The Tale of F-16s and the Indian Grudges – l l

By Sohail Parwaz

Now the question arises as to why US is offering Pakistan F16s? An easy answer known to any sane person remains that Pakistan is a key player in the region (whether the Indians like it or not). Its known to all and sundries that if the Afghan Taliban, at all listen to anyone then it’s either KSA or Pakistan and while bowing to this factor, the Americans remarkably altered their perspective vis-à-vis Afghanistan during the last two years. The US after realizing that making India the sheriff in Afghanistan, logically won’t work, brought shift in its Afghan policy. Even in a recent statement, President Obama proclaimed that although US troops would be staying in Afghanistan longer than he had promised, however, the White House is keen to get the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table. The Americans know that it’s the game of give and take, and they will pay any price to press the Taliban to return for peace talks and to do their part to hunt for the peace that Afghans deserve.

The anti-Pakistan lobbies’ conspiracies did work but for a short while, when in January this year the US Congress “mired” Obama administration’s planned sale of eight new F16 fighter jets to Pakistan. Several requests for clarification and information were made by members of the House of Representatives, however, they clarified that it does not mean the move has been “cancelled”. Besides the Indians and the pro-Indian lobbies there was a Brutus named Hussain Haqqani who openly sided with the Indian anti-Pakistan campaign. It was disclosed by the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who accused India and former ambassador Husain Haqqani of trying to disrupt Pakistan’s deal with the United States to purchase F16 fighter jets.

To the sheer frustration of the Indians, about two weeks back, the US government finally disclosed approving the sale of eight F16 fighter jets, radars and other equipment to Pakistan and a day before announcing it, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency had notified the lawmakers about possible sale. New Delhi’s depression over the Pentagon’s choice was quite tacit; hence, India’s Foreign Secretary summoned US Ambassador for India to convey the country’s ‘displeasure’ over the possible sale. A US government official, while responding to Indian reaction, befittingly set aside India’s objections to F16 deal and stated, “We support the proposed sale of eight F-16s to Pakistan, which we view as the right platform in support of Pakistan’s counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. These operations reduce the ability of militants to use Pakistani territory as a safe haven for terrorism and it is in the national interests of both Pakistan and the United States, and in the interest of the region more broadly”. Although US lawmakers have 30 days to block the sale, nevertheless, such action is rare, as deals like this are well-vetted before any formal notification. The Pentagon Press Secretary Petro Cook also availed opportunity to snub India and made blunt comments about India’s needless anxiety. While addressing a briefing, highlighting the Indian concern, he said that the sale of F16 fighter jets to Pakistan should not be of concern to India and the deal took into account the regional security situation.

Parallel to this ‘shut-up call’ by Pentagon, Indian conspiracies were thwarted by senior diplomats in Washington who remained engaged with the Capitol Hill and met several Senators and Congressmen to make a case for Pakistan. Analysts believe the proposed sale will improve Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future security threats without disturbing the basic military balance in the region. PAF currently operates 76 F16 fighters. The latest sale, if it goes through, will boost the fleet to 84 aircraft.

It’s high time for Indians to stop showing unease over Pakistan’s military ability and instead should sweat real hard to improve her own air force which currently appears to be in shambles. One can appreciate the Indian pain over Pakistan’s improving strategic capabilities, nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that India instead of putting their air force in order, starts protesting over Pakistan’s battle readiness. It reminds me of a joke about djinn who came across a quarreling lion and a hare. Had it not been little indecent I would have shared it with my Indian friends, right away. Believe me it’s very pertinent to them.

Conspiracy Against the Conspirator Himself, What an Irony

By Ishaal Zehra

On February 22, 2016 nearly all the media carried the same headlines quoting Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India as saying, “(Some people) could not digest the simple fact as to how a tea vendor went on to become Prime Minister. This has not gone down well with them… their only aim is how to finish Modi, how to destabilise Modi government and how to throw muck on Modi”. Quite interesting, the man who is famous for hatching conspiracies against Muslims in India is complaining about being conspired against.

February is the month where in the year 2002 the Gujarat riots occurred. It was a devastating three-day period of communal violence in Gujarat by extremist Hindus under the guidance and command of Narinder Modi. More than 2,000 Muslims were murdered, and tens of thousands rendered homeless in carefully planned and coordinated attacks of unprecedented savagery. The Guardian reported that the slayers of Muslims were even seen smashing the heads of children against rocks.

The riots began after some 60 Hindu pilgrims died when a train carrying them was set on fire. On 27 February 2002, the Sabarmati Express train was stopped outside Godhra station because of the emergency chain being pulled. The train was then attacked and four coaches were burned by a large mob. It has been alleged that the attack was the result of a conspiracy hatched by local Muslims. 58 people, including some Hindu pilgrims who were returning from the holy city of Ayodhya, were said to be trapped and killed in the burning train.

Interestingly it took Government of Gujarat only 10 hours to declare that the burning of S6 Coach of Sabarmati Express at Godhra was the result of a pre-planned conspiracy to kill karsevaks but it took them another full year to name the fuel that was used to “burn down” the Coach. From the first charge-sheet to second and third by Noel Parmar, the second Investigation officer the fuel name was changed to petrol from kerosene. Another proof of the SIT being genuine was the guy named Ranjit Singh Patel, the key police witness in the Sabarmati train case, who spilled his beans in a sting operation carried out by Tehelka revealeing that he was paid Rs. 50 thousand to name Salim Panwala and two other accused at the behest of the Investigating Officer Shri Noel Parmer. This admission by Ranjit Patel demolishes his earlier statement before the Police that he had sold 140 litres of Petrol to Salim.

This incident is perceived as the trigger for the widespread riots that followed in Godhra as well as the rest of Gujarat in which more than two thousand individuals died, thousands more were rendered homeless and property worth hundreds of crores was lost.

