Posts Tagged ‘terrorism’

Pakistan, UK partners in fight against terrorism: Gilani

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza GIlani. — File Photo

LONDON: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said Pakistan and the United Kingdom were partners in the fight against terrorism and extremism and his country remains committed to fight the scourge till its elimination.

Addressing a reception here at the House of Commons to meet with British Parliamentarians, on the invitation of High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan,   Gilani said the democratic government has created national ownership to the campaign against terrorism and has brought all stakeholders on board.

Gilani said the Parliament has recently reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the elimination of terrorism and was combating extremism in pursuance of Pakistan’s national interest.

“We have also repeatedly said that we would not allow our territory to be used for any kind of attacks on other countries and we expect that the soil of other countries would not be used against Pakistan,” said the premier.

He said the sacrifices made by Pakistan in its campaign against militancy, terrorism and extremism were unparalleled, and the resolve of the two countries in this regard remains unshakeable.

Gilani who is here on a five-day official visit to the United Kingdom to review the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue had an extensive interaction with the British parliamentarians and shared experiences of the nascent democracy in Pakistan and the challenges it faced.

He was accompanied by Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik, Minister for Political Affairs Maula Bakhsh Chandio and Minister of State for Housing Raza Hayat Hiraj, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector Shahnaz Wazir Ali and Chairman Board of Investment Saleem H Mandviwala.

Prime Minister Gilani said the British Parliament is known as the mother of democracy. He said the Forum of Commonwealth has been proudly espousing the cause of democracy and the human rights among the member countries.

Pakistan became the member of the Commonwealth in 1947 soon after it became independent, but it was suspended during the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq during eighty’s, and was restored when Benazir Bhutto became prime minister after the elections in the country.

He said the membership of Pakistan again suspended during General Musharraf’s military rule and restored after the incumbent government led by me came to power as a result of elections in 2008.

Gilani said the Commonwealth indeed represents the aspirations of the people as it has gained glory as a powerful symbol of people’s empowerment and rejects the military rule in its totality.

“I am happy to state that there is not a single political prisoner in Pakistan today. Media is completely free and the civil society is robust and human rights organisations’ assertions are making qualitative difference as far as the human rights are concerned. Judiciary is free by any stretch of imagination,” Gilani added.

He said at the last Summit of Commonwealth in Perth, Australia, the Forum was unanimous in supporting the democratic governments of member states and pledged to foil the designs of those who intend to usurp the rights of the people.

Prime Minister Gilani who is visiting the UK at the invitation of Prime Minister David Cameron, said the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue (ESD), initiated last year provides a framework for a regular and comprehensive review of excellent cooperation between the two countries.

“We are appreciative of the UK support for EU trade concessions for Pakistan and we hope that the United Kingdom would continue supporting Pakistan’s request for GSP Plus,” said the prime minister.

Prime Minister Gilani while interacting with the British Parliamentarians at the historic premises termed it “an emblem of parliamentary democracy” and “repository of rich heritage and traditions.”

He said the ESD covers a wide spectrum of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

“I am satisfied that we have made good progress under the ESD framework, and I look forward to holding detailed and wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Cameron and other members of his cabinet to further intensify this cooperation,” the premier concluded.

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Via DAWN.com

Zardari stresses on importance of EU ties

President Asif Ali Zardari. — File Photo by Reuters

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pak-EU 5-year Engagement Plan and the upcoming Strategic Dialogue were the important landmarks in Pakistan-European Union partnership which he said was moving steadily forward along an upward trajectory since 2008.

Addressing a gathering of EU diplomats, ministers, parliamentarians to commemorate 50th anniversary of Pak-EU relations being held at the Presidency on Wednesday, the president said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its excellent relations with the European Union which were based on shared democratic values, principles of mutual respect, trust and cooperation.

He said that the 50 years long association reflects the commitment the two sides have made to strengthen the mutual relations and cooperative partnership.

The president said that European Union was a key partner in peace and development of Pakistan.

He said that it was an important ally in the campaign against terrorism, the biggest trading partner, and a major source of direct investment. The EU, the president said, has supported democracy and helped Pakistan in difficult times. “We greatly value and thank the European Union and its member states for their support and assistance to Pakistan,” he added.

The president, on this occasion, also appreciated the contributions made by EU Ambassador in Pakistan, Lars-Gunner Wigemark and Pakistan Ambassador in Brussels, the current Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani for their efforts to further strengthen the equation.

