{EOB}Targeted Media Campaign Against The Pakistan Army

Shumaila Raja The Writer

These days the international and national media in particular, and the regional and local media in general, are focusing on Balochistan, mostly maligning the Pakistan government as well as the law enforcement agencies, including the Pakistan Army and FC, for being responsible of the deteriorating situation in the province.

Some sane voices have also been heard in the print section and on TV channels, which provide the other side’s viewpoint, impartially analyzing as to what is exactly going on and why the government and the security agencies are being targeted. The end result seems to be a well thought-out and skilfully designed sinister campaign to create a negative image of the Islamabad federation and the Pakistan military, seemingly to achieve the desired ends.


Unfortunately our national trends are to believe in the rumors, instead of relying on the independent and indigenous sources of information. Instead of succumbing to the negative propaganda, it is our national duty to expose the hidden hands behind the conspiracies and show the real picture to the people in order to enabling them to decide themselves about the corrects and wrongs happening there. There are heterogeneous reasons of the prevailing lawlessness and other social ills, which include involvement of foreign hand in the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan. It has now been established, admitted by Indians themselves and endorsed by the west’s independent media that India is directly involved in acts of terror, extremism and violence across the province, aiming to instigate an insurgency through the so-called Balohistan Liberation Army, and to stop Pakistan from becoming hub of great economic activity in the region in future.


The lethal propaganda unleashed against the government at Centre and the military establishment indicates that the enemy is cultivating in the minds of Baloch nationalists that Islamabad aspires to occupy their natural resources. It is conspicuously highlighting the incidents of human rights violations in Balochistan by drum-beating the so called miseries of Baloch people like disappearances and displacements caused by the military operations, whereas it is noteworthy that no military operation has been conducted anywhere in Balochistan, ever since 2007-2008.


The campaign aims at creating and widening a gulf between the Baloch people and the people of other provinces, especially Punjabis, particularly in the context of Gwadar Port project by making it believe that the project is aimed at turning the Baloch into a minority. The enemy propagandists are instigating the Baloch nationals residing in foreign countries to sponsor and commit acts of terrorism in Balochistan. And part of the campaign is to downplay the establishment of military garrison areas (cantonments) in three different areas of the province, which General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in his recent visit to Gwadar has announced to not only abandon the work on establishing cantonments but also to call the army units back to their barracks – in order to show that the military leadership sincerely wants to give the feeling that it has nothing to do with meddling in political affairs and the issues which can only be resolved through political means.


While General Kayani’s announcement to withdraw army units from Sui and other areas in two months time is a highly welcome move, the government and armed forces should agree to a ceasefire so as to pave the way for peace in Balochistan; the government should identify key actors of the Balochistan conflict; engage all the tribes and resettle the displaced tribes; and involve local Baloch in the large scale economic activities.


Another theme is being highlighted by the media that the security apparatus of the country is the main coercive tool being used against the natives to deprive them of their livelihood. The people have the grievances that media is not reporting the brutal realities of Balochistan in a meaningful manner. Despite the fact that the province is of great strategic interest to the world, its people suffer from persistent, systemic and widespread human rights abuses by the state authorities. The Human Rights Watch gives verdict while producing “indisputable” evidence which points to the hand of the FC, ISI and its sister agency, Military Intelligence (MI) behind the killings and kidnappings.


The government has failed to convince the general public on issues like the killing of 11 people by unidentified armed men at a Frontier Works Organization (FWO) camp in Palari area of Gwadar district, targeting of “settlers” and government officials, and killing at least 16 Punjabi-speaking people in the Bolan area last August. The responsibility of all such incidents had been publicly accepted by the insurgent groups like BLA or BRA, but despite that there had been propaganda against the army, which had no logic after the BLA-BRA claim. The common people in Balochistan today are very well known to the fact that the military is positively contributing towards the development, education, health and social security of the province under the visionary leadership of Gen Kayani.


The case of Zarina Mari had been propagated in the media and amongst the social circles which poised to earn bad name for the security forces. Nobody took notice to the case later found to be fake and concocted as the eminent Baloch leader Senator Mohabat Khan Mari, a politician from the same constituency where Zarina Mari was being referred, publicly declared in TV program “Aaj Live With Talat” on February 9, 2009 that, “the story about Zarina Mari is baseless; in fact no such woman does exist”.


