are threatening them with dire consequences if they appeared in court.

Media reports Saturday said the anti-terrorism court in Karachi, Pakistan's largest metropolis, could not try cases against arrested suspects belonging to militant outfits because no public prosecutor was present.


'Judge Anand Ram was scheduled to hear a case against arrested suspects of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, while Judge Hasan Bokhari was to hear a case against an accused linked with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,' Aaj TV reported.


'We are receiving constant threats from accomplices of these terrorists and can't risk our lives anymore,' a public prosecutor were quoted as saying.


'We requested the police to provide us adequate security but it has failed to do so,' he said.


The anti-terrorism court has issued notices to the Sindh home secretary and the chief secretary to appear before it on the next date of hearing and explain why the public prosecutors - Muhammad Khan Bararo and Mubashir Mirza - who were to appear on behalf of the government, did not come to the court.


At least 19 people were killed and over 140 injured in a suicide bombing targeting a police station in Karachi Thursday night, just a day after six Lashkar-i-Jhangvi militants were arrested carrying lethal weapons and other sensitive materials.


Last month, a shrine was attacked, while two Shia processions were targets of suicide bombings earlier this year.


'We have arrested 56 high-profile terrorists during the last couple of months and are being targeted for revenge,' Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza said after Thursday's deadly attack on the police station where the arrested militants were being kept.


Taliban has claimed responsibility for all these attacks and is known to work in tandem with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi for terror strikes in urban areas.

Pakistan Struggling To Beat Back Taliban

Pakistan's fight against the Taliban isn't going according to plan , reports the New York Times, with the Swat Valley still in chaos a year after the government declared that it had rid the region of Taliban insurgents. With tens of thousands of young people still living in tents, and hundreds of schools destroyed by the Taliban yet to be rebuilt, local leaders fear the lack of government follow-through is leaving a generation of disaffected young people susceptible to the Taliban's recruitment efforts. The government is now reportedly unwilling to launch further assaults on the Taliban for fear of reprisals, and some experts say there's a real threat that insurgents could topple the Pakistani government. Former President Perez Musharraf, who himself gained power in a coup, told reporters that civil governments had "never performed" in Pakistan, and suggested that he'd be willing to take over the reins again in order to restore order. The former general dismissed suggestions that he'd originally been carried to power by Pakistan's armed forces. "I didn't have to come on the shoulders of the military," he told NPR . "I was the military."

Terror report card: Pakistan

By Ali K Chishti

Investigations and background interviews with intelligence and security officers in Pakistan conducted by Daily Times reveal that al Qaeda is looking for new partners and is shifting from “B areas” of Pakistan to “A areas”. The al Qaeda, which is largely an Arab organisation, is on a run and desperately finding new partners because of the increasing drone attacks and falling support from the Pakistanis who consider them fitna. Only a recent survey by an independent organisation in FATA confirms that two-third of FATA residents reject both al Qaeda and the TTP.

The new battleground for al Qaeda is now Pakistan’s biggest cities – Karachi and Lahore – where it has found new partners in the form of the TTP and other third generation terrorist groups like the Pakistani Jandullah, which has previously carried out attacks on the Karachi corps commander and the US Consulate there. Al Qaeda mostly acts as the financier and loan sharks, while the on-field logistics and operational aspect is out-sourced to the local jihadi and sectarian organisations, who are in desperate need of money due to tight monetary controls and greater vigilance in Pakistan.

“Al Qaeda’s new strategy is to bring in the Pakistan Army and divert them from North Waziristan. So, expect more shrine bombings and other targeted assassinations,” a top law enforcement officer confirmed to Daily Times. The TTP, which mostly provides cover to al Qaeda in North Waziristan in exchange for large finances from Arabs, Chechens, Uzbeks, is also providing training facilities to al Qaeda newbies who are recruited to carry out attacks in the West. It is to be noted that the five French nationals who were caught in Paris earlier this and conspired to attack France were also trained by the TTP and had a strong North Waziristan connection where at least one of the five bombers had been trained in suicide bombing.