On 21 May 2002 Gujarat government set up a commission to probe the train fire and the riots. That commission exonerated Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the deadly religious riots that followed the blaze. He was accused of failing to halt the religious violence and some opponents said he indirectly encouraged some of the Hindu rioters. But the commission dismissed these allegations. Obviously the state commission was set up with the intention of giving a clean chit to its state minister.

The twist came when Justice UC Banerjee submitted his report on 3 March 2006 saying the train fire was an accident. While Justice Nanavati's report presented on 25 September 2008 described the train burning as a "conspiracy". "There is absolutely no evidence to show that either the chief minister or any of the ministers in his council or police officers played any role in the Godhra incident," Justice GT Nanavati had concluded in his report.

BBC News article quoted a senior police officer's sworn statement to India's Supreme Court who alleged that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi deliberately allowed anti-Muslim riots in the state. Sanjiv Bhatt says he attended a meeting at which Mr. Modi is alleged to have said that the Hindus should be allowed to vent their anger.

Sanjiv Bhatt was a senior police officer in the Gujarat intelligence bureau during the 2002 riots.

In a sworn statement to the Supreme Court, he said that his position allowed him to come across large amounts of information and intelligence both before and during the violence, including the actions of senior administrative officials.

He also alleges that, in a meeting in the night before the riots, Mr. Modi told officials that the Muslim community needed to be taught a lesson following an attack on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims.

The Amicus report 2011 also strongly disagrees with the SIT's view that no case against the Gujarat Chief Minister was made out. It says that only the cross-examination of senior Gujarat police officers, including Sanjiv Bhatt could establish whether the Chief Minister was innocent or guilty.

Significantly, the report also says that Mr. Bhatt's statement was made probable by the presence of two Ministers in the Ahmedabad Police Control Room (PCR) at the time Muslims were being attacked. The killers may have been in touch with police and politicians.

In a sting carried out in 2007 by the weekly magazine Tehelka, politicians, businessmen, officials and policemen were caught on tape, delightedly recalling how they murdered and raped Muslims with the full imprimatur of their superiors.

That was all probably not enough, the SIT recommended closing the case against Mr. Modi on the grounds that police officer Bhatt, who was vital to fixing blame on the Chief Minister, was a controversial and unreliable witness. The SIT also concluded that there was no material on record to show interference by the two Ministers who were present in the PCR when Muslims were being attacked across Ahmedabad.

Defending himself against accusations over the 2002 riots, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi asserted that his government used its “full strength” to “do the right thing” and he had no guilty feeling.

In an interview to the newswire Reuters later, he said people had the “right to be critical in a democracy,” but he did not have any guilty feeling. He said he was sad about the riots, adding he would be sad even if a “puppy” came under a car…”. “People have a right to be critical. We are a democratic country. Everyone has his own view,” he said.

Pankaj Mishra very well described the situation in the land called India. In his article in ‘The guardian’ he says, “In any case, the non-recurrence of 2002-style killings in India provides little reason to credit its elites with heightened tolerance and compassion. Left behind by economic growth, Muslims are more demoralised and depressed than ever; and the country's extreme inequalities, often enforced with violence, express themselves in new forms, ranging from suicides by tens of thousands of farmers, to militant insurgencies. Old-style rioting has been replaced by state terrorism, often cheer-led by the elites.

Sad Indeed!

The Tale of the F-16s and the Indian Grudges – l

By Sohail Parwaz

 

The growling in Indian stomachs started last year when in May, the US handed over to Pakistan, over 14 combat aircraft, 59 military trainer jets and 374 armoured personnel carriers, used in Afghanistan and Iraq by the American forces. The announcement of selling eight more F-16 by the Obama administration, in an attempt to shore up the two countries’ relationship despite Washington’s reservations about Pakistan’s growing nuclear arsenal, came as adding salt to the Indian injuries. The Indian lobby with the support of the Western media and The New York Times as the flag bearer of the malicious campaign initiated a controversy about the supply claiming that the aircrafts will be used against India and not against the terrorist outfits.

One could understand the reasons behind Indians showing lost sleep. It was mainly because of two reasons; firstly, the supply of this used equipment on the request of Pakistan, for a billion dollars worth of military hardware and equipment, was approved by the US State Department just within one month which was a clear sign that the US identifies Pakistan as a country of vital importance for US foreign policy and national interests. The second reason has got nothing to do with Pakistan and it is rather India’s own confusion and inefficiency since latter has not been able to choose their MCA (main combat aircraft) yet, which was to replace the MIG-21, the backbone of Indian Air Force by 2012. Thanks to those few worried Indian minds who at least decided to replace current main battle aircrafts MIG-21 & 27 with the indigenously built HAL Teja, though Teja too is in confusing state.

Out of total 245 MiG-21MF, about 100 (Type 88) and one squadron of upgraded MiG-21 Bison aircrafts are to be retired in 2017, however, remaining 132 aircrafts are to be phased out by 2022 or 2025, which are to be replaced by the HAL Tejas; an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), for developing which, India spent decades. Two squadrons of the Tejas will be commissioned before 2020, and four squadrons of a higher-end Tejas Mark II in the mid 2020s. But IAF officers widely express skepticism and contempt about the quality of the Mark I, while the production of the Mark II is increasingly delayed. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which developed the Tejas, has made efforts to push a slightly improved Mark IA variation onto the IAF, and even suggested that this could prevent the need for the Mark II altogether, but this seems unlikely to be met with enthusiasm by those who actually have to fly the aircraft in combat.

At the high end is the T-50, a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), part of Russia’s PAK-FA program, whose first prototype flew in 2010 and has been in testing since. Although, India is notionally co-developing the aircraft, however, in practice, India’s role has grown increasingly limited to tyre and radar coolant. In recent past there is growing discontentment among the Indian air force since the Russians treat Indians like broods. Moreover, the sane among the Indians raised protesting voice about turning the IAF into a total Russian fleet for another generation and the risks of betting heavily on an unproven platform, with obvious doubts over the aircraft’s engines, stealth features, weapons carriage, radar, and safety. Unsurprisingly, two quick slashes in the prospective order were made, one after the other, in September 2014 and then in August 2015, a total cut down of 70%, from ten squadrons (220 aircraft) to just three (63 aircraft). So that pretty clearly shows the reason as to why the Indians make hue and cry on the supply to Pakistan.

