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President Asif Zardari

Sindh Democratic Forum met on Nov. 27/09  in an emergent meeting and deliberated on the issue raised by all such print and electronic media that are pursuing anti-Sindhi policies and continuously malign Sindh culture and language. SDF showed its dismay over the launch of a media trail against 5000 years old civilization by focusing President Asif Ali Zardari for wearing a Sindhi Topi during his diplomatic visit to other countries as head of the state. Wearing century’s old sings of great Indus civilization and culture is also a fundamental right of the president of Pakistan as a Sindhi… SDF Further said that criticism on the conduct of present regime is a fundamental right of professional bodies of civil society including media. Sindh’s civil society is too vigilant of the governance failures of the regime of PPP but attack on a nation’s culture and dress cannot be at any cost tolerated and forgiven.

SDF has appealed to all journalist unions, forums and press houses to intervene in this matter and talk to their colleagues not to become so partisan, non-profession and biased to the rich culture of Indus valley.

To protest against such an offensive and vile attack on the signs of Sindhi culture, Sindh Democratic Forum has called a protest march on December 6th, 2009 @ 12.30 PM sharp from Gymkhana Chock to press Club Hyderabad Building.

Leading intellectuals, writers, peace, human rights and women activists, lawyers, columnists, journalists and concerned citizens will join the march and everyone is directed to wear Sindhi Topi and Ajrak to express their love to these great signs of Sindh’s identity.

Abrar Kazi (Convener), Zulfiqar Halepoto (secretary)

Over past two years, Pakistanis and entire world has been fed by Pakistani’s secular media that the military operations in northern tribal belt of Pakistan are against CIA and RAW supported elements who have nothing to do with Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Jihad therein.

Pakistani Mujahideen, from time to time, have been denying such allegations as “Lies” and “Defamatory Propaganda” to create support for military’s operations which broadly got planned and executed under American pressure and threats to stop millions of Dollars in aid.

Few days ago, a stunning report was published by Pakistani’s widely circulated newspaper which read:

“Pakistani and Afghan jehadi groups have decided to start “battle of evil and just”, as the Afghan fighters assured Pakistani militants of complete support in their fight against Pak army in South Waziristan.

According to sources, it was decided in a meeting of the commanders of al-Qaeda, Hakmatyar group, Afghan Taliban and Pakistani jehadi organisations, which was held in Afghanistan.

The meeting decided that the Pakistan security forces, which have been helping the American forces, would also be targeted and the Afghan fighters, who have been fighting in Afghanistan for the last eight years, for the first time decided to send manpower to Waziristan in support of Pakistan militants.”

To read full report, click here.

Pakistani soldiers [excluding sold-out high rank officers and their supporters] are our brothers, we believe that they have been misled by a systematic propaganda to convince them that they are NOT fighting America’s war. Being Muslims, we must encourage them to learn truth, refer to basics of Islam and request them to stop following un-Islamic orders of their corrupt officers. Be it Muslims of Pakistani tribes or young soldiers of Pakistan, both are assets of Pakistani nation which Kuffar are destroying through time test formula of “divide and rule”. It is only few corrupt elements in Army who deserve death of Ghaddar.

Over past two years, Pakistanis and entire world has been fed by Pakistani’s secular media that the military operations in northern tribal belt of Pakistan are against CIA and RAW supported elements who have nothing to do with Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Jihad therein.

Pakistani Mujahideen, from time to time, have been denying such allegations as “Lies” and “Defamatory Propaganda” to create support for military’s operations which broadly got planned and executed under American pressure and threats to stop millions of Dollars in aid.

Few days ago, a stunning report was published by Pakistani’s widely circulated newspaper which read:

“Pakistani and Afghan jehadi groups have decided to start “battle of evil and just”, as the Afghan fighters assured Pakistani militants of complete support in their fight against Pak army in South Waziristan.

According to sources, it was decided in a meeting of the commanders of al-Qaeda, Hakmatyar group, Afghan Taliban and Pakistani jehadi organisations, which was held in Afghanistan.

