From AmPak to AfPak

Posted by Marivel Guzman From Original Post on 12. Oct, 2010 by Raja Mujtaba in Pak-US Relations

[Translate]

The 60 Years of PAK-AMERICAN Journey

By Engr. Mansoor A Malik
Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Mr. Liaqat Ali Khan’s first and his last visit to USA in 1950 paved the way for a long and tumultuous relationship between the Victorious (Second World War) Super Power, America and the Largest, Democratic Muslim State of the world at that time, Pakistan. This new fledgling democratic state of Pakistan had gone to the Golden Shores of the USA to get help in strengthening its democratic institutions which were in infancy and urgently required support and help from its friends abroad. It could have gone to its ex-colonial power, UK for this support but preferred a fresh approach since its founding politicians had apprehensions about the close affinity between its immediate neighbor India and UK. The objectives of this journey from the Pakistani leadership were quite vivid but its timings were completely out of place. The American policy makers in Washington at that time were deeply engrossed in the preparation of the Korean War as a demonstration of their new Asia-Pacific policy and required foot soldiers for this important campaign. They had already roped in the Turkish Military and requested Pakistan to do the same. Liaqat Ali Khan in his own eloquent style, coming from the landed aristocracy, politely refused any military help on this account........Read More Opinion Maker Foresight with Insight

Pakistan: Change is Inevitable

Pakistan: Change is Inevitable

Posted on 27. Sep, 2010 by Raja Mujtaba in Pakistan

By General Mirza Aslam Beg

We are living in very challenging times, constantly facing the negative impact of developments, taking place across the borders and the turmoil within, caused by bad governance, institutional conflict, corruption, rising inflation, deprivation and insurgency, compounded by unprecedented floods. This all has caused despondency and despair, in the minds of the people, wanting a change. Change is needed, no doubt but not through military intervention, nor through street violence, but through the constitutional democratic process, so that the democratic order is sustained, strengthened and buttressed to face the challenges. That is the process which has set into motion, to correct the course.
The external negative forces, impacting life in Pakistan, gradually have taken a backward turn. For example Iran, which has been facing American pressures since 1979, through sanctions and embargoes; aggression by Iraq; threat of war by Israel and induced ethnic riots, to cause strained relations with Pakistan have failed to deter Iran, from signing the eight billion dollar gas pipeline deal with Pakistan. The American government having realized that they cannot bend or break the Iranian will, now are seeking their help in finding a safe exit from Afghanistan. This is a positive change for Pakistan and Iran and for peace in the region.
Similarly in Afghanistan, the Americans and the allies, having failed in their attempt to again cheat the Taliban, of their victory, are now seeking dialogue with them, for a safe exit. This is a very positive change for Pakistan, because, the exit of the occupation forces, would remove the curse of Indian intrusion into Pakistan, a well as the ingress by the American Marines, the CIA and FBI in our border region since 2002, allowed by Pervez Musharraf, which has now been confirmed by the American scholar Bob Woodward, which I had also exposed, through several articles the rather shameful bartering away of our national interests, several years back, when Musharraf was in power, but no one took notice of it. The exit from Afghanistan will also bring to an end the running war with our own tribals, induced by the joint conspiracy of CIA and Raw. These developments are very significant for Pakistan demanding reorientation of our policies and priorities with regard to Afghanistan, India and USA.
For the last sixty years, India has let loose a reign of terror in occupied Kashmir, killing over hundred thousand Kashmiris since 1990. The state terrorism is now being confronted by the civil disobedience movement of the Kashmiri people, which has unnerved the Indian occupation forces, numbering over seven hundred thousand. The state of conflict and confrontation between India and Pakistan, which has lasted for over sixty years, is coming to an end now, and it is possible only after an amicable settlement of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir and not so called ‘out of box’ solution offered by the outgoing dictator.
Thus the external factors, which kept Pakistan hostage to conspiracies for long, are now melting away, one by one and it was in this background that the people of Pakistan, voted in favour of democracy, on 18^th February 2008, expecting that the rule of law would prevail and the rich and the poor would get justice equally, but that was not to be. The institutional conflict, self interest of the corrupt rulers, bad governance, deprivation and indifference to the needs of the common people has caused such despondency and despair that the Pakistanis are now clamouring for change which has become inevitable. How this change will occur, is of interest to know, because it would demolish the conspiracy for setting-up a pro-establishment government at the behest of proxy powers.

