Pakistan Army ”fully equipped” to combat any aggressor: Gen Wynne

Islamabad :   The armed forces of Pakistan are vigilant and fully equipped to combat any war front whenever imposed internally and externally, said General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). “We must prove to the world that we are a resilient nation and cannot be undermined by extremists,” the Daily Times quoted Gen Wynne, as saying. He added that Pakistan is a peace loving country and “we want to promote international peace as it is an assurance of our own internal stability”. Gen Wynne further said that Pakistan has been subjected to a new form of war with dangerous consequence for its liberty and independence.

He said Pakistan Army”s brave officers and soldiers have given their best in the line of duty to ensure the defence of motherland and expressed confidence that this trust has been reposed in able hand. “We are living in an era of rapid technological advancement and future military leadership will find itself at a loss if they fail to keep pace with evolving trends,” he said. Gen Wynne said that despite lack of economic resources, the Pakistan Army was seriously taking part to root out terrorism, adding that cadets were being trained with the best latest technology system.

Taliban Ideology Exposed: Malala

The National Peace Award winner, Malala Yousafzai, who was attacked in Swat, is currently under treatment in CMH Peshawar. Later, Malala were taken to Peshawar via helicopter and admitted in CMH Peshawar. It is important to mention that Malala had been receiving threats to her life, after which she was provided with a special car and unarmed security personnel. According to the electronic media reports, Taliban (TTP) have accepted the responsibilities.

 

Malala Yousaf zai is one of the best-known schoolgirls in the country. Young as she is, she has dared to do what many others do not – publicly criticise the Taliban. According to BBC, Malala’s confident, articulate campaign for girls’ education has won her admirers – and recognition – at home and abroad. She has appeared on national and international television, and spoken of her dream of a future Pakistan where education would prevail. Even by the standards of blood-soaked Pakistan, there has been shock at the shooting. It has been condemned by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, who sent a helicopter to transfer Malala to hospital in Peshawar. The head of Pakistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission, Zohra Yusuf, said “this tragic attack on this courageous child” sends a very disturbing message to all those working for women and girls.

All segments of society are praying for her health and are condemning activists, those desire to enforce their own agenda against the will of general public. Notably, the said terrorism occurred just after the long march of Imran Khan.

There could be the possibility that firing on courageous Malala has been carried out by Afghanistan sponsored anti Pakistan Taliban. CIA and her allied agencies quite notorious in using dirty tricks for completion of their own designed agenda against Pakistan and in other countries. Notably, PTI Chief Imran Khan through a peaceful conduct of “Long March” in tribal belt of Waziristan gave positive message that people of Pakistan demand that their sovereignty should be respected and killing of innocent people through drones be stopped. Thus, targeting Malala through anti Pakistan Taliban could be one of the episodes of jeopardizing local peace efforts and pressurizing Pakistan to carry out operation North Waziristan. In this connection, there are reports that for implementation of hidden aims, especially, RAW has hired the services of many Afghan Muslims of Northern Afghanistan. Posing themselves as militants, they have joined the ranks and files of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist outfits.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit of Islamabad in 2011, agreed with Pakistan’s stance, saying, “Now US is realising that launching new military operation in North Waziristan does not suit Pakistan’s situation.” Replying to a question that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was involved an assault on the US embassy in Kabul on September 13, 2011, she categorically pointed out, “We have no evidence.” She also requested for Pakistan’s help to “encourage Taliban to enter negotiations in good faith” including the Haqqani militants. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik and top civil and military officials have repeatedly disclosed that training camps are presence in Afghanistan, and supply of arms and ammunition to the Baloch separatists and Pakistani Taliban keeps on going by the external elements as part of a conspiracy against Pakistan.

The internal dynamics of Pakistan, however, dictate that a detailed and comprehensive strategy be formulated to cleanse areas infected by terrorism through shrewd corrective measures and judicious action with least collateral damage. Such strategy has to be indigenous one with blend of native society.