The meeting decided that the Pakistan security forces, which have been helping the American forces, would also be targeted and the Afghan fighters, who have been fighting in Afghanistan for the last eight years, for the first time decided to send manpower to Waziristan in support of Pakistan militants.”

To read full report, click here.

Pakistani soldiers [excluding sold-out high rank officers and their supporters] are our brothers, we believe that they have been misled by a systematic propaganda to convince them that they are NOT fighting America’s war. Being Muslims, we must encourage them to learn truth, refer to basics of Islam and request them to stop following un-Islamic orders of their corrupt officers. Be it Muslims of Pakistani tribes or young soldiers of Pakistan, both are assets of Pakistani nation which Kuffar are destroying through time test formula of “divide and rule”. It is only few corrupt elements in Army who deserve death of Ghaddar.

Islamabad: Pakistan celebrated the rollout of a multi-purpose jet fighter manufactured in the country under a joint venture with China. The first locally produced JF-17 Thunder made its debut at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, a small garrison town so 65 km northwest of Islamabad. ” It is indeed a landmark achivement, which signifies the trump of the will of our nation,” Pakistan Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Oamar Suleman said in a statement. The all weather jet fighter is equipped with advanced avionics and weapon system, and can reach top speed of Mach 1.6. It has a combat radius of 1,350 km, but is also capable of in fight refueling.

With no freedom to chose within Pakistan, people of Sindh will chose freedom…

- Iqbal Tareen, Washington, DC

People of Sindh clearly see a Noora Kushty in conflict between PML (N) and MQM. Politically naive people couldn’t get the drift of MQM at all. MQM excels in “Use and lose” game. In my book “Harvest will come” I had predicted that MQM will stab PPP in the back because Nawaz Sharrif and MQM have common family tree going all the way to Zia-ul-Haq. Combined with all other rightist parties this is another IJI, which is once again engaged against a party that was not manufactured in GHQ. Many so-called “progressive and people friendly activists” have been taken for a ride.

Although many rightist organizations used PPP’s reconciliation with MQM as a pretext to demean PPP but their real motive was an overthrow of a representative democracy to replace it with GHQ preferred and hand-picked gang of a few. Now that Nawaz Sharif and other pro-Uma parties are ready to baptize Altaf Hussain, the MQM will overnight turn from a Haraam party to a Halaal party.

The dating game between MQM and Muslim (N) actually started when Javed Hashmi came up with his weird idea of 12 provinces. Through him PML (N) actually extended an olive branch to MQM. The idea of 12 provinces and PPP-hate has placed all the bad eggs in one basket.

NRO and corruption issues are nothing less than a stunt pulled by these parties combined together. Nawaz Sharrif lived in Medina Sharrif for almost 8 years under the selective blessings of NRO midwife by the Saudis and granted by Musharraf.

Altaf Hussein and his party leaders including present governor of Sindh live cot free under amnesty from murder and felony cases granted to them by Musharraf government and his kangaroo courts.

As far as corruption and crime is concerned, it is embedded in Pakistani society from top to the bottom and sideways. From judiciary to Pakistani military brass, bureaucracy, politicians, Ulema, business leaders, and civil society members, and educators all are deep into corruption and favoritism.

None of the opposing political and religious parties are free from corruption and crime. Pakistani establishment thrives on systemic corruption and power abuse. Absolute majority of civil and military officers live imperial lives beyond their means. Many are directly and indirectly beneficiaries of drug business in Pakistan and have their hands stained with blood for assassinations and murders of innocent civilians and their political rivals. It is beyond me to see bunch of unscrupulous people preaching scruples.

The menace of corruption should be dealt with by a fair and open judicial process. You don’t overthrow a mandate because some of the members of ruling party are also corrupt.

To the people of small provinces the current hate movement is all about zero tolerance of their representative government by bunch of pro-establishment hate-driven parties, which are bent upon creating environment leading to an overthrow of a democratically elected government in Pakistan.

