US-Taliban Negotiations

After twelve years of fighting, countless lives lost, tens of thousands of their fighters sacrificed, the Taliban opened their political office in Qatar. The aim of the office is to commence peace talks with the very entity that invaded Afghanistan. The United States has been pushing for this for a long time, via the regime of Hamid Karzai. This is a sure sign that the escalating financial and human cost of the conflict has brought the US to a stage where it has effectively conceded defeat.

Despite initiating the peace talks and paying a high price during the process - including the assassination of the ex-head of Afghan Peace Council - the Afghan government was caught off-guard with this development, leading to a stiff resistance towards it. As a result, the negotiations for the final stage of a strategic partnership between Afghanistan and the United States have been halted and the Afghan government has announced no intention of participating in the negotiations. Karzai’s excuse was the removal of the Taliban’s white flag as well as the use of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” title, which the Taliban swiftly amended after they came under pressure from the United States, who also forced Karzai to change his stance.

Pakistan Air Force: A threat to US Interests

As of May 2013, Pakistan became the fourth country in the world to start using China’s navigational satellite network system, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). A direct equivalent to the American Global Positioning System (GPS), BDS is expected to achieve global coverage by the year 2020. With its existing network of 16 satellites, BDS is currently active for use in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, given how widely used GPS is for private commercial purposes in Pakistan, the country’s shift to BDS seems to be driven by specific strategic and security priorities. In particular, it is apparent that access to BDS is of great strategic significance to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which is poised to make the most wide-scale use of BDS. Security analysts, among them the retired PAF general, Air Commodore Kaiser Tufail, believes that Pakistan’s shift to BDS is driven in large by the PAF’s need to secure its strategic assets and ensure that its capacities to address external threats are immune from Western (and in particular, American) interference.

Security analysts believe that the PAF will seek to integrate BDS into the following areas:

1.  Its inventory of land-attack cruise missiles (Ra’ad) and bombs (such as the H-4), thereby allowing it to maintain precision-strike capabilities at stand-off (~300km) and tactical (<120km) ranges.

2.  Its overall combat information and management network connecting its fighter aircraft, drones, airborne and land-based surveillance assets, etc. In effect, BDS will allow the PAF to become a “network-centric” force, i.e. becoming more aware and responsive in times of conflict.

These advances indicate that the PAF operates with a perspective that focuses on Pakistan’s external military threats, a deviation from General Kayani’s emphasis on internal threats. Officially, the PAF communicated that it would be willing to intercept U.S incursions provided that it is a policy of the Pakistani government. The PAF also supports an elaborate implementation of this perspective with strong support from the Pakistani defense industry. In addition to the JF-17 fighter, a flagship program pursued with China worth billions of dollars, the PAF is also at the forefront of armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone) development.

As a result of insufficient access to GPS, Pakistan was unable to continue developing a drone similar in range and capabilities to the U.S Predator. Satellite communication is integral to being able to control medium-altitude and long-endurance UAVs similar to the Predator. Access to BDS will enable Pakistan to expand its UAV programs, and it had reportedly been offered technical support from China in this regard. Leaders of Pakistan’s defense industry have voiced their disapproval of U.S drone strikes, and are of the belief that Pakistan attaining armed-drones would demonstrate the country’s capacity to manage its internal security without external intervention.

Overall, the PAF’s intention for maintaining territorial sovereignty from external threats is reflected in its organizational goals. In addition to frequently engaging in large-scale exercises with other regional powers (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China), PAF has made several strategic acquisitions that are characteristic of projecting power. These procurements include a fleet of aerial refueling aircraft, airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) systems, long-range air-to-surface weapon-systems and as of late, a renewed effort to develop armed-UAVs similar to the U.S Predator.

Incidentally, these strategic assets had come under attack by militants over the past two years. In 2011 and 2012, militants armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades undertook a series of coordinated attacks against a number of air bases housing strategic assets. These attacks resulted in the destruction of two maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft and an Erieye AEW&C system valued at $250 million. The facilities targeted - among them the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) that manufactures the JF-17 - were well outside the Waziristan/Afghan theater, and had little to do with the military’s campaigns in that area.

For the most part, these attacks were against assets that are oriented towards protecting against external military threats. The direct benefactors of these attacks include India, whose increasing capabilities are constantly diluted by the PAF’s modernization, as well as the United States. PAF officials, serving and retired, repeatedly called for Pakistan to distance itself from the U.S-led War on Terror, to take independent ownership of its internal security affairs, and reduce reliance on U.S financial and technical support. The PAF’s investment in Chinese and indigenous systems is reflective of this stance, and offers a feasible alternative to security-ties with the U.S.

However, because the PAF and its officials have abstained from pursuing their policy views outside of their legal mandate (which is to obey the civilian government), they cannot be considered active change-makers. Ultimately, the PAF’s achievements will be tempered by such excuses as budgetary constraints, as well as the government’s neglect of the concerns the PAF has managed to prioritize over the years. Nonetheless, it is clear that the PAF has support within Pakistan’s wider security circles; support which has allowed it to sustain its programs over the past five years. Whether this desired direction openly opposes the way Pakistan is heading politically; i.e. the emphasis of peace with India and the prioritization of the country’s internal security problems in favour of its external concerns, remains to be seen.

