Diverging Roads

By Zoon Ahmad Khan
ZoneAsia-Pk

Quite often the truth becomes what it is believed to be.

The 21st century; where every tom, dick and harry has an opinion and the power to impose it.

If Pakistan were to manage a decent start to wrapping up a decades old mess, is now the right time?

The recent airstrikes at the Pakistani Check Post in the Mohmand Agency of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal areas left a nation of 187 million in shambles. With the Shaheed Jawaans’ funeral and photographs repeatedly playing all over Pakistani television, the fingers pointing towards the US have increased exponentially in this week. The NATO airstrike fueled a sentiment that has for years discovered a decent abode in a perturbed and beaten down society. This disposition is reflected in the jaw-dropping success of an anti-drone and predominantly anti-Imperialist streak visible in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s campaign accompanied by a widespread murmur of ‘puppet leaders’ quandary that several opposition parties and the media have raised. Post Memogate Fiasco, one attempts to link the two events: Is this the Iron fist to intimidate Pak Army? We might never find out for sure, but there is enough evidence to highlight divergence.

Read more…

Benazir was promised PM slot: FIA report

By Zahid Gishkori

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Benazir Bhutto was given a firm assurance from the highest authorities in both Pakistan and the United States that she would be the next prime minister after the 2007 general elections, revealed a forensic report on the data retrieved from the recently-found personal BlackBerry phones of Ms Bhutto.

Forensics report of BlackBerry phones prepared by FIA shows she had been told high officials had given the nod.

The Express Tribune has learnt that one of her close associates, who is now a member of the National Assembly, informed the former premier through an email that the then US secretary of state and the then director-general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had also given the nod.

Close to five dozen e-mails have been retrieved from the two BlackBerry phones recovered by a special team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) a few days ago.

“Respected Prime Minister (Benazir Bhutto), the United States confirmed that a crucial message had been sent to intelligence agencies of Pakistan, specifically not to interfere in party affairs and stay away from the electoral process. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and director-general Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) have done a secret deal for your (Benazir Bhutto) premiership.

Congratulations Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and warm regards,” read an e-mail sent by a leading PPP leader on October 23, 2007, to Benazir Bhutto calling her “Respected Prime Minister”. The name of this person has been kept anonymous by The Express Tribune.

The e-mails retrieved by the forensics laboratory revealed various facts that helped connect the dots in the investigation of the assassination of the former premier.

An email was sent by Benazir to Ron Suskind, an American journalist, some days prior to her assassination. The former prime minister, while referring to the then president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf said that he wrote to his friend that he (Musharraf) gave her an alarming message: “You (Benazir) should understand that your security is based on the state of relations between you and me (Benazir and Musharraf).”

In another e-mail, dated October 26, 2007, the slain PPP leader wrote a letter to her advisor in Washington DC, Mark Siegel, in which she expressed dissatisfaction over her security.

She wrote: “Nothing will happen, just wanted you to know. If it does, in addition to the names in my letter to President Musharraf, I would hold Musharraf responsible. I have been made to feel insecure by his minions and there is no way what is happening in terms of stopping me from taking private security or using tinted windows of four police mobiles to cover all sides could happen without him (Musharraf).”

Bhutto also sent an SMS message to Daphne Barak, a famous interviewer who often writes for Mail Online. In reply to an SMS message, Barak wrote: “Bibi, you are going to Pakistan. It’s a trap for you now. But you are insisting to go back.”

The Express Tribune further learnt that the FIA’s Forensics Lab, after retrieving data from Benazir’s BlackBerry phones, has collected it to compare with the current facts and testimonies, including those of former City Police Officer Rawalpindi Saud Aziz and Superintendent Police Rawalpindi Khurram Shehzad.

Close to four hundred contact numbers have been saved by the FIA’s Forensics team.

Meanwhile, the latest investigation report compiled by the FIA investigation team probing the Benazir murder case has come down hard on Pervez Musharraf. The report compiled by head of investigation team Khalid Qureshi says:

“Musharraf was equally responsible for facilitation and abetment of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto through his government and justified failure in providing her the requisite security protection that her status demanded twice. There was a security lapse.” The fresh report is likely to be submitted to Interior Minister by end of this week. The report also says: “Musharraf himself appointed Saud Aziz on junior assignment in Rawalpindi on April 10, 2008.”

Death of the ‘Imam’

By Shemrez Nauman Afzal
ZoneAsia-Pk

Amir Sultan Tarar AKA Colonel Imam

Brigadier Retired Amir Sultan Tarar is suspected to have died in Taliban captivity, presumably because of cardiac arrest, but suspicions and conspiracy theories indicate that his captors, the Taliban, may have murdered him because of non-payment of ransom by his family. However, the official quarters including Military sources as well as the Frontier Corps are finding it hard to verify the reports saying they have no confirmed information in this regard.

“We have been told that his dead body has been seen near Danday Darpa Khel area in North Waziristan Agency, but the news could not be confirmed nor could we get any picture of the dead body of Colonel Imam”, a senior Army official told this scribe when contacted. Similar remarks were offered by the FC sources.

Read Complete Article Here: Death of the ‘Imam’

Petition before High Court: Hafiz Saeed says govt should defend him before US court

The Express Tribune

LAHORE: Jamatud Dawa ameer Hafiz Saeed has moved a writ petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking a direction to the federal government to defend him in an American court which has issued him a summons. The suit has been filed by the relatives of an American citizen who was killed in the Mumbai attacks.

Rabbi Gavriel Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka were gunned down by militants at the Chhabad House in Mumbai. Their son, Moshe, escaped the attack. Moshe, and other people, have filed nine claims against Lashkar-e-Tayaba (LeT), Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Azam Cheema and Sajid Majid as well as the former director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Nadeem Taj and its current head, Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha. Major Iqbal and Major Samir have also been named as part of the ISI. The plaintiffs have asked for over $75,000 in damages for each claim.

Through his lawyer AK Dogar, Saeed has said that he is the head of Jamatud Dawa, a charitable organisation and that he has not connection with LeT. He has said that after the government had detained him in 2009, a full bench of the LHC had ordered him released. The bench had held, he said, that there was no evidence that he had any links with AlQaeda or any other terrorist movement. He said false allegations had been made by an Indian lobby that he was involved in the Mumbai attacks. He said there was no evidence that he was involved in any anti-security activities nor that he was a security risk.

Saeed said that the federal government had announced on December 31 that it would defend the ISI’s head in the suit. He said as a Pakistani citizen he enjoyed the same rights as any other individual. He said the government should defend him in the same manner as ISI officials.

