Eagles of brasstacks [Cyber force]: 02/06/11

Egypt's chief of EGIS and the new vice president Omar Suleiman has announced a fresh list of political concessions Sunday after meeting with opposition groups, including a plan to amend the constitution and guarantees to honor freedom of the press and communications. The agreements, which were reported by Egyptian state television, resulted from talks between Vice President Omar Suleiman and a variety of opposition factions, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement that is officially banned in Egypt. It remained unclear, however, whether the concessions would win favor in Tahrir Square, the plaza in the heart of Cairo where tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered for nearly two weeks to demand the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

Many of the protesters there have insisted that Mubarak quit before they will agree to stand down. They have also distanced themselves from the political party leaders and intellectuals that have negotiated with Suleiman over the past two days, saying that they do not adequately represent the grass-roots uprising that has pushed Egypt to the brink of revolution.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood & VP Omar Suleiman begin landmark talks

Egypt's most suppressed and main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, has started landmark talks with Egyptian Vice President and Chief of EGIS, Omar Suleiman amid the mass protests across the crisis-hit country. According to the group's website, the senior officials of Muslim Brotherhood began the historic talks on the 13th day of anti-government protests, demanding an immediate elimination of Emergency Law and guarantees for peaceful protests. "We are starting a round of talks to know how serious they are about responding to the demands of the people", Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gamal Abul Nasser said. The group's officials say they would drop out if demands expressed by the protesters during the last two weeks are not met. The government has pledged to hold talks with all opposition parties to discuss democratic reforms that would lead to the replacement of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The Muslim Brotherhood is officially banned in Egypt. The group, however, enjoys wide popular support.

Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt

Meanwhile, much larger crowds of Egyptian protesters have been entering Cairo's Liberation Square on Sunday morning as the government is trying to back everything to normal. Egyptian army have tightened security around the square in the Egyptian capital and prevent food from reaching protesters in the square as the massive countrywide demonstrations entered their thirteenth day, which was dubbed “Day of Martyrs”. On Saturday, Egyptian state television announced that Mubarak has resigned as chairman of the ruling National Democratic Party. Senior members of Mubarak's party also resigned on the same day, but demonstrators staging a 13th day of revolution rejected the shuffle as a cosmetic move. Beleaguered Mubarak also reportedly held talks with key cabinet members to try to kick-start Egypt's economy, which has been hit hard by the ongoing protests in the North African country.

Free Jamu & Kashmir now!

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD/KARACHI – Like other parts of the world, tens of thousands of people across Pakistan and Azaad Jamu & Kashmir marked Kashmir Solidarity Day with a renewed pledge to continue all-out support for the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination. The day was marked with rallies, walks, seminars, signature campaigns and human chains in all small and major towns of Pakistan, including capital cities Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore as well as Gilgit. Similar events were reported from all Azaad Jamu & Kashmir (AJK) towns and cities, including capital Muzaffarabad, sending a clear message to the world that double standards on the issue of Kashmir will not be tolerated anymore, and that the issue must be resolved now to put an end to the miseries of innocent Kashmiris.

The protesters rejuvenated their commitment to break the shackles of Indian occupation and help the Kashmiris get their right to self-determination. Pakistan observed a one-minute silence at 10am. All rail and road traffic came to a halt as a mark of respect to the 500,000+ Kashmiris martyred since the occupation started. Various government and non-government organizations erected hoardings, streamers, placards and banners inscribed with slogans supporting the Kashmiris’ freedom struggle. Radio and television channels aired special programs to highlight the Kashmir movement.

In Lahore, mainstream religious, religio-political and political parties and human rights organisations arranged rallies, seminars and walks to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren. Jamaat-ud-Daawa organised a mammoth rally on The Mall. Thousands of people from various walks of life, mainly activists of Daawa, participated in the rally from Nasir Bagh to the Faisal Chowk, where top leadership of the parties addressed charged participants. Thousands of participants were carrying flags of Daawa inscribed with the sign of sword and Kalima Tayyaba, and placards and banners inscribed with slogans in favour of the Kashmir freedom struggle and against the Indian occupation. The participants, waving the flags all along, chanted slogans ‘Kashmirion Se Rishta Kia, La Ilaha Illalah’, ‘Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan, ‘Kashmir Hamara Hai,’ ‘Hindustanio Kashmir Chor Do Ya Jihad Ke Liye Tayyar Ho Jao’, ‘Tera Nagar Mera Nagar Srinagar Srinagar’, ‘Ali Geelani Qadam Barhao Hum Tumharay Sath Hain’ and ‘Hafiz Saeed Qadam Barhao Qaom Tumharay Sath Hain’.