Coming back to the F-16 deal, the Indian lobby and their American well wishers had a very strong hope that the Congress would block the aircraft sales. The New York Time had severe objection regarding informing the Congress about the proposed sale of the additional fighters, just days before Pakistani Prime Minister’s visit of US in October 2015. The NYT report claimed that many in the US Congress were concerned that the F-16 jets are more useful to Pakistan in its long confrontation with India than for counterterrorism operations. The newspaper on behest of Indian lobby widely propagated that the Congress was not willing to approve the deal.

Whenever there is a talk of military hardware supply to Pakistan, the anti-Pakistan forces with India in lead, would immediately start beating the drum about Pakistan’s so-called nuclear expansion programs. Even in this case when the US showed intentions about handing over eight F 16 toPakistan the so called nuclear analysts started a needless discussion in media. In a report released in late October 2015, two ‘authoritative’ nuclear analysts Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris estimated that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons stockpile will possibly expand further to 220 to 250 warheads in coming 10 years, to make Pakistan the world’s fifth largest nuclear weapons state behind the United States, Russia, China and France.

(To be concluded)

US Double Standard of Arms Supply in South Asia

By Sajjad Shaukat

International community is so focused on the double standard of the United States in Syria that it has ignored America’s similar policy in South Asia, which also needs appropriate attention.

In this regard, the US expressed concern on February 12, this year over the security of Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons. The statement followed the US announcement about its intention to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. At a State Department news briefing, Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said, “Tensions between India and Pakistan is equally worrying...we’re concerned both about the security of those nuclear weapons, and that’s been a common refrain in our discussions with Pakistan.”

Tone elaborated, “We believe it’s in our vital national security interests to support Pakistan in carrying out its efforts to destroy these terrorist networks, and we believe it’s an important partner in the region in achieving a stable and secure Afghanistan.”

Next day, India summoned the US envoy in New Delhi, Richard Verma and recorded protest over the US announcement to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

On February 17, 2016, rejecting Indian reaction to the F-16 deal with Pakistan, the Pentagon Press Secretary Petro Cook stated, “We don’t think this deal should concern India in any way. Pakistan is combating terrorism and its defence capability needs to be enhanced accordingly.”

In this context, during his briefing to the National Assembly, on January 19, last year, while confirming anti-Pakistan lobbies in the US, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif had revealed, “Pakistan is trying to acquire eight F-16 fighter jets from the US on lease, but Husain Haqqani, the former ambassador to the US is campaigning along with India to malign Pakistan and to block delivery of F-16 fighter jets.”

On February 11, 2016, in a testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Defence Intelligence Agency Director, Lt-Gen. Vincent Stewart (R) termed Pakistan’s counter-insurgency operations along Pakistan’s western border [Across Pak-Afghan border] and military operation Zarb-e-Azb and Karachi operation as successful in reducing violence in Pakistan.

Lt-Gen. Stewart explained, “Pakistan is fast improving its nuclear security and is aware of the threats posed by extremists to its nuclear arsenal.” But at the same time, he remarked about the increasing risks of an incident associated with the growing nuclear stockpile. 

However, Lt. Lt-Gen. Vincent Stewart’s contradictory statement is part of US double standard and ambivalent policy in South Asia. Overtly and covertly, US-led India, Israel and some western countries keep on conducting propaganda against Pakistan, because it is the lonely nuclear country in the Islamic World.

When terrorists had attacked on Pakistan’s Naval Airbase in Karachi on May 23, 2011, US-led some western countries, including India and Israel exploited the situation through disinformation about the security of Pak nukes. And another terrorists’ assault on Kamra Base was successfully foiled by the personnel of Pakistan Air Force, but, a baseless report, published in the New York Times had indicated that suspected militants attacked a major Pakistani Air Force base where some of the country’s nuclear weapons were considered to be stored in the early hours of the militants’ attack. The ex-US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had also stated, “There is a danger of nuclear weapons of Pakistan, falling into hands of terrorists.”

Particularly, in 2009 when the heavily-armed Taliban entered Swat, Dir and Buner, US high officials and their media had exaggerated the ‘Talibinisation’ of the whole Pakistan, while showing concerns about Pakistan’s atomic arms. In that regard, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had warned that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. But, when Pakistan’s armed forces ejected the Taliban insurgents out of these areas by breaking their backbone, she started appreciating the capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces.

Undoubtedly, Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe hands—well-protected and are under tight security arrangements, having the best command and control system. This fact has also been recognized by some top officials of the US and some western countries.

It is notable that Indian past record proves various kinds of unprotected incidents, security lapses in relation to various nuclear plants and the related-sensitive materials including events of nuclear theft and smuggling. 

In this respect, in the end of November, 2009, more than 90 Indian workers suffered radiation due to contamination of drinking water at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnataka. On July 27, 1991, a similar event took place at the heavy water plant run by the Department of Atomic Energy at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Nuclear radiation had affected and injured many labourers there.

In July 1998, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation seized eight kg. of nuclear material from Arun, an engineer in Chennai, including two other engineers. It was reported that the uranium was stolen from an atomic research center. On November 7, 2000, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicated that Indian police had seized 57 pounds of uranium and arrested two men for illicit trafficking of radioactive material. IAEA said that Indian civil nuclear facilities were vulnerable to thefts. On January 26, 2003, CNN disclosed that Indian company, NEC Engineers Private Ltd. shipped 10 consignments to Iraq, containing highly sensitive equipment including titanium vessels and centrifugal pumps. Indian investigators acknowledged that the company falsified customs documents to get its shipments out of India.