He said the prime minister had told the National Assembly that ISI officials would not be handed over to an American court and that the government would take appropriate steps to have the case dismissed. He said access to justice was every citizen’s fundamental right. He said under Article 25 of the Constitution all citizens are equal and entitled to equal protection by the law.

A reply, in response to the summons, has been sent to an American court, repudiating the assumption of jurisdiction by the American court. International law, the reply says, does not allow exercise of jurisdiction over the persons and property of other states.

He prayed to the court that the federal government be directed to defend him in the American court like the ISI officials that are being so defended against allegations.

Adiala missing prisoners under ISI, MI custody: SC told

Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and MI agencies at last declared that 11 prisoners who went missing from Adiala jail, are under their custody, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The agencies said these prisoners are charged with harming the military installations and hence are being court-martialed under Army Act.

The agencies further unfolded that more arrests are underway, adding these people were taken under custody from the Operation Area.

The counsel of ISI and MI Raja Irshad told the Supreme Court (SC) during a case hearing regarding 11 missing prisoners of Adiala Jail that all the people are alive and safe, adding more terrorists have been nabbed in this connection.

Enough evidence of Indian involvement in Balochistan, Waziristan

The News International

WASHINGTON: A cable from US Embassy in Islamabad leaked by whistle-blower website WikiLeaks disclosed that there were enough evidences of Indian involvement in Waziristan and other tribal areas of Pakistan as well as Balochistan.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha’s extension in services was termed as a good omen in one such cable and it was added that his further presence on the scene would enhance the agency’s abilities to combat anti-terror war.

An earlier cable ruled out any direct or indirect involvement of ISI in 26/11 under Pasha’s command while Mumbai’s dossier, based on prime accused Ajmal Kasab’s confessional statement was termed funny and “shockingly immature”.

WikiLeaks revealed that a cable sent from a US mission in India termed former Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor as an incompetent combat leader and rather a geek.

His war doctrine, suggesting eliminating China and Pakistan in a simultaneous war front was termed as “much far from reality”. Another cable indicates that General Kapoor was dubbed as a general who was least bothered about security challenges to the country but was more concerned about making personal assets and strengthening his own cult in the army. The cable also suggested that a tug-of-war between Kapoor and the current Indian Army chief had divided the Indian Army into two groups.

General Singh has also been described as “Pakistan, China centric”, with an added aggression towards China. The cable mentioned General Singh as an egotist, self-obsessed, petulant and idiosyncratic general, a braggadocio and a show-off, who has been disliked (and barely tolerated) by all his subordinates.

An earlier cable described Indian Army involved in gross human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir while some Lt Gen HS Panag, the then GOC-in-Chief of the Northern Command of the Indian Army, was equated with General Milosevic of Bosnia with regard to butchering Muslims through war crimes.

The cable urged Washington to secretly divert UN attention towards the genocide of innocent civilians in held Kashmir at the hands of Indian Army and also suggested that US should avoid holding any joint drill with Indian Army until it stops inhuman activities in Kashmir. The cable termed one Lt Col AK Mathur as “devil’s advocate” at Srinagar.

Another cable indicated involvement of top Indian Army leadership in engaging Hindu extremist militants to carry out certain terror operations to keep Indian Muslims on the back foot and to keep pressure on neighbouring Pakistan’s Army and intelligence agencies, particularly the Inter-Services Intelligence.

The cable confirmed the active presence of ISI in India but it refused to confirm any involvement of ISI in any terror incident across India and did confirm intelligence collection by its agents and operatives. Another cable confirmed that there was a nexus of top Indian Army officials and extremist Hindu outfits. This cable suggested that an Indian police officer, a counter-terror specialist with the name of Hemant Karkare, had exposed this nexus to some extent when he arrested a serving colonel of Indian army, Lt Colonel Purohit, for blazing a Pakistan bound train (Samjhota Express).

The cable suggested that Hemant Karkare held a secret meeting with a senior US diplomat in New Delhi during the national day reception of a friendly country and briefed him about the gravity and the growing depth of the nexus between top Indian Army leadership and the militant Hindu fanatic groups. Karkare sought security for him and his family from the said American diplomat as he feared that the army and establishment would eliminate him as he intended to move further to expose the network. He had further briefed the said US diplomat that a former commander-in-chief of the Central Command of the Indian army, Lt Gen PN Hoon, was heading the militancy wing of the Hindu extremists and was getting full tactical, logistic and financial support from senior army officers. The day, Karkare was eliminated in a pre-planned ambush during the Mumbai attacks, a cable sent to the US read “we have lost an important link and a vital evidence”.

Another cable sent to Washington termed Hindutva brotherhood in general and Shiv Sena in particular, as ticking time bombs with regard to militancy and terrorism. It was suggested that fundraisers like Hindu Students Council of America etc should be banned to raise funds as they were generating funds for the Hindu militant outfits under the garb of charity. Another file dubs Hindutva Brotherhood as a far bigger threat to regional and global peace than Taliban, al-Qaeda and LeT and the later three were declared as “peanuts” if equated with Hindutva Brotherhood and Sangh Parivaar and Washington was urged to take up the issue with New Delhi. Another cable expressed grave concern over the Indian government’s ability to handle Naxal insurgency movement as 80 per cent of Indian nuclear and missile facilities were present in the insurgency hit areas of India while the Indian security forces were totally helpless in ensuring the writ of the government in that particular area, known as the “Red Corridor of India”.

A cable sent from Israel described the then Israeli Military Intelligence chief, Major General Amos Yadlin as an aggressive general. He was quoted in the cable as a dire seeker of “annihilation” of Islamic Republic of Iran. In a meeting with an American diplomat, General Yadlin dubbed Iranian, Syrian and Hezbollah’s weapons as “tools of terrorism” and not war weapons. He also showed immense eagerness to attack Syrian nuclear facilities.

General Yadlin also told American diplomat that timeframe of Iran nuclear weapons preparation and timeframe to attack Iran were to be totally different issues. He also differed with Americans over the ability of Iran to prepare nuclear weapons and instead said that Iran had sufficient enriched uranium to manufacture a single nuclear device and may soon have enough for making another bomb.

Iran is busy setting up two new nuclear installations, Yadlin told the US diplomat adding that M-I has indications that work has began on the installations, but did not comment on the sources. Yadlin, who was later-on replaced by Brigadier General Aviv Kochav, also spoke of Iran as the greatest threat facing Israel, not only in the nuclear respect. “Iran is sending its long arms to aid anyone who is working against Israel,” Yadlin said. “Such assessments are undoubtedly weighing on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s mind as he considers the possible need for an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran,” the cable said.