In short, we must get up to support security forces in elimination of all type of militancy whether foreign or locally sponsored activists. We must salute to courageous daughter of Pakistan “Malala yapusaf Zai” and pray for her health, safety and completion of her innocent but beautiful dreams regarding girls’ education.

Pakistan Army Constructs Park For Children in Liberia

The outgoing Pakistani Contingent has constructed a children’s park in Voinjama, Lofa County, for the kids of the city at Liberia. 

Turning over the Pakistan-Liberia Friendship Park to the local county authorities, UNMIL force commander Major General Muhammad Khalid said the initiative by the Pakistani peacekeepers will afford the children of Voinjama an opportunity to play in a clean environment.

The Children’s Park is a gift from Pakistani Contingent as they are preparing to end their tour of duty in Lofa County, the force commander said.

A large number of local elders, community members, children and UN officials witnessed the hand-over ceremony. Local community members thanked for this beautiful piece of work and expressed their gratitude by singing Pakistani songs. During their tour of duty, Pakistani Contingent undertook several programmes and projects outside their peacekeeping duties, providing training for several youths in various skills including auto mechanics, electricity, and basic computer training, among others.

Rabbani says handful of elements fanning terror

WANA: Corps Commander Peshawar Lt General Khalid Rabbani said the Pakistan Army would not withdraw from the tribal areas till the elimination of the terror networks.

Talking to elders of Mahsud and Bhittanitribes at the opening ceremony of the Jandola Bridge, he said a handful of anti-state elements were involved in fanning terrorism in the region and efforts were underway to eliminate them. He said the tribal people were the victims of militancy.

The corps commander said tribesmen were peace-loving and had rendered matchless sacrifices for the country since its establishment. The elders appreciated the Pakistan Army for initiating development projects including roads in the area.

Speaking on the occasion, Malik Ameerzak and Ahmad Jan Mahsud said the local people were facing problems due to the dilapidated conditions of roads. They lauded the Pakistan Army for constructing the roads.

Drone Attacks: US Duplicity Exposed

Quoting some top US officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on September 26, this year that the US has Pakistan’s tacit consent for the CIA-operated drone strikes. While showing contradiction, the Journal elaborated that over these strikes, Pakistan “government’s silence and clearing of airspace interprets acquiescence as a green light.” 

The Journal added, “Top legal adviser Harold Koh believes this rationale can be considered permission, and the programe is legal.” At the same time, the Journal allegedly pointed out that about once a month; the CIA sent a fax to a general of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) outlining broad areas where the US intends to conduct drone strikes.”

Notably, in the past too some American officials have raised false allegations against ISI and Pak Army regarding permission of predator strikes on Pakistan’s tribal areas. In fact, Pakistan’s military and civil leadership has repeatedly opposed the strikes by the US spy planes as violation of country’s sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter.

In this regard, addressing the UN General Assembly on September 25, President Asif Ali Zardari said, “Drone strikes and civilian casualties on our territory add to the complexity of our battle for hearts and minds through this epic struggle” against terrorism.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar who has repeatedly opposed the US aerial attacks on the country’s tribal areas has once again raised the issue during her meeting with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on September 21 in Washington. After the meeting, Khar stated that drone attacks are counterproductive. She disclosed that in 352 terrorist attacks in Pakistan, how many of those killed were Pakistanis as opposed to foreigners.

Particularly in August, this year, DG ISI Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam who visited America, emphatically told CIA Director David Petraeus on August 4 that predator strikes which are violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty must be stopped. He pointed out that these strikes are giving a greater incentive to the fundamentalist and extremist elements in Pakistan, and are increasing anti-US sentiment among the people.