Read More on.......Opinion Maker Foresight with Insight

Cauldron of Kashmir on the boil again

Posted on 28. Sep, 2010 by Raja Mujtaba in Kashmir

By Brig Asif Haroon Raja

Women Protesters India-Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOK) is under illegal occupation of India since 1947 and the people suffering under the oppressive rule denied of their basic rights desire freedom. They have been waging struggle for the last 63 years to get freedom from Indian yoke and have resorted to both democratic and violent means. Savage methods have been employed by Indian occupation forces to suppress the people and make them submit to Indian illegal occupation. Brutal force has failed to stifle the yearning desire for freedom which has now taken a new shape in the form of stone-throwing by teenagers. On the other hand, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) was liberated from the hold of Maharaja Hari Singh’s Dogra Army and Indian Army by the freedom fighters of Kashmir and tribesmen from FATA/NWFP in October 1947.
People of AJK are living in complete freedom and enjoying all the concessions of an autonomous state. There has never been any movement for democratic rights or regional autonomy. Selig Harrison’s biased article appearing in Jewish controlled New York Times in August apart from creating a sensation through his false reporting of presence of large number of Chinese troops in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Pakistan’s decision to hand over GB to China has also tried to equate the situation of AJK with IHK by stating that AJK is being brutally suppressed. There couldn’t have been a bigger lie than what has been fabricated by Harrison to please the Indians. Blinkered and prejudiced Harrison somehow cannot hear or see the cries of the Kashmiris in IHK. Through his colored glasses he sees Indian forces showering roses on Kashmiris and the latter gratified by their benevolence chanting pro-India slogans.

 Pro-independence nonviolent movement which triggered on 11 June 2010 as a consequence to killing of a 17 year old boy by Indian occupation forces has turned into a mass movement. This is the third bout of political agitation by peaceful means since summer of 2008. In the last 3 ½ months, 107 innocent people have been killed by occupation forces, mostly young boys and women, and thousands injured. Police and paramilitary troops have been firing indiscriminately upon peaceful protesters chanting slogans of ‘Azadi’ and ‘go India go’ to suppress them. Brutal methods are being employed to break the momentum of the movement which has now spread to all parts of occupied Kashmir including some of the Muslim-majority districts of Jammu.
Police instead of using water canons or rubber bullets to disperse stone pelting protesters, aims tear gas shells at their children are also fearlessheads.

This crude practice results in deaths. On August 2, a policeman thrust his baton in the mouth of an 8 year boy Sameer in Batmaloo due to which boy’s lungs ruptured and he is still fighting battle of life and death in critical condition. Besides using tear gas shells excessively, troops fire volleys of live bullets direct into the crowds and their rifles point towards chests and heads of the protestors. Many bystanders including some children playing in playgrounds have been killed because of wholesale firing.

The new generation having grown under the boots of Indian occupation forces has become fed up of the continued oppression of occupation forces. They hate their hypocritical Kashmiri rulers acting as puppets of India and want to get rid of them. They are disillusioned with other so-called moderate Kashmiri leaders of APHC who had been induced by Indian rulers and had agreed to indulge in fruitless talks. United Jihad Council chairman Sayyed Salahuddin’s effigy was burnt on 2 August since he had appealed to general public to show restraint and protest in a phased manner so as not to hamper schooling. Likewise when Syed Ali Shah Geelani sent a message of truce to the puppet government of Omar Abdullah and requested for lifting of curfew, the people got enraged and threatened to burn his house.
Young Kashmiris are extremely unhappy with rulers of Pakistan who since 2004 have stopped extending them even moral and diplomatic support and have been promoting Indian scheme of solving Kashmir dispute. Whatever arbitrary pro-Kashmir statements made is mere lip service. They have not forgotten Zardari equating Kashmiri freedom fighters with terrorists, or saying that India is a friend and Pakistan has no threat from it. Their disenchantment and frustration has reached such a high pitch that no amount of brutality inflicted upon them scares them away. Tender aged boys as small as 8 years are more enthusiastic and are seen leading the processions. Each death of their colleagues adds to their pent up anger and further steel their resolve to continue with their civil disobedience movement. Not knowing how to counter the hail of bullets, young boys hurl stones on the soldiers and police.

Read more on........... Opinion Maker Foresight with Insight