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Oscar Nomination For Daughter of Pakistan : Parveen Obaid Chinoy-End Honour Killings NOW

Pakistan

Oscar-Nominated Pakistani Filmmaker Talks About Battle To End ‘Honor Killings


Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy poses for photographs with the Academy Award she won in 2012 for a documentary on acid attacks on Pakistani women. Her latest movie tackles the subject of 'honor killings' in Pakistan, which she says claims the lives of hundreds of women every year.

Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy poses for photographs with the Academy Award she won in 2012 for a documentary on acid attacks on Pakistani women. Her latest movie tackles the subject of ‘honor killings’ in Pakistan, which she says claims the lives of hundreds of women every year.

 

 

 

By Bashir Ahmad Gwakh
The first Oscar-winner in Pakistan’s history is back in the Hollywood limelight this weekend as Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s unflinching new documentary about ‘honor killings,’ A Girl In The River: The Price

The 37-year-old Chinoy’s previous film about acid-attack victims, Saving Face, won the top prize for a documentary short in 2012.

Chinoy spoke via e-mail with RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal correspondent Bashir Ahmad Gwakh about her shortlisted film, which revolves around Saba Qaisar, a 19-year-old girl from Pubjan Province whose father shot her in the head after she married without the family’s permission. She also talked about the tribal pressure that eventually forced Qaisar to withdraw charges, the 1,000 or so honor killings a year that plague Pakistani society, and the Oscars.

RFE/RL: Tell us about the case of Saba Qaisar? How did you find her and where does the case stand?

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy: I read about Saba’s story in the newspapers shortly after the incident took place and I knew I had to share her story with the world — her only “fault” was falling in love. I then contacted the head of the hospital where she was being treated and went to visit her. At the time, I wasn’t sure what would happen with her case, but ultimately she ended up forgiving her father after being pressurized by the village elders.

RFE/RL: What does your documentary find? Tell us about the status of women going through domestic violence and families whose loved one was killed in ‘honor killings’?

Chinoy: The film really brings to reality the kind of patriarchal and conservative mindset that women are up against. I went to speak to Saba’s father after he was arrested and he had so much hatred in him. He was still adamant that Saba was in the wrong and he felt justified trying to kill his own daughter. He felt it was his duty as a father and husband to protect his family from the “dishonor” that Saba brought upon them by falling in love and getting married. The interaction that I had with him spoke volumes about the kinds of choices we women have in the world and how our lives are impacted by the decisions taken by others.

The very fact that women are currently unable to make their own policy decisions in certain parts of the country is an alarming reality, and pushes us further away from being the owners of our own stories and fighters for our own rights.

Ever year, hundreds of women are killed in the name of honor; and although honor killings are prevalent in Pakistan, they are considered a taboo subject by many. There is a perception that somehow these murders fall under the purview of the family and that they shouldn’t be questioned or challenged. To me, they have always been premeditated, cold-blooded murders justified under the guise of culture or religion.

I wanted to tell the story of a victim of honor killing because I wanted to start a national discourse about this issue and build momentum to garner support for key legislation that better protects women from such violence.

RFE/RL: Do you think Pakistan needs to strengthen laws to prevent honor killings? What are your recommendations for lawmakers and the government?

Chinoy: The law, as it stands, sees honor killing as an offense against the individual and not the state, and hence the victim can choose to “forgive” the perpetrator. If the victim is killed, which is often what happens in such cases, the family of the victim has the right to forgive the perpetrator. So when a father kills his daughter, his wife can forgive him; and when a brother kills his sister, his parents can forgive him. This is how the current law is being misused.

After the screening of A Girl In The River: The Price Of Forgiveness at the [Pakistani Prime Minister’s] House, the Prime Minister [Nawaz Sharif] asked his team to redraft laws on honor killings to help ensure that perpetrators are punished and victims are protected.

RFE/RL: Why do we see an increase in honor killings? How can it be prevented?

Chinoy: The prevalence of such attacks stems partly from structural inequalities that make it difficult for women to access the judicial system in addition to longstanding cultural practices that support gender discrimination. The perpetrators know that they will only serve a few years in jail if they are found guilty. The lack of liability coupled with an embedded patriarchal system allows for honor-killing crimes to run rampant — and this is exactly what we need to tackle in order to get justice for the victims of honor killing and prevent it from occurring again.

