Pakistan: International Day of the UN Peacekeepers

By Sajjad Shaukat

Every year, International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers is celebrated on May 29 to pay tribute to all those who served in the UN peacekeeping operations and to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the cause of peace. This very day also reminds Pakistan Armed Forces role in UN peacekeeping measures, during war and peace time. 

Pakistan Armed Forces are considered the best organized institution, and are highly respected in the country, as since the founding of Pakistan, its military has played a key role in holding the state together, promoting a feeling of nationhood and providing a bastion of selfless service.

Since its creation, Pakistan has played a significant role as UN member, in bringing peace through active diplomatic, moral and material support in various regions of the world. Today, Pakistan’s position as one of the largest troop contributing country in the world with one of the highest peacekeepers’ casualty figure is testimony to its commitment and endeavours towards promoting the noble cause of global peace. It is not easy to achieve peace in world’s conflict ridden areas. But Pakistan Army’s history is replete with sacrifices, services to humanity and promoting collective security for human prosperity.

In this regard, Pakistan is a big player in UN peacekeeping forces. Pakistan joined the United Nations on September 30, 1947. Since 1960, it has been actively involved in most of the UN peacekeeping missions. Major contributions of Pakistan Army are in Congo, Liberia Somalia, Ivory Coast, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor Haiti etc. Even, at present, more than 8200 troops of Pakistan Army are engaged in different peacekeeping missions across various volatile countries.

The performance of Pakistani peacekeepers has been recognized worldwide by several world leaders including those of the UN. An undeniable professional standing of Pakistani forces has made them the passion of every special representative of Secretary General and Force Commander in each of UN peacekeeping operations. In this respect, Pakistan’s dedication towards UN has been acknowledged by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who himself visited Pakistan and inaugurated the Center for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) on 13 August 2013 and praised Pakistan’s efforts in UN peacekeeping missions.

However, Pakistan has participated in 41 UN missions in 23 states where total 142,542 Pakistani personnel engaged, taking start from UN Congo Operation in 1960. Pak army delivered its services there, and contributed in ordnance, transport and staff. It is still present in Congo, and provided a Battalion Group comprising one infantry battalion and supporting elements.

For maintaining and monitoring ceasefire during transition of West Irian from Dutch rule to Indonesians, Pakistan contributed 1500 infantry troops from October 3, 1962 to April 30, 1963. In a rare acknowledgement of excellent role done, Chinese Premier Chou-En-Lai had said, “The only example in United Nation’s history, when United Nations force had gone in…performed its role honestly and came out, was Pakistan’s military contingent to Indonesia.”

Besides, Pakistan’s contribution was in United Nations Yemen Observer Mission (UNYOM) as a military observer from January to September 1964. Yemen entered into a state of civil war in 1962. To ensure that this conflict did not escalate into global incident, the UN set up its Yemen Observation Mission. And, United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (UNTAG) was established to assist the special representative of the UN Secretary General to ensure the early independence of Namibia through free and fair elections, and to carry out a number of other duties. For the purpose, 20 military observers from Pak Army performed their duties from April 1, 1989 to March 21, 1990 in Namibia.

Notably, Pak Army played a positive role in the Middle East, and was on forefront for peace restoration. United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) was set up in April 1991, following the forced withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Its task was to monitor the demilitarized zone along the Iraq-Kuwait border and deter border violations. Pakistani forces which helped continuing their services there from April 1991 to 2003 were assigned the most difficult area in the north of Kuwait city—reclamation of Bubiyan Island was also entrusted to them. The operation was carried out by a task force of Pakistan Army Engineers. The professionalism and dedication displayed by this force was praised at international level.

While, inside the United Nations Transitional Authority on Cambodia (UNTAC), the Pakistan’s military forces carried out peacekeeping operations in the most thorny and remote areas during the period-May 1992 to August 1993. They overcame enormous logistic and operational problems, and proved their courage and determination by defending themselves and those for whom they were sent. Coping with the odds, they handled crisis after crisis and persuaded the warring factions to lay down their arms.

And, on the request of the UN in Latin America under the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), Pakistan provided one infantry battalion, ‘PAKBAT’ which arrived in Haiti in March 1995 and was deployed in Cape Haitien—the area faced extremely volatile security situation and was also the hotbed of political agitation. ‘PAKBAT’ discharged its duties with an extensive patrolling program, covering various regions there.

Nevertheless, Pakistan’s army has worked in difficult terrains and situations for the global peace. Now, inside the country, although Pakistan Armed Forces are facing a tough situation in wake of war against terrorism, yet they are contributing to global peace and prosperity; having still a large number of their presence in various parts of the world.

Now, the major powers must abandon their false propaganda against Pakistan and its Armed Forces, as the latter did more in response of international demand of world peace.

Nonetheless, in pursuance of Pakistan Army’s unwavering commitment towards international peace, 130 Pakistani soldiers have sacrificed their lives. In this connection, Pakistan Armed Forces’ positive role in the UN peacekeeping measures reflects Pakistan’s desire to see the principles of human dignity, freedom and self-determination.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Is India Smoothing Way for Daesh in Afghanistan?

By:       Aasef Chauhdry

It is no more a secret; rather talk of the town that Daesh has penetrated even in high ranking Afghan government officials as well. This serious threat has not only upset the ruling Afghan government but has also caused a great disturbance to the Americans who are already trying to contain and neutralize this evil in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the world. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani who was almost towing to Abdullah Abdullah’s policy and had literally fallen to the Indian camp, when learnt through credible sources that Engineer Mohammad Khan, the 1st Advisor and a close friend of Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has very close links with the Islamic State group also known as Daesh, ISIS or ISIL, he immediately ordered his arrest. While obeying the President’s orders, Afghan forces/agencies immediately put him behind the bar.

The credible sources say that when Indians learnt it through their buddy Abdullah Abdullah, they immediately approached the Afghan president and requested him to release Engineer Muhammad Khan, however Ghani bluntly turned down the Indian request for obvious reasons. So much so that even Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secretly flew to Afghanistan and personally met Ashraf Ghani, however his efforts remain futile. In this regard, it should be kept in minds that Ajit Doval; the ex-spymaster who is now National Security Advisor of Indian Prime Minister is the real author and controller of India’s offensive-defensive doctrine. Hence, as part of its offensive-defensive doctrine, India is destabilizing Afghanistan—all regional states, while its major focus has always been towards Pakistan, a policy of weakening Pakistan.

In case of Afghanistan, India is playing a dirty and dangerous double game to implement Ajit Doval’s heinous plans. It’s no more a secret that Ajit had visited Iraq and Syria and had met Daesh leaders and undercover Israeli secret agents who were assisting and guiding Daesh. It was only after that tour that he was made the Indian NSA and he openly threatened and warned Pakistan for the grave consequences.   RAW’s well-established network in Afghanistan is an open secret and every one knows that it is in connivance with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and 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.