Mossad chief Meir Dagan very proudly told Americans that his special team had eliminated Hamas top military strategist Izzadin Sheikh Khalil through a terror plot. The cable informed Washington that in fact Dagan had established a number of “hit teams” through which he was getting engaged in non-intelligence operations and also used these hit men for certain personal vendettas as well.

Dagan, in a meeting with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, proposed Americans a five point agenda to fix Iran. The focus of the agenda was to change the regime at Tehran and to launch an ethnic movement throughout Iran to destabilise the country before launching the final attack.

A cable from Kabul termed Afghan President as the “patron-in-chief” of the Afghan drug mafia. The cable, citing certain verified UNODC figures, stated that Karzai was living at the mercy of Afghan warlords who, with the passage of time, had transformed into drug lords. The cable stated that there was an annual drug trade of 3 trillion dollars from Pakistan while the Karzai administration was keeping mum over the same.

Another cable stated that Indian involvement in Afghanistan was increasing considerably and all was going on with the consent and knowledge of President Karzai and his administration. The cable further reads that growing Indian influence and presence in Afghanistan was focused towards Pakistan and China, both simultaneously.

Saudi Arabia proposed setting up an Arab force to fight Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with the help of the US, UN and Nato, according to a leaked document. In a meeting in May 2008 with a US diplomat in Iraq, David Satterfield, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said a “security response” was needed to the “military challenge” posed to Beirut by the Iran-backed militants.

The Saudi prince feared a Hezbollah victory against the Lebanese government, led by then prime minister Fuad Siniora, would eventually lead to Iran’s takeover of the country.

There was a need for an “Arab force” to create and maintain order in and around Beirut, he argued, saying the Lebanese army was “too fragile to bear more pressure,” according to the cable from the US embassy in Riyadh.

Such a force would be aided by UNIFIL troops deployed in southern Lebanon, while the “US and Nato would need to provide movement and logistic support, as well as naval and air cover,” the cable added.

According to a leaked document, Saudi armed forces killed Yemeni civilians when fighting Shia rebels in a brief border war despite assurances that only rebel targets were hit.

Saudi Arabia fought Yemeni rebels for several months in a border war that ended with a ceasefire in February.

In public statements during the fighting, Saudi Arabia said that only rebel positions in the border area were attacked. But the leaked cables suggest civilians died.

“Obviously some civilians died, though we wish that this did not happen,” the prince, who is also assistant defence minister, said in the meeting requested by the ambassador to relay US concerns about civilian casualties in the conflict.

Prince Khaled confirmed that Saudi forces hit a building the United States believed to be a clinic but the Saudis thought it was being used as a base by rebels.

He also said the Yemeni military had helped recommend rebel targets, the cable said.The Saudi military used “massively disproportionate force” in a campaign last year against guerrillas seen by the army as “embarrassingly long,” according to another leaked cable.

“Day and night aerial bombardment and artillery shelling have been the main instruments of what is increasingly regarded within the Saudi military as an embarrassingly long campaign,” said the memo from the US embassy in Riyadh.

The three-month operation against the lightly armed Huthi guerrillas on the border areas with Yemen was also seen as “poorly planned and executed” and “brought unexpectedly high Saudi casualties”.

“Nonetheless, the conflict has been carefully spun as a heroic and successful struggle to protect Saudi sovereignty,” the memo added.

Britain faced threats from Libya of dire consequences if the ailing Lockerbie bomber died in a Scottish prison. Threats included the cessation of all British commercial activity in Libya and demonstrations against British facilities, as well as suggestions Britons in the country could be put at risk, according to the cables.

And despite London’s attempts to publicly distance itself from the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi – which was made by the devolved Scottish government – the cables show enormous British relief at the move.

Libyan officials warned their British counterparts that “consequences for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship would be dire were al-Megrahi to die in Scottish prison,” read one dispatch from the US ambassador to Tripoli in January 2009.

And if Washington publicly opposed the release, “the US Embassy and private Americans in Libya could face similar consequences,” read the cable from the ambassador, Gene A Cretz.

Megrahi was the only person ever convicted over the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am Jumbo jet over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people, most of them US nationals.

He was released in August, 2009, on compassionate grounds after doctors diagnosed him with prostate cancer and gave him just three months to live, sparking outrage in the United States. More than a year later he remains alive in Tripoli, however, renewing anger in the US.

One cable showed Britain’s then justice minister, Jack Straw, told US diplomats that although Megrahi might have up to five years to live, the Scottish government appeared inclined to release him. “Megrahi could have as long as five years to live,” said the correspondence, cited in Britain’s Guardian newspaper.

Pakistan bothered by US’ ‘keep-in-dark’ policy

ISLAMABAD: Disillusionment is growing in Pakistan over the Unites States’ deliberate attempt to keep its front-line ally in the war against terrorism in the dark on its strategy in Afghanistan, and taking Islamabad for granted despite a huge contribution.

“The United States is deliberately keeping us in the dark in its peace efforts and it appears from Washington’s policy that Pakistan is being made a scapegoat for the failure of the coalition in Afghanistan,” a high-ranking security official said, adding that the United States needed to understand that the spillover effect of the on-going war had damaged the social and cultural fabric of Pakistani society.

“The policy of harping ‘do more’ doesn’t help … we want to be a part of the solution and not the problem … we will also not like to be found standing in a corner at the end of the day,” he added.

The official said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had personally conveyed these concerns to US President Barack Obama, who had walked in to attend the recent Strategic Dialogue meeting in Washington.

“The US president was informed about the perception in Pakistan on being taken for granted and disregarding our role, which indicated that we were being made a scapegoat for the coalition’s failure as the once most trusted ally was now being bullied at … the US president was also apprised that Pakistan continued to suffer because of Afghanistan,” he said, adding that the military establishment’s disappointment over the US’ failure to address Pakistan’s concerns was candidly put across.

The official said the US president had also been told that unless Pakistan was on board, peace in Afghanistan would not be possible as “time is short and resources are limited”.

Acknowledging that the radical forces were an equal threat for the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan, he said stability in Afghanistan was key to resolving all issues.

He said the concept of (Pakistan’s) strategic depth was absolutely misunderstood.