Baloch people have already lost faith in provincial autonomy or even talk about 1940 Resolution. They are clearly demanding freedom for Balochistan. People of Sindh are also pondering if Pakistan is a viable arrangement for the recourse of their decades old grievances. It is an overwhelming perception of people of Sindh that none of the small province based leadership is ever acceptable to Punjab-Muhajir dominated body of politics in Pakistan, which constitutes a core of Pakistani Establishment.

Many Sindhi and Baloch leaders and parties have worked on the premises that “Whenever Sindhis and Baloch participate in national politics, the Sindh and Baloch rights will are compromised” According to them thus “It is a futile exercise to waste any effort into a lost cause”

They raise a question that if moderate and pro-Pakistan Sindhi and Baloch leaders like ZA Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Ghous Bux Bezenjo, Wali Khan, and Akbbar Bugti were not acceptable to Pakistani establishment, how can any Sindh or Balochistan rights party or leaders can find a sympathetic ear in the present setup.

A singled out onslaught on Asif Zardari is also perceived as a zero tolerance for a Sindhi leader in Pakistani national politics. PML (N), PML (Q), MQM, and all religious parties are united in bringing one man down. Entire media has issued a eulogy on Zardari’s government already.

Just a friendly warning if you bring down a strong proponent of “Pakistan Khappay”, you will be hard-pressed to find any soul in Sindh calling Pakistan Khappay again. A domino’s effect in already in action grabbing Muslim world into its grip. Pakistan falling into the hands of pro-Taliban and spineless political forces will trigger downing of various South Asian Muslim states. The fall of representative democracy will give rise to total Talibanization in Pakistan.

Any overthrow of their elected representatives will force people of Sindh to vote with their feet. They will simply walk away from Pakistan. Sindh is nation of Latif, Sachal, Sami, and Lal Qalandar. People of Sindh are not in the business of hate and violence. But they will not allow spin doctors to undo their mandate.

People of Sindh have no part of establishment on its side. Sindhis have only ballot power to leverage. Majority of Sindhis believe that given peaceful and fair elections they hope to witness vanishing of politics of corruption, incompetence, and power abuse within a decade or two. If their mandate is stolen and their power of ballot is diminished Sindhi people will lose their right to choose.

With no freedom to choose within Pakistan, people of Sindh will likely choose their freedom without Pakistan.

November 26, 2009

LINGUISTICS AND NEW PROVINCES – PML-N and MQM alliance returning to Zia’s roots

by: Iqbal Tareen

Javed Hashmi is either desperately fishing to carve a new political platform where he can clearly distinguish himself or PML-N has thrown a bombshell to shakeup PPP-ANP-MQM ruling coalition in center and in the province of Sindh. Dividing Punjab in multiple parts will not dilute its effective power unless Pakistan army is transformed into a true national army from its current regional structure and characterstics. For all practical purposes Pakistan army is the only political party, which has been in power since the birth of the country. The windfall benefits of Army rule always flow to Punjab.

Let us be real. If you take a serious look at it, Punjab was actually divided in 5 provinces. In 1971 it lost its eastern province and now it is reduced to four provinces including itself, Sindh, Pakhtoonkhwa, and Balochistan. It is unfortunate that people of Sindh and Balochistan are generally presumed unpatriotic unless proven patriotic, whereas people of Punjab are presumed patriotic unless proven unpatriotic. The talk about dividing Punjab into multiple provinces has no real objective of reducing its uncontested monopoly on the State and the governance of Pakistan. This ploy by Mr. Hashmi and others like him serves following three purposes:

1. It puts supporters of Siraki province especially Sindhi and Baloch nationalists on defensive and on the ropes.

2. It extends an olive branch to MQM either on behalf of PML-N or from ambitious Javed Hashmi himself by providing them renewed impetus for a separate province within Sindh (A making of an unholy alliance).

3. In either case the objective is to form a “One unit”. You can form one unit in multiple formats by either forcefully pushing unique and distinct nations under common thumb or by breaking them into tiny little pieces so that they can’t even recognize their own identity.

The concept of so called “Zonal Federation” or breaking historically cultural national units into generic administrative units is nothing new. Many uneducated “Educated” politicians and pundits give example of USA and the formation of its states without realizing that the entire nation of USA is an immigrant nation. All early settlers had to do was to put the stake in the ground to own the land. A sort of similar expetitions were practiced under “Evacuee property laws” and free allotment of prize agricultural lands to members of Pakistan military in Sindh.

