:::: MENU ::::
Posts tagged with: International

Addressing Pakistan’s Sovereignty Deficit

Christine Fair writes a fairly good assessment of the Pakistan-US love-hate relationship at the German Marshall Fund of the United States to say -> The Pakistan government’s inability to provide for the security and prosperity of its own people has led to questions about its sovereignty, whether in terms of its monopoly of violence, fiscal solvency, or human security. Admittedly, the United States has often compromised long-term goals for short-term access.

Pakistan can certainly do better by following India’s example of self-sufficient economic growth. Pakistanis should also question Chinese and Saudi intentions as vigorously as they do those of the United States. Both countries have used Pakistan for their own interests, without attempting to invest in the country’s people. Pakistan can only escape the leash of donors and manipulative outsiders by raising revenue, securing its territory, providing for its citizens, and becoming a responsible international actor. [Read the full text in PDF]


Prince Harry, uses racist terms – Paki & Raghead

Prince Harry: Ah, our little Paki friend AhmedAs of yesterday the English media has hurtled itself into yet another royal controversy, where The News of the World videos of Prince Harry, filmed some three back while he was on duty with the Royal Air Force, to have used some unacceptable language. He basically bad mouthed an Asian cadet calling him ‘PAKI‘, ridiculed a friend with the word ‘Raghead‘ and probably the most offending snipe for the English Royal family was when he teased the Queen mother calling her ‘granny’ and signing off on the video with ‘God Save You … yeah, that’s great

The Royal Air Force was termed this language as unacceptable and the Royal family has been quick to issue a public apology.
Continue Reading


Queen Rania uses YouTube to spread message of Peace & Understanding

Queen Rania of Jordan on YouTube

Queen Rania of Jordan has been Video Blogging for some time on YouTube sharing with the digital world her dedication to breaking down stereotypes about the Arab and Muslim worlds and an attempt to bridge the East-West divide. Recently she was rewarded the in the YouTube Visionary Award during the YouTube Live event last week. Her acceptance speech

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPcw3fLeBHM[/youtube]

I support her effort to build these bridges peace and understanding


Come Tuesday a Victory of Hope Over Rovesque Fear

Will the US be ever the same again?

Since life is all about flux, we continuously change, therefore any questions of change can be rhetorical in nature.

Yes, caution is advised and one must never underestimate the shenanigans of the neconzix, but the looming victory of Barack Hussein Obama (according to these pundits and this study of polls by Nat Silver) to come November 4, 2009 will be a global watershed event.

The last time the US was this polarized was in 1960 over Kennedy’s Catholicism. And the next time would perhaps be over a woman or a Jew candidate.

The Bush Presidency has managed to drag the US popularity downward throughout the world. He lied and misled the US – a Mass Deception over WMD and led an offensive against Saddam Hussain’s Iraq without a credible exit strategy.
Continue Reading


Dr. Aafia Siddiqui speaks out

By Khurram Ali Shafique also managing About Aafia Blog

At last a word has come out from Dr. Aafia Siddiqui herself about her travails. On Tuesday, October 6, four Pakistani senators met her in Texas but unfortunately their account has not been properly covered in many news reports. One exception is Daily Times, whose correspondent Khalid Hasan has given a remarkably detailed account of what Aafia told the senators in a meeting which lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes.

ACCORDING TO HER:

  1. She was on her way to the Karachi airport in 2003 with her children when she was taken. She remembers being given an injection and when she came to she was in a cell.
  2. She was being brainwashed by men who spoke perfect English. They could be Afghan or others. She did not think they were Pakistanis.
  3. She was being forced to admit things she had allegedly done. She was made to sign statements, some of which included information on phone calls she was said to have made.
  4. She has been tortured (but she provided no details).
  5. She was told by her captors that if she did not co-operate, her children would suffer (two of them are still missing).
  6. She said she did not know where her children were and it was not clear if they had been with her during her captivity.
  7. The assault case against her has no basis in fact.
  8. She expressed her lack of confidence in the court hearing her case and the US legal system.
  9. She said she didn’t trust the two lawyers who are representing her.

Continue Reading


German terrorist arrests: Do all Terrorists lead to Pakistan? NO

Today German federal police seized two suspected terrorists from a Dutch passenger aircraft [KL 1804] at Cologne airport shortly before it was due to take off for Amsterdam. Sources say the two suspects were on their way to join terrorists in Uganda and Pakistan.

The suspects were a 23-year-old Somalian identified as Abdirazak and a 24-year old German citizen born in Somalia called Omar were “under suspicion of participating in a jihad action and of possibly planning attacks” and had found farewell letters

Firstly don’t get me wrong but I firmly believe that all terrorists must be apprehended in time and put behind bars well before they have a chance to hurt innocent human lives, but what irks me is when the international media conveniently loops Pakistan into every terror plot

Allow me to explain, the flight that these two suspects were expected to board was a KLM City Hopper flight from Cologne to Amsterdam, which is actually a Fokker 50. This Fokker flight has a maximum carrying capacity of 67 passengers and at full fuel load has a flight range of only 1243 miles, a far cry from Uganda which stands at 3800 miles from Cologne or more importantly Pakistan which clocks in at 3600 miles from Cologne
Continue Reading


Rahman Dakait nominated for International Peace Award 2008

International Human Rights Commision has nominated Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik for the ‘International Peace Award 2008 for War against Terrorism. The real problem with Pakistan is there appears to be a complete collapse of moral fabric. I still choose to call him Rehman Dakiat for his endless list of goofups.