In this respect, in the recent past, cordial relations were established between Pakistan and Afghanistan when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who realized that Afghanistan and Pakistan were facing similar challenges of terrorism and would combat this threat collectively, did make some positive moves. However, unfortunately as it has been happening in past the dominating Northern Alliance on the direction of New Delhi and like the former regime of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, forced Afghanistan president to start blaming Pakistan of cross-border terrorism. The only aim is to corner Pakistan and make the cross border terrorist tasks easy for their agents. In the recent past the relations between Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, to some extent turned normal however soon after Engineer Khan’s arrest the differences between both have again aggravated, as the former wants cordial relations with New Delhi at the cost of Afghanistan and the latter prefers Islamabad. Its further supported by the fact that in December 2015, President Ghani accepted the resignation of director of the Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS), Rahmatullah Nabil who strongly opposed Ghani’s move to attend the regional conference in Islamabad.

Unfortunately the Afghan NDS is unaware of RAW’s silent encroachment in Afghanistan where the latter has set up its secret network and not only 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 but also making efforts for Daesh to have a strong foothold as first step towards dominating the region.

It is an undeniable fact that Ajit Doval’s cronies are creating law and order problems in Afghanistan. Particularly, Indian nexus with Daesh and TTP leaders like Hakimullah Masood and Mullah Fazalullah has been proved by the recent revelation of the TTP militant Latifullah Mehsood regarding the incident of Army Public School Peshawar and exploitation of Baloch sub-nationalists. Notably, 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, New Delhi does not want it.

It’s high time that the US-led western powers should start taking the Indian ingress in Afghanistan seriously and before it is too late. India’s offensive-defensive doctrine God forbid may destabilize Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the worrying fact is that it will destabilize the whole South Asia and may be put the world’s peace at stake.  America must not forget that jeopardizing of the whole region would mean jeopardizing the political and economic interests of America and NATO countries too, which demand stability and peace in the region. It’s certainly a time for the US to abandon her double game with Pakistan.

Amendments National Accountability Ordinance at a Y Junction!

By:       Aasef Chauhdry

Imran khan was always blamed for taking a solo flight. There are two schools of thoughts that exist within PTI; one who are in favor of struggling for the democracy at their own and without cooperation from other political parties. There point is that all parties are tried and are knees down in corruption. The other group is of the view that in politics one can’t make a solo flight and one has to be in alliance with the other political parties. The people belong to this group are more like opportunists and they have either joined PTI foreseeing its bright future or have been launched by their parties to keep them update about the happenings and strategies of PTI. Unfortunately the latter group is currently having an edge over other group; that is of die heart workers.

After the Panama Papers Leak PTI was the first one to come out and strongly criticise the PMLN government for the wrong doings of Sharif family. It was in fact a blow to all members of corrupt mafia, may the person be from this party or that party. The only problem was that nobody could support Nawaz Sharif on an evident and irrefutable report of corruption. Hence a strategy was drawn, though discreetly, to swim with the sail and silently make the moves to neutralise PTI’s struggle and war against corruption. That was the time when the second group of PTI suggested the party leaders rather pressurized them not to make a solo flight and asked them to be the part of the grand opposition alliance.

From that point the movement against corruption slowed down. In part two of PPP led oppositions plan was to foot the amendment in accountability ordinance of 1999. Meanwhile, some political parties are also demanding amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance 1999 as well. However, controversy exists between the political parties about the amendments. Hence, fallout of harmful amendments in this ordinance needs extraordinary study. It is notable that in April, 2016, some political parties in the Senate, including the PML-N and PPP had jointly demanded amendments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, keeping their vested interests in mind. However, Two resolutions by PPP and PTI are being moved in the National Assembly to amend the National Accountability Ordinance-1999. While, PTI amendments aim at strengthening the existing ordinance, the PPP desires to limit the ordinance jurisdiction to the federal government only, thus to keep Sindh safe from the federal hands.

It has to be critically analysed that what would be the fallout of these two versions of amendments; PPP version and PTI version. Let’s take the PPP, in case their proposed amendments are floored and accepted then it will have following adverse effects; it’s going to paralyzes the entire accountability process and would make it virtually impotent, whatever little disincentive exists against corruption, it would be lifted and the corrupts will have a jolly good time and lastly the provincial accountability mechanisms are likely to be politically aligned thus the party in chair, while protecting own party members/ supporters would target the opponents with full force.

Now while discussing PTI’s recommendations lets analyse its effects. The party’s proposed amendments for election of Chairman NAB, end of plea bargain, abolishing of discretionary powers of Chairman to pardon accused etc would greatly strengthen the accountability ordinance and that says all. A strong, authorized and honest chairman will deal with all the corrupt people, ignoring their alliances, across the board.

It’s high time for the politicians and members parliament to show responsibility while legislating. They have to think by going above their party loyalty. Pakistan is paramount and more important to all of us. Panama Papers Leak has shown us the Pakistanis the real worth of our politicians and their dishonesty and corruption. It’s time for us to demand a proper probe and bring the culprits to justice. Only then Pakistan can prosper and the nation can progress.

50 MPH and a Ticking Bomb in the ‘Bus’

By Sohail Parwaz

I almost forgot the 1994 Hollywood blockbuster “Speed”, where an NYPD police officer Jack Traven jumps to the steering wheel of a busy bus after he discovered there was a bomb on board, planted by the gaily crazy Howard Payne, and to make matters much, much worse, the bomb would go off if the bus slowed to under 50 miles per hour or if the passengers had tried to escape it and thus leaving Jack as the only one who could save them. Answer honestly that aren’t we Pakistanis aboard that speeding and out of control bus which has to be kept moving at above 50 MPH, nevertheless, regardless of that keeping the bus and lives safe (thanks God we too have a responsible ‘Jack’ on the bus)? At least, after the recent happenings of last few days it sounds so.

President Obama displayed smugness while announcing about Mullah Mansur’s death on Monday describing it as an “important milestone.” To some outside experts, it sent an equally powerful message to Pakistan since Pakistan’s military and intelligence establishment was alleged to favor Mullah Mansur, while many others of the view that Pakistan did share some information about him with the Americans. It’s not understood that if Pakistan was one of the helping hands then what message was exactly conveyed to Pakistan? During last 24 hours the US authorities had to take two jolts; Chauhdry Nisar’s statement who warned US against ‘Cloak and Dagger’ policy; certainly a dish not cooked, following the official recipe (wink, wink)and then COAS’s meeting with the American envoy whom the mighty man bluntly cautioned about the damaging of relations between the two countries.