“It has also been made clear to the United States that Pakistan has no intention to over-run Afghanistan and control it but we cannot forego our long-term interests for short-term solutions … a stable Afghanistan will help address our security issues and stability in Afghanistan is possible only with the support of all ethnic groups and if needed, the Afghan constitution may be changed to make a strong federation … idealism has to be reconciled with ground realities,” the official said.

He said al Qaeda must be pursued ruthlessly and crushed as a common enemy and it was imperative to identify those Taliban who were willing to negotiate for reconciliation.

“Peace in Afghanistan should be judged in relative terms … what is doable must be the basis of the strategy … military strategy has to be the basis for the political strategy as military strategy cannot be an end in itself.” He said it was wrong to say that the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was supporting the Haqqani network.

The official said that the COAS also brushed aside the impression that Pakistan was not willing to launch an operation in North Waziristan. “The US president was informed that in principal it was not a question of ‘if, when and how’ … the army chief told him that the Pakistan Army was already over-stretched and a major operation was only possible by sending logistics to North Waziristan from South Waziristan … it was also conveyed to the US president that Pakistan was facing budgetary constraints and it was difficult to maintain our defence capabilities,” he said.

He said that the more important consideration for Pakistan was that the operation would have a blow-back effect as terrorist attacks were expected to increase and there would be another exodus of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.

“The armed forces are already handling the post-flood situation in the country … militants have already started resurging in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies … and we are also stuck in the rebuilding phase in Swat and Malakand where, in a way, we are fixed and the possibility is that positivity will turn into negativity if the army stays there for a longer period … the war against terrorism is a matter of life and death for Pakistan … al Qaeda poses a serious threat to us but the US media has turned biased against us and our contribution is being disregarded,” he said, explaining Pakistan’s predicament.

The official said that under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF), Pakistan had claimed $11.59 billion of which $9.47 billion were asked for the army. “A total of $7.93 billion have been reimbursed and the army has been given only $2.5 billion while rest of the money has gone for the budgetary support,” he said.

He rejected the myth that the army was a white elephant. “The armed forces get only 16 percent of the total budget and that too is decreasing in real terms,” he said, admitting that the Pakistan Army was India-centric as “this is our job … we are trained for this and we are not apologetic for professionally preparing ourselves in this direction”.

On Balochistan, the official said that there was “no army” except in Sui to protect the gas field and there too the army would soon be replaced with the Frontier Corps. “The army had been pulled back a year ago,” he said, adding that a military college and a technical institute would be established in Sui cantonment.

The official said the mindset in the United States was that Pakistan was not willing to change its “India-centric security paradigm”. “The US president was briefed on this and told that contrary to this, the Indian militarisation is Pakistan-specific and India is the biggest buyer of armaments with its arsenals ostensibly being Pakistan-specific … the US president was also told that if Pakistan’s security concerns were addressed, it was ready to reduce its army,” the official said, admitting that the Pakistan Army had a limited capability and could not afford a confrontation.

He said the Pakistan’s concern over the growing US-India relations was also conveyed to Obama who was also told that “we are ready to go an extra mile for peace but not at the cost of our self-respect”. However, he said it concerned Pakistan a lot that the United States was not ready to play a role in resolving the issues between Pakistan and India. To a question about the options available with Pakistan, the official said, “We have drawn a red line beyond which we will not compromise and have our options open to protect our sovereignty and dignity”.

Decisions, Decisions

by Ahsan Waheed

Recently, General Headquarters – Pakistan’s army Headquarters (GHQ) – took note of a case before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament in which military officers posted to the National Logistics Cell (NLC) had taken decisions that led to huge losses. GHQ has ordered a high level inquiry to investigate. This decision puts the matter on the right track towards resolution after all the facts have been considered and this decision also takes the matter out of the media spotlight that could have turned into a circus. This is a decision that other institutions could emulate in their own interest and that of the country.

This decision-taken quietly without preamble or fanfare-is one of several that have been assisted in the recent past by GHQ. Each one has helped the country steer clear of mishaps. There was the question of the restoration of an illegally ousted judiciary. This had been politicized and was heading towards an ugly showdown. Just at the right time a quiet word defused the situation and the judiciary was restored in response to the public demand. Then there was the question of Pakistan’s ‘no first use’ policy and here again a timely clarification settled the issue. For decades NATO faced with a vastly superior Warsaw followed a similar policy to deter the threat. Yet again there was the question of placing the Inter Services Intelligence Agency under a Federal Ministry and of sending the ISI Chief to India in response to the Indian demand post 26/11. In both cases a correct decision was taken – strategic intelligence is not a single Ministry’s concern, and investigations are best conducted under an agreed joint investigation agreement that still does not exist. The fine print in the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill would never have been read and re-read if concerns had not been voiced to highlight them. After the US-India Civil Nuclear Technology Agreement, there was unanimity in the view that this agreement had dealt a mortal blow to non-proliferation (NPT) and that it had turned the Nuclear Suppliers Group Guidelines (NSG) on their head giving India 8 unsafeguarded reactors and access to technology and nuclear fuel. After this there was no way Pakistan was going to agree to a Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) and another decision was taken.

There will be situations that will demand more deliberate and considered decisions. The US pressure to prematurely push into North Waziristan is one such situation. The US threat of expanded Drone strikes in areas other than the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is another possible situation. The orchestrated unrest in Baluchistan and the engineered killings in Karachi could also be situations requiring decisions in the national interest. And the declining economic situation may warrant a bold decision at the right time. The nation can be confident that there will be no civil-military or any other institutional confrontation that jeopardizes decision making in the best interests of the country. This bothers those who want instability and encourages those who want sustainable democracy and stability.

Imposter Taliban proves Afghan talks cannot be held without Pakistan

Pak1stanfirst

Talks in Afghanistan cannot be held without Pakistan. This is evident from the fiasco in Kabul. Neither Karzia, nor NATO, nor Bharat, nor ISAF knew that the person the were talking to was an impostor!

A New York Times report published on Tuesday of a man posing as a Taliban leader in secret peace talks with the Afghan government in fact turning out to be an impostor, immediately sparked warnings from Pakistan’s security officials claiming that the case bore evidence of Washington’s lack of understanding of the central Asian country.

As reports filtered out during the past few months citing the initiation of talks between Afghan president Hamid Karzai and the Taliban with U.S. blessings, western and Pakistani officials confirmed in background interviews that the south Asian country, known for its links with Islamic militant groups, was being kept out of the process.

The talks appeared to be aimed at seeking a negotiated settlement between Karzai’s regime and the Taliban, to end the decade old conflict in Afghanistan since a U.S.-led campaign after the 9/11 attacks forced the downfall of the Taliban regime.