On June 12, 2004, Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation, an American company was fined US $ 300,000 for exporting a nuclear component to the Bhaba Atomic Research Center in India. In December 2005, United States imposed sanctions on two Indian firms for selling missile goods and chemical arms material to a Muslim country in violation of India’s commitment to prevent proliferation. In the same year, Indian scientists, Dr. Surendar and Y. S. R. Prasad had been blacklisted by the US due to their involvement in nuclear theft. In December, 2006, a container packed with radioactive material had been stolen from an Indian fortified research atomic facility near Mumbai.

Nevertheless, an alarming increase has been witnessed in the acquisition of arms and ammunition on the part of India; and it is likely to spend around $250 bn. on acquisition of weapons in next few years. The appetite is regional-specific with Pakistan being the prime target including China. India has also developed considerable nuclear weaponry and delivery systems.

It is mentionable that in its report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) had disclosed on February 22, 2015 that India is the world’s largest recipient of arms—“India (14 percent of global arms imports), China (4.7 per cent), Australia (3.6 per cent) and Pakistan (3.3 per cent).”

New Delhi’s military is acquiring a slew of new equipments from combat aircraft to submarines and artillery. It is currently finalising a deal with France’s Dassault Aviation to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets in a contract worth an estimated $12 billion. 

Although peace and brinksmanship cannot co-exist in the modern era, yet India seeks to destabilize Asia through its aggressive designs.

While, as part of the double standard, America brushed aside the Indian poor record regarding the safety of nuclear weapons and materials. And despite, Indian violations of various international agreements and its refusal to sign Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Additional Protocol with the IAEA, Washington signed a pact of nuclear civil technology with New Delhi in 2008. During American President Barack Obama’s visit to India, on January 25, 2016, the US and India announced a breakthrough on the pact which would allow American companies to supply New Delhi with civilian nuclear technology.

On November 2, 2010, US agreed to sell India the most expensive—the new F-35 fighter jets including US F-16 and F-18 fighters, C-17 and C-130 aircraft, radar systems, Harpoon weapons etc. Besides acquisition of arms and weapons from other western countries—especially Israel, America is a potential military supplier to India. US also pressurized IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to grant a waiver to New Delhi for obtaining civil nuclear trade on larger scale. 

As a matter of fact, US wants New Delhi to assume anti-China role. Beijing is apprehensive about the emerging threat, as the intent of President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quite clear, while mentioning about free sea lanes and air passages in the South China Sea.

In this connection, tension arose between India and China when Indian army erected a military camp in Chumar Sector of Ladakh at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)-disputed border, situated between the two countries. Similarly, Indian soldiers crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir on January 6, 2012 and attacked a Pakistani check post, killing one Pakistani soldier. Afterwards, Indian troops shot dead more Pakistani soldiers on the LoC.

It is noteworthy that under the Pak-China pretext, Indian ex-Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor disclosed on December 29, 2010 that the Indian army “is now revising its five-year old doctrine” and is preparing for a “possible two-front war with China and Pakistan.”

It is worth-mentioning that that after 9/11, both India and Israel which had openly jumped on Bush’s anti-terrorism enterprise are acting upon a secret diplomacy, targeting Pakistan China and Iran. It could be assessed from the interview of Israel’s ambassador to India, Mark Sofer, published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008. Regarding India’s defense arrangements with Tel Aviv, Sofer had surprisingly revealed, “We do have a defense relationship with India, and “with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret.” In fact, with the support of Israel, New Delhi has been acquiring an element of strategic depth by setting up logistical bases in the Indian Ocean for its navy.

Particularly, fast growing economic power of China coupled with her rising strategic relationship with the Third World, and especially Pakistan—after signing of agreement, “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor” which is, though for the benefit of South Asia, but, has irked the eyes of Americans and Indians. Owing to jealousy, America desires to make India a major power to counterbalance China in Asia—while, New Delhi has continued violations at the LoC and cross-border terrorism in Pakistan.  

For the purpose, by availing the phenomenon of lawlessness in Afghanistan, secret agencies like American CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW have well-established their covert network in that country, and as part of the double game, they are using the terrorists of the Islamic State group (ISIS) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for conducting various terror attacks in Pakistan. These secret agencies are also making efforts to weaken Tibetan regions of China, Pakistan’s province of Balochistan and Sistan-Balochistan of Iran by promoting acrimonious sense of dissent and political volatility.  

Notably, on July 20, 2011, while hinting towards Pak-China ties, the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged India to be more assertive in Asia, saying that as American ally, the country should play more of a leadership role. She explained, “India has the potential to positively shape the future of the Asia-Pacific.” 

It is owing to the US dual policy that New Delhi openly follows threatening diplomacy in South Asia. In this context, in May 1998 when India detonated five nuclear tests, it also compelled Pakistan to follow the suit. The then Defense Minister George Fernandes had also declared publicly that “China is India’s potential threat No. 1.” New Delhi which successfully tested missile, Agni-111in May 2007, has extended its range to target all Chinese cities. Now, by setting aside peace-offers of Beijing and Islamabad, New Delhi has entangled the latter in a deadly arms race. 

While, international community has been making strenuous efforts for world peace in wake of global financial crisis and war against terrorism, but India has particularly initiated deadly nuclear arms race in South Asia where people are already facing multiple problems of grave nature. Majority of South Asian people are living below the poverty level, lacking basic facilities like fresh food and clean water. Yielding to acute poverty, every day, some persons commit suicide.

Even, Indian civil society organizations, while complaining of excessive defense spending, recently, pointed out that the government spends very little amount for the betterment of people. Indian defense analyst Ravinder Pal Singh, while indicating New Delhi’s unending defense expenditures at the cost of poverty-alleviation, calls it guns-versus-butter question. 