In late 1972, I bought a book about prophecies by Hazrat Naimatullah Shah Wali from a railway bookstall. Amazingly, in the last 45 years many events have taken place and the chilling fact is that a number of them are yet to happen, like he prophesied, “During the month of Muharram, the Muslims would procure weapons and then they would go for invasion and aggression. Following this, there would be a great rout, disturbance and hubbub in India. There would be a great sedition and rabble-rousing. That would be the time when the Hindus would be dominating the Muslims. The Muslims of the western portion of the Subcontinent would have the blessings of Allah. The most responsible leaders, skilled scientists and highly professional and dedicated military experts would be available to them. All the Muslim countries would be looking towards them. Muslims from Turkey, Arabia, Iran and the Middle East would turn up with remarkable Ummah spirit to support them and the area of Chitral, Nanga Parbat, Gilgit, China and Tibet would become the main battlefield. The people of Kabul would also come out to kill infidels”. Just few lines mentioned here are without any comments and with an aim to suggest you to relate them with what is happening around us.

After Obama’s narcissistic statement, John Kerry also corroborated his president’s remarks and said, “Mansoor posed a continuing imminent threat to US personnel in Afghanistan, Afghan civilians and NATO coalition, thus the air strike on Mansoor sent a clear message to the world that we will continue to stand with our Afghan partners”. So the rule of the game is that the rules set by the Americans (according to the time and situation) are the final ones. That’s more like a jungle law but who cares. Isn’t it happening since 1945 when the custodian of the world peace nuked Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki and killed thousands of innocent people in an eye wink’s time? It was fair since the US said so. Iraq was first used against Iran and when the cause over, the elimination of Saddam was the rule; hence the inopportune country was blamed for piling up WMD and made a horrible example. Same happened with Afghanistan and now it’s happening with Syria too. Once enemy Iran, is now on a date (apparently) with the Americans while the Afghan Taliban, for whom the Americans showed lost love in 80s, are bad guys these days. There is no doubt left that the conspiracies are being hatched to tight a noose around Pakistan for whom the plans are being made to punish for the crimes like; having a say among the Taliban, allowing Chinese to materialize CPEC, having a nuclear deterrence about which no one is clear as what level of threat it carries for foes. In fact the last crime is a blessing in disguise which is keeping the enemies at bay and reluctant to even dream about Iraq or Afghanistan like treatment.

Only some ignorant would not notice the starting of countdown, soon after the Indian serving naval officer’s arrest from Balochistan. The layers are being unfolded one after the other. Killing of Wali Muhammad or Akhtar Mansur has been blown up as a huge crime committed by Pakistan but what is the status of Fazalullah, who is holing up in Afghanistan and known to the Americans? No one spoke when RAW’s ‘monkey’ Kulbhushun was arrested and scores of others were found serving in Pakistani mills without any police verification. Ironically, not even our government protested to the Indians about this serious and sensitive crime committed by our neighbour. Wasn’t the nabbing of Indian agent enough to prove that Pakistan has become a heaven on earth for the drifters, illegal immigrants, infiltrators and all sorts of perpetrators? A country, which accommodated and hosted more than eight million refugees for decades while half of them have mingled up with the locals and have refused to go back to their native country, isn’t it insane to blame that state for harbouring one person who was not known to many? Strange and mysterious fact that he had not been staying at one place permanently and has been travelling frequently then why he was killed when in Pakistan, why not in Afghanistan, Iran or Bahrain? Pakistan is expected to host the parleys also and being reprimanded and ridiculed at the same time. What a gawky and pathetic policy it is?

Moments ago I came across a candid worried write up shared by a friend Lt General Tariq Khan, an authority on current war in tribal area, who bluntly criticised the Americans and said, “So Taliban office is kosher when in Dubai and the flag is Halal too. Dying to talk to the Taliban is equally acceptable as being displayed by the US who now is feeling the heat. Pakistan, which is held responsible for these talks, is considered the right road to take by all including our own think tanks who have so hurriedly offered their services. Yet if a Pakistani goes to Afghanistan to negotiate with the Taliban to coax them for a table talk it’s a no-no. On the other hand, if the Taliban are invited to Pakistan to be convinced to speak to the Afghan-US group, they are droned. So where do we go from here?” The General is critically of the view that; Pakistan should withdraw from any Afghan peace process stating they ‘don’t have a bone in this fight’ and invite the Indians to hold them in Delhi, Pakistan must warn Dubai about hosting Taliban in their country at the cost of Pakistan and instead of protesting, Pakistan should recall their ambassador and tell the US to shut shop, all passports issued to Afghans be cancelled immediately.  Any country hoping to invite them should prepare proper travel documents themselves, Pakistan should not be used as a transit port for them instead India or Iran to be told to handle that and lastly, Pakistan must not be used en-route for Hajj or Umrah as if it’s a Sarai. He is of a strong view that, “we must stop being a slogan without substance and recognise the difference between national interest, the Ummah’s interest and the US interest”.

Amidst this development people are giving lots of importance to Indian PM Modi’s visit to Iran. Well, apparently it looks so but has anyone noted the fact that Modi is utterly violating his Guru Chanakya’s basic teachings that ‘my enemy’s enemy should be my friend’. It appears he is too impatient to dismember rest of the Pakistan. The enmity has turned him blind and he is romancing with the Arabs (especially Saudis) and dating the Iranians at the same time. The way he has tried to distort the history has made his trip hilarious. Remember that a fanatic can never be a visionary. My worthy friends may not agree with me but the fact is that Arabs and Iranians aren’t going anywhere. People may mark my word. Maybe I am unable to justify my point in the light of current hostile and aggressive anti-Pakistan drive but trust me that this friendship will not last for more than a couple of years which in fact will be a blessing in disguise for Pak leadership who may like to open their eyes before it is too late. At the end of the day world will find Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan standing together with Chahbahar and Gwadar as a gigantic deep sea complex. Afghan Taliban are a reality since they are not incubated, one may or may not like it. Sooner or later the US will have to submit to their terms, unless ambitious Obama commits a blunder to have another feather in his cap before leaving the Oval Office. In that case his one mistake is going to jeopardize the world peace which will certainly be very unfortunate.

In the movie ‘Speed’, the dutiful cop remained in the bus till he saved every single passenger. Logically we have the right to hope the same for the Pakistan’s out of control bus that our hero will not leave the bus and the passengers at the mercy of the ticking bombs and the planters.

Youm-e-Takbeer: Pakistan Conducted Nuclear Tests

                         

By Sajjad Shaukat

With national zeal and fervour in different parts of the country, Youm-e-Takbeer (The day of greatness) is celebrated every year on May 28 as a national day to mark the conduction of nuclear tests when on the very day in 1998; Pakistan became the first Muslim and the 7th nuclear power in the world.

While showing aggressive designs, on May 11, 1998, the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee surprised the international community by announcing that India has conducted 3 nuclear tests earlier that day. On May 13, 1998, India conducted two more nuclear tests.