RFE/RL: How do you feel about your documentary being nominated for an Academy Award? What’s your next project?

Chinoy: I am proud to be representing Pakistan on such a prestigious platform — that [it is also] for the second time. I am grateful that the SOC Films production was able to share the untold story of A Girl In The River: The Price Of Forgiveness with a global audience. Since the start of my career, I have always endeavored to share the stories of those who cannot do so themselves. To be acknowledged for this work is always very humbling, and on such a giant platform like the Oscars makes it surreal.

But for me personally, it will be an even bigger win if we, as a nation, take this opportunity to acknowledge that we have a problem and pass the Anti-Honor Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill 2014. It is time we change the law and stand up for the victims of this heinous crime.

(Editor’s note: The bill was passed by the provincial legislature on February 25.)

Currently, we are working on a sequel to 3 Bahadur, which was an animated feature film that we released in the summer of 2015.  In order to continue its legacy and further inspire the children of Pakistan, we are hoping to release 3 Bahadur Part 2 in cinemas nationwide in December 2016!

RFE/RL: How was your meeting with Prime Minister Sharif? What did you discuss and what was his response on honor killing?

Chinoy: The prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has vowed since the Oscar nomination to eradicate honor killings. As a father and a grandfather, it is important for him to make that gesture, not only to the women of Pakistan but also to the women of his own family.

The support that we have received from the prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, will help change the mindset of society. If we can begin to amend the law and address loopholes in the current legislation, then we can slowly begin to protect the women of Pakistan and send out a strong message that this practice is nothing but a stain on our society.

Courtesy

http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-director-chinoy-oscar-hinor-killings/27574195.html

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Orange Line Scam Nabbed: Evokes Bad Tempered Diatribe From Bad Tempered Nawaz Sharif

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nawaz-Sharif3

 

 

The arrest of the contractor of Orange Train project by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has reportedly angered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who on Tuesday lashed out at the accountability watchdog, a local news agency Online has claimed.

The news agency citing NAB sources said that NAB Lahore had arrested Amir Latif, the contractor whose construction company Kalson Private Limited is currently working on Orange Line Metro Train project as a Joint Venture Project (JVP).

The NAB officials arrested Amir Latif on charges of fake payments in another project, the NAB sources said.

The sources revealed that severe pressure was being mounted for the immediate release of Amir Latif but investigation was being conducted into his crimes in the interest of the nation. They said that had sought physical remand of the accused. Additionally, NAB has also started to investigate the construction of Raiwind road.

The provincial chapter of NAB has expedited operations against elements allegedly involved in corruption across the province. NAB has made it compulsory to submit the details of all the contracts and projects worth over Rs 500 million to NAB office.

NAB has uploaded a form on its website in this regard and it has been made compulsory for all government institutions to submit it in NAB’s office before awarding any development project.

On the other hand, NAB has also arrested five people allegedly involved in the embezzlement of Rs 850 million.

Meanwhile, NAB’s officials had to complete the inquiry of cases pending against PM Sharif by December 31, 2015. The new deadline for the completion of the inquiry, the sources claimed, has been set for March 31.

Sources said that the Punjab government had expressed dissatisfaction over NAB’s demand of submitting details of all the development projects worth over Rs 500 million, while PM Sharif had categorically warned that stern action would be taken if NAB did not reform itself.

After the statement of the PM against NAB, a high-level meeting is likely to be convened soon with NAB Chief Chaudhry Qamar Zaman in the chair to review the situation in Punjab.

 

 

 

Corrupt Nawaz Sharif’s Orange Line Scam Nabbed:Evokes Bad Tempered Diatribe

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ISLAMABAD –The arrest of the contractor of Orange Train project by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has reportedly angered Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who on Tuesday lashed out at the accountability watchdog. 
 
