Pakistan Need to Decide between, it’s Sovereignty or the Sanctuaries
By A Khokar • Aug 5th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • (4,221 views) • 13 CommentsOn the Pakistan/Afghanistan Border - A Tinderbox…is open. No one seems to be getting along at the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Taliban attacks NATO troops over the border but also fellow residents of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) inside Pakistan. Hovering of US drones in FATA is a common scene; even Pak government is turning a blind eye to it. Missile keep on hitting inside Pakistan; latest has been a missile hitting a religious school inside Pakistan in the South Waziristan town of Azam Warsak after informants said buildings near the school were being used by militants. There are no reactions at Pak Government level’ except the media fingers point toward the United States, which has allegedly carried out a series of strikes recently along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Any how the tensions on borders are very much heightening. The principle stake holders - Pakistani Islamists (the extremists and first class abettors), the Pakistan Army, the Pakistani government, US/NATO forces, Tribal Leaders and the Taliban; all are bent to stretch it too far and looks like that all are playing to the tunes of US/NATO Forces to see Pakistan plunge into jeopardy and are pushing it to the point of no return. With the back ground that US-NATO-led war in Afghanistan has been faltering for several months now, partly due to the fact that Afghanistan is but one of several battlefields in the region. Not only are the coalition forces (including a poorly-trained Afghan army) having trouble quelling restive Afghan provinces full of Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgents, but insurgents are also active across the border in Pakistan, a zone officially off limits to NATO forces called as safe havens of extremist and sanctuaries for terrorists.
The US and NATO have pressured Pakistan to shore up security along its frontier but Pakistan for a variety of reasons, (not the least of which is that allegedly some on Pakistan side are sympathetic to the Taliban) has resisted. Attacks on NATO and Afghan forces all along the southern border of Afghanistan are increasing and it is becoming more and more difficult to confront the Taliban, which uses a continually repeating tactic of “attack, vanquish and vanish” to destabilize areas and avoid contact with NATO troops. On Pakistan side the extremist elements are pitched against Pakistan security forces. They are virtually in control of every thing the territories and are showing a positive up beat to challenge the writ of Pak government. Here are some other facts to be kept in mind;
- Afghanistan is now speaking forcefully against Pakistan following attacks likely emanating from Afghanistan.
- Pakistan’s rival to the southeast, India, has alleged that Pakistani security forces were involved with militias behind the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
- Pakistan’s ruling coalition is made up of the late Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) which ousted President Musharraf’s Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q). The new government was elected on two key platforms: 1) To negotiate with Tribal leaders including the Taliban to quell attacks within Pakistan proper; and 2) to negotiate a ceasing of American interference in Pakistani affairs. It has failed in both of these tasks.
- Former agreements that would allow the withdrawal of Pakistani security forces and the imposition of Sharia Law have faltered to the point where Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan issued an ultimatum to the Pakistani government to leave the area or suffer the consequences. Even tranquil areas outside Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and in Baluchistan have seen a fair amount of action. Prominent arrests of Taliban leaders have been reported, though some analysts suggest these are not results of Taliban weaknesses so to speak, but a tactic to eliminate rival factions within the Taliban itself? Others believe that Pakistani security forces have worked a deal with the same Taliban leaders to make token arrests to counter American pressure for tougher action in border areas.
- Tribal leaders however have said that the NWFP particularly risks breaking off from Pakistan if there are attacks from US and/or Pakistani security forces that kill or injure civilians. American presence in the area is far less palatable to local tribes than a fundamentalist Taliban.
- There are more and more reports of foreign Islamists amassing on the border, arriving via Pakistan to fight the war in Afghanistan. There have even been reports that al-Qaeda has made the strategic decision to focus its resources more on Afghanistan and away from Iraq.
- Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani visited the White House Monday to meet with US President George Bush, who pressured him to beef up security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and/or allow covert US military incursions to pursue Taliban leaders, foreign jihadis and militias seeking refuge from the military campaigns in Afghanistan. Seemingly the Prime Minister has agreed to all the dictations from White House on a paltry price of some 15 Billion Dollars as economic aid for next ten years.
The likelihood of further attacks inside Pakistan is very high. So, what will happen? Will the US carry out cross-border incursions from Afghanistan into Pakistan? How will the Pakistani government react? Will it oppose the US or turn a blind eye to US attacks? How will Islamist groups such as the Pakistani Taliban respond to US intervention? How many thousand more Pakistani will be slaughtered in the name of restoration of peace for next ten year? Will the geography of this country be same after ten years?
We have been cursing our dictators that they took away our national pride, honour and dignity from us; we find nationalism eroded beyond repair; but to what avail is our well cherished, well publicised and ‘revered democracy and its able leaders’ that rather than restoring the honour of nation, they have opted for yet another sell out of nation?