Daawa had made elaborate arrangements for the massive show of solidarity, as people from far-off areas joined the rally in great numbers. The foreign media took a keen interest in the rally, giving special focus to the speeches by Jamaat-ud-Daawa ameer Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and other notable leaders, including Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki and Maulana Amir Hamza. In addition to tight security arrangements by law enforcement agencies, polite Daawa workers checked all before letting them join The Mall rally. Police closed The Mall from Nasir Bagh to the Governor’s House for all traffic a couple of hours before the rally. Police too allowed entry to the rally after a thorough search. Besides police, operatives in plain clothes were also deputed for stricter security. Trained shooters were also posted on all multi-storey buildings along the route of the rally.

Addressing the rally, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that Muslims are not against negotiations, but the track record of India suggests that these would be futile exercises. He urged India to quit Kashmir or face Jehad. “Jehad is for peace. Islam does not allow killing the innocent. But the aggressors are to be given a befitting reply”, Hafiz Saeed said, adding that the west should realise the true spirit of Islam and stop propaganda against Muslims. He urged the rulers to understand the conspiracies India has been hatching against Pakistan. He said that India is working on a plan to capture Balochistan after Kashmir and is encouraging separatist movements there. He said that India staged Mumbai drama but failed to prove its allegations. He said that on the other hand, India failed to conceal the fact that Hindu extremists were involved in the Samjhota Express tragedy.

Vowing to uphold solidarity of the country, he said Kashmir is vital for Pakistan. He said that India is building dams in the occupied territory to stop water for Pakistan, to damage its agriculture and economy. He praised China for taking a firm stance on the actual status of Kashmir. He said that it was Islamabad’s responsibility to support the freedom movement and fight the case of Kashmir. He said that instead of continuing support, the rulers of Pakistan damaged the Kashmir cause after 9/11. He said that now the situation is changing for the better and Kashmir and Palestine will soon get freedom.

Referring to Raymond Davis, he said it is a pity that the USZ is demanding the custody of a killer, but awarded 86-year imprisonment to innocent Aafia Siddiqui. “We will not accept USZ courts if she is not ready to accept ours”, said the Daawa chief. Addressing the rally, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki urged the federal government to create the Ministry of Jehad for Kashmir, saying Daawa is ready to extend financial support and manpower for the cause. He urged the rulers to come out of American slavery and look up to their own people for support. Instead of begging for dialogue, the government should go for Kashmir Jehad, he added. Addressing the rally on the phone from Jammu, Hurriyat leader Shabbir Shah thanked the people of Pakistan for supporting Kashmiris, and expressed hope that Kashmir will get freedom soon. Solidarity of Pakistan is critical not only to the Kashmiris but also to the entire Muslim world, he said, adding that the Indian forces are using all resources to crush Kashmiris, but freedom is only round the corner. Maulana Amir Hamza said that the so-called world powers created East Timor out of Indonesia and divided Sudan, but are declaring Kashmiris terrorists.

He demanded an exemplary punishment for Raymond Davis for killing innocent Pakistanis. He said that the people will throw (President) Zardari, (Prime Minister) Gilani and the Sharif brothers out of power if Raymond was handed over to America. Maulana Amir Hamza said if the rulers handed over Raymond to him, he (Raymond) would confess all crimes. Abdul Salam bin Muhammad said that it was high time for Jehad and not inconclusive dialogues. JUI leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said that the rulers of Pakistan damaged the Kashmir cause and rubbed salt into Kashmiris’ wounds by initiating a bus service and by vying for Indian friendship. He said the Kashmiris kept the cause alive with their blood. He urged the rulers to learn a lesson from Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen and mend their ways.