According to the New York Times, the impostor identified as Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, held three meetings with NATO and Afghan officials. “The fake Taliban leader even met with President Hamid Karzai, having been flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace,” said the newspaper, citing unidentified officials.

Pakistani officials in public have remained quiet on the reported talks but in private have criticized the U.S. for its support to the reported discussions. “The Americans believe they can support a process without Pakistan’s involvement. This is all wrong”, one senior Pakistani government official told CBS News in a background interview in August this year.

On Tuesday, a Pakistani intelligence official speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity said the New York Times report confirms “what we have believed for long. You can’t exclude Pakistan and have a workable plan to bring about a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s long history of dealing with Afghan groups makes us the best equipped to know exactly which group to talk to and with what effect.”

Pakistan’s main counter-espionage intelligence agency known as the ISI or Inter-Services Intelligence has kept contacts with the main Afghan warlords, since the 1979 invasion of the central Asian country by the former Soviet Union was followed by Pakistan’s emergence as the main U.S.-backed conduit to build up an armed resistance against Moscow.

Since the 9/11 attacks however, Pakistan’s government says that it has abandoned all support to the Taliban after establishing close ties with the clerical regime during its rule over Afghanistan. But on Tuesday, a Western official in Islamabad who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said: “There is still concern among Western countries over Pakistan’s past contacts with Islamic zealots continuing to remain intact. I believe, Pakistan has enormous clout in Afghanistan to help in a political process…”

Imposter Taliban proves Afghan talks cannot be held without Pakistan

Pak1stanfirst

Talks in Afghanistan cannot be held without Pakistan. This is evident from the fiasco in Kabul. Neither Karzia, nor NATO, nor Bharat, nor ISAF knew that the person the were talking to was an impostor!

A New York Times report published on Tuesday of a man posing as a Taliban leader in secret peace talks with the Afghan government in fact turning out to be an impostor, immediately sparked warnings from Pakistan’s security officials claiming that the case bore evidence of Washington’s lack of understanding of the central Asian country.

As reports filtered out during the past few months citing the initiation of talks between Afghan president Hamid Karzai and the Taliban with U.S. blessings, western and Pakistani officials confirmed in background interviews that the south Asian country, known for its links with Islamic militant groups, was being kept out of the process.

The talks appeared to be aimed at seeking a negotiated settlement between Karzai’s regime and the Taliban, to end the decade old conflict in Afghanistan since a U.S.-led campaign after the 9/11 attacks forced the downfall of the Taliban regime.

According to the New York Times, the impostor identified as Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, held three meetings with NATO and Afghan officials. “The fake Taliban leader even met with President Hamid Karzai, having been flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace,” said the newspaper, citing unidentified officials.

Pakistani officials in public have remained quiet on the reported talks but in private have criticized the U.S. for its support to the reported discussions. “The Americans believe they can support a process without Pakistan’s involvement. This is all wrong”, one senior Pakistani government official told CBS News in a background interview in August this year.

On Tuesday, a Pakistani intelligence official speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity said the New York Times report confirms “what we have believed for long. You can’t exclude Pakistan and have a workable plan to bring about a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s long history of dealing with Afghan groups makes us the best equipped to know exactly which group to talk to and with what effect.”

Pakistan’s main counter-espionage intelligence agency known as the ISI or Inter-Services Intelligence has kept contacts with the main Afghan warlords, since the 1979 invasion of the central Asian country by the former Soviet Union was followed by Pakistan’s emergence as the main U.S.-backed conduit to build up an armed resistance against Moscow.

Since the 9/11 attacks however, Pakistan’s government says that it has abandoned all support to the Taliban after establishing close ties with the clerical regime during its rule over Afghanistan. But on Tuesday, a Western official in Islamabad who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said: “There is still concern among Western countries over Pakistan’s past contacts with Islamic zealots continuing to remain intact. I believe, Pakistan has enormous clout in Afghanistan to help in a political process…”

Imposter Taliban proves Afghan talks cannot be held without Pakistan

Pak1stanfirst

Talks in Afghanistan cannot be held without Pakistan. This is evident from the fiasco in Kabul. Neither Karzia, nor NATO, nor Bharat, nor ISAF knew that the person the were talking to was an impostor!

A New York Times report published on Tuesday of a man posing as a Taliban leader in secret peace talks with the Afghan government in fact turning out to be an impostor, immediately sparked warnings from Pakistan’s security officials claiming that the case bore evidence of Washington’s lack of understanding of the central Asian country.

As reports filtered out during the past few months citing the initiation of talks between Afghan president Hamid Karzai and the Taliban with U.S. blessings, western and Pakistani officials confirmed in background interviews that the south Asian country, known for its links with Islamic militant groups, was being kept out of the process.

The talks appeared to be aimed at seeking a negotiated settlement between Karzai’s regime and the Taliban, to end the decade old conflict in Afghanistan since a U.S.-led campaign after the 9/11 attacks forced the downfall of the Taliban regime.

According to the New York Times, the impostor identified as Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, held three meetings with NATO and Afghan officials. “The fake Taliban leader even met with President Hamid Karzai, having been flown to Kabul on a NATO aircraft and ushered into the presidential palace,” said the newspaper, citing unidentified officials.

Pakistani officials in public have remained quiet on the reported talks but in private have criticized the U.S. for its support to the reported discussions. “The Americans believe they can support a process without Pakistan’s involvement. This is all wrong”, one senior Pakistani government official told CBS News in a background interview in August this year.

On Tuesday, a Pakistani intelligence official speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity said the New York Times report confirms “what we have believed for long. You can’t exclude Pakistan and have a workable plan to bring about a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s long history of dealing with Afghan groups makes us the best equipped to know exactly which group to talk to and with what effect.”

Pakistan’s main counter-espionage intelligence agency known as the ISI or Inter-Services Intelligence has kept contacts with the main Afghan warlords, since the 1979 invasion of the central Asian country by the former Soviet Union was followed by Pakistan’s emergence as the main U.S.-backed conduit to build up an armed resistance against Moscow.

Since the 9/11 attacks however, Pakistan’s government says that it has abandoned all support to the Taliban after establishing close ties with the clerical regime during its rule over Afghanistan. But on Tuesday, a Western official in Islamabad who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity said: “There is still concern among Western countries over Pakistan’s past contacts with Islamic zealots continuing to remain intact. I believe, Pakistan has enormous clout in Afghanistan to help in a political process…”

Intelligence agencies deny holding 11 missing prisoners

ISLAMABAD: Intelligence agencies have submitted a report to the Supreme Court denying that they are holding the 11 missing prisoners .