It should be recalled that this third Peoples Party nomination is right on the footsteps of Sherry Rehman being nominated for International Peace Award 2008 for Democrats a few months back.

Reading this news report for Rehman Malik – I am utterly speechless, as I and many Pakistanis will cringe at the thought of honoring REHMAN MALIK aka Rehman Dakait {of all people!!!} for the ‘peace prize’. It is yet another example of the political circus being run in Pakistan… I leave this news report at your disposal [and digestion] in utter disgust
Continue Reading


Presidential speech, is he stalling everything or truly bringing reconciliation the soil, a critical analysis

Guest Blog by Amjad Malik

20th September 2008, ‘Land mark’ presidential speech to the joint session of the Parliament was overshadowed by a quick reminder of the menace of terrorism in the form of an explosive terrorist attack at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad which took over fifty three lives and scores were injured. This condemnable attack not only highlighted the kind of danger Pakistan is facing, the war of top security agencies in the region and on its soil, and the loss of many lives & families which are unaccounted during this on going struggle in order to find viable answers how to secure sustainable peace and calm to the region and in return to the world in general. So far no one has found the right key to success in this ongoing onslaught. Pakistan is caught between rock and hard place, on one side US anger over poor performance and asking them to do more, and if they do, the sheer resentment over foreign policy is visible by outlawed networks and Jihadists and expressed by the sophisticatedly hit targets which are normally pro West outlets. In Pakistan these suicidal attacks have crossed a century in number in only last 1 ½ years though this individual Non NATO ally is at the brink of facing the wrath in the form of unitarily inside strikes by the super power for their lack of will and action despite losing over 1000 soldiers at the rear border at Durand line. High value target though is missed by inches each time, but this faulty intelligence is causing an increase the collateral damage day by day, and that is the sad other side of the multi colour story full of blood.
Continue Reading


Islamabad Update: ~60 dead, 200+ injured including Czech Ambassador

The death toll continues to rise on last nights Islamabad bombing and news reports are tallying the count to be somewhere around 60 dead and over 200 injured. This sadly also includes a few foreigners and the highest dignitary killed yesterday is the Czech Ambassador to Pakistan Ivo Zdarek while his Vietnamese parter is also missing up until now. Ambassador Zdarek had moved to Pakistan a month ago and was staying at the hotel.

Czech Embassy officials said that Zdarek called his embassy from inside the hotel moments after the explosion asking to be rescued, but had not been heard from since and later Czech media reports said police had pulled the diplomat’s body from the smouldering ruins.

Loss of life in any measure is condemnable, but it is far more embarrassing to have a guest visiting our country suffering the ultimate tragedy. Our heart and prayers go out to each person [local or international] killed in the incident, I only wish we could have done more to avoid this ultimate disaster and also wish a speedy recovery to those injured.

It is probably yet another incident that my heart truly weeps at seeing our Pakistan bleed so profusely. We must join hands and work towards taking Pakistan out of this spiraling disaster


Between Allah Cracy and English Cracy

Guest Blog by Silence from Islamabad Observer

“May gaad give us the strent to save Pakistan”
Asif Ali Zardari
President
Islamic Republic of Pakistan

During Zia ul Haq’s dictatorship, Late Makhdum Sajjad Hussain, father of Shah Mahmood Qureshi (presently foreign minister) was appointed as Governor of Punjab. He was a very simple person, a feudal lord and a known ‘peer’ with millions of followers especially from rural Sindh. Whenever someone would approach Mr. Governor with any problem, “Allah Kracy” (God will Do) the Governor used to reply in Saraiki language and would raise his hands to pray, hundreds of followers sitting around would also raise their hands and pray with their peer cum governor.

Weather some one asks for transfer of his son or complains about poor condition of road or even a magistrate asks approval to arrest protesters, the answer was always same, “Allah Kracy” followed by raising hands. The joke around the province was that people of Punjab are sandwiched between ‘Bureaucracy’ and‘Allah Kracy. The requests from bureaucracy to pass orders helped little. Mr. Governor preferred prayer rather then passing any orders and always used Saraiki as language.
Continue Reading


Immediately Stop: ‘Logistic Support’ to Fascist NATO in Afghanistan

Guest Blog by Silence from Islamabad Observer

Dear Pakistani’s,
United States of America, the principal leader of fascist movement NATO has launched several unprovoked attacks inside Pakistan, killing innocent women and children. They launch their attacks, killing just about anybody including innocent women and children to vent their anger and frustration, as they are facing a shameful defeat in Afghanistan. They want us to take the responsibility for their failure. They want to breed hatred in our people against state and working on an agenda to disintegrate our country for their ‘oil plan’.