On a totally separate level at a different front due to negligence of Pakistani intelligence agencies and other security officials, Punjabi Taliban – mostly belonging to the former Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and other terrorist groups, which have only recently fallen off from their leadership – have started their activities in at least 18 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Daily Times could confirm the existence of at least six terrorist camps – two in Buner, one in Thanda Pani (Abbotabad), one in Balakot and two in Chitral – while most terrorist organisations had either moved to Azad Kashmir or Waziristan and even, according to one ex-terrorist official in Buner, Muhammad Wazir Khan, “went to Afghanistan to participate in the real jihad”.

The rest of the more extremist ones are in Kunar and Nooristan provinces of Afghanistan fighting against NATO and ISAF. “They are not our problem. We only watch them and cover them,” explained intelligence official about the Kashmiri and Punjabi groups operating on the Pakistani soil. Most of them have strong links to Hibzul Mujahideen, which operates with Jamaat-e-Islami’s cover in the area.

On the other hand, Pakistani intelligence officers are busy in what they do best. Divide jihadis and, according to a senior intelligence official, “This is a time-tested mode of keeping overall control on such groups. Whenever one group is seen getting too strong or influential, the agencies try to split it and sometimes put one against the other.” There had been initial success, but in absence of a central authority to counter terrorism and of a formal mechanism to share and process intelligence reports from all intelligence agencies, nothing would happen, Daily Times had been told by most spy-masters and security experts.

While the TTP and al Qaeda are shifting their strategies, security and intelligence authorities based in both Pakistan and the US are busy analysing who were the real handlers of Faisal Shahzad in Karachi as it is quite apparent that he had the ability to make direct contact with a plethora of terrorist groups operating in the country.

A Western diplomat at the forefront of tackling the issue confirmed to Daily Times, “Our biggest worry right now is to somehow stop Pakistan from being abused as a launching pad and safe haven for sleeper-cell members to come here and go back to bomb Western targets. Another Faisal Shahzad could well end the diplomatic relations with Pakistan.”

US drone strike 'kills four militants in Pakistan'

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan — A US drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt on Saturday killed four militants, destroying their compound and a vehicle, local security officials said.

Two missiles fired by a US drone hit Ahmad Khel village, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan region, local security officials said.

"It was a US drone attack, one missile hit a house and another hit a vehicle. We have reports that four militants were killed," an intelligence official in Miranshah told AFP.

A second intelligence official in the town confirmed the attack and the death toll, while a security official in Peshawar said two drones fired four missiles, hitting a vehicle and killing three militants.

The area is considered a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked fighters and has seen a dramatic rise in US drone strikes, as intelligence claims emerged last month of a Mumbai-style terror plot to launch commando attacks on European cities.

The leadership of the Haqqani network, which is linked to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, is also based in North Waziristan.

It has been accused of plotting some of the deadliest attacks on US troops in Afghanistan including a suicide bombing that killed seven CIA operatives at a US base in Khost last December.

Officials in Miranshah and Peshawar said they are trying to find out the identities of those killed and whether there was a so-called 'high value' target among the dead.

A covert US drone campaign in Pakistan has stepped up strikes in the tribal belt,

The United States considers Pakistan's tribal belt an Al-Qaeda headquarters and the most dangerous place on Earth.

More than 220 people have been killed in over 40 strikes since September 3, heightening tensions with Islamabad over reported US criticism of Pakistan's failure so far to launch a ground offensive in North Waziristan.

The United States does not as a rule confirm drone attacks, but its military and the Central Intelligence Agency operating in Afghanistan are the only forces that deploy the pilotless aircraft in the region.

Officials in Washington say drone strikes are highly effective in the war against Al-Qaeda and its Islamist allies, killing a number of high-value targets, including the Pakistani Taliban's founding father Baitullah Mehsud.

But the policy is unpopular among the Pakistan public who see military action on Pakistani soil as a breach of national sovereignty.

It has led to reprisals from militant groups who have targeted NATO supply convoys destined for Afghanistan.

Chinese PM to visit Pakistan next month

GUANGZHOU: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will visit Pakistan next month to “deepen strategic cooperation” and establish a mechanism for formal and structured dialogue to ensure smooth and real time communication on all issues of common interest.



“We are looking forward to establishing contacts between leaderships of the two countries,” Mr Jiabao said here during a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday.