Hurriyat leader Ghulam Muhammad Saffi, vowing to continue the struggle, said sacrifices of the Kashmiris will not go waste. Referring to a statement by former president Pervez Busharraf and former foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri that Pakistan and India had reached a consensus but Ali Geelani marred it, he said the Hurriyat leader opposed the idea as it was against the aspirations of the people of Pakistan and Kashmir. He said that the Hurriyat leader has urged Pakistan to stop begging for dialogues and press India to accept Kashmir as a disputed territory.

Saif Ullah Mansoor said that barbed wires would fail to stop Mujahideen from hoisting the Jehad flag in Srinagar. He urged the rulers not to be scared of India, as Pakistan is an atomic power and the leverage should be used for Kashmir solution. In another remarkable event of the day, thousands of people formed human chains on all bridges linking Pakistan with AJK – including Kohala, Dhalkot, Azad Pattan, Holar, Mangla, Dhangalli and Bararkot.

Meanwhile, veteran Kashmir leader Ali Shah Geelani expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani people for exhibiting solidarity with them, saying that the zeal shown on Kashmir Solidarity Day is clear message to the world, especially India, that the Pakistan government and people stand by Kashmiris. In Islamabad, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami AJK Abdul Rasheed Turabi addressed a large pubic gathering and paid homage to the efforts of Kashmiris. He said the unprecedented uprising in Kashmir has shaken the Indian government to the hilt, and nervous Indians are trying to suppress the movement through coercive measures. Turabi urged the government to play its role for the independence of Kashmir as a party to the issue. Chairman Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani, in his telephonic address to the rally, said that no one could stop the Kashmir freedom movement by force. He criticized Busharraf, saying he had damaged the Kashmir cause. He stressed the need for a strong stance of the Pakistan government, and demanded that it should internationally highlight the Indian forces’ brutalism against armless Kashmiri.

Egypt gas pipeline to Israhell exploded

Unknown attackers have exploded a pipeline in Egypt's El-Arish area of north Sinai pumping natural gas to Israhell amid revolution protests against the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Citing an Egyptian official, State TV said on Saturday that the “situation is very dangerous and explosions were continuing from one spot to another” along the pipeline. “It is a big terrorist operation”, the TV said. According to a source, the Egyptian armed forces “managed to close the main source of flow and are trying to control the fires”. Residents in El-Arish area reported a huge explosion with flames climbing about twenty meters into the sky. Rescue forces and ambulances have been deployed to the site and an investigation has been launched into the incident, reports say. No groups or individuals have claimed responsibility of the attack yet.

Egypt supplies 40% of Israhell's natural gas demand based on a deal reached between Cairo and Tel Aviv after the 1979 peace accord. Israhell's National Infrastructure Ministry said it was looking into the incident. In December, Israhell signed 20-year contracts with Egypt worth more than 10 billion dollars (7.4 billion euros) to import the Egyptian natural gas. "We again realise that the Middle East is not a stable region. We must act to ensure our energy security without relying on others", a spokesman for Israhell's National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau warned on Tuesday after millions of Egyptian protesters demanded an end to Mubarak's 30-year rule.

Pakistani tribals kill 4 Indian, Israhelli spies

Authorities found the bodies of four men in the northwestern town of Karak district, killed by militants on suspicion of spying for India and Israhell. Police said they found four bullet-riddled bodies with notes from militants in their pockets outside Karak. The note warned that anyone spying for enemies would meet the same fate. The note said that the killed had confessed to their crime. Locals said they saw the bodies along a road and informed the local police. “We found bodies of four men, they had been killed by shooting and notes in their pockets said they were spying for Indian and Jewish intelligence agencies”, district police chief Sajid Mohmand told reporters.

Karak district, NWFP Pakistan

“We are trying to ascertain the identities of the dead men”, he said, adding that it was the first such incident in Karak. The victims were aged between 20 to 40, Mohmand said. A local intelligence official also confirmed the incident. Militants frequently kidnap and kill traitors in the troubled region, accusing them of spying for the United States of Zionism forces in Afghanistan, where Taliban fighters have been waging a vicious insurgency for nine years.