The president said that Pakistan was working with the EU to build a mutually beneficial strategic partnership.

He said that during the last 50 years the EU has passed through momentous changes and has emerged bigger and stronger. Despite economic difficulties, it has stayed the course and emerged as an important global player, the president continued.

He said that Pakistan too has faced many challenges and braved many storms in the course of its history. We are passing through a crucial phase now, he said. The President said that Pakistan was again on the front line in the campaign against terrorism. This struggle, he said, was exacting massive human and economic costs.

The president said that besides the great toll of the ongoing war against terrorism, the economic difficulties have been further compounded by back-to-back natural calamities, rising international oil prices, the energy shortage and the climate changes. But, he continued, positive developments were also taking place simultaneously.

The president also said that significant progress has been made on trade and economic cooperation with India.

President Zardari said that Pakistan believes that a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan was in Pakistan’s best interest; therefore we are ready to facilitate political reconciliation in Afghanistan.

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Via DAWN.com

US bill prohibits aid to Pak till it cooperates on terror war

A US Congressional committee in its budgetary proposals for the year 2013 has prohibited economic and security assistance to Pakistan till it co-operates with the US in the fight against terrorism and takes action against groups like Haqqani network, Taliban, al-Qaida, LeT and JeM.
“The legislation prohibits economic and security assistance unless the government of Pakistan is cooperating with …

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Hillary’s ‘do more’ litany on Indian yatra

NEW DELHI – Standing next to India’s foreign minister, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed neighbouring Pakistan on Tuesday to do more to stamp out homegrown terrorism, in comments likely to please the Indian government but annoy Pakistani leaders.
Clinton was speaking a day after accusing Islamabad of foot-dragging in the case of Hafiz Saeed, who is blamed for masterminding the …

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Interpol issues arrest notice for fugitive Iraq VP

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Tareq al-Hashemi speaks at a news conference in Baghdad, in this file picture taken February 28, 2011. Global police body Interpol called on May 8, 2012 for help in arresting fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi on suspicion of planning and funding attacks in Iraq. -Reuters Photo

BAGHDAD: Interpol on Tuesday put Iraq’s fugitive Sunni vice president on the equivalent of its most-wanted list at the behest of the Shia-dominated government in Baghdad.

Tariq al-Hashemi, who is currently in Turkey, is being tried in absentia in Baghdad on charges of terrorism as well as guiding and financing death squads that targeted government officials, security forces and Shia pilgrims.

The Iraqi government links him to about 150 bombings, assassinations and other attacks, and says the death squads were largely composed of the vice president’s bodyguards and other employees.

The trial was postponed last week after lawyers for al-Hashemi, who has denied the charges, appealed to have parliament create a special court to hear the case. The Sunni vice president has vowed not to return to face what he calls politically motivated charges.

Interpol said on its website that it has issued a so-called ”red notice” for al-Hashemi, responding to a request from Baghdad. A red notice by Interpol seeks the arrest of a wanted person with a view to eventual extradition. The subjects of red notices are considered to be on the organization’s most-wanted list.

Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said the red notice for al-Hashemi ”will significantly restrict his ability to travel and cross international borders.”

”It is a powerful tool that will help authorities around the world locate and arrest him,” Interpol’s website quoted Noble as saying.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters during a visit to Italy that al-Hashemi would likely return to Iraq after finishing medical treatment.

”Mr. al-Hashemi is in our country due to his health problems and to hold talks regarding latest developments,” Erdogan said. ”I believe, he will return his country following his treatment.”

Many member countries consider a red notice to be a valid request for the arrest of a suspect, but Interpol cannot demand individual nations make an arrest. Turkey, which has provided sanctuary to al-Hashemi and is on tense terms with his opponents in the Iraqi government, has not formally responded so far to the Interpol notice.

Al-Hashemi, who has been in Turkey since mid-April, is staying under the protection of Turkish security agents at a luxury apartment in Istanbul, Turkey’s NTV television said. A policeman with a machine gun guards the entrance of his apartment building, and several police cars were parked outside on Tuesday, according to NTV.

In an interview last week in Istanbul, al-Hashemi told The Associated Press that his trial was part of a political vendetta that has wider repercussions for Iraqi unity and sectarian tensions across the Middle East.

He also alleged that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia, may have engineered the proceedings to snuff out domestic opposition in case he is threatened by a revolt in Iraq similar to that in neighboring Syria.