WHEN IT COMES TO INTRA-NATIONAL DISPUTES AND CONTESTS, IT IS NOT THE AMERICAN BUT EUROPEAN HISTORY THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE SITUATION IN SOUTH ASIA. Talk about taking land from Germans, Serbians or Irish, French, Scotish, and other European nations regardless of their size, you will have a thousand years war on your plate. So watch out folks before you run up to your crazy kitchen to cook up these weired ideas. You are not serving Pakistan by throwing shoes in the beehive. You are cutting at the roots of your country and destroying the possibility of peace and coexistence.

4. There is also a 4th motive in the play. US Government, especially Obama White House is coming down on Pakistan to strengthen its constitutional and democratic institutions in such a way that they become representative of the peoples of Pakistan. A good amount of money has been earmarked to support Pakistan consolidate its judicial and democratic institutions. Certainly there is a push for making Pakistani Senate more relevant and vibrant in legislative process. In order for Senate to become an effective “checks & balance” institution it must have equal representation from all provinces. By proposing multiple provinces of Punjab, PML (N) and MQM hopes hedge against possible dilution of historic monopoly on legislative bodies in Pakistan especially in the future setup of Pakistani Senate.

Please don’t have wrong ideas about some of these misleading and sugar coated stunts, which various politicians pull in order to please their clients.

If Javed Hashmi or Mian Nawaz Sharif want to bring equity in Pakistan,there are already plenty of opportunities and policy instruments in place to do so. If they start with the following steps they do not need to re-invent the wheel:

1. Remove concurrent list from 1973 constitution with immediate effect

2. Revisit NFC award to make it more fair based on the principle of “From each province according to its contribution to each according to its needs”

3. Introduce Conscription in Pakistan to transform Pakistan military from a regional to a true national army

4. Make constitutional amendment to declare raising of arms by citizens a constitutional right in the event of any government takeover by military

5. Declare Sindhi, Baloch, Punjabi, and Pushto as national languages of Pakistan.

6. Declare switching of political parties illegal for all elected representatives. They should have a right to re-contest their existing office from a new political platform.

7. Remove religion from politics and politics from religion.

8. Remove balssphamy laws. Let the God protect his religions and human beings take care of thier own sins.

(Originally drafted in August, 2009)

Fu un terrorista pachistano ad effettuare, dalla cella di massima sicurezza del carcere pachistano di Hyderabad nel quale era rinchiuso, la telefonata al presidente pachistano Zardari, spacciandosi per il ministro degli esteri indiano Mukherjee, all’indomani degli attacchi di Mumbai, facendo temere per qualche ora lo scoppio della quarta guerra fra i due paesi (se si esclude quella non dichiarata del 1998). Lo riferisce oggi il quotidiano pachistano Dawn. Omar Saeed Sheikh, ritenuto uno dei piu’ importanti terroristi pachistani, in carcere tra l’altro per il rapimento e l’omicidio del giornalista del Wall Street Journal Daniel Pearl, secondo il giornale pachistano, in carcere, nonostante si trovasse in isolamento, riusciva a ricevere telefonate dalla moglie su un cellulare che aveva nascosto. La scheda Sim era una scheda inglese, cosa che avvalora quanto ha scritto nella sua biografia l’ex presidente Pervez Musharraf, secondo il quale Saeed era un servizio del MI6, il servizio segreto inglese. Sul quel telefono cellulare, il terrorista fu informato dalla moglie dei fatti di Mumbai, ricevendo continui aggiornamenti. Venerdi’ 28 novembre, a due giorni dall’inizio degli attacchi terroristici a Mumbai, nelle stesse ore in cui i gruppi speciali indiani liberavano gli ultimi ostaggi negli alberghi della citta’, nella residenza ufficiale del presidente pachistano Asif Ali Zardari squillo’ il telefono riservato: dall’altra parte Saeed, spacciandosi per il ministro degli esteri indiano, Pranab Mukherjee, accusava il Pakistan di aver aiutato i terroristi, annunciando di star spostando le truppe verso il confine pachistano e ingiungendo a Islamabad di prendere provvedimenti contro i fondamentalisti islamici. Zardari richiamo’ a Islamabad il primo ministro Yusuf Raza Gilani che era a Lahore, un aereo militare parti’ alla volta di New Delhi per riportare a casa il ministro degli esteri Shah Mahmud Qureshi che sarebbe dovuto ritornare il giorno dopo con un volo di linea. Il capo di stato maggiore dell’esercito viene avvisato di mettere in stato di massima allerta le truppe, e di cominciare a spostare battaglioni dal confine afghano a quello indiano. Furono 24 ore di intense telefonate, di contatti diplomatici tra Islamabad, New Delhi e Washington. Lo stesso pseudo ministro degli esteri indiano autore del falso telefonico con Zardari avrebbe provato a chiamare anche il segretario di stato americano Condoleezza Rice, ma i servizi americani non hanno passato la telefonata. La Rice invece parlo’ con Zardari e poi con Mukherjee, che smenti’. Saed e’ stato trasferito nel carcere di Lahore e il responsabile del carcere di Hyderabad, dopo che una perquisizione approfondita ha fatto rinvenire telefoni cellulari e schede nella cella di Saed, e’ stato trasferito.