[*Ab kahaan jaoun keh Ghar main bhi houn dushman apna; aur bahir mera Dushman hey negeh-bani ko. (Ubaidullah Aleem)](Ref: GPB)
Last 5 posts by A Khokar
- No Cowing in Fear - October 15th, 2008
- The Enemy With In - October 11th, 2008
- Sharing Top Secrets of Pakistan in Camera - October 8th, 2008
- BY The Way: Americans; they Own this Planet? - October 3rd, 2008
- The Third US Battle Ground: PAKISTAN - September 28th, 2008
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August 5th, 2008
The recent Predator attack has killed abu Khababb al masiri , third ranked weapon expert in alqueada heirarchy along with 3 more egyptians and the rumour even says the name of al Zawahairi. You cannot deny their existence.
Pakistanies as a nation has to think whether predator attacks by US on foreigners in Pakistani soil who kill americans in Afghanistan is OK or the promise made by Musharaff to USA when he betrayed Taliban that he will not back them is kept or face eleimination of pak nukes.
The dilemma is real for PAKISTAN and its people.
August 5th, 2008
Our well cherished elected rulers have been tied up tight by the dictator and their expedient approach.
August 5th, 2008
Johann,
This is worst kind of sell out of a nation that one could ever imagine; what a dilemma; what a plight of a nation? The oppressor grips you in his clutches to push his agenda… forward. He calls our beleaguered leaders at Washington and they come back agreeing to kill our own kith and kin for a …price. Musharraf got some 10 Billions for the job and our new stooges have agreed to some 15 Billions. Just to kill own people and show to the oppressors that how good, their dollars are at work and the terrorist ‘working against the humanity’ are being eliminated.
But the worst play in this episode is that this tribal lot, being at receiving end; on one hand declare themselves the men of wisdom but fall prey to the enemy’s web of deceit; they are also fallen in same trap. This tribal lot carry a flag of Muhammad but are the worst of hypocrites. They under hand accept the monies and weapons to fight back, from the same oppressor and his agents to keep the decoy flag of terrorism high. How the glitter of dollars dazzling their eyes is making the life of entire nation hell bound; they simply can’t see.
[Tou jhukaa jab Ghair key aagay; na tan tera; na mun]
August 5th, 2008
If we only know that what may be the order of the day
The ideal people that Allah looks for among the mankind are, those who believe in Allah and obey His Prophet Muhammad (saw) because ‘they are the chosen and best people raised for the good of mankind; they only enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in Allah’[1]. ‘They slackened not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah nor did they weaken, nor did they humiliate themselves before the enemy because Allah loves the steadfast’ [2].
The best of the all the traits that Allah sees in believers in the line of brotherhood is that that they ‘will be kind and humble among themselves, and hard and firm against the disbelievers. They will strive in the cause of Allah and will not fear the reproach of any fault-finder. This should be noted that it is Allah’s grace; He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases and Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.’ [3].
Allah admonishes the believers and says; “And make ready for them who fight you whatever you can of armed force and of mounted pickets at the frontier, whereby you may frighten the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you know not, but Allah knows them. And whatever you spend in the way of Allah, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged”.[4]
Remember my dear country men. Allah clearly says; “O ye who believe! Whoso among you turns back from his Religion, then let him know that Allah will soon bring in his stead a people whom He will love and who will love Him and who will be kind and humble to the believers, and hard and firm against the disbelievers. They will strive in the cause of Allah and will not fear the reproach of a fault-finder. That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases and Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.[5]
References:
[1] Al-Imran 3:110
[2] Al-Imran 3: 66
[3] Al- Maidah 5:56
[4] Al-Anfal 8:60
[5] Al-Maidah 5:56
August 6th, 2008
Khokar here in Pakistan ,problem is from grass root to the peak of presidency and similar counterparts in bureaucracy ,people in possession of power deny their own existence as most powerful sole in terms of implementation and rectification of issues and authoritative call to halt as reckonings.
The fact which if closely observed as critic, these subjects remains calm and occupied in euphoric phase as drunk.
It is this illegitimate disowning of our own presence in terms of orientation that always culminate in to irreversible stage of disaster which continue to express its thrust even during the arena of death show.
What is happening now is being understood by even an average fellow of intelligence quotient but it seems that again a covert motive to continue the anarchical state and instability is the top most priority of every individual that has a single power in terms of action in our dignitaries and functionaries whether executives or administrative authorities .
You have very genuinely concluded that “we have been cursing our dictators that they took away our national pride, honor and dignity from us; we find nationalism eroded beyond repair; but to what avail is our well cherished, well publicized and ‘revered democracy and its able leaders’ that rather than restoring the honor of nation, they have opted for yet another sell out of nation”?
Khokar what do you say, to whom, should we go and plead, what is becoming fate of our progeny.
I don’t see any way out.
I have a feeling that we have been trapped since day one of our birth as nation.
I think motively a special generation of people has been deliberately groomed here in this country so to continuously play, forge, loot, and rape what ever and whenever they get time, place and environment.