In order to distort the image of ISI and Pak Army, initially, false reports had already been started by the US and foreign media including some American officials just after the meeting of DG ISI with his CIA counterpart. In this context, the Wall Street Journal said that on August 4, “the two spy chiefs agreed on joint counter terrorism campaigns and operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan…the campaigns would target the sanctuaries of Haqqani militant group in North Waziristan.” The Journal explained, “Pakistanis have named the planned offensive in North Waziristan as Operation, Tight Screw.”

On August 15, US State Department spokeswoman also stated that the US was in talks with Pakistan and Afghanistan on joint action against Haqqani group. Besides, a recent report of The Telegraph, quoting the US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta reported that “Pakistan military is planning to start an operation against militants in North Waziristan.”

Taking note of US duplicity and baseless media reports, after his meeting with Gen. James N. Mattis, Commander US CENTCOM, on August 17, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani categorically dispelled the speculative reporting in foreign media regarding joint operations in North Waziristan. He reiterated, “We might, if necessary, undertake operations in NWA, in the timeframe of our choosing and requirements” as “determined only by our political and military requirements. It will never be a result of any outside pressure.”

It is regrettable that in lines of foreign elements, leaders of political and religious parties of the country, who also rejected the Pak-US reconciliation process, have been propagating about ‘secret agreement’ between Pakistan and America. In this regard, Chairman Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf who earlier stated that his party would resist the military operation in North Waziristan, recently remarked that there is a understanding between ISI and US about drone attacks.

These internal entities which misguide the general masses to increase their vote bank need to grasp reality. In this context, during his visit to India and Afghanistan, while reviving US old blame game, on June 7, this year, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta allegedly singled out the Haqqani network, based in North Waziristan for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan. He also said that the US would continue drone attacks on the safe havens Pakistan offered to insurgents in Afghanistan.

While, both Hillary Clinton and Panetta repeatedly stated that Pakistan’s cooperation was critical to US efforts to stabilise Afghanistan before most foreign combat troops leave at the end of 2014.” During her visit to Islamabad in October, 2011, Ms. Clinton agreed with Pakistan’s stance, saying, “Now US is realising that launching new military operation in North Waziristan does not suit Pakistan’s situation.” Recently, Hillary Clinton has also remarked that international community should realise Paksitan’s sacrifices for war against terrorism. In fact, it shows US double game with Islamabad.

Recently, counterterrorism advisor to Obama, John Brennan has defended the drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas under the pretext of North Waziristan-based Haqqani militants whom he blamed for several assaults on Americans in Afghanistan. On the other hand, US-led coalition forces have failed in stopping incursions of heavily-armed insurgents in Pakistan from Afghanistan’s side, who have killed more than 100 personnel of the Pakistan’s security forces in the last two years. In fact, US seeks to make North Waziristan, a scapegoat of NATO’s defeat in Afghanistan by continuing predator strikes.

Since 2004, the strikes by the unmanned aircraft which continued intermittently on Pakistan’s tribal areas, accelerated under the Obama era. In one of such attacks, more than 40 civilians and policemen were killed on March 18, 2011 in North Waziristan.

As regards the civilian casualties by the US spy planes, on August 11, 2011, a report of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism said, “As many as 168 children have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan during the past seven years.” While rejecting CIA’s false claim in this respect, the report disclosed, “It is a bleak view: more people killed than previously thought.”

Details collected by the Pakistani journalists show that civilian casualties through drone strikes are higher as indicated by the US officials. In the last four years, more than 800 innocent civilians and only 20 Al-Qaeda commanders have been killed by these strikes.

Regarding strikes by the spy planes, the former commander of the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal had rightly stated, “For every innocent person you kill, you create ten new enemies.”

The New York Time revealed on May 26, 2011, “By waging a secret war, President Obama has become personally involved in the process” and “has normalised extrajudicial killings from the Oval Office, taking advantage of America’s temporary advantage in drone technology. Without the scrutiny of the legislature and the courts, and outside the public eye, Obama is authorising murder on a weekly basis.”