Al-Hashemi’s representatives maintain he left Iraq for diplomatic meetings with regional leaders, not to escape arrest.

Al-Maliki’s media adviser, Ali al-Moussawi, on Tuesday called on al-Hashemi to return to Iraq and face trial.

”After the issuing of this red notice, I think that the best choice for al-Hashemi now is to return to Iraq and stand a fair trial,” al-Moussawi told the AP.

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Via DAWN.com

US envoy to Pakistan to depart this summer

WASHINGTON: The US ambassador to Islamabad, Cameron Munter, plans to step down this summer, and the Obama administration, hoping to improve dismal ties with Pakistan at a crucial time for its war in neighboring Afghanistan, is considering a senior official at its Kabul embassy to replace him.

The White House is focusing on Richard Olson, who has orchestrated US development and economic activities in Afghanistan since June 2011, to succeed Munter when he departs in coming months, sources familiar with the discussions said. Olson would have to be formally proposed by the White House and confirmed by the Senate. The White House declined to comment on a personnel matter.

Munter, who was sworn in as ambassador to Pakistan in October 2010, has served during a period of unprecedented turbulence and suspicion between the two countries, whose uneasy alliance since the September 11, 2001 attacks has centered around the fight against Islamist militants operating from Pakistan.

The series of bilateral crises in the past 18 months has included Pakistan’s arrest of a CIA contractor in early 2011; the top-secret US raid that killed Osama bin Laden just 50 km (30 miles) from Islamabad a few months later; and Pakistanis’ outcry over ongoing US drone strikes in western tribal areas.

The event that plunged those ties into deep freeze was the US air assault in November 2011 that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. For months afterwards, Pakistan refused visits by senior US officials; only in the last few weeks have visits resumed.

Munter’s tenure has also coincided in a shift in US policy toward Pakistan, as hopes in the early days of the Obama administration for a more robust US-Pakistan engagement, including high-level visits and massive civil and military aid, have slowly been overtaken by mutual mistrust and frustration.

Today, many officials in Washington appear to have resigned themselves to what they call a “transactional” relationship, limited largely to a degree of cooperation on counter-terrorism and some US military and civilian assistance.

The expected nomination of Olson, who served as US ambassador to the United Arab Emirates until 2011, does not appear to represent a change to US policy toward Pakistan, but it could enable a fresh start after a dark period.

“When two governments understand one another as poorly as those in Washington and Islamabad do, the interpretive abilities of a good ambassador become paramount,” said Ronald Neumann, a former US ambassador to Afghanistan, Bahrain and Algeria, and the current president of the American Academy of Diplomacy

Typical posting of two years in ‘hardship posts’   

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Munter informed his staff on Monday that he had decided not to extend his tenure in Islamabad for a third year.

“Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, but given the grueling pace and difficult working conditions, the expectation for hardship posts like Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan is that ambassadors would usually serve for two years,” another US official said. “Some have served longer terms; some have served shorter terms.”

A productive relationship with Pakistan over the next two years will be crucial if the Obama administration is to withdraw most of its troops from neighboring Afghanistan as planned without letting the country slide into civil war.

In a speech last fall, Olson warned of the perils the United States would face if it walked away from central and South Asia when the West’s war in Afghanistan winds down.

After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, “the United States rapidly disengaged from Afghanistan and Pakistan in a series of decisions for which we would ultimately pay a significant price,” Olson said.

A central theme – and stumbling block – in US-Pakistan ties has been US belief that Pakistan has failed to act against militants attacking U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Some US officials have openly accused Pakistan of direct support for certain militants allied with the Taliban. The switch also comes at a sensitive moment in Pakistan, after the head of its weak civilian government was convicted of contempt of court and its parliament demanded an end to drone strikes and a US apology for the soldiers’ deaths.

Munter was an ally of Richard Holbrooke, Obama’s larger-than-life envoy to the region before he died in 2010. Munter came to Islamabad from Baghdad and also served as US ambassador to Belgrade.

US envoy to Pakistan to depart this summer

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US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter. — File Photo by Reuters

WASHINGTON: The US ambassador to Islamabad, Cameron Munter, plans to step down this summer, and the Obama administration, hoping to improve dismal ties with Pakistan at a crucial time for its war in neighboring Afghanistan, is considering a senior official at its Kabul embassy to replace him.