Nonetheless, by ignoring regional problems and especially resolution of Indo-Pak issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute which remains a nuclear flashpoint, Indian rulers state that they do not have any belligerent policy. But, it becomes a big joke of the 21st century, reminding a maxim, “armed to the teeth, but no enemy”, if we take cognizance of India’s increasing defense purchases in wake of her aggressive designs. In fact, it is the fault of the US which openly displays double standard of arms supply in South Asia

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

Pakistan’s Approach towards Saudi-Iran Rift

 

By:    Aasef Chauhdry

There is not a single piece of land on earth where one can see the peace prevailing. However, ironically, the Muslim countries are the most affected areas, which is quite surprising and disturbing as well. It appears as if there are greater plans to keep the Muslim Ummah under the war clouds and bloodshed just to pave way for Israel. May it be Asia, Africa or Europe; the targets are only the Muslim countries. The most recent example is of Saudi-Iran conflict which has brought both the countries, literally at the verge of war. The fissured relations and swelling tension between both Muslim countries have serious consequences for the region in particular and the whole Muslim world in general. The heightening belligerency and non-cooperation between both sides will only benefit the vicious and self-perpetuating unsophisticated and close-minded ideology of ISIS.

It’s only a few weeks back that suddenly there was the talk about Turkey-Russia row in air, which ignited soon after a Russian plane was shot down by the Turkish Air Force for violating the latter’s air spaces. Both the countries were at the brink of a clash, nevertheless, the situation cooled down after the exchange of hot statements from both the sides. Somehow the other it looks as if that normalcy or easing of tension between both the countries was not appreciated by the enemies of peace in the region. If the current KSA-Iran escalation in rift is critically analysed it seems as if a well engineered plot has been designed to create a more easy and uncontestable environment for Israel in the region.

The rising tension between both the significant powers of Middle East is not likely to serve Ummah’s any cause, rather it’s going to seriously affect the peace process initiative in Syria and Yemen which is already being spoiled by a large number of known and unknown stakeholders of both the conflicts. It will also cast negative shadow over the plight of Palestinians people who are witnessing growing aggression from Israel and are paying the heavy price for their freedom.

The most disappointing part of this whole scenario is the one that is being played by the international peace watchdogs. As the crisis escalated, the little has been done in the form of positive and practical diplomacy by the international community to tranquil cross-Gulf tensions, apart from mere appeals for self-discipline. Only Russia has come forward and has offered to mediate. Those who sincerely desire, to see peace prevailing in the Middle East, are looking towards the UN to step forward and play a decisive role to cool down both the parties. The UN must play a more perceptible role in cooling tempers as the Middle East cannot afford a Saudi-Iranian inferno.

Amidst this all, Pakistan has adopted a sane approach by announcing that it would work to reduce tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, along with working for “unity” within the Muslim world. Pakistan has seriously realised that the geographic, geopolitical and geo-economic reasons along with issues of religious sensitivities compel Pakistan not to take sides in the enmity. It’s certainly in the best interest of Pakistan to safeguard its internal communal harmony and stability, to stay neutral under any circumstances or come what may, since impartiality is the best choice for Pakistan to make at this moment.

Everyone knows that Pakistan enjoys a very vital place among the Muslim Ummah, hence being a very important Muslim country; Pakistan should activate its diplomatic corps to move UN, OIC and other international/regional forums to bring the rival countries on parley table. At the same time, media is expected to play a very responsible and positive role and should follow the guidelines issued by the PEMRA at all costs to avoid generating controversies on the issue and urge for de-escalation of the tension. Besides this the government’s efforts in this regard should be acclaimed and approved by the media. Pakistan is playing a unique and unprecedented role which should not go unnoted.

Peaceful Balochistan: Need of the Day

By       Aasef Chauhdry

Dr Mannan Baloch, a senior leader of the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), and four other suspected militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Mastung on 30 January 2016. Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, while addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister Secretariat Quetta the next very day. The others present at the occasion were

the Inspector General of Balochistan Police, Ahsan Mehboob, DIG Frontier Corps Briga­dier Tahir and a spokesman for the Balochistan government, Anwarul Haq Kakar. He said Mannan headed the Baloch National Movement (BNM), an organisation supporting militants. According to him Mannan headed the Baloch National Movement (BNM), an organisation supporting militants. During the search operation conducted by the security forces in Killi Datu area of Mastung, an exchange of fire took place between the security personnel and militants hiding in a house and that’s where Mannan along with his four comrades was killed. After the clash security forces seized arms and ammunition from the house where the five men were hiding.

As it was quite expected that on his death the Western media and the foreign agencies started propaganda about killing of innocent and peaceful political worker; Mannan Baloch, whereas the minister very categorically told the media that Mannan and four other men were allegedly involved in subversive activities, including attacks on law enforcement agencies.

Mannan Baloch was the secretary general of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and number 2 of Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). Being employed in Balochistan health department he was not only an intrepid political campaigner whose party could successfully hold shutter down strikes in Khuzdar to propagate the separatist theme but was also very instrumental in influencing the educated youth taking refuge of humanitarian aspects in fueling the insurgent agenda.

On the directions of his handlers Mannan was a staunch critic of the CPEC. His effort was to propagate that ethnic Baloch people view the project as a colonizing endeavor by the military and the Chinese to usurp the Baloch land and resources.  His efforts were directed to create a perception that the Baloch leaders who oppose these construction projects in Balochistan because of the fear that the Baloch will not be the primary recipient of the investment are actually fighting for the Baloch people rights. The Baloch , who make only 5% of Pakistan’s total population, will be converted into a minority on their own land with the influx of ‘outsiders’ on the port city.

Mr. Bugti alleged that some foreign agencies, including Indian secret agency RAW and Afghans, were stoking the unrest in Balochistan. However, the country’s security forces were determined to confront foreign agents and their supporters in Balochistan. So was in case of Mannan, who was a militant commander and who had appeared armed in numerous videos and photographs. In videos he had accept the responsibility for many attacks involving killing of pro government civilians and policemen. As a matter of fact the political side of Mannan had never been a cause of his fame but these militant activities. During earthquake of September 2013 Mannan was actively involved in targeting the law enforcement agencies operation for relief activities in Awaran District.