Two rounds of talks were held — first between top officials of the two countries and the second between the two leaders.

The meeting was attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad Khan, Ambassador Masood Khan, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah, Board of Investment Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla and president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

Mr Babar told reporters that the Chinese premier announced that the second instalment of commodity aid for the flood-affected people in Gilgit-Baltistan would be provided from next week.

China has donated $250 million for flood relief and reconstruction and has also provided assistance to people stranded in the upper Hunza-Attabad lake region.

President Zardari stressed the need for a currency swap agreement and making full use of the Pak-China free trade agreement for increasing bilateral trade to $15 billion. He called for Chinese investment in water and energy projects in Gilgit-Baltistan and Thar coal project in Sindh and for setting up a China-Pakistan energy corporation.

The president congratulated the Chinese premier and people on the successful opening of the 16th Asian Games. He said the Pakistan-China friendship was a symbol of peace and stability in the region.

Mr Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s full support for China on issues relating to Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang and said the bilateral strategic cooperation was vital for defending common interests and combating forces of destabilisation. He praised Chinese assistance during the devastating floods in Pakistan.

“We have entered into the post-flood reconstruction phase and are mobilising our own resources, but we also need greater international assistance,” he said.

The Chinese prime minister said: “Every visit of the president (Mr Zardari) has further deepened Pakistan-China cooperation.”

President Zardari also met Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the sidelines of the Asian Games.

The president stressed the need for early conclusion of a free trade agreement to explore true potential of trade between the two countries.

Pakistan, China vow to boost strategic ties

* Zardari, Jiabao express resolve to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in economic, defence, energy sectors

GUANGZHOU: President Asif Ali Zardari and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday vowed to further strengthen the deep-rooted and multifaceted Sino-Pak ties and strategic relationship through increased cooperation in diverse fields.

The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the 16th Asian Games being hosted by China, had a delegation-level and later a one-on-one meeting, and exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations, regional situation and matters of international importance.

Wen said he would visit Pakistan in December to “deepen strategic cooperation” and proposed the establishment of a mechanism for formal and structured dialogue at ministerial level. Zardari welcomed him and said the government and the people of Pakistan looked forward to his visit. The two leaders agreed on various issues of regional and international importance, with particular reference to peace and stability of the region. Wen noted the role Pakistan was playing in countering terrorists and said with increased cooperation, the two countries would be in a better position to counter terrorism.

Cooperation: Both the leaders also expressed their firm resolve to further strengthen ties in economic, defence and energy sectors.

President Zardari noted that two-way trade between the two countries had risen to around $7 billion, up from the $2 billion in 2002, but was still far below the trade potential of the two countries.

Briefing reporters, the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari called for a currency swap agreement with China and taking full advantage of the free trade agreement to take bilateral trade to $15 billion soon.

Zardari also stressed on the need to enhance connectivity by developing pipelines, rail links and fibre optic link.

Pakistan’s strategic interests

Debate has been raging since 1950s whether Pakistan should have joined defence pacts with the West – Seato, Cento and bilateral agreement with the US. After Soviet forces landed in Afghanistan, what they said on the invitation of Afghan government, Pakistan jumped into the fray and joined the Afghan jihad, which many believe resulted in bringing Pakistan to the present pass. The question also arises as to why Pakistan leadership buckled under pressure when America threatened to consign Pakistan into stone-age. In hindsight, one could say that all those decisions were big blunders, as Pakistan could not achieve any of its objectives vis-à-vis integrity of the country, resolution of Kashmir dispute and a sound industrial base. It is true that at the time of independence, Pakistan had meager resources, not enough to build a strong defence force. But had the then leadership and bureaucracy used their cerebral faculties, they would have succeeded in making Pakistan self-reliant. In fact, Pakistani leadership looked outside for help and depended on the West; and it was dependency syndrome that Pakistan was coerced into joining the war on terror, which resulted in enormous and death and destruction.