Relatives of the prisoners say the men are being illegally held by intelligence agencies.

The court was hearing the case of the 11 prisoners who went missing from the Adiala jail after being acquitted of the charges of four terrorism cases in June.

After this controversy, the Chief Justice (CJ) called for a Daily Situation Report which is prepared by a special branch of police. The police had reported that these prisoners were wanted in four cases: the General Head Quarters attack, the attack on former president Musharraf, the recovery of an explosive laden jacket and the attack on Hamza camp. The prisoners were acquitted by a trial court. The report also corroborates the Punjab government’s statement that the prisoners were released and handed over to intelligence agencies. A review board of the Lahore High Court had found the extension of that detention to be illegal.

According to Express 24/7 correspondent Faisal Shakeel, relatives of these missing prisoners say that they were taken from inside the premises of the jail and are with intelligence agencies but the intelligence agencies have been denying this.

The intelligence agencies blamed by the relatives to be illegally holding the prisoners are the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the military intelligence. The Attorney General who has been in communication with these agencies said that the prisoners are not with the intelligence agencies but the Punjab government has been insisting that the prisoners were released and handed over to the intelligence agencies, reported Shakeel.

The Supreme Court said that if there are cases against the missing prisoners, it should be informed about them and the matter should be settled by due process of law.

The prisoners went missing when they were released from the Adiala jail. The CJ had directed the AG to sit with all officials and make a concrete statement as to the whereabouts of the 11 missing prisoners. The CJ had earlier refused to transfer this case to a bench and said that he would himself handle the case.

The AG had been directed to present 11 prisoners held on terrorism charges after the prosecution failed to prove charges against them.

Thousands fled India-controlled Kashmir. Are they better off in Pakistan?

By Issam Ahmed

While an insurgency raged against Indian authorities in the early 1990s, thousands of young men, including Rana Altaf’s father and uncle, were arrested by authorities, beaten, and tortured. Fearing for their lives, they eventually crossed the line of control that separates Indian-controlled Kashmir from the Pakistani side. They trekked on foot for three days over treacherous snowy terrain in a group of 60 people from neighboring families, avoiding Indian landmines.

“We knew if we turned back we faced certain death. They would have shot us,” recalls Rana’s father, Abdul Rasheed. Rasheed says he was arrested three times and interrogated by a man he remembers as “Major Sharma” who threatened to have him killed if he did not give up the names of militants hiding in his village. Rasheed insists he had nothing to do with the armed struggle in which an estimated 84,000 civilians lost their lives.

Seventeen years later, like many who made similar treks, the family lives in a make-shift shanty on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir. Though they count themselves lucky to be alive, the family’s dream of a welcoming Pakistan was short lived.

“We’re grateful to Pakistan but we’re always made to feel different. The people here don’t like us, don’t mix with us, and it’s hard to get a job,” says Rana who has not yet received Pakistani citizenship or an ID card, and is therefore not entitled to attend college or legally seek employment. Rana’s mother, Sobia, complains that the family struggles for food each month as the men find informal work only occasionally.

A better option?

Some 35,000 Kashmiris fled from India-controlled Kashmir during the 1990s to settle in Pakistan, according to government estimates. They traveled difficult terrain and long distances to a country that claimed to speak for the beleaguered Kashmiri people. Years later, however, it has not yet granted citizenship to up to 40 percent of the migrants, mostly from the second or third generations. Most migrants live in camps and subsist on government handouts of about $8 a month per person.

“These are a group of people who bring into focus a humanitarian factor of the whole Kashmir dispute. The fact that these people have been living for 20 years in camps remains virtually unknown,” says Marjan Lucas, a Senior Program Officer at Dutch nongovernmental organization IKV Pax Christi who has been campaigning on behalf of the migrants.

Ms. Lucas suggests the government has been slow in awarding citizenship rights to the migrants because to do so would mean negating their right to self-determination. The Pakistan government continues to insist the 1948 United Nations Security Council Resolution calling for self-determination is the only acceptable mechanism through which to solve the Kashmir dispute with India.

“They were invited and told to stay until the dispute was resolved. When they came they were welcomed but it was expected that their stay would be temporary so Pakistan said ‘We don’t have to give you ID cards because you have the right to self-determination.’ ” This situation continued and continued and they’re still in the same situation they were in when they arrived, and now the third and fourth generations have been born within the camps.”

‘We want to go back home, but only after the Indian Army has left’

At Rana’s residence, a make-shift shanty home with a corrugated iron roof, on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad city, three families crowd into two rooms and subsist on government welfare checks of $17 per person per month. Not one of the family possess a Pakistani ID card- including Rana and his younger brother Mushtaq, who was born in Muzafarrabad.

“We left our lands, our properties, our animals and businesses to come here,” says Abdul, the family head. “We want to go back home, but only after the Indian Army has left. What business do they have in Kashmir?” he asks.

Few can afford to visit or contact relatives back home

Only 1 percent of the total population of Kashmir claims to have been able to visit friends of relatives on the other side in the last five years, according to a recent poll by the Chatham House think tank in London.

Having left behind their possessions, almost none of the migrants have been able to return to meet loved-ones, and some have not even been able to afford to make telephone contact. The much-touted bus service between the two Kashmirs, launched as part of peace efforts between India and Pakistan in 2005, is “just for show” they say, as bureaucratic hurdles make travel impossible for the common man.

A people without a home, ‘it’s like we don’t exist’

At the Manak Piyan camp at Muzaffarabad, home to some 2,000 migrants, a school teacher who asked not to be named because of his past membership in a militant group supported by Pakistani intelligence, says: “Nobody wants to take responsibility for us, it’s like we don’t exist.” Before fleeing India, the teacher studied at the Srinagar SP college.

He finally got his ID card seven years ago, after a long struggle with red tape. Some members of the community petitioned the High Court in 2005 for citizenship rights, but the court’s ruling extended only as far as a few dozen individual cases. Other migrants were granted citizenship in 2006 in the run-up to the Azad Jammu Kashmir state elections, in what some felt was a cynical ploy by politicians to garner votes.

Mir Abdul Rasheed Abbasi, a member of the AJK parliament, acknowledged delays in granting citizenship to the migrants but said that poor record keeping and fraudulent petitions for benefits are partly responsible.