E’ cominciata con una parata della polizia di Mumbai la giornata di manifestazioni in occasioni del primo anniversario degli attentati di Mumbai che il 26 novembre dell’anno scorso videro 10 terroristi pachistani tenere in ostaggio per oltre 60 ore la capitale economica dell’India facendo oltre 170 vittime. La polizia dell’ex Mumbai, insieme ai reparti speciali e con mezzi di assalto, ha sfilato da Nariman point, nei pressi del Gate of India dinanzi all’hotel Taj che fu preso dagli assalitori, fino a Chowpatty, la spiaggia piu’ famosa di Mumbai. Nella parata, anche dimostrazioni di azioni antiterroristiche da parte del Force One, il corpo speciale della polizia che mise fine all’assedio. Molta gente ha assistito alla parata e ha visitato i luoghi simbolo dell’assedio, come il Leopold Cafe, il Cama Hospital, l’hotel Oberoi Trident, la stazione ferroviaria Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, l’hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, e la Nariman House. La parata della polizia e’ solo la prima di una serie di manifestazioni che commemorano il primo anniversario degli attentati di Mumbai. Il ministro degli interni indiano Palanippam Chidambaran inaugurera’ un memoriale per le vittime della polizia alla sede centrale degli agenti di Mumbai, mentre una manifestazione religiosa e’ prevista al Gato of India, il monumento dinanzi al Taj Mahal Hotel. Anche il centro ebraico, che fu assaltato dagli attentatori, cosi’ come gli altri luoghi degli attentati, sara’ al centro di manifestazioni. Da stamattina sono stati illuminati diversi lumini sulle finestre del centro e deposti fiori. Una cerimonia religiosa e’ prevista in giornata. Altri cortei e marce silenziose sono annunciate in ogni parte di Mumbai e anche nelle altre grandi citta’ indiane, soprattutto come segno di protesta al terrorismo. Ma la ricorrenza non e’ scevra da polemiche. Un ex ufficiale di polizia di Mumbai, Hasan Gafoor, in una intervista ad un settimanale indiano, ha detto che una intera sezione di agenti di polizia si rifiuto’ di recarsi sul luogo degli attentati. Sono ancora veementi le polemiche sui ritardi sia dell’intervento della polizia, ma soprattutto di quello delle teste di cuoio, arrivati con oltre 10 ore di ritardo. Il ministro degli interni dello stato del Maharashtra, R.R. Patil, ha annunciato un ulteriore stanziamento per la sicurezza dello stato. Oltre il 70% dei parenti delle vittime degli attentati di Mumbai, ancora devono ricevere i risarcimenti promessi. All’indomani degli attentati, le polemiche per la scarsa sicurezza portarono alle dimissioni del ministro dell’interno dell’India, Shivraj Patil, e del suo omonimo ministro degli interni dello stato del Maharashtra R.R.Patil. Anche il primo ministro dello stato di allora, Vilasrao Deshmuk, si dimise, perche’ si reco’ al Taj insieme ad un regista. Oggi, Deshmuk e’ ministro dell’industria nel governo centrale e R.R. Patil e’ di nuovo ministro degli interni del Maharashtra.