Pakistan is indeed a resourceful country, but corruption, ineptness and lack of visionary leadership were the causes for bringing Pakistan on the verge of collapse. Quite a few Pakistani pseudo-intellectuals, anchorpersons, journalists and media men started saying that Pakistan is a failed state. In print media, articles are published leveling the same accusations which Indian and American leadership do. For example, they continue blaming Pakistan military and its intelligence agencies for their clandestine connection with militants and banned organizations like Lashkar-i-Taiba. In TV talk shows, one often listens to ‘brilliant’ analysts, panelists and anchorpersons who remind Pakistan government that it should conduct in a manner that America, European countries and India start trusting Pakistan. Instead of identifying the causes for the degeneration and supineness that have crept in society, and suggesting measures to make Pakistan economically and militarily strong, they are on a self-destruct course. They make a mockery of the term ‘strategic depth’ used by our political and military leadership by giving a spin or misinterpreting it as if Pakistan wants to install a government of its choice in Afghanistan.

In 1960s also this term was used for Iran conveying an impression that in the event of enemy’s attack Pakistan could withdraw to the Iranian territory to prepare for counter-attack. Anyhow, Pakistan’s desire to see a friendly government in Afghanistan is logical because from King Zahir Shah to Najibullah, Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan had remained strained. Now, when Pakistan has suffered in men and treasure during Afghan jihad, and when America and India see their strategic interests in Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics sitting more than 11000 and 2000 kilometres away respectively, Pakistan has genuine concern over being surrounded by India from the East and West through its clout with Afghan government. Russia was unhappy over Pakistan’s help to Afghan resistance, and secondly for having recognized the Taliban. But Pakistan never condoned the acts of the Taliban or their ‘passion’ for exporting Islam. Russia does not like to see the Taliban coming to power or share power in Afghanistan; which is why it has offered transit route for supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan, and also training the Afghan forces. Having that said, Russia would not like to see America firmly entrenched in Afghanistan.

America should bear in mind India-Russia nexus, as during Cold War era India had never opposed Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. In a meeting in Dushanbe the other day, Russia’s Director of Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov has said: “Pakistan and Afghanistan have become ‘incubators’ of terrorism, and pose a threat to Russia and all constituents of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) of former Soviet republics”. In 2001, India joined the New Great Game being played out in the Central Asian Region (CAR), where fierce competition for the area’s vast energy resources was intensifying. Rahul Bedi, quoting military and diplomatic sources, had written in the Frontline in September 2002 that a military base was operational since May in Tajikistan in Farkhor close to the Afghan border. The Farkhor base was also being used to funnel relief assistance that India pledged to Kabul after the Taliban’s ouster. Farkhor base was set up following a bilateral agreement signed during then defence minister George Fernandes’ visit to the Tajik capital Dushanbe in April 2001. It was agreed that India will train Tajik defence personnel, service and retrofit their Soviet and Russian military equipment and teach its army and air force personnel English.

Indian army had been running a 25-bed hospital at Farkhor since 2001, even before 9/11 during the civil war in Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance military commander, Ahmad Shah Masood, who was assassinated two days before 9/11 ie on 9th September 2001 by two Arab suicide bombers posing as journalists, died in the above India-run hospital in Tajikistan. Through Tajikistan, India had also reportedly supplied the Northern Alliance (NA) high altitude warfare equipment; helicopter technicians from the clandestine Aviation Research Centre (ARC) operated by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), repaired the NA’s Soviet-made Mi-17 and Mi-35 attack helicopters. The ARC operated a fleet of spy aircraft that provide the RAW aerial reconnaissance, communications and electronics intelligence and imagery analysis. India however says that it does not have any base as per today. Since Pakistan has given tremendous sacrifice during Afghan jihad, and played host to more than three million Afghan refugees, and in the process suffered from drug and Kalashnikov culture, Pakistan is justified in desiring that it should not have a hostile government on the western border.

Viewed in the context that objective of a foreign policy for any country is to have cordial relations with all countries of the world especially the neighbouring countries, and to safeguard its national security, independence and sovereignty, Pakistan’s foreign policy has been a dismal failure since its inception. In 1950s, the Arab countries like Egypt, Syria, Libya etc., were unhappy with Pakistan because of joining the Cento and Seato pacts, and for entering into bilateral agreement with the US. The newly independent and non-aligned nations were suspicious of our role; the socialist block considered Pakistan as their enemy and the US-led western powers thought of Pakistan no more than a pawn on their international political chessboard. America has in the past ditched Pakistan after achieving its objective. And this time it would not be different.