The White House is focusing on Richard Olson, who has orchestrated US development and economic activities in Afghanistan since June 2011, to succeed Munter when he departs in coming months, sources familiar with the discussions said.

Olson would have to be formally proposed by the White House and confirmed by the Senate. The White House declined to comment on a personnel matter.

Munter, who was sworn in as ambassador to Pakistan in October 2010, has served during a period of unprecedented turbulence and suspicion between the two countries, whose uneasy alliance since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks has centered around the fight against militants operating from Pakistan.

The series of bilateral crises in the past 18 months has included Pakistan’s arrest of a CIA contractor in early 2011; the top-secret US raid that killed Osama bin Laden just 50 km (30 miles) from Islamabad a few months later; and Pakistanis’ outcry over ongoing US drone strikes in western tribal areas.

The event that plunged those ties into deep freeze was the US air assault in November 2011 that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan.

For months afterwards, Pakistan refused visits by senior US officials; only in the last few weeks have visits resumed.

Munter’s tenure has also coincided in a shift in US policy toward Pakistan, as hopes in the early days of the Obama administration for a more robust US-Pakistan engagement, including high-level visits and massive civil and military aid, have slowly been overtaken by mutual mistrust and frustration.

Today, many officials in Washington appear to have resigned themselves to what they call a “transactional” relationship, limited largely to a degree of cooperation on counter-terrorism and some US military and civilian assistance.

The expected nomination of Olson, who served as US ambassador to the United Arab Emirates until 2011, does not appear to represent a change to US policy toward Pakistan, but it could enable a fresh start after a dark period.

“When two governments understand one another as poorly as those in Washington and Islamabad do the interpretive abilities of a good ambassador become paramount,” said Ronald Neumann, a former US ambassador to Afghanistan, Bahrain and Algeria, and the current president of the American Academy of Diplomacy.

Typical Posting Two Years

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Munter informed his staff on Monday that he had decided not to extend his tenure in Islamabad for a third year.

“Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, but given the grueling pace and difficult working conditions, the expectation for hardship posts like Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan is that ambassadors would usually serve for two years,” another US official said.

“Some have served longer terms; some have served shorter terms.”

A productive relationship with Pakistan over the next two years will be crucial if the Obama administration is to withdraw most of its troops from neighboring Afghanistan as planned without letting the country slide into civil war.

In a speech last fall, Olson warned of the perils the United States would face if it walked away from central and South Asia when the West’s war in Afghanistan winds down.

After the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, “the United States rapidly disengaged from Afghanistan and Pakistan in a series of decisions for which we would ultimately pay a significant price,” Olson said.

A central theme – and stumbling block – in US-Pakistan ties has been US belief that Pakistan has failed to act against militants attacking US troops in Afghanistan.

Some US officials have openly accused Pakistan of direct support for certain militants allied with the Taliban.

The switch also comes at a sensitive moment in Pakistan, after the head of its weak civilian government was convicted of contempt of court and its parliament demanded an end to drone strikes and a US apology for the soldiers’ deaths.

Munter was an ally of Richard Holbrooke, Obama’s larger-than-life envoy to the region before he died in 2010.

Munter came to Islamabad from Baghdad and also served as US ambassador to Belgrade.

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Via DAWN.com

Kidnapping charges framed against Sufi

PESHAWAR – An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday framed charges against the chief of banned Tanzim-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM), Maulana Sufi Muhammad, and his 20 activists in a case of kidnapping of policemen and challenging the writ of state.The case had been registered with Khawazakhela Police Station (in Swat) against the militant cleric and his followers in 1995 claiming, which …

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Time to serve national interests, stresses Iftikhar

PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Minister for Information and Culture, Mian Iftikahr Hussain has said restoration of a lasting peace in the terrorism-hit belt of Pakhtuns is the top priority of his government.
He said any force or country that extended support in this respect would be welcomed. The problems that loom large in the form of terrorism would preferably be resolved through …

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America seeks cooperative ties with Pakistan

WASHINGTON – While continuing to rain down deadly missiles from drones on suspected militant targets inside the Pakistani territory, the United States still says it wants to ‘engage’ Pakistan on the issue of counterterrorism in a cooperative spirit.
“(W)hen it comes to counterterrorism, we’re certainly going to listen to their (Pakistan’s) views and share our own in …

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Writers, artists vow to uphold dignity of people

LAHORE, May 5: Writers and artists of the country have always upheld the dignity of people, struggled for their rights and would keep on doing so.