It is not like that they belong to a single community but they have their own incentive based community whose bearing always reside and is moved through any one who is against our existence.
I am fat up of this word establishment.
I do not agree with this term any more, especially in Pakistan.
After being exposed to more than 25 years of my previous exposure in different sights and scenes of bureaucratic and executive cum professional environment, I am unwilling to tag every such element of disaster and manipulation to be enrolled under the concealed book of establishment, so to close the chapter for further discussion.
Every body is exposed here now.
Whether a bureaucrat, a politician, a military dictator, religious scholar to similar schools of thoughts and any serviceman in administrative functionaries.
In my opinion none can claim to be pious, loyal, and integrated believer.
Infact from people to prime minister and peasant to porter every one is busy to establish its own dimensional premises.
Due to this segregated and divided protocol of thoughts, assignments have been sanctioned and accountability has been abandoned and forfeited.
It would be more feasible here that people have infact prepared themselves for any untoward news with regard to scattered limited hot zones.
Under the event of such displaced horizon of thinking mechanics of resident intellectual people or peasant, approach to culminate motive and desire by enemy becomes easy, as the main issue of first line of deterrence is already breached.
Khokar, military performance relies on elevation of moral by its senior officers and similar boost of backup by public at large.
Rules of engaging enemy and active attack are very simple.
If people of the area becomes active participant as enemy, none of the army whether sophisticated or not can revive writ.
This is what’s happening in FATA and vicinity around trouble area.
You see military men’s are as human as any body.
They bleed when hurt and die when sacrificed.
Point here is to mention that you got to be strong at one end ,if you really want to hurdle.
Halfhearted actions can not create thrust to nib the evil.
Unanimously own decision need to be the rule, if revival is the scope as fate.
A full fledge army operation, back up by all politician and people on one platform, is the need of time, if these Taliban are to be crushed once for all ,believing above and beyond the emblem of slogan as Muslim brother.
A person who rapes, thou Muslim gets punishment; same is the case with a person who kills.
Theft is equally punishable as, any person who abrogates Islamic ideology and principle.Regards
August 6th, 2008
as long as paksitan is stradled with bottom barrel politicans and brown noser military dicators , we wont be stable enough to take on the real enemys at the gate the talibanisque groups that are bent on pushing us back in to the 15th century or current day afgahistan.
August 6th, 2008
62 years brothers & sisters, 62 years long comedy of errors, corruption, lawlessness, political and military blunders, nalaiq dictators, lutairay siasatdaan, kirai ki fouj, economical disasters, poverty, division, hate, power vacume, loot mar, ghunDa gardi, murders, budmashi, na insafi, ghurbat, bhouk, budkari rishwat, haramkar police, rishwat khour government intsitutions, zameendar wadairay, zanakari rape, mujray,beghairatian disorgnisation, no infrastructure, bheekmangi, zakat khour, maqrouz hukamatain, and more and more….. 16 crore awam, jitnay anday kitnay ganday. 62 years of non stop blunders, ladies and gentlemen. We are proud to be Pakistani, we still have land called Pakistan. What we sow, so shall we reap. God is Great, We trust, and disapointment is sin. PAKISTAN PAINDABAD
i AM DREAMING, PLEASE LET enjoy BEAUTIFULL ISLAMABAD, I LOVE TO SEE HOW MUCH PAKISTAN IS DEVELOPED, AND LOOK SO RICH, DON’T WAKE ME UP WITH THESE NASTY, NOISY POSTS, YOU IDIOTS PLEASE
August 6th, 2008
Who is this Johann,
August 6th, 2008
wake up and smell the coffee its been 62 years and we’re just breaking even.
August 6th, 2008
Mr Johann is our member from India. He is a regular writer and commenter on TPS. He is basically a retired Indian Air Force Officer and now enjoying his days at home. Caring his family and passing time. You can see his writing by finding his name in Authors list.
August 6th, 2008
Saleem Khan , Toronto.
I suppose where you live in Toronto they will not allow you to go to sleep… like a log. How difficult it is to bring the food for the evening on the dinning table; only people there in the West they know it.
The Pakistani young men like you may not think of any slumber. All the evil and dins of Pakistani society that you have mentioned are there in every society. The others they only don’t close their eyes and sleep on it. Please wake up and face the realities.
All the borders lines that you draw around yourself to claim your space and like to breath with freedom have a price. May these borders are ideological or they are physical borders; all our borders demand a perpetual shedding of blood by the youth on their demarcation to remain alive.
I am sure you are aware of it but timely are….just disgruntle.
[Lahoo mangti hey zameen e watan]
August 6th, 2008
Saleem Khan , Toronto.???????
Is it Saleem Khan or Saeed Khan???
August 6th, 2008
Oooops.
This must be Saeed Khan, Toronto.
So in Comments above at 11;
Please read the name of addressee as Saeed Khan, Toronto.
Regards