One needs to understand that there are hidden hands which are supporting, funding and fuelling insurgency in Balochistan through safe havens provided to the militants in different countries for destabilizing Pakistan. It is not a secret now that a government of Balochistan-in exile (GOB-Exile) was established by the militants in April 2005 with its headquarters in Jerusalem, which is a proof enough as to who is funding and fuelling this great game project. The Indo-Israeli links as websites show are very much evident of this fact. Besides, America is not the only interested player in Balochistan, the activities of Mir Suleiman, Khan of Kalat operating from UK, holding anti Pakistan rallies and maligning Pakistan for forcible annexation of Balochistan, have its own dimensions. Furthermore the presence and involvement of Indian Consulates in Afghanistan bordering Balochistan along illegal arms supply route, arrest of Gazin Mari in Dubai in March 2006 for channeling funds to BLA from Dubai, arrest and release of Harbayar Mari in UK, and facilities of Indian visa to insurgents, etc, give answers to a number of questions. Isn’t it enough for us to wake up?

{EOB}ISI Chief Pasha Personally Threatens CIA Islamabad Station Head Of Ending All Ties

ISLAMABAD: In an unannounced meeting with CIA station chief at Islamabad Mark Carlton, the Director General of Pakistan's powerful ISI Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha on Friday night personally threatened the officer of putting a complete end to all cooperation: "We will declare we are out of your war on terror", the General is quoted as saying.


The ISI chief further told the CIA chief to move all assets out of Pakistan. In an even more astonishing revelation, the head of the ISI said that the American CIA is penetrating the Government of Pakistan with employed proxies and anti-state conspirators. 



The ISI Chief left for a visit to CIA Headquarters at Langley on Saturday to directly give a stern warning to Leon Panetta and the agency for plotting to defame and target Pakistan's intelligence service of being a "rogue terrorist organisation".

{EOB}Former ISI Chief Says He Is 100 Percent Sure Karachi Attack Was US Operation

The former head of Pakistan's ISI, Hamid Gul, tells Channel 4 News that he is "100 per cent sure" a Taliban attack on a major naval air base in Karachi was an "American operation".

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for a major assault on the headquarters of the naval air force in Karachi that killed at least thirteen officials and injured 14 others.

Eleven navy officers and two paramilitary rangers died in the attack at the PNS Mehran base in Karachi after 16 hours of intense fighting, involving 130 Pakistani commandos.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said just six militants were believed to be involved in the attack, destroying or damaging two aircraft and laying siege to a main building in one of the most heavily-guarded bases in the unstable, nuclear-armed country.

Eight major blasts were reported throughout the night as fighting intensified.

The Pakistani Taliban said the attack was "to avenge al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's killing on 23 May".

"It was the revenge of martyrdom of Osama bin Laden. It was the proof that we are still united and powerful," Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told reporters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

But General Hamid Gul, a retired three-star general who headed the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) from 1987-1989 and has been criticised by the US for his links with the Taliban, told Channel 4 News "there is absolutely no doubt that this was a US operation."

He insisted: "The Karachi incident was clearly an operation by special forces, it must have taken months to plan, and the level of intelligence gathered is far too sophisticated for it to have been a raid by al-Qaeda or the Taliban," he said.

"The reconnaissance and the surveillance to target three or four planes is far too advanced."

Gul, who served as director general of the ISI when President Zardari's late wife Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister, said instability in Pakistan is: "the price for American friendship".

"There have been betrayals by Americans in the past, and there will be betrayals by Americans in the future. Absolutely they want to destabilize Pakistan because they want joint custody of nukes, to consolidate their position in the region, so a Karachi naval blockade is a natural move."

The US State Department was contacted by Channel 4 News for a comment, but has not yet responded to the request. 

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani responded to reporters by condemning the attack.

"Such a cowardly act of terror could not deter the commitment of the government and people of Pakistan to fight terrorism," Gilani said in statement.

Operation details

Interior Minister Malik said the six militants aged 20-25 used two ladders to scale the 5ft walls of the base and jumped in by cutting barbed wire.

He said the militants had used guns and grenades in their attack on the base, which is 15 miles (24 km) from the Masroor Air Base, Pakistan's largest and a possible depot for nuclear weapons.

Malik said 17 foreigners - including 11 Chinese and six Americans - were inside the base at the time. All had been evacuated safely.

Mullah Omar

In a separate incident, the Taliban in Afghanistan have rejected unsourced media reports that its reclusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has been killed in Pakistan, saying that he is alive and in Afghanistan.

Pakistan security officials, US military commanders and government officials in Afghanistan have offered tentative rejection of reports that Omar had been killed while travelling between Quetta and North Waziristan in Pakistan.

"He is in Afghanistan safe and sound," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location. "We strongly reject these baseless allegations that Mullah Mohammad Omar has been killed."

"This is the propaganda by the enemy to weaken the morale of fighters," Mujahid said.

In Kabul, senior diplomats and US military officials also could not confirm the report and would not comment publicly. Some described the reports as "speculation."

{EOB}Commentary: In The Name Of The Big Game!

Salman K. | The Writer

"Osama killed in Pakistan" 


Note the timing, note the location! A mere coincidence? With Presidential elections around the corner, could the timing be any better? A perfect ploy! America is really the master of deceit.