It was the crux of writers and artists convention held at Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Tipu Block, New Garden Town, on Saturday. The event was organised by the HRCP.

In his opening remarks, HRCP Secretary I A Rehman said it was the first such convention organised by the Commission, adding such events should also be held in Karachi, Quetta and Islamabad.

He said the convention was held to assess the state of rights of literary figures and the freedom of expression they were being given. He said no issue could be properly addressed without having a discourse on it.

Veteran writer Intazar Hussain, in his keynote address of the first session titled ‘21st Century and Writers’, threw light on the role of writers in the 20th century and in present situation.

He said since 1947 Pakistani literature passed through a number of phases that gave birth to many movements. But, he said, literature for its growth did not rely on movements.

“Movements come and go but literature stays there,” he said. Dr Saadat Saeed, criticising the US, said it wanted to turn the world into a global village. He said the western theories being taught in local universities were designed to ‘poison the students’ minds’. Mr Saeed said writers and intellectuals should wage a war against capitalism.

Dr Qazi Asad from Multan said though it was not good to ape western literature, to discard good literature being produced in the West was also not wise. He said the writers had never been happy with their times and they kept writing against negative attitudes prevalent in society.

Dr Ravish Nadeem from Islamabad regretted that distorted version of history was being taught to the students at school level.

He said one could not help compare Pakistan in 21st century with the developed countries, adding the societies which were far ahead struggled for centuries to become civilised.

“Consciously or unconsciously we do follow the West because they (western nations) are models for us whether we accept it or not”, he added.

Veteran writer Masood Ashar, defending the Third World literature being written in English, said sensitive issues were also being highlighted through such writings.

He emphasised the need for introducing changes in syllabus, especially with regard to history. He regretted that students were being taught wrong history.

Poet and a former director general of Pakistan National Council of Arts, Kishwar Naheed, said Pakistani writers did not write on the issues of the society where they lived because western ideologies seemed more attractive to them.

Senior Lawyer and left-leaning politician Abid Hassan Manto in his keynote address for the second session titled, ‘The Role of Writers and Artists in the Struggle for Human Rights’ threw light on different phases of the history of human rights and efforts made by Progressive Writers Association in this regard.

Mr Manto regretted that ideological borders of Pakistan were being defended by fundamentalists. He said the country was under the hammer of capitalistic system. “What to talk of national independence, there was not even individual independence in this country,” he added.

Writer Rashid Misbah gave a sweeping statement saying 95 per cent of Pakistani writers were ‘hypocrites’ and they did not write truth.

Prof Razi Abidi said access to education was extremely important as educational rights should be given to everybody. He said women must get education to become economically independent.

Dr Arifa Syeda also pointed towards the wrong history being taught to students at the school level.

The third session, ‘Culture and Challenges of the Age’ was about performing and fine arts. It began with some melodious singing by Sara Zaman.

Dr Anwar Ahmed, in his address, threw light on the political and cultural situation of the country and how culture and cultural values were being treated by the authorities.

Prof Lala Rukh from Women Action Forum, through a slide show of photographs based on the journey of WAF, specially focusing Zia regime, refreshed memories of all those who were part of the struggle against dictatorship.

Prof Nazish Attaullah showed artworks by different artists created during the last 10 years with a special focus on Zia regime.

Writer Shahid Mehmood Nadeem threw light on the 28-year long journey of Ajoka Theatre and told the audience that it kept producing plays unflinchingly on social and political
issues of prime importance.

Screening of clips of some of the Ajoka plays was also part of Nadeem’s address. Writer Aqeel Ruby threw light on culture and cultural values. Shirin Pasha from NCA Film and Television Department briefly discussed the film history in Pakistan.

Architect Nayyer Ali Dada said culture could not be seen as an aspect of life as it was life itself. He said civility led to culture and then came poetry, art and literature. He said along with menace of intolerance, giant of terrorism was also staring us in the face.

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Via DAWN.com

BB murder, Mumbai attack, other cases adjourned

RAWALPINDI – Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Number 1 postponed the hearing in former premier Benazir Bhutto murder and Mumbai attack cases till May 19, 2012 due to absence of defence lawyers and prosecution.
ATC No 1 Judge Shahid Raffique, who took up case at Adyala Jail, deferred the proceeding in the cases as the defence lawyers and the special public prosecutors did not present before the court …

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Bhatti murder accused freed

RAWALPINDI – Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Rana Masood Akhter Saturday discharged a person from the charges of murdering former federal minister for minority affairs Shahbaz Bhatti after getting clean chit from police.
Police officials sought discharge of a person Zia-ur-Rehman, from the case on contention that Zia was arrested in connection with Shehbaz Bhatti murder case but no evidence was …

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K-P Assembly: Opposition takes govt to task over Bannu jailbreak

The assembly session began after two call-attention notices, one from the opposition and the other from the treasury benches. Opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani from Bannu stood up on a point of order and steered the discussion towards the Bannu jailbreak.