However, both the neighboring countries have waged three wars, especially on the issue of the Indian occupied Kashmir, so Pakistan’s arch rival compelled Islamabad to follow the suit. In this regard, it took only 17 days for Pakistan to successfully carry out its five nuclear tests which were done on May 28 and the sixth one on May 1998, at Chaghi in Balochistan in response to five nuclear explosions detonated by India, threatening the security of Pakistan. For the purpose, about five thousands scientists including Dr Samarmand Mubarik and especially Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had worked day and night and made the defence of the country impregnable.

As regards Pakistan’s atomic experiments, renowned journalist, Majid Nizami said, “Pakistan faced tremendous pressure from India after it detonated five nuclear devices and America in this scenario also did not want Pakistan to become a nuclear power. US President Clinton telephoned the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif five times besides offering him billions of dollars to refrain him from nuclear tests. In this perspective, he further stated, Nawaz was receiving opinion from different sections of society, and in the same connection, he also convened a meeting of the editors wherein he (Majid Nizami) also gave the input.”

New Delhi’s war-mongering strategy against Pakistan could be judged from the fact that in 1974 India conducted first nuclear test at Pokhran Range in Rajhistan so as to pressurise Islamabad.

It is mentionable that when ZulfikarAli Bhutto, (The late) came to power, he paid much attention to the nuclear programme of Pakistan, as he knew that India would apply its coercive diplomacy on Islamabad or could attack our country. In this context, while talking on a TV channel on May 28, 2012, Pakistani nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan appreciated the efforts of former Prime Minister Shaheed ZulfikarAli Bhutto for providing the opportunity to make the nuclear programme of Pakistan successful.

He also made it clear that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was totally indigenous, but acquired materials from some Western countries.

During many crises such as Kargil issue of 1999 and attack on the Indian parliament by the militants in 2001, New Delhi concentrated its troops across the Pakistan’s border, with the intention to attack Pakistan, while raising a series of false allegations against Islamabad. Pakistan was also compelled to deploy its Army along the Pak-India border. But, India did not dare to initiate a war because of Pakistan’s ‘Nukes.’ Similarly, in the past, Indian rulers had intended to implement their doctrine of limited war in Kashmir, but they could not do so owing to our nuclear weapons.

Particularly, in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, India accused Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of supporting the militants. Although Pak diplomats denied Indian self-fabricated story regarding Mumbai catastrophe, but New Delhi adopted a threatening posture against Islamabad. It one again deployed its troops across the Pakistani border. Again, Islamabad also concentrated its military in order to give a matching response to India.

Notably, when US special forces killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan on May 2, 2011 in violation of Pak sovereignty—though Islamabad had repeatedly made it clear that its government and intelligence agencies did not know anything about Bin Laden’s whereabouts including any official involvement regarding the 26/11 Mumbai catastrophe, but, New Delhi continued its aggressive style which could be judged from the statement of Indian Army Chief Gen. VK Singh who claimed on May 4, 2011 that if situation arose, the Indian defence forces were competent to undertake a US-like operation inside Pakistan, which killed Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden. Indian army’s Northern Command chief also expressed similar thought.

In this respect, Indian top civil and defence officials clearly said that their country could conduct a US-type military operation or surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

Nevertheless, in the aftermath of Mumbai attack, India left no stone unturned in frightening Pakistan through a prospective invasion. Violation of Pakistan’s air space by New Delhi had created an alarming situation, as Islamabad had also taken defensive steps in response to meet any aggression or surgical strikes by India. Situation was so critical that Pakistan started moving thousands of military troops from the Afghan border and the tribal areas to its border with India. But, India failed in implementing its plans of any military action or aerial strikes on Pakistan due to the fact that the latter also possesses nuclear arsenal which could destroy whole of India.

It is noteworthy that America dropped atomic bombs on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as Tokyo had no such devices to retaliate. After the World War 11, nuclear weapons were never used. These were only employed as a strategic threat. During the heightened days of the Cold War, many crises arose in Suez Canal, Korea, Cuba and Vietnam when the US and the former Soviet Union were willing to use atomic weapons, but they stopped because of the fear of nuclear war which could culminate in the elimination of both the super powers. It was due to the concept of ‘mutually assured destruction’ that the two rivals preferred to resolve their differences through diplomacy.

Political strategists agree that deterrence is a psychological concept that aims to affect an opponent’s perceptions. In nuclear deterrence weapons are less usable as their threat is enough in deterring an enemy that intends to use its armed might.

While both the neighbouring adversaries are nuclear powers, Indians should not ignore the principles of deterrence, popularly known as balance of terror.

In these terms, India is badly mistaken, if it overestimates its own power and underestimates Pakistan’s power. As our country lacks conventional weapons vis-à-vis India, so it will have to use atomic devices during a prolonged conflict which would result into national suicide of the two countries. So India may apply its blackmailing diplomacy on the non-atomic states of South Asia in exerting psychological pressure, but it is useless in case of Pakistan whose deterrence is credible, making its defence invincible, as it possesses a variety of nuclear weapons and missiles which could be used against India as the last option, if the latter attacked our country.

Moreover, it is due to atomic bombs that Islamabad can talk to New Delhi with honour and dignity, discouraging India from casting an evil eye on our motherland.

Furthermore, as Pakistan is the only declared nuclear country in the Islamic World, hence, it has become special target of some western top officials and media persons who continue their propaganda against Pakistan’s nuclear programme. They have especially hired the services of media anchors and writers who work on their payroll and have been creating doubts about the safety and security of Pakistan’s atomic weapons and nuclear plants. Particularly, in 2009 when the heavily-armed Taliban entered Swat, Dir and Buner, US high officials and their media had exaggerated the ‘Talibinisation’ of 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 Armed Forces.

Similarly, 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, 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 also stated day, “There is a danger of nuclear weapons of Pakistan, falling into hands of terrorists.”

Undoubtedly, Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe hands-well-protected and are under tight security arrangements, having the best command and control system.

Nonetheless, May 28 is celebrated as Youm-e-Takbeer by various political parties and social organizations including general masses with a pledge to make Pakistan a stronger country, militarily and economically, among the comity of nations. No doubt, on this very day of 1998, Pakistan became nuclear power.

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

The National Quagmire

BY Sohail Parwaz

And the Priorities


Burmese politician and activist Aung San Suu Kyi once said: “It’s not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” Isn’t it true for Mian Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistani nation? The Panama Papers were leaked in the first week of April 2016. It’s almost over a month that the jolts and joggles are still felt all over the world but in Pakistan. Many of the world leaders who were named in the papers, unswervingly or in a roundabout way, had to step down and leave the power corridors while few are still resisting to the enormous public pressure of their dominions, nevertheless, there is one matchless case particularly where a person whose family is directly involved in money laundering and he has repeatedly and persistently been asked by the nation and his opposition to answer just few questions but the stubborn sire has refused to answer any question posed by anyone on the pretext that he is not obligated to do so. Obviously, then a thought comes to one’s mind that it’s nothing but the fear of losing power that keeps the gentleman jittery, otherwise he is the same Sharif who in the very early days of Panama Papers leak appeared on state television, to clarify about his carriage.