The masters decide when, how and where what happens. The world is just a spectator that cannot ask questions and even if it does, what difference  does it make? No evidence has to be given since it is the US operations we are dealing with here.


The 'rule of law' prevailed. The rule of law, dictated by American foreign policy and whatever suits its national interests prevailed as ever. They can engineer any propaganda out of nothing. Such are their creative skills. We perfectly understand their version of the'rule of law'. History has shown ample evidence. The purported upholders of justice have shining examples to their credit. Take the cases of Iraq, Afghanistan, drone attacks, Guantanamo bay, sadistic torture techniques like water boarding. Or the grand lie of 'Weapons of Mass  Destruction' or any other reason.


It seems America is allowed all idiosyncrasies. Extrajudicial  killings by US military forces and their private contractors are not something to be surprised of. Targeted assassinations that violate international laws and sovereignty of nations are not things to be taken into account. Remember 9/11, isn’t that good enough reason to go about justifying all kinds of  action, all kinds of war even almost after a decade?


The 9/11 episode was the license to kill, the license to wage the “War on Terror”. Thus, the creators of terror waged war on terror killing more innocents than the ones killed in 9/11. On the first day of May alone, the alleged Bin Laden operation was launched on Pakistan’s soil; NATO killed Gaddafi’s youngest son and three grandchildren, yet "Justice has been done", says Obama. The world sends congratulatory messages. No word about violating the sovereignty of Pakistan are spoken, no questions of violation of international laws are  raised in the free world. A statement from the White  House has to be believed with no questions from any side of the world. 


Isn’t the word from the mouth of the US President enough evidence, can we question the mighty power of America? Can America ever be wrong?


Justice for 2,819 Americans done! Was this justice or revenge?


Is there any justice for those killed in the name of "War on Terror"?  The American War on Iraq and Afghanistan was to bring justice or death and  destruction for innocent Iraqis and Afghanis? The death toll for these wars is unaccounted for because it was not white blood that was lost.


According to estimates "1,455,590" were killed in Iraq war & countless in Afghanistan (the strange thing is, if you search for Afghans killed in the war, no figures for their death would appear and you would only  get the list
of US casualties) Does America have the answer to the  killing of innocent people by drone attacks in Pakistan which have crossed the figure of 2000 deaths? Who will bring justice to them?


Is the Osama episode the only version of justice the world will see and celebrate? It was not a triumph but another defeat that has won the Americans only hatred now from the Pakistani people as well. Pakistanis have paid a too
heavy price for being America’s allies. It only brings home the fact that can we afford to continue being an ally or do we need to rethink our strategy. Can Pakistan allow this exploitation? It  only bring home the sickening fact that all sorts of lies and cover ups would be fabricated for political and national interests. The latest being the OBL fiasco.


As the story goes "Osama captured,  killed and dumped in the sea". The US invaded a foreign country without its consent in the middle of the night, raided a house, killed the target rather than arresting him and then took the body to dump it in the sea (if indeed that happened).  Well that was quick, end for a story continuing for over a decade. The intelligence and superior US technology failed after years of hunt for the most wanted man on earth and yet when he was captured, he was purportedly killed and not brought for trial. Were they afraid to take him to trial and question him about terrorist plots? Is this not a violation of international law and human rights?


Not a single evidence was given to the world. No DNA test reports, no pictures! Were they ashamed of anything that it had to be so secretly done? What stopped them for capturing him alive, for giving evidence to the world of
his death? Even the body had to be disposed off, why? Were they afraid he would come alive again and wanted to quickly end it all?  Why the hurry to bury? Were they afraid of the body?  No, the reason the  US gives was that they just wanted to "conform to the Muslim traditions"; that of burying the body within 24 hours, so respectful they were of the Muslim traditions! While they respected one tradition, did they forget that sea burials are not allowed in Islam? All praise for the most civilized nation of the world!


A great plot was engineered at Abbottabad. It had to be made to look like a Hollywood movie that would glorify Americans and make the enemy look small. Out came the headlines, “Osama  Bin Laden killed in firefight with US Special Ops Team”. A clash would certainly grip the world’s imagination with firefights and a conflict between the terrorist and the 'heroic commandos' who finally emerge to be the winners.


Certainly it seemed a good story. But no plan is foolproof. Did they just forget a small detail, that there were no bullet holes to be found anywhere? Out came another work of fiction! The US revised its “firefight reports” and came with another version that of capturing him alive but then killing him in front of his wife and daughter for no obvious reason, so would it be termed as a cold-blooded murder?


A question that comes to mind is: Trillions of dollars could be spent on capturing Osama yet when he was allegedly caught unarmed, why was he not captured alive? Leon Panetta claims that because of resistance Osama was killed,  while Obama claims it was a search and kill operation. Which one you choose to believe is entirely up to you as the US believes in freedom of choice and expression!