Mannan was financed, assisted and propagated as a helping hand in connection with IDPs of military operations by an INGO Action Aid Pakistan. Being employee of health department he shared sensitive information regarding the IDPs to the NGO especially on the medical needs of women and children of the conflict to be proliferated for vested designs.  He is alleged to remain part of the medical practitioners involved in the illegal sale of human organs and exploited the IDPs in the camps where Doctors had taken their kidneys out. The children of IDPs were terrorized not to divulge more details.

He informed the media that subversive activities in the province were parts of attempts to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. However, he added, security forces of the country would foil all such moves.

He informed that in recent operations conducted in the port city of Gwadar, a large number of people who were allegedly involved in subversive activities had been taken into custody. How serious the security forces are about peace in the province is evident through the forces efforts in this regard. The security forces had conducted 239 intelligence-based operations in Balochistan over the past two months in which 22 militants were killed and 14 others injured.

India’s Offensive-Defensive Doctrine

By Sajjad Shaukat

Since the leader of the ruling party BJP Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, various developments like unprecedented rise of Hindu extremism, persecution of minorities, forced conversions of other religious minorities into Hindus, ban on beef and cow slaughter, inclusion of Hindu religious books in curriculum, creation of war-like situation with Pakistan, unprovoked firing at the Line of Control in Kashmir and Working Boundary across Pak-Indian border clearly show that encouraged by the fundamentalist rulers, Hindu extremist outfits such as BJP, RSS VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena including other similar parties have been promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism in India by propagating ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) which has become genesis of India’s offensive-defensive doctrine.

As part of its offensive-defensive doctrine, New Delhi is destabilizing Afghanistan—all regional states, while its major focus has always been towards Pakistan, a policy of weakening Pakistan. In this regard, double game is particularly part of India’s offensive-defensive doctrine.

In fact, Ajit Doval, the ex-spymaster who is now National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister Modi is the real author and controller of India’s offensive-defensive doctrine.

It is notable that on January, 20, this year, at least 21 persons were killed at Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkha’s Charsadda town, when heavily-armed terrorists of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) entered the university and opened fire on them. Reliable sources disclosed that Indian consulate located in Jalalabad, Afghanistan played a key role in targeting the Bacha Khan University. The operatives of the Indian secret agency, RAW in connivance with Rahmatullah Nabil, the former director of Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah planned this assault. Indian consulate gave rupees 3 million to the Talban commander to arrange this brutal act at the university. Ajit Doval directed this attack.

While, the Army Public School Peshawar—carnage incident resulted in killing of more than 140 children. It was also carried out by Ajit Doval’s stooges in connivance with the TTP, as he is fond of manipulating radicalized proxies.

In order to implement Indian offensive-defensive doctrine, Ajit Doval also advise to arrange various terror attacks and to shift the blame game to Pakistan. In this respect, on January 2, this year, a terror attack at Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot was preplanned under his directions. Without any investigation and evidence, since the first day of the incident, Indian media and top civil and military officials claimed that the attackers had arrived from Pakistani Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, and had links with Jaish-e-Mohammad and Pakistan’s primary intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). But, despite Islamabad’s cooperation in the joint investigation, New Delhi failed in providing any proof of Pakistan’s involvement in the Pathankot incident. India orchestrated that drama to postpone secretary-level talks with Pakistan, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on January 15, 2016.

Nevertheless, India is not serious in advancing Pak-India dialogue process, agreed upon between the two countries during Indian Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Pakistan. Under the cover of Pathankot episode, New Delhi wanted to postpone the secretary-level parleys as part of its delaying tactics in settling various issues, especially the Kashmir dispute with Islamabad.

As mater of fact, like other past episodes, as part of Doval’s offensive-defensive doctrine, Indian intelligence agencies, especially RAW have themselves arranged terror attacks at the Pathankot airbase including some other terror incidents to fulfil a number of anti-Pakistan designs.

As regards the case of cross-border terrorism, India has shown ambivalent approach which can be judged from some other developments. In this connection, on July 27, 2015, three gunmen dressed in army uniforms killed at least seven people, including three civilians and four policemen in the Indian district of Gurdaspur, Punjab. Without any investigation, Indian high officials and media started accusing Pakistan, its banned militant outfits and intelligence agencies for the Gurdaspur incident. Indian Police remarked that the attackers were from Indian-held Kashmir, and some said that they were Sikh separatists, while Indian Punjab police chief claimed that the three gunmen were Muslim, but as yet unidentified. Contradicting speculations, India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament that the gunmen came from Pakistan.

Khalistan Movement Chief Manmohan Singh stated that the Gurdaspur incident is “a conspiracy of Indian secret agency RAW to defame Pakistan.”

Notably, on December 31, 2014, prior to the US President Obama’s second visit to New Delhi, Indian intelligence agencies orchestrated a boat drama to defame Pakistan, allegedly reporting that a Pakistani fishing boat as a Pakistan-based outfit group Lashkar-e-Taiba was intercepted by Indian Coast Guards, off the coast of Porebandar, Gujarat. And Indian Coast Guard crew set the boat on fire and it exploded. The Indian government had claimed that it had foiled another 26/11-type attack of Mumbai. But, its reality exposed Indian terrorism, when some Indian high officials admitted that there was no such boat which came from Pakistan.

As regards Afghanistan, India is playing a double game in accordance with the offensive-defensive doctrine of Ajit Doval. RAW has well-established its network in Afghanistan and is in connivance with the TTP and Islamic State group (ISIS or Daesh). On January 13, 2015, at least seven personal of the Afghan security forces died during the suicide attack which targeted the Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad. ISIS claimed responsibility for the terror assault.

