dagblog - Comments for "No Country for Armed Men--"

Pakistan nuclear scientist AQ

artappraiser — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 04:34:39 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

Pakistan nuclear scientist AQ Khan launches political movement
Move by former head of Pakistan's nuclear programme likely to alarm many in the west

By Saeed Shah in Islamabad, guardian.co.uk, Monday 27 August 2012 13.47 EDT
AQ Khan, the renegade Pakistani nuclear scientist, has launched his own political movement targeting the youth vote as the country gears up for an election.

Khan's entry into politics could alarm many in the west, after his involvement in spreading nuclear technology to customers including Iran and Libya. He enjoys hero status in Pakistan, while the religious right lauds him for having created the "Islamic bomb".

Khan said he wanted the growing younger population to cast its ballot, and "not sit at home", against the established politicians.

"We need a new generation of political people and technocrats," said Khan. "My message to young voters is: don't bring these old politicians back. Don't give your vote to thieves and liars. But who exactly they vote for, is up to them."

Khan said the movement was aimed at engaging younger voters. He did not plan, at the moment, to contest the election. However, further evolution of his political organisation is "in the hands of God".

Khan headed Pakistan's nuclear programme, which stole technology from other countries to build a weapon. In 2004, Pakistan was forced to confront Khan about his nuclear dealings, after evidence was shown to Islamabad by the United States.

He was punished only with house arrest, but even those restrictions have since been lifted, despite the fact that Washington still regards him as a "serious proliferation risk" [....]

The Pakistan/US kabuki show

artappraiser — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 01:09:57 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

The Pakistan/US kabuki show for the citizens of Pakistan now completed, the US money spigot is being re-opened, barring any protestations from Congress (and, as the suitably cynical already suspected, will be retroactive):

First war on terror bills sent to Washington since OBL raid
By Shahbaz Rana, The Express Tribune, July 19, 2012

ISLAMABAD: Now that ties between Pakistan and US are fast thawing, Islamabad has sent the first Coalition Support Fund (CSF) bills to Washington since the US Navy SEALs raid to hunt down Osama bin Laden in May last year.

The Joint Staff headquarters has sent fresh CSF claims to Pentagon, a senior official from the finance ministry told The Express Tribune. Neither the ministry nor the US Embassy in Pakistan disclosed the exact amount of the claims, but it is said to be between $500 and $600 million.

During the earlier stalemate, both the military and civilian leadership had maintained national pride and sovereignty were more important than financial gains. Pakistan had decided not to send any receipts for expenditures incurred from the May 1, 2011 US raid which killed Osama Bin Laden to the air strike that claimed the lives of over 24 Pakistani soldiers at the Salala check post on November 24.

However, the first bill sent to Pentagon since the raid in Abbottabad on May 1 last year is, interestingly, for expenditures incurred during the same period.

The US Embassy in Islamabad refused to comment on the recent development. “For information on new claims filed by the Pakistani government, you will have to refer to them,” said the embassy’s spokesman Mark Stroh.

Replying to another question, Stroh said Obama’s administration had notified the Congress regarding reimbursement of existing claims worth $1.1 billion. According to standard procedure, the Congress has 15 days from the day of the notification to object to the claims. If no objections are raised, the administration is allowed to complete the transaction [....]

US intends to reimburse Coalition Support Fund: Pentagon
By Fayyaz Yaseen, News Pakistan, July 20, 2012

Washington: (Thursday, July 19, 2012) The United States of America has said that it intends to pay back $ 1.1 billion owed to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).

Speaking to a private news television channel, a reporter from Washington said that the amount will be paid to Pakistan soon. Pentagon spokesperson, while commenting on the development, said that the US was pleased with the reopening
of the Ground Lines of Communication. He also added that relationships with Pakistan have always remained critical to the US.

The spokesperson further added that Pak-US relations were entering a new phase and were getting past some of the obstacles encountered over the past two years.

The spokesperson did not comment on the signing of any agreement.

Check out the bottom line on

artappraiser — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:43:20 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

Check out the bottom line on this chart:

from

Most Muslims Want Democracy, Personal Freedoms, and Islam in Political Life; Few Believe U.S. Backs Democracy, Pew Global Attitudes Project, July 10, 2012

Is it that many would still like the military to rescue them from democracy?!

Taliban kill eight Pakistani

artappraiser — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 07:56:07 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

Taliban kill eight Pakistani police and prison officers
Gunmen shot dead eight Pakistani police and prison guards early on Thursday in an audacious predawn raid in the eastern city of Lahore.

By Rob Crilly in Islamabad and agencies, The Telegraph, 12 Jul 2012

It is the second attack on security personnel in the province of Punjab in three days, igniting fears of a new round of terrorist strikes far from the lawless north-west where Taliban militants are based [....]

Huh?! The article above the

artappraiser — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:08:17 +0000

In reply to Amazing isn't it, when the

Huh?! The article above the new one tells you those in charge of Pakistan have been allowing NATO supply all along, they just didn't want it too public.