In the meantime, the CIA is enjoying the limelight, trying to take credit for something that never happened. The wise guys however, first need to get their script in order. The contradictory statements can fool wise men of America but
the world is not a fool. America must realize that it is possible to fool some people for some time, or all for some time but it is not possible to fool all people at all times.


There was another aspect of this staged drama. The US media reported that Obama and Hillary along with members of the national security team watched the heroic episode live from the White house. The US government released dramatic pictures of the pretence of watching the live drama with horrified expressions. It was reported that it was beamed live to the White House via a camera that was mounted on the helmet of one of the members of the Navy SEAL taking part in the operation. A far-fetched story and in contradiction to the report by the CIA Director Leon Panetta, who claimed that there was a 25 minute blackout of the live feed which was cut off before the US Navy SEALs even entered the building. Later, the CIA Chief admitted that there was no live video footage of Osama Bin Laden.

Then what was the drama about, what were they looking at? Did the White House get carried away in spinning the story and making it look like an intriguing thrilling  movie? Great performances they were, even if they were fake but isn’t that the idea of ACT-ing. Shakespeare said, "All the world’s a stage and we all are actors"; so maybe they were only playing their part. A job well done!


The US government was quick to release the dramatic pictures of Obama and Hillary watching the drama unfold; they were quick to release 4 or 5 videos of Osama that they claim to have captured from the building. The only small thing that they couldn’t show the world was the picture of the man himself.


Would not a picture be enough to shut the mouths of those who are claiming that it never happened? Or is there no picture? Did they not keep a single evidence for themselves to show the  world of the big'triumph of the good over evil' or are they so arrogant to believe that the world does not deserve an answer and should go by the word of the mighty power?


According to the President of America, the pictures were "of a graphic nature". so to spare the world the anguish of watching such pictures at the cost of fingers pointing at them, the US government decided to take the criticism that it never happened rather than coming out clean.


Such is the moral standing of a nation that claims to value its high ethical standards. Such are the standards of morality and sensitivity that it does not allow them publishing the pictures and to subject the world to such a gruesome experience. The world must remember and understand the ethical grounds of the freedom loving country, the idealistic vision they have or have they forgotten all about Guantanamo? A short term memory this world has indeed! 


Have they forgotten that these standards were the one that did not allow them to show the live execution of Saddam on all channels?


The whole episode is described in the words of Obama as a “testament to the
greatness of our country”. The greatness can certainly be seen in the violation of sovereignty of a country, in the cover ups and lies, in the drone attacks, in the  fabrication of massive propagandas on the basis of which they destroy  countries.


Obama goes on to say that “Osama was a mass murderer of Muslims”. If this was the case then why was he not brought before the world, why only the US enjoys the authority to  give a judgment and punishment the way it decides?


The Osama episode is all part of the greater game, a new plan was devised. A plan that is slowly unfolding. The lies are all strategies to mislead the world once again. This time, against Pakistan. The strategic location of Osama's alleged hideout is claimed Abbottabad, a small distance away from the Pakistan Military Academy. It is not conceivable  that the ISI or army would not be aware of it had he been living there. They would not have risked letting Osama stay there in an open compound right in the middle of the city. So why Abottabad?


Is the US looking to bring the "War on Terror" to its ally, who has been at the forefront fighting a war that was only America’s? Or does the US want to take revenge for the Raymond Davis case? The target here is the ISI and the Pakistan Army. The Raymond Davis case revealed the secret network and  mission of American spies, it could just not digest it. There were calls for such CIA operatives to be sent back, to decrease the visas for such people, to limit
Americans from coming here, to stop drone attacks. Questions were being raised, but before they could be highlighted in front of the international media and pressure could accumulate on America to rethink its strategy for Pakistan, it played its cards.


In no way was the US going to limit its activities in Pakistan as it had other objectives that included going a bit further than the drone attacks; if they involved violation of sovereignty of Pakistan, then so be it. "Might is right!"


How could the ISI try to dismantle the network and expose America’s secret plot, how could they capture the top CIA official and then refuse to hand him over? Does only the US government enjoy the right to capture citizens from anywhere around the world regardless of their innocence or not? If they think they are guilty, it is reason enough. 


The judgment cannot be challenged. They will capture whomever they wish and they will decide the fate in their own courts. No one will question them.


No one questioned the Aafia Siddiqui verdict who was convicted for attempted murder and weapons possession. No one was hurt, no finger prints were  found on the weapons. She was sentenced to 85 years for “attempted  murder”, while
Raymond Davis who was responsible for the murder of 4  people (counting the death of one of the victim’s wife who committed suicide because she knew justice would not be given) was set free.