The attack, which coincided with efforts to restart the stalled peace process with Taliban insurgents and ease diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, added a dangerous new element to Afghanistan’s volatile security mix. In this context, delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States had met to try to resurrect efforts to end nearly 15 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan. However, we need to know the real peace disruptors in Afghanistan.

In this respect, in the recent past, cordial relations were established between Pakistan and Afghanistan when Afghan President Ghani had realized that Afghanistan and Pakistan were facing similar challenges of terrorism and would combat this threat collectively.

While, it is misfortune that on direction of New Delhi and like the former regime of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s present rulers have also started accusing Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. In this context, after hours of the Taliban captured Kunduz city, on September 28, 2015, during his address to the UNO General Assembly, Afghanistan’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah blamed Islamabad for carrying out cross-border attacks and destabilizing Afghanistan.

Differences exist between chief executive Abdullah Abdullah and President Ashraf Ghani, as the former wants cordial relations with New Delhi at the cost of Afghanistan and the latter prefers Islamabad, because Pak-Afghan stability is interrelated.

It is mentionable that on December 10, President Ghani accepted the resignation of Rahmatullah Nabil as director of the Afghan intelligence agency, NDS, after developing differences of the spymaster with him over Ghani’s move to attend the regional conference in Islamabad.

And Prime Minister Sharif and President Ghani also showed their determination that their countries would cooperate in fighting the threat of ISIS.  

As the US is playing double game with Islamabad, because it is the only nuclear country in the Islamic World, which irritates America and Israel. Hence, secret agents of American CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW which are well-penetrated in ISIS are making efforts to weaken Tibetan regions of China, Iran and especially Pakistan’s province of Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities, promoting acrimonious sense of dissent, political volatility, sectarian violence and arousing sentiments of separatism.  

Here, it is of particular attention that the foreign-backed Baloch separatist leader, Manan Baloch, the secretary general of the Baloch National Movement and number 2 of the Balochistan Liberation Front was killed by the security forces on January 30, 2016. It is a great achievement, as on the directions of his external handlers, Manan was criticizing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and was provoking the Baloch people against this agreement.

Again, in case of Afghanistan, there are several groups of Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban like the TTP. Some of them are being used by secret agencies like CIA, Mossad and RAW to obtain the collective and individual designs of their countries against Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries. India and Israel which want to prolong the stay of the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan which have become the center of covert activities, are exploiting their dual policy, especially of America against Pakistan, China and Iran. Particularly, terrorists of TTP which are strategic assets of the CIA, RAW and Mossad have claimed responsibility for several terror attacks inside Pakistan, including the recent ones in Balochistan, Karachi and in Afghanistan.

In fact, in collusion with Afghanistan’s NDS, particularly, RAW has set up its secret  network in Afghanistan, and is fully assisting cross-border incursions and terror-activities in various regions of Pakistan through Baloch separatist elements and anti-Pakistan groups like Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundullah (God’s soldiers) and TTP.

It is an undeniable fact that Ajit Doval’s cronies are creating law and order problems in Balochistan. Doval in his recent lecture clearly threatened that Islamabad will lose Balochistan—a video is a clear confession by India that it is behind the separatists in the province of Balochistan and has a huge network of its operatives against the state of Pakistan.

Particularly, Indian nexus with TTP leaders like Hakimullah Masood and Mulla Fazalullah has been proved by the recent revelation of the TTP militant Latifullah Mahsood regarding the incident of Army Public School Peshawar and exploitation of Baloch sub-nationalists. It has also exposed Ajeet Doval’s offensive-defensive doctrine—anti-Pakistan statements of India’s BJP leadership, while pointing out that New Delhi is the main spoiler of peace in Afghanistan, and is still manipulating the militants of TTP, ISIS, ETIM etc. against Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.

It is misfortune that with the start of 2016, frequency of terrorist incidents has increased manifold in Afghanistan, indicating the frustration of the spoiler (India), after her proxies were uprooted from Pakistani soil. Moreover, Afghan people also feel wary of protracted proxy warfare, strife and lawlessness in their country and are desirous for peace. But, India does not want it.

Besides, Indian media has created frenzy and volley of allegations against Pakistan. It is a true reflection of Indian establishment and Hindu mindset which are intolerant to any improvement in the bilateral relations between both neighboring countries.

Nonetheless, if not checked in time by the US-led western powers, India’s offensive-defensive doctrine will destabilize Pakistan and Afghanistan including the whole region, jeopardizing the political and economic interests of America and NATO countries which demand stability and peace in the region.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Kashmir: What Next?

By Sohail Parwaz

It was back in October 2003 when a young Palestinian girl, Hinadi, did not go to college, in the morning. However, in the evening, she left her home with a bag in her hand. After three hours, people heard about an explosion in an Israeli hotel in the town where more than a dozen Israelis, including some soldiers, were killed, nevertheless, next day Hinadi’s video revealed that she paid her life as a price for that action. Whenever I recollect Hinadi of Palestine, the names of Master Muhammad Afzal of Al-Mustafa Liberation Tigers, Nazir Ahmed Lone and many other Kashmiri mujahidin also who went towards the Indian torture cells on their feet but only few of them could reappear, crippled and without their limbs, come to my mind.

Pakistan that the freedom-lovers had kept alive in their dreams, sadly, we have not been able to take care of that Pakistan. A naive adolescent, Waqas, also dreamt of an independent Kashmir. Unfortunately no one knows who was this Waqas? What to talk of our youngsters, many of our elders do not know about him. In his early teens he was one of those who sacrificed their today for Pakistan’s tomorrow but not known to us anymore. You may like to know about Waqas? He was that spirited and motivated boy who raised the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad!’ when a lofty six was hit by some Pakistani player against an Indian pacer. He was apprehended right away. When he was being dragged away to some unknown destination, hundreds of people heard him cry, “Mother! Please save me. They will kill me”, but no one could do anything. Unfortunately, his corpse left by his helpless mother.