The attack on the Bannu Central Prison in April led to the escape of 384 prisoners. Dubbing the incident “unique”, Durrani said that the jailbreak led to a confusing situation. “This incident has tarnished the institution’s reputation,” he said. “It was utterly shameful that 45 vehicles travelled from a remote area to a district and went scot-free after proceeding with their plans and the administration did not know about it.”

Durrani said that some people believe that the government was complicit in the jailbreak. The opposition leader also said that the police were arresting family members of escaped prisoners, while the families were questioning the government about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones.

Durrani blasted the district coordination officer (DCO) of Bannu and took the K-P government to task for not taking any action against the DCO in the aftermath of the jailbreak. “You suspend the commissioner, DIG and other officials but there was no action against the DCO, who carries most of the responsibility,” he said.

He went on to say that the DCO is also a political agent of the Frontier Region (FR) and those who attacked the jail had twice entered his jurisdiction; yet he was still made acting commissioner.

“Why was he on leave when this incident took place?,” he asked, adding that there were rumours that the DCO had prior knowledge of the plan.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain asked the opposition for cooperation, saying that the province was facing a difficult situation resulting from three decades of war in the region. Hussain said that it was strange that militants managed to get away with the prisoners. “We are investigating what happened, what the police and administration did, why jail authorities did not attempt a counter-attack,” he said. Hussain added that militants used explosives to blow up the jail gates and the concerned security officials could not claim they didn’t know about it when explosions could clearly be heard.

He termed the jailbreak incident “conspiracy terrorism”, and assured the house that a report will be complete soon and would be presented to the house. He said that they will also take the report of the opposition leader and will not spare the DCO if he was found guilty, adding that other officials were suspended so that they could not affect the investigation.

Hussain also called for bringing back Frontier Constabulary platoons from other parts of the country saying they were raised to protect the borders between settled and tribal areas.

The assembly session was adjourned till Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2012.

US intelligence, military at odds on Afghanistan: congressman

Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. — Photo by AP

WASHINGTON: US military and intelligence officials are at odds about how the 11-year war in Afghanistan is faring as President Barack Obama presses ahead with a gradual withdrawal of US troops out of the country, a leading Republican lawmaker said Friday.

The US military is more optimistic about the state of the battle against Taliban insurgents than are intelligence officials on the ground in Afghanistan, said House intelligence committee Chairman Mike Rogers, who returned this week from a visit to the country.

“My biggest take away from the trip was the huge difference between what the military says…they believe the state of affairs is or our intelligence community believes the state of affairs is,” said Rogers, referring to officials he met during his visit to Afghanistan.

His comments came days after Obama made a surprise trip to Afghanistan to sign a strategic pact with Kabul and deliver an election-year message to Americans on the anniversary of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s death.

The partnership pact sets out a long-term role for the United States in Afghanistan beyond 2014, when most Nato combat troops are scheduled to leave. The war started in the month after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

But Rogers said Afghanistan’s fate after 2014 is far from clear.

“There is still a lot of uncertainty. There is no certain plan yet about what it looks like when the drawdown happens,” he said.

“Nobody knows…the military didn’t know, the intelligence folks didn’t know, nobody had a good feeling about what happens next,” he added.

Other US and counterterrorism officials have said that counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan have recently showed success in pacifying swaths of territory where American and allied troops maintain a significant presence.

But even optimistic officials fear that any stability that currently exists in those areas could well deteriorate rapidly after US and allied troops permanently withdraw.

The US military sees the current situation as one in which the Taliban lose every battle fought against US forces.

“The Taliban have never won an engagement against the United States military, never, not one, zero,” Rogers said. “The military’s perspective is ‘Hey, they have never won a fight with us yet.’ True they have not.”

Taliban: Stronger today

But intelligence officials see the Taliban adjusting to avoid casualties and having strong recruiting, so they believe “the Taliban are stronger today than they were even a couple of years ago,” Rogers said.