US Exposed Again!

Reportedly, in an early morning of 29 May 2013, a U.S. Drone Strike killed four men in Pakistani Tribal area near North Waziristan. According to Pakistani officials, one of those killed in the strike was Wali ur Rehman, the number two commander of Pakistani Taliban but known as a rival to the leader of the TTP, Hakimullah Mehsud.According to the reliable sources, Wali ur Rehman was considered to be a more moderate and likely to be engage himself in serious peace negotiations with Islamabad. In this connection, Saifullah Mahsud, director of the FATA Research Centre said, "I would rather have Wali ur Rehman alive than dead". He also stressed that killing of Wali, would now strengthens the Hakimullah Mehsud clan. Saifullah also claimed, "Hakimullah represents the very worst of the TTP."

Post 2014 US Strategy in Af-Pak Region

Cities across Afghanistan were raged with anti-Pakistani demonstrations after a border clash between the countries resulted in the death of a member of the Afghan Border Police.The clash occurred on a newly built Pakistani military post that Afghanistan claims is on its soil. For long, Afghanistan and Pakistan have had a bitter relationship due to the disputed Durand line which divides both countries. Though drawn more than a hundred years ago to separate the current day Afghanistan from the then British India, this line still keeps thousands of families divided from one another as it crosses several villages and even houses.

Bangladesh Crisis

Events have reached unprecedented levels in Bangladesh, as demonstrations by government opposition groups have led to what can only be described as a massacre. Hefazat-E-Islam carried out its second large scale demonstration against the Awami League (AL) government in order to express its strong sentiments against the government’s backing of atheist bloggers and strong anti-Islamic stances. The AL is in the final year of its term, and this term has been littered with corruption, scandal and sheer incompetence. With the prospects looking very dim for the AL in the upcoming elections, Sheikh Hasina and the AL have taken to dictatorship and brute force to maintain their stranglehold on the country.
During the AL tenure Sheikha Hasina undertook a number of actions to clip the wings of Islamic minded groups and reduce their influence. When taking office in 2008 the Awami league announced it would reintroduce the original Four State Principles into the Preamble of the Constitution of Bangladesh. Secularity was one of the principles induced into the original Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972, which was subsequently removed by the military regimes and replaced with “Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah shall be the basis of all actions.” The AL government made numerous changes to the educational curriculum and the educational institutes. They also made changes to family laws, enforced new controls on the Islamic institutions, banned religious gatherings and began a brutal crackdown on Islamic political parties. The AL also set up Kangaroo tribunals to try those individuals who had allegedly committed massacres during the 1971 war of independence. The international Criminal Tribunal (ICT) staffed with individuals appointed by the AL, conducted a vicious campaign against many in the opposition through a fabricated process where they were made guilty before any case was heard.

CIA's Plan to control Social Media

Explosive growth of internet introduction of social media as medium of information over the last decade has continued to defy imagination. Internet World Stats have estimated 2,405,510,175 internet users worldwide till June 30, 2012. This represented about 34.3% of the population worldwide. Out of which Asia is leading with 1,076,681,059 (44.8% of internet users worldwide), followed by Europe: 18,512,109 (21.5%), North America: 273,785,413 (11.4%), Latin America / Caribbean: 254,915,884 (10.6%), Africa: 167,335,676 (7.0%), Middle East: 90,000,455 (3.7%) and Oceania / Australia: 24,279,579 (1.0%). In fact IT through Internet media has played a decisive role in globalization.

Planned massacre of Burmese Muslims

In Burma, massacre of Muslims is being done ruthlessly and the world is silent. Do you not hear the deafening silence of the UN, so called world community and the hypocrites in our Muslims world?Would you believe that this genocide where over 20,000 M uslims have already been butchered, burnt, raped, drowned and murdered and nearly 100,000 thousand forced to leave their homes, has been triggered by a FALSE NEWS report released by a journalist! This is the sinister power of media that we are so familiar.

Today, the world is silent on this Genocide. By Allah, we hold Burmese government responsible for this atrocity. Bangladesh has refused to allow these poorest Muslim refugees to enter the country. We ask Bangladeshis to raise their voice and help these brothers and sisters in faith. If you cannot help your brothers and sisters, at least recite fatiha for them!