There is a book, Raiders in Kashmir, written by Major General (Retd) Akbar Khan, whose name I am sure, would be as ‘familiar’ to our young generation as Waqas’. In chapter seventeenth of this book, General Akbar has made some startling predictions. For example, about the UN’s role vis-à-vis the Kashmir issue, he writes, “Some months after the ceasefire I wrote a paper under the title, “What next in Kashmir”. The paper is in the Rawalpindi conspiracy case documents since General Akbar’s name was also involved in that case. The purpose of this paper was to show that since in the ceasefire agreement nothing existed to compel India to hold a plebiscite, it would, in fact, not do so and meanwhile delay and times would favour India, not us. The reason that was being advanced in the higher circles was that we needed time to increase our military strength before we could settle the problem of Kashmir. But it was clear to the simplest of minds that during that time India could strengthen herself many times more.

Following to the submission of this paper General Akbar had a detailed meeting with Liaquat Ali Khan, the then prime minister. Months passed and nothing happened. Not that the prime minister was not sincere to the cause, a number of intermediaries like the Inspector General police Qurban Ali Khan played a negative role, who stopped the scheme of local production of small weapons. About a year later, General Akbar wrote yet another paper under the title “Keep the pot boiling in Abdullah’s Kashmir” (This too is kept in the record), where he suggested that, “as we could no longer violate ceasefire in the presence of UN observers, the right course of action for us was to help the people of the occupied Kashmir to strengthen and accelerate their own internal freedom movement against the Indian occupation”. On this too, no action was taken and those in authority seemed satisfied merely repeating their requests to the UN in the matter.”

I do not know when Palestine and Kashmir would be unshackled since the most important thing for the success of such freedom movements lies in the unity of the nations. Here, the ruthless disruption of Muslim unity is the ill-fortune. The misfortune of the Kashmiris is that they are the flag bearers of a Muslim freedom movement so we should be rest assured that they will always be interrupted and ignored. Well, if they had even a faintest resemblance with the issue of the East Timor, an area with the Christian in majority, then the sole super power of the world would have ensured their freedom a long time back.

Few years back, in one of the talk shows of a channel, the Kashmir policy vis-à-vis the future government was also talked about. All the participants, except one, and the host were of the opinion that the freedom of Kashmir is very crucial for Pakistan’s existence. To support the point, the Quaid’s saying, “Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular’s vein”, was quoted. The only odd man out in the talk show was one Pervez Hoodbhoy who is well-known for his bitterness and ‘different’ views. The idiot was of the view that Pakistan should take care of its internal affairs instead of carrying around the Kashmir freedom flag. He summed up his argument by saying, “… and that’s it”. The irony is that such a person is allowed to pollute the innocent minds of the future of Pakistan in the academia and yet we yell at the top of our voice that we support the Kashmiris.

It’s a hard fact that people are very well aware of the felonies for which they are being punished, whether they plead guilty or not, while the ill-fated majority does not comprehend the crimes for which they were served with rigorous life imprisonment. Unfortunately my brethren from the bleeding Chinars and the flaming valley belong to the latter category while a prosecuted inhuman criminal, an Indian spy Kashmir Singh who was released on ‘humanitarian grounds’ belonged to the former group.

I have just one simple question to ask that why the civilised nations of the world do not care for the bleeding wounds of the Valley. Why the champions of human rights, friends to the oppressed nations and intellectuals do not raise their voices that, “if just one person named Kashmir Singh could be set free, why couldn’t Kashmir the name of millions also be allowed to breathe freedom”?

Will someone clear the confusion?

Samjhotha Express Incident

By Tariq Rizwan

Samjhota incident that occurred on the night of 18 and 19 Feb 2007 is remembered as the most horrible one in the history of Indo Pakistan conspiracy game, started from partition days in 1947, when thousands of Hindus and Muslim were killed ruthlessly by the extremists. In 2007, the India Pakistan Samjhotha Express was bombed in which 88 passenger were burnt alive by the extremist Hindu group, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh; about 68 dead were Pakistanis. It was confessed by RSS leader Swami Aseemanand, who has been granted bail by the Indian Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Both the Indian and Pakistani governments condemned the attack, and officials on both sides speculated that the perpetrators intended to disrupt improving relations between the two nations, since the attack came just a day before Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri was to arrive in New Delhi to resume peace talks with Indian leaders. There have been a number of breaks in the investigation of the bombings. The notorious terrorist, Swami Aseem Anand, was not only involved in the attack on Samjhota Express but had also murdered 119 persons.

BJP is trying to protect Anand’s bail and supporting the terrorist. Recently, in his analysis in ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, Shahzeb Khanzada said Aseem Anand was also involved in the blasts in Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad Deccan in 2007 where eleven people were killed.

Anand was also involved in the bomb blast at Dargah Ajmer Sharif in Rajhasthan in 2007. Three people lost their lives in the incident. Similarly, he was also responsible for attacks on Muslim community in Malay Gaon with explosives, where the explosions left 37 people dead. So extremely horrible are Aseem Anand’s crimes that a responsible newspaper of India determined him as “the ugliest face of terrorism”.

Anand remained a zealous activist of the RSS and main character in most of the anti-Muslim activities in India. He has admitted twice in December 2010 and January 2011 in the court that he was involved in Samjhota Express incident. Once he did so but the court had given him 48 hours and asked the investigators to keep away from him so that it could be determined that he was not accepting the responsibility under duress. Yet he did not change his confessional statement and reiterated his confession again. The BJP government of India is not taking any action against him.

Instead of taking action, the BJP government is distancing itself from the culprit. According to reports by Caravan Magazine, Aseemanand, has claimed that the Malegaon, Ajmer and Samjhauta Express attacks were sanctioned by the RSS top brass, including its chief Mohan Bhagwat. No prominent RSS leader has been named in the charge sheet of the National Investigating Agency so far. The RSS has contested the report asking how could Aseemanand be interviewed when he is in jail.

The writer is freelance journalist based in London