The scores of analysts, critics and the opposition leaders are active on various forums who have taken him to the task on the Panama issue. Besides their heavy criticism there is a great moral and ethical pressure built up by the armed forces too, who have set example by publicly sharing the proceedings of in-house cleansing. There is a famous saying by Dale Carnegie, “Don’t be afraid of enemies who attack you. Be afraid of the friends who flatter you.” The irony is that the PM is mostly surrounded by advisers who are devoid of any vision, sense or maturity and do not possess the calibre of more than a fifth grader. The thing could have been handled amicably had the PM thought of sailing with the wave. Unfortunately, he has a perpetual nature of always going against the tide, forgetting that every fish is not a trout. Sadly, the only lesson he learnt from his past experiences is that he didn’t learn any lesson. Locking on the horns without realizing his opponents’ strength has always remained his pet habit and he doesn’t need to have a reason for it.

Much has been said and written about his obstinacy vis-à-vis the past events and now in relation to Panama Leaks, nevertheless, it is not the only case. There were more sensitive and alarming events that have happened prior to the Panama Leaks. Narendra Modi’s very personal, unexpected and surprise visit to Pakistan [sic] Jati Umrah, a serving Indian Naval officer Kulbhushun’s arrest with his pants down and then on his tip allegedly the arrest of RAW agents from some sugar mills belonging to the ruling family and many other great blunders. Aren’t you surprised that where the talks about those hazardous cases have gone? No sane is willing to believe that those who have a mandate to show lost sleep for the sovereignty and security of the country have taken it lightly or they have ignored it altogether.

A year ago an article written by Dr Shahid Qureshi, a senior analyst of BBC and journalist based in London, appeared on net and got viral. According to him, “Pakistan is the only country in the world whose rulers have their businesses, assets, wealth, children and grandchildren outside Pakistan in the hands of people who can twist their arms and neck at any time to get what they want”. In his article he quoted a security analyst who disclosed that, “Pakistani agencies have so much evidence of involvement of these politicians in anti-state activities and compromising national interests of Pakistan that they can be hanged within no time”. Besides Zardari, MQM there are names of ANP leaders and some Sindhi nationalist who have been taking money from India allegedly to keep a project of national importance; ‘Kala Bagh Dam’ controversial, Dr. Qureshi categorically mentioned the name of Mian Nawaz Sharif who was provided the suspected audiotapes of conversations between General Musharraf and General Aziz Khan by the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan. He openly blamed Nawaz Sharif for asking the Indians to furnish him analysis report about Pakistan army and to confirm the identity of Ajmal Kassab as a Pakistani citizen soon after the Mumbai attacks, though he wasn’t the PM or in any other capacity where he could make such careless statement.

Now take a look at others who belong to him or standing by him. His sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz are accused for writing letters to George Fernandez the Indian Defence Minister for assistance after their dad’s sacking in October 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf. The language what his defence minister Khawaja Asif had used against the armed forces once at the floor of the House is not a secret and the footage is available on various sites. His Information minister Pervez Rashid’s remarks while supporting a private channel is on record that, “we support the people with argument and not with the guns”. prime minister’s stories about business interests in India have another collection that ranges from fancying Ambanis to deal with Indian business magnets Jindals and Mittals. In 2014 he took his son along an official visit to India and also met Indian businessmen including Jindals. Most disappointing fact is that he had time for his corporate affairs but sadly had not few minutes for the Kashmiri leadership of Indian occupied Kashmir.

On the morning of 25 December 2015, Modi made a ‘Breaking Tweet’ about meeting his best friend Nawaz Sharif and the same evening he was in Lahore along with an entourage of 120 un-vetted, not cleared members who went all the way to Jati Umrah as the PM’s personal guests. Modi attended a personal function for a while and gifted an Indian dress to his host’s granddaughter before departure. Till date the agenda or exchange of talks remains a secret.  The opposition and civil society made a loud protest for not taking the parliament into confidence. From where that Indian dress was procured during an unexpected visit is a mystery to be solved.

Then the story of an Indian Navy officer hit the headlines, who was involved in “subversive” activities and was in contact with ethnic and sectarian groups for fueling violence and terrorism in Balochistan and was arrested by the Pakistani intelligence agencies. It was a golden chance to put pressure on the Indian government who was baselessly blaming Pakistan for everything happening in India, from Mumbai to Pathankot. A ripe case was ready to put Indians on back foot, nevertheless, ironically, Nawaz Sharif government criminally remained silent on the issue, until Panama Papers issue flared up and Kulbhushun case was relegated temporarily.

The security agencies didn’t shelve their investigations since it was one of the gigantic catches of espionage history that soon led to the other undercover members of Indian intelligence agency RAW, roaming freely in Pakistan without any security clearance or mandatory police verifications. Some of them who were working in a sugar mill reportedly owned by the Mian family were exempted from the police report on the orders of the high ups. The government was criminally silent on this issue. The special official mouthpieces were instructed to take on Imran Khan and indirectly criticise the army but not to say a word on the Kulbhushun case or the arrest of the RAW agents from the sugar mills which was more like a double jeopardy.

Now a question comes to one’s mind about those who are the custodians of the national security and independence, will they remain silent on these sensitive issues or will they ignore it? One wonders that if at any cost the concerned quarters have overlooked these cases. At least the oath they take bounds them to think beyond protecting a corrupt set up. It shouldn’t be surprising if soon we hear about the carefully framing of a solid treason charge sheet to proceed against the involved culprits. Panama papers may look like a ticking bomb but the betrayal charges are like booby-trap not known where lying.

F-16’s impact on Pak-US relations

K. Iqbal

A few years back an Indian diplomat approached this scribe on the side-lines of a think tank activity and asked a blunt question: ‘Sir! Aren’t you excessively harsh about India in your columns?’This surprised me about level of Indian High Commission’s superb efficiency with regard to keeping a keen eye on Pakistan’s print media and engaging those whom they thought were harsh towards India. I gave the diplomat reasons underlying my though process about India; he agreed with some and disagreed with some. Around that time India had finalized French Rafael as its future medium multi-role aircraft. I asked him as to why India had preferred Rafael over F-16s given that French military equipment is comparatively expensive and difficult to maintain and that Indian Air Force did not have a refreshing experience with their Mirage 2000-5 fleet. Indian diplomat’ reply was a treat: “Sir, we have dropped F-16 option after as we have learnt from Pakistan’s experience, we do not want to put our neck in to the American noose”, or words to that effect.

The supply of F-16s to Pakistan even when fully paid, has been a bumpy affair. Each time the Americans (read Capitol Hill) attach ‘if’s’ and ‘but’s’, there is public outcry in Pakistan for a fresh look on Pakistan-US relations. Eventually, every time the aeroplanes have been delivered, though with added price and strings. F-16s have never been used against India, yet Indian lobby has frequently managed to, at least, delay the deliveries.