Aafia, on the other hand, is now facing life imprisonment and has been refused trial in Pakistan. Her own brother is not allowed to visit her. No one  has access to her. The world is unaware of her plight just as they were ignorant of those who suffered at Guantanamo Bay. And Raymond Davis was set free after not even 2 months of detention. Such are the “testimonies of American grandeur”. 


They are the prosecutors, the judge, the jury and executioners!


Another question that surfaces is that no drone attacks were carried out until Raymond was in Pakistan’s custody  and now they continue unabated. No one questions the drone attacks that killed innocent families, where young children are amputated or brutally  killed on a regular basis. No coverage is given to them, no one is aware of their plight, of the deaths that are not even counted.


The civilized world, the freedom loving country is waging a convenient war. It sends unmanned aerial remote-controlled weaponry to faraway places on  the suspicion of high value targets and kills on a regular basis showing an arrogance and disregard for the lives of innocent people. Who decides if the information of targets is authentic? Who questions whether those killed were innocent or not? Is there no rule for them?


For the year 2010 alone, it has been reported that America carried 111 drone strikes killing around 1000 people. The figure now has crossed 2000 but the US is not to be blamed or even questioned. After all this, the rage against US hypocrisies is quite understandable. The hatred for America under such circumstances is only bound to grow and the US has only itself and its policies to blame. How long will the world remain silent? 


After years and years of killing thousands of people, there is bound to be a backlash. It is amidst these conditions  that Osama’s are born. In the minds of those who have suffered by US antics. Osama would be regarded as someone who stood before the mighty  empire. Whether he stood for right or wrong does not matter to them.  When consumed by hate, in the face of injustices, the idealistic values fade away. America must realize this. It is acts like these that turn even a moderate person to come to hate what America has come to stand for.

{EOB}Threats To Pakistan: The Scenario And The Response

Najam Mahmud | The Writer

This short paper will look at the current geo political situation that Pakistan faces. The aftermath of the “Osama” event has raised the threat levels for Pakistan and brought out in the open the atrocious designs of our so called strategic partner, the USA. 

The threats are multiple and complex, the response has to be equally befitting and effective to counter the perilous security environment that is being created in and around Pakistan.

Three Prolonged Threats:

1. ISRAEL

The transformation of Israel from a midget to an ugly giant is in the making. The grand design of Zionist expansionism is to seize all the oil-rich lands from the shores of the Euphrates to the banks of the Nile. The current chaos in the Middle East must be understood with this Zionist plan. No doubt many of the people taking part in the Middle East uprisings are genuinely doing so for their natural rights but Israel has full plans to manipulate the chaos in order to create an environment and an excuse for the nest big war in the Middle East. 

The Americans as usual will blindly support Israel like a slave fulfills every wish of his master however before Israel can impose another war it has a problem that is still stopping it from moving ahead. This problem is not Iran nor Syria it is the nuclear deterrence of Pakistan, plus the advance missile technology and highly well-trained and ideologically-motivated Pakistan armed forces.

Israel has always tried to sabotage the Pakistani nuclear program but miserably failed; now it is trying again through the Americans who have staged the Osama drama to put pressure on Pakistan and create a serious threat to its nuclear installations. The US at the behest of Israel is using its corporate media to spread negative propaganda about the safety of the Pakistani nuclear assets and some reports have even suggested that if things were to become volatile in Pakistan, the Americans will physically move in to secure the nuclear assets. This is easier said than done and the Pakistan Armed forces have made all the contingency plans to counter such nefarious US designs.

The reader must understand that all the hue and cry about the ISI and all the fake reports planted in the media that exaggerate the reports of militants' power is nothing more than a carefully conceived deception to convince the large ignorant public that the Pakistani nuclear program is 'a threat'. The fact of the matter is that all the Pakistani strategic installations and assets are well protected and no one can get close to the installations, let alone infiltrating them.

The proposed map of a "Greater Israel"

Israel is planning to wage a grand war in the Middle East as it hopes to fulfill its plan of creating what it calls a ‘Greater Israel’. A significant spoke in the wheels for Israel is the nuclear capability of Pakistan. Israel understands that unlike the easy targets in the Middle East, Pakistan not only has the strategic arsenal but also the capability of posing a serious threat to Israel’s future hegemonic plans in the region.

The humiliating defeat that the Americans now clearly see in Afghanistan is making Israel panic and pushing it towards a new misadventure. In the fast changing Middle East scenario and the final show down in Afghanistan, Pakistan must be ready to respond to and efficiently counter all possible threats. 

2. The United States of America

It is obvious to the world that the American military industrial complex like all the previous empires that tried to conquer Afghanistan are failing and now looking for a face-saving exit. The staged hoax at Abbottabad was also done for this purpose so that the American president can tell his people "the mission’ has been accomplished". There is no need to go into too much detail, it sufficient to note that various independent sources over the years have confirmed that Osama died many years back. The failure of the US administration to provide any proof only goes to confirm that the recent claims are nothing more than well staged lies

The Americans know they have to leave, with the spring offensive “Operation Badar” now well underway the Afghan Taliban have launched major offensives which are raising the cost of war for the Americans both in human and monetary terms.
 