By: RupeeNews | Moin Ansari

There is a parable in South Asia, mainly Bharat (aka India) which loosely translated goes something like this “All night long, we told you the lengthly and long-winded story of Ramayan–and in the morning you asks was ‘Sita’ one of the main characters–a man or a woman”. Obviously one who has ever read or heard the story of Sita, will never forget the fact that Sita was a woman. In Western terms it would be like reading Shakespeare and then asking whether Juliette was a woman or a man. This is exactly what happened in Washington. Even before Prime Minister arrived in Delhi, everyone know what the agenda would be—Bharati gripes against Pakistan on terror.

Mr. Manmohan didn’t realise that each time he mentioned Mumbai and terror in the same breath, it took millions of Dollars away from business in the commercial capital of Bharat. However he along with Sancho Panza in Delhi persisted in the old story of terror and why Pakistan should be sanctioned, blah blah blah.

After the long discussion, the congratulatory interview paid advertisement (interview) with Pakistanphobe Farid Zakaria and others, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with President Obama, he wanted to hear mr. Obama threaten, castigate, and scold Pakistan–to Bharati chagrin, the exact opposite happened.

After patiently listening to Bharati whining for the years, Washington essentially ignored Bharat, tripled aid to Pakistan, increase military supplies to Islamabad, and is working on construction a Reconstruction Opportunity Zone (ROZ), and a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bharat’s arch-enemy.

Obviously Mr. Singh knew all this before he came to Washington. The Bharati lobby had essentially failed to derail the Biden/Kerry-Lugar bill and the amendment letter attached to it watered down or eliminated the Bharati inspired language in the bill.

This picture is very descriptive and worth a thousand words—as Mr. Singh “stood rapt withal”, his stone faced silence, drooping face and stoic demeanour was unable to hide the disappointment–when he heard President Obama snubbed the Bharati Prime Minister by loudly proclaiming that Pakistan was a very important ally of the United States and that it was doing a lot in fighting terror.

Mr. Singh will have a lot to answer for when he returns to Delhi–the opposition will tear him apart on why he was unsuccessful in his mission–maligning Pakistan

In a press conference with the Indian PM, the US president emphasised that Pakistan was progressing against extremism. —Photo by AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday re-emphasised Pakistan’s key position in the American strategy for South Asia, telling a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Islamabad had an enormously important role in the security of that region.

His statement, in response to a question about US military assistance to Pakistan, was a calculated departure from the tributes he had paid to India earlier.

In remarks delivered before the news conference, Mr Obama described India as ‘indispensable’ for his visions for the future of the world, ‘a leader in Asia and around the world,’ and a ‘nuclear power’ with which the United States would like to work ‘in preventing the spread of the world’s most deadly weapons, securing loose nuclear materials from terrorists, and pursuing our shared vision of a world without nuclear weapons.’

While Mr Obama continued this eulogy in the press conference as well, he paused to stress Pakistan’s importance in the South Asian region when an Indian journalist spoke about the perception that US military aid to Pakistan was misused against India.

‘Obviously, Pakistan has an enormously important role in the security of the region,’ said Mr Obama, adding that Islamabad could fulfil this role ‘by making sure that the extremist organisations that often operate out of its territories are dealt with effectively.’

I have gained confidence that there’s not an important question out there that has not been asked that we haven’t answered to the best of our abilities, the US president said. —Photo by AFP

While acknowledging that Pakistan faced the problem of terrorism, Mr Obama said he also had ‘seen some progress’ in Islamabad’s efforts to fight the militancy.