This speaks volumes about the shortfall in Pakistan’s diplomatic acumen and lobbying capacity. Ironically, this time India had hired Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Hussein Haqqani to plead the Indian case! They succeeded, we failed. While we are proverbially crying over spilled milk, Indians are doing essential follow-up through American media.

New York Times in its May 13 editorial, captioned “Time to Put the Squeeze on Pakistan” has urged the US government to take actions against Pakistan for continuing to play a double game in its dealings with the US and Afghanistan: “Nearly 15 years after 9/11, the war in Afghanistan is raging and Pakistan deserves much of the blame. It remains a duplicitous and dangerous partner for the United States and Afghanistan, despite $33 billion in American aid and repeated attempts to reset relations on a more constructive course”.

The editorial bares its teeth to justify blocking of subsidy for F16s: “Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has wisely barred the use of American aid to underwrite Pakistan’s purchase of eight F-16 jet fighters. Pakistan will still be allowed to purchase the planes, but at a cost of $700 million instead of about $380 million”. Even though mess in Afghanistan is a collective failure of the world, Pakistan bashing and squeezing is the easiest course that American media and a few stray congressmen like Senator Bob Corker, often like to take.

This NYT editorial seems to be a well-coordinated activity by the vested interests to mitigate the impact of Pakistan’s strong reaction on the F-16’s issue. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US has aptly responded to this editorial, saying that “Pakistan cannot be held responsible for the mess in Afghanistan which is the result of collective failure of the international community”. Erratic presidential hopeful Donald Trump is feeling itchy about Dr Shakil Afridi, a CIA spy.

The eight F-16s would eventually end up in Pakistan because the manufacturer of the aircraft fears shutting down of F-16 production line if this order does not mature. As of now, Lockheed Martin Corporation is using its own funds to pay suppliers and stave off the closure of its F-16 fighter jet production line as it waits to finalise orders from Pakistan and other countries, a company official said. “We will have a gap in the production line because of the fact that there hasn’t been another order yet,” Orlando Carvalho, who heads Lockheed’s Aeronautics division, said. Orlando said Lockheed was working with the US government, which is in talks with India about possibly building F-16s in India.

Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed’s F-16 programme, told reporters that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed “substantial” interest in the plane during a recent meeting with Lockheed. She said Lockheed officials would travel to India next month with a formal offer. This could be the underlying cause for the current F-16 fiasco, India might have preconditioned its negotiations with halting further supplies to Pakistan, and knowing the economic vulnerability of Pakistan, withdrawal of subsidy route may been adopted to soft kill the deal. If the talks with India do not mature during the coming visit of Modi to the US, which is most likely, then Lockheed Martin may become the biggest lobbyist for arranging requisite funds for Pakistan.

Pakistan has decided to contact the Obama Administration to provide the balance amount through FMF as it does not have the money to buy F-16 jets from its resources. Pakistan has stressed the unmatching effectiveness of F-16s in the ongoing war on terrorism because of aircraft’s ability to deliver precision guided munitions that minimizes the chances of collateral damage to non-combatant personnel and infrastructure. Pakistan has conveyed to the US that if the stalemate over funding is not resolved, it may consider buying some other fighter aircraft, from some other source to meet its needs.

Over the years, the gap between Pakistan government’s approach of readily scrumming to American pressure and public aspiration of standing up to American pressure has increased to a point that it is difficult for the government to reconcile it. Hence, at times some government functionaries also find it convenient to jockey between official stance and public mood. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary recently said that Pakistan needs modern F-16 fighter jets for its ongoing war against terrorism but rejects the conditions the United States has attached with their sale. The foreign secretary said no conditions should be attached to the sale of F-16s because Pakistan plans to use the jets only for the purpose of fighting terrorists. One wishes that our Mission in Washington had done effective lobbying well in time to avert the ignominy.

Saner lawmakers and State Department officials support the sale, saying Pakistan needs to modernise its air force and counter-terrorism activities. But there is growing concern in Washington about providing the same level of assistance to Pakistan unless it shows it is using the funds effectively to eliminate militants. The dilemma for Pakistan is that it cannot afford a rupture in relations with the US nor pick up a confrontation with it. In the conduct of foreign relations, engagement is the name of the game.

Delivering a policy statement in the upper house of parliament on May12thin the wake of an adjournment motion on F-16 issue Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that decisions of the US Congress may have been caused by concerns raised by the US on the nuclear issue which was categorically rejected by Pakistan. “We have also rejected the frequent demand, especially from the US Congress, for the release of Shakil Afridi,” the adviser said.

A letter written by the Defence Minister to US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter last month, and recently statements of the defence secretary in a meeting with commander of the US Central Command General Joseph Votel indicate that Pakistan is making effort to find a way to end the impasse, the questions is are the Americans too equally keen in this regard?

The ultimate question is just one: can Pakistan learn to stand on its feet with or without resolving the latest F-16 riddle with the US?

Across-the-board accountability

Mohammad Jamil

According to liberal democrats in Pakistan, the establishment means only the military, and during discourse they use the term ‘sacred cows’ for the military’s higher echelons.

In his book titled The establishment And How They Get Away With It, Owen Jones, a British columnist, author, commentator and political activist from a democratic-socialist perspective, wrote: “The establishment includes politicians who make laws, media barons who set the terms of debate, businesses and financiers who run the economy, police forces that enforce a law that is rigged in favour of the powerful.” In other words, the political, social and business elite has a stranglehold on a country. But, according to liberal democrats in Pakistan, the establishment means only the military, and during discourse they use the term ‘sacred cows’ for the military’s higher echelons. Last week, an accountability court in Lahore extended physical remand of Hammad Arshad, the prime accused who owns Globaco. The owner of Elysium Holdings, Captain (retd) Kamran Kayani, the younger brother of the former army chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, is accused of involvement in the scam.

Fingers are being pointed towards the former army chief, Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, by some commentators who say that he should have taken action against those involved in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) scam. He has to explain his position. Kamran Kayani is reportedly abroad these days, and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) suggests that Pakistan should seek Interpol’s help to bring him back to Pakistan. Hammad Arshad’s company, Globaco, had signed an agreement with DHA in November 2009 to develop DHA City on a land measuring 25,000 kanals. According to DHA, he failed to acquire the land, issued fake allotment letters and collected around Rs 16 billion from the public. “How much share Kamran Kayani got from Globaco is also being investigated,” the source said, adding that Globaco had also engaged Elysium Holdings in the purchase of the land. The real picture will emerge after investigations, which must be done in a transparent manner.