Map of Afghanistan (red regions are Taliban strongholds, pink regions are areas with Taliban activity and minimum government control)

The US wants to damage Pakistan before it leaves Afghanistan. In addition, it still dreams of somehow causing harm to Pakistan' nuclear deterrence and it is for this purpose that the CIA has been stabbing Pakistan in the back and playing a double game with the ISI. 

The Americans have also been engaged in questionable activities inside Pakistan and the increased tensions between ISI and CIA have reached unprecedented levels. It is encouraging to see that finally the defence establishment in the country has effected a reduction in the US military/ intelligence staff in Pakistan.

3. India

Those who closely monitor Indian defence and foreign policy understand very well that India always attempts to harm Pakistani interests whenever any opportunity arises. India has and will always try to stab Pakistan in the back. Majority of Pakistanis understand the sinister Indian designs and also realize that any moves to normalize the relations between the two countries hold no real value for if a country’s defence and ideological doctrine is based on damaging your country and threatening your very existence, then peace is nothing more than wishful thinking. Indeed, a few Pakistanis fall for such moves like 'Aman ki Asha'; some out of pure naivety while some who are traitors in the ranks and guilty of treason.

The pragmatic and patriotic elements in Pakistan understand the Indian subversive activities being carried out in Pakistan. There is irrefutable evidence that India has been trying to destabilize Pakistan and therefore no talk of peace can be taken seriously by a neighbor that spends billions in trying to harm your country.

While the threats from India must never be underestimated, it is also important to make India realize that attacking Pakistan will not be in India’s own interest and may result in consequences that bring the end to its existence. The reader will understand that I am alluding to the separatist movements in India which can easily flare up if any sort of conflict is to erupt between the two nuclear states. The separatist movements in India have the potential to weaken the federation and eventually disintegrate it. The dynamics can take a much more dire turn in case India engages in any future conflict with Pakistan.

The Response:

We have briefly discussed the threats being faced by Pakistan. The situation is critical and the response has to be befitting to reduce the threat level. It must be understood that a dangerous game is being played by the three states, lead by our so-called friend and ally, the United States of America. However, the facts on the ground are now obvious to everyone and minus a small minority of ignorant or insincere elements, the majority of the people of Pakistan understand that the US has been an enemy in the guise of a friend and stabbing us in the back along with India while Israel has been playing its role by its lobby's influence in the US. It is fairly well understood that Washington's foreign policy is dictated by Tel Aviv.

Now we look at the Pakistani response to the threats:

1. Nuclear Deterrence

The Pakistani nuclear program has gone from strength to strength, and Pakistan has also now ensured that it has the means of sustaining a surprise attack and still manage to retaliate by deploying a second strike capability. In this regard the key achievements are:

> Pakistan now has deeply buried storage and launch facilities to retain a second strike capability in a nuclear war. 

> Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal has been redeployed at new secret locations. There is also expansion taking place to augment the program and maintain the level needed for strategic deterrence.

> In terms of the delivery mechanism (in case the weapons need to be used), Pakistan has multiple means delivery: Fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force and surface-to-surface missiles controlled by the Pakistan Army. 

> Pakistan has also accelerated its own missile development program and now has various types of ballistic missiles which are capable of carrying nuclear payloads. Pakistan is also developing nuclear-capable cruise missiles with ground, sea and air-launched versions. Pakistan continues to carry out ballistic missile tests after regular intervals.

Nuclear Doctrine

Pakistan's Nuclear Doctrine is formulated to counter the Indian threat and given the level and nature of this threat, Pakistan maintains the option of first-strike. In other words in case of aggression by India, we retain the option to use nuclear weapons first, even if the attack is with conventional weapons. 

Pakistan's nuclear policy is clear that a “minimum credible deterrent” must be maintained again as a deterrent to Indian military threat. Pakistan strategic assets have to be maintained at a level where they can achieve the following strategic imperatives: 

> Thwart external aggression

> Thwart incoming attacks through a combination of conventional and strategic forces

> Ensure retaliatory capability by securing strategic weapons

> Ensure strategic deterrence as a contribution to South Asia's general defence

2. Strategic relations with China

In the entire Osama saga, China was the one country that stood by Pakistan and not only sent the US a clear message on what it thought of the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty but also stepped up visible physical support by announcing the supply of fifty JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft to Pakistan on an emergency basis. 


The following statement by the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, was not just a message to Pakistan but also to the world especially the Americans: “I wish to stress here that no matter what changes might take place in the international landscape, China and Pakistan will remain forever good neighbours, good friends, good partners and good brothers” 

In addition, Pakistan and China have also decided to conduct joint military exercises in China’s Xingjian province.