US duplicity through predator attacks contain a number of hidden designs. The fresh wave of strikes by the pilotless aircraft has thwarted the offer of militants and Pakistani government for peace talks. And, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has intensified subversive activities in the country. Now, America seeks to incite the Haqqani network as in the past 12 months, most of these strikes have targeted North Waziristan. So, these aerial attacks are provoking the tribal people against Pakistan’s security forces, and increasing recruitment of insurgents. Besides, Pakistan is the only nuclear country in the Islamic World. Hence, US India and Israel seem determined to weaken it.

A latest report, “Living Under Drones,” prepared by experts from Stanford Law School and the New York University School of Law disclosed on September 25, that the US campaign of drone “strikes in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt is terrorising civilians 24 hours a day and breeding bitter anti-American sentiment…have killed thousands of people…even stopping their children going to school for fear of being targeted.” Based on research, the report urged Washington to rethink its drone strategy, arguing it was counterproductive and undermined international law.

No doubt, US duplicity with Pakistan has been exposed, but US warrior President Obama remains intransigent to continue extrajudicial killings through these drone attacks.

Hundreds of Baloch Youths Join Pakistan Army

A passing out parade of Pakistan Army’s Baloch Regiment was held in Quetta on Saturday where a group of another 350 Baloch youths were sworn in.

 

Brigadier Khushnud Hussain was the chief guest of the event. He conferred shields and swords on the Jawans. Speaking to media after the passing out ceremony, the brigadier said that Baloch youth were being given extraordinary exemptions in age and education as part of efforts to address sense of deprivation among them. The youth belonged to different parts of restive provinces, including Mastaung, Quetta, Loralai, etc.

The Balochs took oath of loyalty for Pakistan and expressed their resolve to sacrifice their lives in the line of duty. Some of them spoke to private television channels who covered the event that they wanted to serve their motherland Pakistan.

Last year thousands of Baloch youth joined the Pakistan’s powerful military. Balochistan has been witnessing a low-level insurgency waged by nationalist elements, demanding more provincial autonomy while some of them fighting for independence.

Muslims in Bangladesh torch Buddhist temples over Facebook image

AMRITSAR, India -- Hundreds of angry Muslims in southeast Bangladesh torched at least 10 Buddhist temples and dozens of homes Sunday after alleging that a Buddhist man insulted Islam on his Facebook page, authorities said. 

The protest gained momentum late Saturday in the area of Cox’s Bazar about 200 miles from the capital of Dhaka when Muslims, claiming that a Facebook page showed a burned copy of the Quran, headed to several Buddhist villages in the area. Although there have been periodic clashes between the majority Muslim population and Hindus, tension is relatively rare with Buddhists, who make up less than 1% of Bangladesh’s 150 million people. Authorities said extra security forces were called in to restore order after the mob burned and vandalized more than 100 homes. "We brought the situation under control before dawn and imposed restrictions on public gatherings," Salim Mohammad Jahangir, Cox's Bazar district police superintendent, told local media. 

Tensions have increased in recent months, however, over a crisis in neighboring Myanmar involving clashes between the majority Buddhist population and members of the minority stateless Rohingya Muslim community, in some ways a mirror image of Sunday’s attacks. Many people in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh also have been angered recently by a low-budget film called "Innocence of Muslims" that was made in California and mocks the prophet Muhammad. It has sparked protests across the Islamic world. 

“Generally, there is extra sensitivity at this moment, not just in Bangladesh, but in other countries,” Hasan said. “We see people taking advantage of this, and there are copy-cat tendencies. The population as a whole needs to be far more vigilant in protecting minorities.…We all need to be a bit more careful and circumspect so we don’t incite sensitivities.” Bangladesh's English-language Daily Star newspaper reported that the Buddhist who allegedly posted the offensive image on Facebook mistakenly tagged it on his Facebook profile and that his account was closed soon after violence erupted even as police escorted him and his mother to safety.