The school teacher and other migrants here say they once fought India as members of the Inter Services Intelligence backed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He says he was taken to Khost in Afghanistan for training under the command of pro-Pakistan Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. He walks with a prosthetic left leg after hitting a landmine during one of his sorties with militants back into Indian administered Kashmir.

Not your average jihadi

But he is not a run-of-the-mill jihadi: He is a staunch supporter of women’s right to education and work. He also says he is especially grateful for the work of Christian charities in the region and simply wants the world to recognize his struggle. “Our right to fight the occupying forces is guaranteed under the United Nations Charter,” he says, adding: “We want to go back home but we are hostages to our situation. Though we respect the people of AJK, their government does not favor us.”

Many within the camps still hold out hope for an independent Kashmir, and view armed struggle as necessary. Some find they do not fit in Pakistan because of cultural and linguistic differences – migrants speak the Kashmiri language whereas many of the locals speak a dialect of Punjabi. Some migrants are too proud to accept a Pakistani ID, says Lucas of Pax Christi. The community itself is not classed as “refugee camp” by the UNHCR.

For these reasons, Lucas says that her organization, along with Pakistan’s Mass Welfare Foundation, hopes to “stimulate the debate amongst the migrants (about) what future they want for themselves.”

Similarities can be drawn between the plight of the Kashmiri migrants in AJK to the struggle of the “Kashmiri Pandits” – Kashmiri Hindus of Brahmin heritage, who were driven out of Indian administered Kashmir en masse during the uprising in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Up to 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits are believed to be displaced.

“Groups like these tend to become exploited for propaganda purposes. The Indian establishment chose to use the Pandits as proof of the racist oppression of Muslim Kashmiris, to put them forward and say ‘these are the victims of Islamic terrorism,’ ” says Lucas.

“Pakistan has so far not exploited the Kashmiri migrants in a similar way, and this is very commendable,” she says. “But that might also be to avoid drawing attention to the conditions in which they are living in the camps.”

Why Indo-US media now target Gen Kayani

Salim Bokhari

LAHORE-After having failed to malign Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) as an institution and its chief Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, the biased Indo-US media has now turned their guns at Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani.

American newspapers and Indian print and electronic media is on the rampage, using unauthentic references from sponsored books and hearsay, bidding to cast aspersions on the professionalism of the Pakistani Army Chief. His sin, according to a series of statements issued by low level American officials, is that he (Mr Kayani) is paying no heed to US demand for decisive action against terrorists’ safe heavens in North Waziristan.

In a report published in the New York Times by Jane Perlez, another attempt was made to malign the Pakistan Army. The report said: “General Kayani, angered by the inept handling of the country’s devastating floods and alarmed by a collapse of the economy, is pushing for a shake-up of the elected government, and in the longer term, the removal of President Asif Ali Zardari and his top lieutenants”.

But in the second paragraph, the author of the report denies his own fact by saying: “The military, preoccupied by a war against militants and reluctant to assume direct responsibility for the economic crisis, has made it clear it is not eager to take over the government, as it has many times before”.

Which part of the report should one trust is one’s dilemma. The logical answer to this illogical reporting is that why the military or its chief would push for a shakeup or for that matter ouster of President Zardari if it is not willing to take over control.

The NYT reporter further quotes from the meeting of Gen Kayani with both the president and the prime minister on Monday and alleges that the COAS confronted the participants of the meeting over incompetence and corruption in the government. He did not stop here but also alleged that General Kayani demanded of them to dismiss some federal ministers.

But the fact of the matter is that Indo-US media is not willing to forgive Gen Kayani for taking a nationalistic line on major issues. Firstly; he refused to withdraw troops from the Eastern border with India and deploy them on the Western front as was demanded by the US to appease the Indian leadership.

Secondly, Gen Kayani was very critical of the provisions of the Kerry-Lugar Bill and it was for the first time in Pakistan’s 63-year history that the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) came out with a written statement expressing Army’s indignation over certain provisions regarding promotions and postings of senior officers to be reported to the US in advance.

Thirdly; General Kayani categorically refused to oblige the American demand to launch operation in North Waziristan soon after successful military strike in South Waziristan. His argument was that he troops need a breathing space to prepare for another offensive. This certainly displeased the American leadership and US media did not hesitate to express this displeasure in its reports, columns and editorials.

Fourthly; it was General Kayani who did not agree with Interior Minister Rehman Malik decision to send the ISI Director General to India in connection with investigation of Mumbai attacks accused. This nationalistic approach shocked New Dehli. It was a very daring decision on part of Gen Kayani since he was aware that Rehman Malik was acting on the directives of the president and the prime minister.

Finally, the COAS has restricted access of the American troops to fly over freely in Pakistani airspace on the pretext of supplying and distributing relief goods to the flood victims. It is generally believed that the aircraft and helicopter to be used by the American forces were fitted with espionage and sensitive camera equipments.

In view of the above mentioned facts, it is easier to understand why the Indo-US media has targeted General Kayani to malign him in imaginative situations. It is, without an iota of doubt, an attempt to discredit the otherwise a highly professional general.

We forget, Azadi is not a fixed term

During the current agitation, Farooq Abdullah was heard remarking impatiently on TV: “I don’t know what these Kashmiris want!” Both Farooq and his narcissistic son Omar have failed to understand the aspirations of Kashmiris. Not surprisingly, whenever the National Conference is in power in Jammu & Kashmir, we see the rage of Kashmiris spill onto the streets – something that works to the advantage of Pakistan. The current joke is that Pakistan has decided to dispense with ISI’s services because Omar does the job better.

Young blood Anger explodes on the streets

During my trip to Kashmir as part of Manushi’s factfinding team, I was pleasantly surprised to find that even at the height of estrangement from the Indian establishment, the most respected political figure in Kashmir is neither a separatist leader nor a Pakistani general but former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Barring the minority of die-hard pro-Pakistani elements, people across the entire political spectrum, including a significant section of moderate separatists, say openly that if only Vajpayee had stayed in power, he would have steered the country towards a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem.

Muzaffar Hussain Baig of the PDP was not too far off the mark when he declared in a public meeting that if Vajpayee were to contest from any constituency in Kashmir, he would have won hands down. The special affection for Vajpayee is in part due to the reason that he presided over one of the two cleanest elections in our parliamentary democracy. In 2002, Vajpayee made sure neither the Central nor the state government dirtied their hands by tampering with ballot boxes, thus ensuring one of the most credible elections in Kashmir, despite Pakistan-inspired militants unleashing violence and even murdering candidates to enforce a boycott.