While Prime Minister Singh was bush playing victim in Washington, his Chief of Staff General Kapoor, suffering from Foot-in-mouth-disease was busy displaying his incompetence by threatening war to its nuclear armed neighbors.

Stephen Cohen a known Indophile who created the now debunked “Cold Start Strategy” has clearly said that the India and the US are strategically moving apart. This assessment comes in the wake of the reality that America’s new banker is not New York—it is Beijing. Prime Minister Manamohan Singh sheepishly mentioned this anomaly during his various conversations in Washington and elsewhere. While the chest thumping on democracy fell on deaf ears, what chagrined the prime minister and Bharati media was the fact that the US has ignored Delhi’s whining on Mumbai. Contrary to the lobbying efforts of Delhi, the US Congress tripled aid to Pakistan, and then some—it is also working on ROZ and a FTA with Pakistan. Unbeknownst to Delhi, the US Army has helped the generals in Islamabad with weapons that are under the radar or press and or media scrutiny.

‘The work that the Pakistan military is doing in the Swat Valley and in South Waziristan all indicates the degree to which they are beginning to recognise that extremism, even if initially directed to the outside, can ultimately also have an adverse impact on their security internally,’ he said.

‘So my hope is that over time what we’re going to see is further clarity and further cooperation between all the parties and all peoples of goodwill in the region to eradicate terrorist activity, to eradicate the kind of violent extremism that we’ve seen.’

Such cooperation, he said, would benefit the peoples of Pakistan and India, and the world community as well.

Mr Obama conceded that in the past the US-Pakistan relationship was ‘single-mindedly focussed just on military assistance’ and that the United States didn’t think more broadly about how to encourage and develop the kinds of civil society in Pakistan that would make a difference in the lives of people day-to-day.

His administration, Mr Obama added, had tried to change this approach by re-focussing its attention on helping the Pakistani people.

Showing more diplomatic skill than some of his senior diplomats, President Obama also nudged India and Pakistan to resume their dialogue without appearing intrusive.

‘One of the things I admire most about Prime Minister Singh is that I think at his core he is a man of peace,’ said Mr Obama before stressing the need for a peaceful resolution of India-Pakistan disputes.

‘Obviously, there are historic conflicts between India and Pakistan. It is not the place of the United States to try to, from the outside, resolve all those conflicts,’ he said.

Pakistan has important role in S. Asia: Obama

Courtesy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ghAXpfOtlg

ISLAMABAD: The main accused in the Rs 9 billion Bank of Punjab loan scam Sheikh Afzal and his son Haris Afzal said they had paid Dr Babar Awan Rs 5 million as fee and Rs 35 million in kickbacks for getting a favourable verdict in the case from then Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Afzal, who was brought to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, disclosed a list of top lawyers who allegedly took millions of rupees to plead his case in court.

He alleged that besides Babar Awan, the incumbent parliamentary affairs’ minister, who took Rs 40 million for getting a favourable verdict, he paid senior lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada Rs 10 million, Malik Muhammad Qayyum, then attorney general, Rs 20 million and Ali Wasim, son of Wasim Sajjad, Rs 7.5 million as fees for defending him in the loan scam case.

Afzal said that in addition to the mentioned lawyers, he had given Rs 400-500 million to Hamesh Khan, former BoP president, Rs 30 million to Aziz Ahmed, BoP’s risk control manager, Rs 50 million to Haroon Aziz, Rs 10 million to Shoaib Qureshi, Rs 40 million to BoP’s treasury head Saleem Mirza, and Rs 5 million to Fazeel Asghar, who helped him flee the country despite his name being placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The three-member Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Tariq Parvez directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) not to harass the family of Sheikh Afzal, but allowed NAB to take necessary action for recovering the looted money.

Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Law Director Azam Khan submitted a report about the steps taken so far for the extradition of former BoP president Hamesh Khan from the US.

The report said relevant documents had already been provided to the US Justice Department, but authorities had not received any response in this regard so far.

Afzal had fled to England and had then moved to Malaysia, from where the FIA and NAB arrested him with Interpol’s assistance.

The SC praised the FIA for bringing the fugitives back to the country.

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