Xingjian’s deputy Chief of Staff recently met with Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani and discussed the details of the drills.


General Kayani sent a clear signal when he said ”Pakistan and China will further increase their defense cooperation, these military exercises will help Pakistani troops learn professional expertise from the Chinese forces”


The support from China has historical reasons but there are also strategic reasons why it will be permanent and unaffected by any changes in the international scene; when a US delegate once confronted a Chinese diplomat about Beijing's unconditional support for Pakistan, the Chinese responded with a befitting sarcastic remark: "Pakistan is our Israel". This phrase explains the whole back ground to the Pakistan-China relationship; the Pakistani nation must value this support and use it to counter the moves being made by our hidden and obvious enemies.


There have also been reports that China has told the US in unequivocal terms that it will not stay neutral in case of armed aggression against Pakistan. 


3. Strategic relations with Saudi Arabia

Excerpts from the Terminal X report 'Concerns over the nuclear deterrence of Saudi Arabia': 


In February 2011, Pakistan's then Foreign Minister Qureshi stated "We will stand by Gulf countries in case any security situation arises. Pakistan gets affected if there is any security problem in any of the GCC states".


Increasing geostrategic partnership between Rawalpindi and Riyadh has been causing concern to the Americans as well the Israelis.


It was Pakistan’s idea to create a Pakistan-GCC Security Council to collectively combat internal/external threats. In March 2011, Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council held a joint strategic conference highlighting collaboration in the field of economics, agriculture, education but most importantly, defence and intelligence cooperation.


It is no secret that the Saudis have started to look towards Pakistan for support and also increased contacts with the Chinese in order to reduce their dependence on the US. The Saudi military and intelligence officials have discussed their concerns with Pakistan's GHQ and ISI, the concerns centre around the protection of the kingdom's sensitive assets. It is also pertinent to note that there are already a significant number of Pakistani SSG commandos and army units stationed in Saudi Arabia particularly near the Holy Sites of Makkah and Madinah.


The Sino-Pak-GCC strategic defence collaboration is the need of the hour and must be developed and made more effective to counter the dangerous game being played in the Middle East and Pakistan.


It was encouraging to read the reports that Secretary-General of Saudi Arabia's National Security Council Prince Bandar bin Sultan paid a visit to China and finalized a deal for CSS-3 DF-3 ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads.


4. Relations with Turkey

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy very close and cordial relationship in ideological, political, economic, defence and technical fields but these need to be further strengthened particularly in the field of defence. In 2010, the Turk President Abdullah Gul stressed the need for initiating joint defence production projects between Pakistan and Turkey. 


President Gul said the existing strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey provides an opportunity for joint ventures among the defence production organs of the defence forces of Pakistan and Turkey. He also showed keen interest in Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder aircraft. 


Pakistan and Turkey must further boost their strategic partnership and intensify political and economic cooperation.  It is a positive change that Turkey has distanced itself from Israel, eventually this relationship should end and Turkey should foster strategic ties with camp that is to challenge the Israeli/American nexus.


5. The Russian factor

Russia and Pakistan are expanding their cooperation, with a package of recent agreements on a number of key directions such as energy, transport and agriculture, signed at a summit in Moscow recently. Apart from that, President Dmitri Medvedev upheld Pakistan’s desire to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). 


Assessing the outcome of negotiations at Moscow, the Russian head of state stressed their importance and urged the promotion of bilateral ties:


“Overall, relations between Russia and Pakistan have been progressing consistently and steadily. We have seen interest in mutual cooperation from our business communities, regional authorities and public organizations. I therefore see excellent prospects for our cooperation. I believe we should step up our economic cooperation, and certain steps have been taken already but more needs to be done in various areas”


There are also reports that Pakistan is in talks with Russia for purchasing fighter aircraft. This is a good move to reduce dependence on American weapons and must be pursued successfully and swiftly.


Finally, it is also a positive sign that China and Russia have also agreed to promote the sustained growth of their strategic partnership over the next decade. The equation of China-Russia-Pakistan is one that can more than counter any American moves in the region and beyond.

Concluding Remarks

Pakistan is facing unprecedented threats from multiples sources. The situation is extremely sensitive and volatile and the response has to be carefully calculated and managed. An emotional or hasty response can compromise the national interest and our strategic assets. The ISI and the armed forces confront the enemies. The nation must wise up and avoid falling into the trap being laid by the enemy. 


Vicious media campaigns, half-baked truths and twisted facts are being used not only by the American and Zionist media but also by their agents planted in our local media houses. People must not accept all the news given to them on popular channels. They have to make the effort of corroborating news and information from independent sources to understand the complete picture. Partial truth is often as dangerous as total lies; twisted news is often made up of facts mixed with some fictional elements.