How East-Pakistan was Seperated

After the demise of Quaid-e-Azam and Liaquat Ali Khan, regionalism raised its ugly head in smaller provinces particularly in East Pakistan where India started a whispering campaign to poison the minds of the youth and seculars against West Pakistan. India exploited the cultural affinity between East and West Bengal by underplaying Allama Iqbal and promoting poetry of Tagore. Since over 90% posts of teachers and professors were held by Hindus, they played a key role in subverting the minds of students and making them hate West Pakistanis. History books of the subcontinent were distorted to paint Muslim rulers in poor light and ancient Hindu rule glamorized. Their hatred against Hindus was gradually mellowed and converted into amiability. Cultural programs and stage dramas enacted by Hindus helped in bringing a change in the mindset of the Muslim Bengalis. Bengali nationalism was stirred by agitating language issue. Politics of agitation was introduced through frequent strikes and mob violence.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who had nurtured the dream of independent Bengal from early days came into prominence in East Pakistan during the language riots in 1948. He again took active part in 1952 language riots. His rebellious stance against West Pakistan Establishment made him popular among Bengalis. He joined Awami League (AL) as a disciple of Suhrawardy. After the death of Suhrawardy in 1964, he maintained his pro-India stance and went astray.

He and his henchmen got in touch with Indian intelligence agencies and during one of the meetings in Agartala, finalized the plan to detach East Pakistan from rest of Pakistan. Under the garb of remedying political and economic grievances of East Pakistan, he formulated six points formula and fanned Bengali nationalism. Unearthing of Agartala conspiracy case in 1968 turned the secessionist into a hero in the eyes of Bengalis. Indian media was instrumental in lionizing Mujib.

Sri Lankan Muslims under threat

A CURIOUS story in a local English daily caught my eye the other day. It seemed the Sri Lanka Muslim Council had given in to demands that meat could be sold without halal certification. This is a huge success for radical Buddhist groups who have been orchestrating an anti-Muslim campaign for the last few years.

Mosques have been attacked, prayers disrupted, and Muslims in general accused of being anti-state. The Muslim Tamil National Alliance has written to the Secretary General of the United Nations, asking him for protection, and protesting against this nasty campaign.

Leading the anti-Muslim charge is a group called the Bodu Bela Sena, or Buddhist Force. Headed by ultra-nationalistic monks, the group follows a xenophobic agenda of “Sri Lanka for the Buddhists”. Of late, Buddhist monks have begun playing a growing and retrogressive role in the island’s politics.

The monks first flexed their muscles to shore up the Rajapakse government’s resolve to crush the Tamil insurgency. First, they blocked any possibility of compromise by offering the Tamil Tigers greater autonomy. To build up pressure, they formed a political party and won enough seats to take a place in the coalition government.

Then, when President Mahinda Rajapakse’s brother, defence secretary Gotabaya, was facing difficulties in finding enough recruits for the army, a group of monks fanned out across the Buddhist areas to motivate thousands of young men. These recruits were assured that they would not lose karma by fighting and killing in a war as they would be doing so in the cause of Buddhism.

The brutal civil war ended nearly four years ago in a bloodbath that is now the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism from abroad. The ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Commission at Geneva is about to vote on a resolution initiated by the US, demanding an international investigation into the fate of tens of thousands of Tamils said to be killed in the last days of the fighting in the north of the island.

Indian Army involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities

On February 24, 2013 a serving Indian Army Col Ajay Chowdhary, Public Relation Officer (PRO) and Spokesman to Army was arrested for carrying drugs in Manipur. According to TV reports, Col Ajay was arrested with five other people, red handed for carrying drugs worth Rs 30 crores market value. Arrested persons also include an Assistant manager of the leading airline in the country.

Media reports also disclosed that, all the accused were travelling in three vehicles including Chowdhary's official vehicle when they were arrested at Pallel-60 kms away from the state capital. Col Chowdhary will be tried in the civil court for the offence. The driver of the vehicle told that under the supervision of the Col, the consignment was stuffed in the vehicles in seven airbags, 15 other bags and nine cartons. The drugs included tablets of Respifed, Omkop, Hilcold, Polyfed and Actidin, the sources said. Notably, the Myanmaar-Maniput-Nagaland belt has been a haven for smuggling activities from time immemorial. Men of military, Paramilitary and Police have been conveniently using this belt for smuggling/procuring activities for long.

Asia-Pacific, the next US Battefield

By Hassam Ahmad and Adnan Khan

After a decade of war in the Middle East and South Asia the US has been building the groundwork for a shift towards the Asia-Pacific. In June 2012 the US Secretary of Defense  Leon Panetta, announced at a security conference in Singapore that, “the United States will keep six aircraft carriers in the Asia-Pacific region and will shift 60% of its warships to the region, over the coming years until 2020.”  He explained that the “transfer of the US fleet comes in the context of the implementation of a new US strategy designed to raise the level of US military presence in the Asia-Pacific.”

Whilst the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have now lasted longer than WW1 and WW2 combined, the US believes it has brought the area under as much control as is possible and with China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific this region now requires America’s serious attention. America’s focus towards the Asia-Pacific consists of the expansion of its political and defence relations with China’s neighbors and its aggressive military presence throughout the region. This has already included the US strengthening its relations with India and Japan, both traditional rivals of China.  America has also established several military bases in countries such as the Philippines and Australia.  The US has also promoted the development of the Asian-Subcontinent as a political entity, primarily by encouraging improved relations between Pakistan and India, as a means of protecting its interests in containing China.