However, NAB should focus on the case and if they are proved guilty severest punishment should be awarded to them. However, the media trial of DHA Lahore should stop, as thousands of its members, including the widows of martyrs, will further suffer. Some journalists and analysts opine that the military should neither get involved in forming a housing society for its personnel nor should the Fauji Foundation enter into any business even for the welfare of its retired personnel. The question is: if government servants, engineers and employees of other government departments are allowed to form housing societies, why should military personnel be denied that privilege? Reportedly, DHA Lahore did not file a case against Captain Kamran Kayani when Ashfaq Pervez Kayani was army chief. Reportedly, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif wanted the investigation to be expedited and concluded, hence DHA followed up the case and NAB went into action.

It has been reported that the army’s own investigation is far ahead that of NAB’s, and also more incriminating. Apart from this case, the military last year carried out its own internal cleansing. Although investigations had been completed after the retired generals were reinstated in order to court martial them, it was in August 2015 that two retired army generals and a civilian officer of the National Logistics Cell (NLC) were sentenced by an army court for violating NLC rules and regulations that caused financial losses to the organisation. In the light of the findings of the inquiry committee formed to probe irregularities with regards to the investments made by the NLC in the stock market after borrowing money from banks, two accused retired generals were awarded punishments under the Pakistan Army Act. In August 2015, a military court punished senior army officers who incurred huge financial losses to the public exchequer.

NAB has not taken action despite the Public Accounts Committee and parliament’s strong recommendations to the effect. Only after investigation by the military were they court-martialed. According to the verdict, Major General (retd) Khalid Zaheer was dismissed from service, which means forfeiture of rank, decorations, medals, honours, awards, seizure of pension, recovery of personal gains, cancellation of service benefits and all other allied facilities. Lieutenant General (retd) Afzal Muzaffar was awarded severe displeasure (recordable) i.e. violation of procedures but no personal gains. According to a report, Colonel (retd) Inamur Rahim has filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on behalf of Major Genral (retd) Khalid Zaheer against the verdict by the military court. On the civil side, scandals regarding corruption, misappropriation, plundering of billions from banks and other federal, provincial and semi-government departments abound but no high profile case has been decided.

In 1996, Transparency International declared Pakistan the second-most corrupt country in the world where corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, black marketers, smugglers, tax evaders and the drug mafia were ‘rewarded’ through general amnesty schemes or through opportunities to whiten their black money. On January 1, 2016, Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif launched a Voluntary Tax Compliance Scheme for registration of non-filer traders. The scheme allows non-taxpayers to legalise their black money by paying a nominal one percent tax. One would not find such an example of rewarding tax evaders and those having plundered the national exchequer. The effort of the ruling elite to hinder the accountability process is also obvious from the recent bill passed by the Sindh government to withdraw cases from the courts, including anti-terror courts, at any stage of the case. There is a perception that this is being done to save the corrupt and criminals.

Last week, NAB arrested two retired military officers and a civilian officer as the main accused in connection with the DHA Islamabad farmhouse project scam amounting to Rs 500 million, according to a press release issued by the accountability watchdog on Thursday. By holding impartial investigations, they should be subjected to trial and if proven guilty should be awarded severest punishments because they have tarnished the image of the military. It appears that civil and military leaderships are on the same page so far as corruption is concerned. Due to a paradigm shift in the military establishment’s policy of showing zero tolerance to corruption, and with a free media and independent judiciary, all pillars of the state and institutions are under the people’s scrutiny but they would like to see across-the-board accountability.

Pakistan’s debt mountain

Mohammad Jamil


The threats faced by Pakistan have to be understood in the light of the fast changing regional and international situation, which add urgency to reviving the economy so that adequate resources can be allocated to defend Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignt.
The most serious aspect of our dire economic situation is the growing debt that limits the fiscal space to invest in human development and infrastructure. The reason behind the piling up of Pakistan’s debt is that we spend more than we earn, and we import much more than we export. Public debt increased from Rs 800 billion in 1990 to Rs 3,000 billion in 1999 while external debt doubled from $ 20 billion to $ 40 billion in 1999. As a result, 60 percent of total revenues are allocated for debt servicing alone, leaving little for investment in social and economic development. During Musharraf’s era — from 1999 to 2007 — there was no increase in external debt, which remained static at $ 39 billion but from 2008 to 2013 the external debt increased from $ 39 billion to $ 54 billion, an increase of $ 16 billion during the PPP’s five-year term.

Pakistan’s public debt stood at Rs 6.3 trillion in 2008 and today it stands at Rs 17 trillion, which means that public debt has increased by about three times in the last eight years. One-third of this debt is foreign while the other two-thirds is domestic. An analysis of all IMF reports released in the past two years revealed that the agency’s latest debt projections for 2015-2016 were higher when compared to the estimates given in its first report, which was the base for signing the three-year $ 6.2 billion bailout package in September 2013. The IMF had then projected Pakistan’s external debt would increase to $ 58.6 billion by 2015-2016 but now it is more than $ 65 billion, which is likely to increase by the end of the current fiscal year. This is despite the fact that Pakistan has benefited enormously from declining global crude oil prices otherwise the situation would have been even more dismal.

The newly formed monetary policy committee of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided on Saturday to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged for the next two months. Announcing the decision of the monetary policy committee at a press conference, SBP Governor Ashraf Wathra said, “The real GDP is set to maintain last year’s growth momentum. The SBP expects average inflation in 2015-2016 to remain between three percent and four percent in view of a benign outlook of global commodity prices, expectation of a moderate pickup in domestic demand and further ease in supply-side constraints like energy shortages.” Basking in the glow of relief due to collapse in global oil and commodity prices, the SBP had brought down the policy rate by 300 basis points in 2014-2015. It had further reduced the target rate from 6.5 percent to six percent in its September 2015 announcement.

However, Ashraf Wathra added that Pakistan’s declining exports are reflective of a worldwide phenomenon: price is a function of production. How will exports increase if there is no surplus production to begin with? The question is why Pakistan has not been able to have a favourable balance throughout the history of Pakistan, except once during the Korean War and a second time in 1973 during the oil crisis? The government must find ways and means to increase production by ensuring the supply of electricity. This means the government should focus on projects for generation of electricity that reduce the cost of energy. For their part, trade and industry should resort to innovative marketing policies, look for non-traditional markets and try to increase the exports of value-added products to overcome the trade deficit. How unfortunate that even remittances of $ 20 billion by expatriate Pakistanis do not help overcome the current account deficit.

It is common knowledge that for higher growth there has to be a substantial increase in investment. But the present rate of savings to GDP is around 14 percent, which is lower if compared to developing countries and emerging economies around the world. In the region, savings to GDP ratio in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh is more that 30 percent. Although the government claims that the inflation rate is 2.2 percent at present, during the last six months the prices of pulses have increased from 30 percent to 50 percent, and the utilities tariff, apart from an increase of Rs 40 billion in taxes, have had adverse impact. The problem is that inflation hinders the capacity to save. It was due to the accumulation of the debt mountain that Pakistan had to allocate more than Rs 1,100 billion for debt servicing alone.