Pakistan should, therefore, review its foreign policy, and enhance strategic relationship with China. Pakistani leadership should not have fears that building up trust with China would annoy America. And in the event of a war between the US and China, Pakistan could suffer because of India being strategic partner of America. When we say that there could be no war between India and Pakistan, as war between two nuclear states is not an option, then there is not a remote possibility of war between India and China or America and China.

Pakistan itself to decide time for offensive in NWA: US Centcom chief

General James N. Mattis, Commander United States Central Command has said that Pakistan itself has to decide the time of launching offensive in North Waziristan or any place else adding that Pakistan is well aware of US concerns over secret hideouts of Al-Qaeda,
General Mattis expressed these views while meeting with Pakistani military leadership. Defense sources told Online that the US general met with Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee Gen Khalid Shameem Wayne, Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and chiefs of intelligence agencies
During the course of these meetings matters related to cooperation between US and Pakistani intelligence agencies and army for elimination of terrorism were discussed in length. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation and intelligence sharing for fighting the threat of terrorism which is inevitable for peace and stability in the region.
Sources said that the US general left the decision of time frame for offensive in NWA up to the Pakistani military leadership and conceded that Pakistani army is in better position to know the ground realities and the geographical importance of the area.
Sources told that the military leadership reiterated their concern and opposition against the drone strikes and stressed that US should provide drone technology to Pakistan so that the Pakistani forces themselves could target the terrorists’ hideout.
During the course of the meetings impact of reconciliation process with Taliban in Afghanistan on Pakistan was also discussed and Pakistan stressed that all Afghan tribes should be included in the reconciliation process and its ownership should lie with the Afghan govt.
Stress was also made that Pakistan should be taken on board on any development in Afghanistan as it has direct impact on Pakistan. General Mattis assured that all developments in Afghanistan would be discussed with Pakistan and also admitted that without Pakistan’s cooperation the war against terror cannot be won.
He also said that US is well aware of Pakistani military needs in this war and it would enhance the capabilities of Pakistani armed forces and intelligence sharing would be enhanced so that secret terrorists hideout existing along Pak-Afghan border could be eliminated.

Russia says open to missile defence cooperation with NATO - AFP

SEOUL — Russia is open to cooperation with NATO on missile defence but the partnership must be an equal one, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.

"We proceed from the fact that if this is equal cooperation, beginning with joint analysis, joint estimates of those risks that exist in the sphere of missile proliferation then such cooperation is quite possible," Lavrov told reporters at the G20 summit in Seoul on Friday.

"Strategic partnership should be built on an equal basis."

His comments came just before a scheduled weekend meeting between US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Yokohama, and ahead of the NATO summit in Lisbon which the Kremlin chief agreed to attend.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen travelled to Moscow for talks with Medvedev earlier this month.

"The Russian president said he will be ready to formulate our additional proposals... in relation to the creation of an anti-missile pool of interested states," Lavrov said, referring to Russia, the United States and European countries.

Moscow's Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said last month his country was open to talks on NATO's planned European missile shield but wants to play an equal role in developing it.

"The most important thing for us is firstly to define what are the real threats to Europe, and secondly is to see Russia put on an equal footing as a participant," Serdyukov said in an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel.

"It is only thus can an anti-missile defence system be put in place which satisfies everyone."

Previous US plans to deploy an anti-missile system in former Soviet satellite states in eastern Europe angered the Kremlin. NATO now hopes to ease these doubts by including Moscow in the planning of a broader system.

Lavrov said a joint anti-missile shield would be possible "with the existence of goodwill, readiness to cooperate on an equal footing, with mutual respect, taking into account each others' interests".

"It will not be directed against any third countries but it will highlight that Russia and NATO have common approaches, that we have common risks."

Mystery of missile over california, USA is solved. “Mystery Missile” Was US Airways Flight 808 (Military Vehicles)

"Mystery Missile" Was US Airways Flight 808
The "Mystery Missile" from earlier this week was no missile at all but, as suspected, probably just the contrail from a US AIrways jet. This isn't a shock as their planes have also been confused for submarines.