Even though the PDP was a coalition partner of the Congress during Vajpayee’s tenure, the Centre yielded unprecedented political space to the state government in addition to supporting its various ‘healing touch’ measures. He let the PDP take new political initiatives and define its agenda rather than be a Delhi Durbar puppet.

Vajpayee did not depend on intelligence agencies to define his political agenda and roadmap for Kashmir. He engaged with the entire cross-section of political opinion, including the separatists, and gave ordinary people hope that his government was ready to take concrete steps to resolve the Kashmir issue through honest dialogue. His declaration that ‘insaniyat ka dayara’ (the domain of humanity) was higher than all other mandates created an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm and hope. This does not mean that Kashmiris expected him to bypass the Constitution. It only indicates Vajpayee’s willingness to acknowledge that most previous governments had too often trampled upon human rights.

It is indeed tragic that there is no one in the BJP with the sagacity to build on the goodwill created by Vajpayee. Instead most current BJP leaders are prone to issuing thoughtless jingoistic statements to prove their nationalist credentials without making any attempt to have direct contact with the people.

Similarly, one hears people remember former Prime Minister Morarji Desai as the respect-worthy face of Indian democracy even though he is all but forgotten in the rest of the country. Kashmiris remember him with warmth and gratitude for letting them have their first taste of free and fair elections in 1977. This was because the Janata Party came to power after defeating Indira Gandhi, who had built a highly authoritarian, centralised power structure in her desire to rule all of India from her imperial durbar. Morarji put his foot down against managing or rigging elections, making Kashmiris feel part of the post-Emergency democratic upsurge.

Another hero for Kashmiris is former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh because he personally oversaw the 2002 poll. George Fernandes is a respected name because even as defence minister he did not indulge in jingoistic politics and reached out to Kashmiri people even at the height of the secessionist movement in the Valley. Likewise, former President APJ Abdul Kalam cut through a security cordon and mingled freely with the people, establishing very warm rapport with the younger generation, especially students. He had no difficulty in getting thousands of Kashmiri students join him in singing the national anthem.

These names are evidence that the majority of Kashmiris want the same freedom as we do. When they find their democratic aspirations crushed through brute force and devious Delhi Durbar games, with puppet chief ministers allowed to loot and plunder the state’s resources without any instruments of accountability available to citizens, they do get desperate. Frustration and disillusionment with Indian democracy are the most valuable assets for Pakistan in its proxy war.

By ignoring the cry for azadi, the central government has offered a golden opportunity to Pakistan to fish in troubled waters. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has himself witnessed how the constituency for secession from Indian can be made to shrink or expand depending on how responsive or ham-handed the governments in the state and at the Centre are in responding to people’s legitimate grievances and aspirations.

When their elected representatives prove capable of providing a responsive administration, especially security of life and property along with efficiency in delivery of basic civic amenities, people start demanding IITs, IIMs and stadia, aspire to become ‘Indian Idols’ and show eagerness in the vibrancy of Indian democracy.

For example, people have clamoured for the Right to Information Act to be made applicable to Kashmir. But when they are saddled with a callous, dysfunctional and corrupt government which uses the brute might of the Indian State to crush their democratic rights, they are bound to feel estranged from Indian democracy, especially if the Central government seems to back the brute actions of the state government.

The constituency for secession in Kashmir shrinks or expands depending on how governments act

IF OMAR had any emotional connect with his people, he would not have felt elated at Rahul Gandhi’s open and unconditional support to his regime. He should have known that any politician who tries to ride roughshod over his own people simply because he enjoys the patronage of Delhi Durbar becomes a hate symbol. The timing of the statement – on the eve of the Parliamentary delegation to Kashmir – was even more damaging because it sought to undermine the very credibility of the high-powered team. It has been interpreted in Kashmir as an attempt to influence the team since it is headed by three senior-most ministers of the UPA government. This has confirmed fears that the Delhi Durbar will only support puppet chief ministers in Kashmir, no matter how disastrous they are for the state and for India.

The delegation’s visit has proved a total flop for other reasons as well. It was not structured to enable the MPs to meet ordinary people, to listen to their grievances, to see for themselves the havoc being caused by Omar’s callous draconian rule. It turned out to be a flying touchand- go visit. It was ritualism at its worst.

In order to rekindle hope in Kashmir, a select group of senior MPs should have spent several days in the Valley and held public hearings, meeting a varied crosssection of ordinary citizens as well as professional organisations, students as well as businessmen. Instead, they met a select group of politicians behind closed doors. Many important Kashmiri politicians boycotted the meeting. The state government enforced such a severe curfew that no one could stir out of their homes. The National Conference handpicked some of its own men, briefed them on what to say and ferried them in government vehicles, parading them as the voice of Kashmir. Even grassroot Congress leaders and workers were denied the opportunity to meet the delegation.

The Deputy Commissioner was put in charge of screening those who put in requests to meet the MPs. They were told to fax the text of what they wanted to say to the delegation. Given the shoot-at-sight orders and a deadly curfew, how could people access fax?

And yet some brave ones persevered. They phoned their friends in Delhi and other parts of India to send faxes on their behalf. Many such people had the CID come visiting in a brazen attempt to intimidate them into silence. The very attempt to impose strict censorship through the office of the Deputy Commissioner shows what desperate measures Omar is capable of adopting in order to survive as Chief Minister. In the process he is ensuring that he cannot function as CM.

Most people outside the Valley don’t know that Omar forced all government offices to remain closed for nearly three months by denying government employees curfew passes. He is afraid if they join duty they might start demonstrating against him in the office complex itself. Any time the separatists give a call for hartaal, Omar extends his government’s support by imposing a very strict curfew. Those few journalists or others who manage to get curfew passes often face the wrath of the J&K Police that does not hesitate to tear up the passes in their faces. I personally witnessed people being booked under PSA and other sections of IPC and locked up in police stations for daring to defy curfew.

At a time when both the state and the Central government appear to be trampling on the constitutional rights of Kashmiris with brute force, leading to daily deaths of young men, women and children, for the Prime Minister to announce his willingness to talk to only those who abjure violence and declare allegiance to the Constitution amounts to rubbing salt in people’s wounds. Instead of setting this pre-condition, let the PM first demonstrate through concrete example that the Government of India cares for and knows how to safeguard the constitutional rights of its citizens. If this can be done, an enduring solution to the vexed Kashmir problem will follow effortlessly.

If not, the Congress high command will have to bear the ignominy of furthering the political agenda of Pakistan in Kashmir.

MADHU KISHWAR remembers Indian leaders who have won the Valley’s confidence in the past