The threats faced by Pakistan have to be understood in the light of the fast changing regional and international situation, which add urgency to reviving the economy so that adequate resources can be allocated to defend Pakistan’s integrity and sovereignty. It is painful to note that except proverbial exception, almost every government in the past took loans by accepting and complying with harsh IMF conditions. Increase in the rates of utilities produces ‘the multiplier effect’ leading to cost-push inflation making it impossible for local producers to compete in the world market. But this crisis is of our own making, as corruption has eaten into the vitals of the nation. The government should therefore restructure public sector enterprises because on the average these state enterprises are causing a loss of more than Rs 500 billion per year.

Almost Rs 1,000 billion per year is lost due to wastages, mismanagement and corruption. If the government feels that it cannot make public sector enterprises profitable, then it should privatise them through a transparent mechanism. Last but not least, imports should be rationalised so that foreign exchange is not wasted on non-essential imports. To avert economic disaster, the government must show zero-tolerance towards corruption, tax evasion, wastages and mismanagement in public sector enterprises. It should learn to live within its means and reduce non-development expenditure by curtailing the perks and privileges of cabinet members and parliamentarians. In the past, in a quest to balance the budget or to keep the fiscal deficit within reasonable limits, the axe always fell on development expenditure. If this happens, Pakistan will not be able to build infrastructure for further development and industrialisation to generate employment opportunities.

Peace spoilers in Afghanistan

Mohammad Jamil


It is in the interest of all ethnic groups to find a common ground for power sharing to make Afghanistan peaceful, which is also in the interest of Pakistan, and the region at large.
The Taliban’s refusal to participate in the dialogue with the Afghan government till its conditions are met is a blow to international efforts to bring peace to the war-ravaged country. The conditions are withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, reversal of sanctions by the UN on Taliban leaders and release of prisoners. The Taliban spokesman further said that talks could not be held while Afghan forces continue their attacks. The problem is that there are splits in Afghan government, and also within Taliban factions on the question of peace process that hinders any progress. Addressing a function at the Afghan consulate in Peshawar, Dr Omar Zakhilwal, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan claimed the other day that there was no dispute between Kabul and Islamabad but the relations between the two neighboring countries were affected due to lack of trust. Nevertheless, Afghanistan should act against Fazlullah and his thugs to remove the trust deficit.

In response to a question, Zakhilwal said there were some elements on both sides of the border involved in sabotaging the peace process in Afghanistan. In a way it is a positive statement, as earlier Afghanistan has been accusing Pakistan of providing safe haven to militants or for sabotaging the peace process. Allegedly, the Indian RAW and elements in Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS), which had joined hands during the Karzai era, continue with their activities, and, at the same time, berating Pakistan through propaganda about its meddling in Afghan affairs. Yet Islamabad hierarchy has not tried to nail their canards. Americans and their allies had invaded Afghanistan to wipe out the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and if they failed to corral the militant Taliban and al-Qaeda groups in Afghanistan and decimate them, it was they who had to be in the dock, not Pakistan.

But Islamabad hierarchy instead of being on the offensive is always on the defensive. It merely mumbled when the CIA, not-so-imperceptibly, had allegedly ganged up with RAW to incite militancy in Pakistan’s tribal areas, insurgency in Balochistan, and terrorism and subversion in the country’s various parts including Karachi. At its service, allegedly, the gang had NDS, which the CIA had cloned as a subsidiary for operations in and out of Afghanistan. The shenanigans of this gang were no secret, as by 2004, it is said, it had visibly pushed out Pakistani intelligence outfits from the tribal areas, got the government functionaries and Maliks killed in FATA through Baitullah Mehsud. Balochistan was humming with very disturbing activities being carried out, yet none in governmental hierarchy spoke of it. Only recently, Pakistan foreign office said that it submitted dossiers of Indian hand in acts of terrorism in Pakistan to the UN and the US.

The US has acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in dismantling the infrastructure and networks of militants of all hues and shades including the Haqqani network. It is by weakening them that Pakistan has been able to persuade the Taliban to come to the negotiating table. On 3rd March 2016, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who led Pakistani delegation at the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue at Washington, reportedly admitted before a think tank forum the presence of some Taliban leaders and their families. Maybe Aziz should have worded it differently, as this was contrary to the earlier position taken by Pakistan. Perhaps he wished to prove Pakistan’s relevance, and the influence it has over the Taliban. He made it clear that Pakistan could use its leverage up to some extent, and that Afghan government should not espouse hopes that Pakistan could force the Taliban to accept the conditions and terms of Afghan government.

Let there be no confusion that there is more than one group of Taliban, including two main factions headed by Mullah Mansoor and Mullah Rasool. The Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and many commanders are in favour of holding talks with the Afghan government. Nonetheless in case Mullah Mansoor gives any concessions to the government, the other group would accuse it of infidelity to the Taliban cause. It should be borne in mind that the Taliban leaders who are in Doha, Pakistan or elsewhere, do not have as much control as the commanders who are fighting on the ground and holding the fort. Since there are pro and anti-negotiations groups in the Taliban as well as in Afghan government, the pro-Indian lobby and the TTP thugs are inclined to use the Daesh franchise or brand to showcase its strength and throw spanner in the works.

So far as Pakistan is concerned, it had taken the risk of annoying the Taliban when for the first time in 2015 it had publicly denounced Taliban’s spring offensive, urged them to cease hostilities and engage in peace negotiations with the Afghan government. Furthermore, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had categorically stated that enemies of Afghanistan were enemies of Pakistan, without any exception. Pakistani military and civilian leaders have thrown all support behind President Ashraf Ghani’s efforts to bring peace to his war-ravaged country. It appears that Afghan government had pinned high hopes on Pakistan that it would use its influence to bring the Taliban leaders to the negotiating table and make them accept Afghan government’s conditions. Afghan expectations that Pakistan holds the key to end the violence in Afghanistan are unrealistic, and they should appreciate the efforts Pakistan has put into place to bring the Taliban on the negotiating table.

Taliban fighters and commanders have considerable presence, rather control, not only in the south and east but also in the far-flung areas in north. Elements in Northern Alliance would not like to see any agreement with the Taliban for sharing of power. Nevertheless, it is in the interest of all ethnic groups to find a common ground for power sharing to make Afghanistan peaceful, stable and sovereign, which is also in the interest of Pakistan, and the region at large. It is hoped that both the Afghan government and the Taliban would start the dialogue without forcing their conditions, and the matter could be resolved through give-and-take. It has to be remembered that in the past all rulers in Afghanistan were Pashtuns, except once for a brief period in 1929 when Habibullah alias Bacha-e-Saqa, a Tajik, and second time from 1992 to 1996, Burhanuddin Rabbani, again a Tajik ruled Afghanistan.