“The Taliban have a clear political aim: to run the country. They want back,” Rogers said.

Counterterrorism officials say that the prospects for a stable, credible, and non-corrupt civilian government in Afghanistan remain poor for the long-term, and there is little optimism about what might happen after scheduled large-scale US withdrawals.

For military planners, the key question is whether Afghan security forces are up to the task of fighting the Taliban and providing sufficient security after Nato troops leave.

Rogers said Afghan special forces “are good” but it will be different without Nato support.

“The concern is when we don’t have this big footprint to help them be successful can they do it on their own? The consensus I got when I walked out of there was probably not,” he said.

With the US troop drawdown coming, “what worries everybody is this notion that it’s just going to be a special forces fight. That’s not sustainable,” Rogers said.

“That’s like going to Brooklyn saying we’re taking all the cops off the street but we’re going to have the best SWAT team in there. That’s probably not going to work. That SWAT team will be awful damn busy,” he said.

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Via DAWN.com

Clinton to leave China for Bangladesh cauldron

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US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton talks during a press conference after the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing.—AP Photo

DHAKA: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves a diplomatic crisis in China for a difficult mission in Bangladesh on Saturday where violence and a crackdown on the opposition threaten new instability.

Clinton, set to sign a new partnership agreement, is the first US secretary of state to visit Bangladesh since Colin Powell in 2003 amid chronic political infighting in the world’s third largest Muslim-majority country.

The last few weeks have seen rallies and strikes over the disappearance of regional opposition figure Ilias Ali in mid-April, who supporters say was abducted by security forces. Four people have died in the unrest.

Following a rally in the capital last weekend and a series of explosions at a government building complex, police have since charged and arrested a number of senior figures from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

A US official said that Clinton would meet Saturday with both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP leader Khaleda Zia, who have dominated Bangladesh’s politics for decades and whose mutual dislike is as intense as it is personal.

The official said Clinton would promote democracy and good governance but look to broader interests with Bangladesh, a US partner in counter-terrorism efforts and the world’s largest contributor to UN peacekeeping.

“Secretary Clinton’s trip is an opportunity to take the bilateral relationship to a new level with this moderate, tolerant, democratic, Muslim-majority nation that offers a viable alternative to violent extremism,” the State Department official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Bangladesh is “a voice for regional stability in a troubled region,” the official said.

Analyst Manzur Hasan, a professor of Brac University in Dhaka, believes Clinton will press Hasina over governance problems in the notoriously corrupt and politically unstable country.

“She is arriving at an awkward moment in a situation of political turmoil when the country is facing some serious issues and difficulties because of the return of the confrontational politics and street protests,” he told AFP.

Recent problems for Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s only Nobel peace prize winner and a personal friend of Clinton and her husband Bill, will be another thorny issue for the secretary of state to address in her meetings.

Yunus was forced out of his ground-breaking micro-credit bank last year and has since claimed he is the victim of a vendetta that will result in the government seizing his empire of social businesses aimed at alleviating poverty. Clinton will meet Yunus on Sunday, the US official said.

In Dhaka, the government has talked up Clinton’s visit as an event that will take ties to “a new height”.

“It will be a new beginning of bilateral relations between the two countries,” Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said on Thursday.

“Her visit is extremely important for Bangladesh.” Moni told reporters Dhaka would press for lower tariffs on its exports to the US, its largest market, and the two nations were in the final stage of signing an agreement to boost economic ties.

Gowher Rizvi, international affairs adviser to the Bangladeshi prime minister, told AFP the partnership dialogue would be “similar to the ones the US have with India and China”.

Clinton’s trip to China has been overshadowed by a row over blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng who fled to the US embassy last week.

US officials said Friday that Beijing had agreed to let Chen leave for the United States, after a controversial initial deal under which the activist left US protection with promises for his safety inside China.

Clinton is due to leave Dhaka on Sunday for the eastern Indian city of Kolkata and then proceed to New Delhi for talks on expanding an alliance that has grown in its importance but is widely seen as having failed to blossom.

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Via DAWN.com

Ban proposes UN coordinator against terrorism

NATIONS – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday proposed appointing a UN Counter-Terrorism Coordinator to promote better coordination, collaboration and cooperation among all players to defeat terrorism.“By working together – from strengthening law enforcement to tackling the underlying drivers of extremism – we can greatly reduce this major threat to peace and security,” …

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