It might not be farfetched to assume that a war may be imposed on Pakistan by the US, its form might be direct or indirect but the nation must be ready for any eventuality. India will also offer itself to be used and may go for a limited strike however the guaranteed response of our armed forces must make it think twice before any misadventure. 


The nation must be ready to face any threatening development and everyone must stand firm with the Armed forces. 


I end this paper with a quote from the founder of Pakistan, M.A. Jinnah:

“Pakistan has come to stay and no power on earth can destroy it”.

{EOB}Webster Tarpley: Libya War Could Bring Obama Down

NATO warplanes have intensified attacks on Libyan capital, Tripoli after British Foreign Secretary William Hauge said there is no deadline for military operations in the country. He said NATOS's almost three month-long mission is intensifying and it could last for more than months.


The following is the transcript of Press TV's interview with Webster Tarpley Webster Tarpley regarding the issue.


PressTV: Why is NATO going a lot further than the UN has allowed to. What do you think the final outcome or results that NATO has in mind?


Tarpley: well we are seeing a drama of Imperialist desperation. The goal of all this all along has been to smash Libya into various parts to drive Gaddafi out of power and to seize control of the oil to re-impose the yoke of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in still more severe form than we ever had it. And I think right now desperation is growing especially in London and Paris, that old Suez 1956 combination unreconstructed Imperialist. They are desperate now because what they met with so far are not working.


They tried high level bombing, combined with this rebel rabble underground with a lot of al-Qaeda fighters included in it and that's not working. So their basic cards to play are still two. One is now the helicopters that the British and French ships sent with their boasting that the helicopters cannot ... very close to the ground well.


Anyone who saw the movie black hawk down knows the vulnerability of these helicopters to rocket propelled grenades and in particular to this ..kind of surface to air missile that the Russians undoubtedly have sold to Gaddafi. So as these helicopters come into play, it's likely that loses may increase and that will cause a crisis in that coalition. The other side of it is that they back ground invasion, but ground invasion will probably bring down the British government which is a coalition and if would guarantee that Sarkozy would never get a second term in office, and the Italian government and couple of others will probably fall too. Let me also mention that here in the United States, you are getting Republicans, people who have been warmongers for decades who are now ceasing on the Libyan war as a means of attacking Obama, especially we do have the war power act which would have required Obama to get congressional approval for what he is doing within 60 days meaning by about May 20th. At May 20th the second clock starts which gives him 30 days to pull out. If Obama does not pull out of the attack on Libya by about the 20th of June, he could be brought down by the Republicans in the House, who might use that as a vehicle to express their resentment so they build up some other issues.

PressTV: the use of illegal weapons also makes matters worse. Don't you think so?


Tarpley: I think the record of NATO is one of the Nuremburg crimes frankly. I think that Nuremburg precedents do apply and people in the NATO command should realize that those Nuremburg precedents are still there. Whatever, somebody like Ocampo at the International Criminal Court may say there is some idea of justice. So yes, we have undoubtedly depleted uranium being used, cluster bombs being used and all the rest and that's what they call democracy these days. 

{EOB}Pakistan and Iran Promoting Trade and Commerce with each other:

ISLAMABAD -Pakistan-Iran Joint Commission on Road on Tuesday recommended that Pakistan and Iran should open two additional international crossing points at Pishin-Mand as well as Gabd-Reemdan for promotion of trade and commerce between the two counties.
Presently there is only one international crossing point between the two countries. The joint recommendations were signed at the concluding session of the 7th Pakistan-Iran Joint Commission on Road Transportation at Islamabad on Monday last.
The two sides discussed the problems being faced by the transporters and traders at the crossing point of Taftan-Mirjaveh and agreed to resolve them. The meeting also recommended visa abolition for drivers of trucks/trailers/buses as a measure to facilitate promotion of people to people contact and economic activity between the two countries, said a press release issued from communication Ministry.
It was also decided that National Logistics Cell (NLC) would establish a modern border terminal at Taftan. Both sides agreed on working hours from 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m. to facilitate the Zaireen at Taftan-Mirjaveh Border.
The Pakistani side told the meeting that National Highway Authority has incurred an amount of Rs.2.3 Billion during last three years on maintenance/ rehabilitation of 605 km Quetta-Taftan Highway (N-40), and plans to upgrade the road to international standards in future.
It was decided that National Highway Authority will set up three rest areas at Taftan, Yakmach and Padak on Quetta-Taftan Road for convenience of the visitors/Zairian.
Both sides also agreed to coordinate efforts to curb human trafficking including issuance of fake passport and visas. Iranian side assured to expedite the process of ratification International Road Transport Agreement (2008) between Pakistan-Iran and complete it within next two months. Pakistan has already ratified the document.
The Nation:Pakistan