There was no threat by the US to Pakistani leaders! Nor no real one from Pakistan to the US! There was a problem figuring out how to do it so that it appeared that the US had backed down, so that the Pakistani parliamentarians could tell their constituents that the US had paid a price. In reality, all of this commotion was phony, they were letting NATO supply by air all along until their public calmed down, don't you get it? Those in power are still in cahoots with us on the Taliban and their friends and us with them and were all along!

And all of this has virtually nothing to do with sectarian unrest in Balochistan or the Balochi independence movement! Kashmir has more to do with it in a round about way than Balochistan! (Go to the top of this page, read Rashid's article--he happens to be complaining about how there is more than one problem for leaders to deal with in Pakistan!)

And the Obama administration does not want a base in Pakistan! (Neither did the Bush administration for that matter! Having some CIA running around a country looking for info or agents that could be helpful to an administration's agenda elsewhere does not automatically mean they want a base there!) Actually, they want to be able to eventually leave the area! They already have plenty of bases close by in Afghanistan right now that they would eventually like to leave! They do not want to jump from frying pan into the fire!

Amazing isn't it, when the

Resistance — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:06:23 +0000

In reply to And now we have a DEAL struck

Amazing isn't it, when the threat of opening up an Arabian Sea Port to replace the extortionists plans, opens Pakistani eyes.

'There are many ways to skin a cat'

Tell me again Art, how theres no profit in a warm, southern, deep water port?

And now we have a DEAL struck

artappraiser — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 21:31:47 +0000

In reply to Pakistan secretly permitting

And now we have a DEAL struck on the loose ends: Pakistani parliament & public appearances:

Pakistan Opens NATO Supply Line as Clinton Apologizes

By Eric Schmitt, New York Times, July 3, 1:16 PM ET

The secretary of state on Tuesday said for the first time “we are sorry” for the deaths of Pakistani soldiers in a November airstrike, and she said Pakistan would waive extra truck fees for supplies to Afghanistan.

Pakistan secretly permitting

artappraiser — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 06:40:00 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

Pakistan secretly permitting lethal NATO supply via air
By Kamran Yousaf, The Express Tribune, July 1, 2012

ISLAMABAD: In blatant disregard to foreign policy terms approved by parliament this year, Pakistan has secretly allowed US-led Nato forces to use its airspace for transporting lethal supplies to Afghanistan, official sources revealed.

It is not clear when the permission was granted but it is believed to be a stop gap arrangement between Pakistan and the United States till they finalise a deal on the resumption of vital land routes for foreign forces in Afghanistan.

But the move is likely to spark a strong public backlash in view of parliament’s resolutions which state that Pakistan’s territory, including its airspace, shall not be used for transportation of arms and ammunition to Afghanistan.

A credible source told The Express Tribune that the foreign office and the defence ministry were at odds with each other over allowing Nato planes to carry weapons.

The foreign office opposed the decision considering it a violation of parliament’s resolutions. However, it eventually started issuing non-objection certificates (NoCs) to such planes after pressure from defense authorities [....]

Clerics pass edict against

artappraiser — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 06:17:19 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

Clerics pass edict against funerals of NGO beneficiaries

By Muhammad Sadaqat, The Express Tribune (KP & FATA section,) July 2, 2012

KOHISTAN: Local clerics in Kohistan have handed down their “final edict” against non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the district, terming their activities “haram” and demanding that the local administration revoke their NOCs immediately.

In a meeting at Jamia Masjid Kamila, over 150 clerics from across the remote district vowed that they will not offer funeral prayers (Namaz-e-Janaza) for the people who continue to be beneficiaries of any NGO. They also formed a 34-member committee for the purpose of ensuring that the NGOs pack up and leave the area as soon as possible. The committee will meet on July 14 to decide on a future line of action if the NGOs are not driven out from the district

[....]

There are over 500 local youths working with NGOs in the district and a majority feel that their jobs are now at risk, said a local social activist requesting anonymity.

Travel advisory: Govt issues

artappraiser — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 06:10:23 +0000

In reply to No Country for Armed Men--

Travel advisory: Govt issues list of ‘no go’ areas for foreigners
By Our Correspondent, The Express Tribune, July 2, 2012

The federal government on Sunday issued a list of prohibited areas for foreigners to visit and directed police and law enforcement agencies to bar entry of foreigners in these places, an official document revealed.

Cantonment areas – including all those places where sensitive and important installations fall – 10 miles from the Line of Control in Kashmir have been declared off limits for foreigners.

[....]

The so-called “no-go” areas for foreign visitors in Balochistan include Pishin, Quetta, Bugti Agency, Kohlu Agency, Sibi district, 35 miles border area of Qilla Saifullah, Zhob Agency, Loralai.

The government has also declared Mosa Khel in Punjab and Bannu district and the special scanning border area of Dera Ismail Khan as off limits for foreigners [....]