Our previous government does nothing to stop them, now enemy is putting more pressure on the newly elected government, to accept the directions of the enemy, literally to give up our sovereignty. We are under pressure to conform to our oppressors wishes about how we should behave, how we should govern our land, how we should live and how we should think even. Our enemy is suffering from might-madness, they think through might and they negotiate through killing.
Continue Reading


The victory of ‘US lead war against terror’: on US judicial system and human rights

Guest Blog by Silence from Islamabad Observer

A United States court Thursday found American-educated Pakistani doctor Aafia Siddiqi guilty on charges to attack U.S army in Afghanistan as a member of Al-Qaeda, said a statement released from US court. This statement is a declaration of the first defeat of United States judicial system in so-called war on terror. Although, many of the citizens of civilized world and United States might not consider it of any importance, as, this is a case of a lady from third world country, who is accused of being related to terrorists.

Dr. Afia Siddiqui, a PhD degree holder, was arrested by Pakistani intelligence agencies while on her way to the Rawalpindi airport and she was later handed over to the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). At the time of her arrest she was 30 years and accompanied by her three sons the oldest of which was four and the youngest only one month.

On December 30, 2003 Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui, Dr. Afia’s elder sister met with Mr. Faisal Saleh Hayat (the then minister of interior) at Islamabad with Mr. Ejazul Haq, MNA, regarding the whereabouts of Dr. Afia. Mr. Faisal told Dr. Fowzia and Mr. Ejazul Haq that according to his information Dr. Afia Siddiqui had already been released by ISI and that she (Dr. Fowzia) should go home and wait for a phone call from her sister. Later, the Minister of interior confirmed her arrest on terrorism charges during his interview with a local weekly, “You will be astonished to know about the activities of Dr. Afia” the Minister claimed.
Continue Reading


Self flagellations, a religious practice or child cruelty, a critical analysis

Guest Post by Amjad Malik

Message of Imam Hussain, the grandson of last Prophet of Islam of sacrifice is greater in spirit and is held very dear by billions of Muslims across the globe and the message is remembered zealously during the first month of Islamic calendar Muharram. The Ashura ceremony takes place during this month to commemorate the courage & sacrifice of Hussain, a central figure of the Shia faith and his disciples in many Muslim countries adopt various means to express their grief which include holding processions, reading and listening to the tragic events as they unfolded during that month in the battlefield of ‘Karbala’, chest beatings as well as self flagellation. In order to express extreme solidarity a small percentage use five bladed whip attached to a chain and a wooden handle to carry out the matam called ‘Zanjeer Zani’. The practice has been on going for centuries.

In January 2008 during Ashura, a devout Shia Muslim first flogged himself and later considering it part of his religion allowed two under-16 boys to use the bladed whip to flog themselves until their backs bled during a shia religious ceremony. He was charged upon a complaint of the mother and statements of the boys that they were forced and he was later convicted by a Jury upon a trial at Manchester Crown Court on two counts of Child cruelty in August 2008. He will be sentenced this September. This is a land mark case carrying serious repercussions on religious practices of a Muslim minority and critics view this prosecution as a tip of the iceberg and consider this policy decision will trigger more cases in future. This incident has initiated a debate where self flagellation as a religious ritual is up against the child protection laws.
Continue Reading


Joe Biden as Obama’s VP running mate – Good for Pakistan

Its just been announced that Joe Biden will most likely be the Vice Presidential candidate for the Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama. For Pakistan its great news, as this senator has a far better understanding of the problems facing Pakistan than anyone in Washington – he has been arguing for a better handling of affairs in Iraq and also Pakistan since long and was well aware of the consequence of Musharraf’s martial law back in November 2007 while Bush took a back seat and refused to react to the overthrow of the condition and the justice system one can gauge by the comment he made in late 2007

Open letter to the US from Sami Khan: When Bush said that the general (Musharraf) “hasn’t crossed the line” and “truly is somebody who believes in democracy”, Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a presidential candidate replied, “What exactly would it take for the president to conclude Musharraf has crossed the line? Suspend the constitution? Impose emergency law? Beat and jail his political opponents and human rights activists?” “He’s already done all that. If the president sees Musharraf as a democrat, he must be wearing the same glasses he had on when he looked in Vladimir Putin’s soul.”

Continue Reading


The Great Game –The Count Down Begins !

In its December issues Global Research of Canada in a series of articles by Prof. Michel Chossudovsky outlined the American design for the break up of Pakistan. I give below the gist of his remarkably till now accurate analysis(with a few comments of my own),in the hopes that it serves as an eye opener for my country men- and my friends in India.

The report states that due to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the process of US sponsored “regime change”, which normally consists in the re-formation of a fresh proxy government under new leaders, has been defeated. Their trusted ally General Pervez Musharraf – having been exposed – cannot long remain in the seat of political power. More over the fake elections supported by the “west” scheduled for January 2008 would now only create a political impasse.
Continue Reading


Pages:12