 
Dunya News citing NAB sources said that NAB Lahore arrested Aamir Latif, the contractor whose construction company Kalson Private Limited is currently working on Orange Line Metro Train project as a Joint Venture Project (JVP). The NAB officials arrested Aamir Latif on charges of fake payments in another project, the NAB sources verified. The sources revealed relentless pressure was being mounted for the immediate release of Aamir Latif but investigation was being conducted into his crimes n the interest of the nation. They said they have sought physical remand of the accused. 
Moreover, NAB has also begun to investigate the construction of Raiwind road. The provincial chapter of NAB has expedited operations against elements allegedly involved in corruption across the province. NAB has made it compulsory to submit the details of all the contracts and projects worth over Rs 500 million to NAB office. NAB has uploaded a form on its website in this regard and it has been made a necessity for all government institutions to submit it in NAB’s office before awarding any development project. On the other hand, NAB has also arrested five people allegedly involved in the embezzlement of Rs 850 million. According to sources, the arrested individuals include Mian Maqsood Akhtar, Rana Salim Akhtar, Pervaiz Iqbal, Chaudhry Ahsan Akhtar and Ijaz Hussain. The accused were involved in producing inappropriate profits for the Shah Abdul Latif and Company. 
 
 
Meanwhile, NAB’s official’s had to complete the inquiry of cases pending against PM Sharif by December 31, 2015. The new deadline for the completion of the inquiry, the sources claimed, has been set for March 31. Sources said that the Punjab government had expressed dissatisfaction over NAB’s demand of submitting details of all the developmental projects worth over Rs 500 million, while PM Sharif had categorically warned that stern action would be taken if NAB did not “reform” itself. 
 
 
After the statement of the PM against NAB Chief Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, a high level meeting was convened with NAB Chief in the chair to review the situation in Punjab. 
 
The sources reported NAB has also prepared a foolproof documentation for Metro Bus scandal, and has started to probe in to the matter. As per documents, the Punjab Government claimed the estimated cost of production of Metro Bus project to be 30 Billion but playing devil’s advocate NAB gave out its estimations i.e. 50 Billion spent on the project, thus coming down hard on the govt as well as putting the responsibility of being accountable. 
 
 
While on his visit to Multan Regional Bureau NAB Chief reviewed its performance on basis of annual inspection performed by Inspection & Monitoring Team. NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry expressed his firm resolve to eradicate corruption by adopting zero tolerance policy against the menace throughout the country. 
 
 
Highlighting strengths and weaknesses of NAB the Chief appreciated the current performance and directed all officers/officials to work more vigilantly, honestly and diligently to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices.
 
 
It is highly expected, said the sources, that the latest Pak-Qatar LNG deal will also be speculated by NAB since the government has placed all eggs in one basket while binding Pakistan and its citizens into such a frightening contract of 15 years in which Pakistan will have to pay some five million dollars daily for fifteen years while politicians will get some Rs 400 billion in kickbacks if the deal to import LNG from Qatar on hefty rates is finalized.
 
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is likely to initiate probe into the bank accounts of Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Secretary Arshad Mirza in connection with alleged scandal worth Rs 48 billion.
 
Sources in NAB told Online that the noose would further be tightened around the MD PSO Imran Sheikh and officers of Sui Southern Company. The petroleum ministry by violating the OGRA rules accorded LNG worth Rs 48 billion to the blue-eyed persons of PM Sharif which brings a severe loss to the national kitty. The sources further revealed that Irfan Siddiqui, Adviser to PM, said that the NAB was just trying to sabotage the LNG project as the secretary petroleum had already recorded his statement regarding this scam in NAB.
 
 
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday had said politicians should not try to make fortune overnight by exploiting energy demand-supply imbalance in Pakistan. Abdullah Tariq, SVP of PEW revealed in a press statement, the government has bent all the rules and regulations for the import of 500 million cubic feet of LNG per day under a long-term contract. 
 
 
Secretary Petroleum Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry got fired for resisting the Pak-Qatar covenant while efforts are on the move to “discipline” Oil Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) which has also opposed the deal, he further claimed. Tariq said that the ministers who are uneasy over letters from Ogra against LNG import plan to dissolve the department or bring under the direct control of the petroleum ministry. 
NAB has given a free hand to its Punjab Bureau and its officials to probe corruption cases and Orange Line Metro Train (OMT) is the top-notch scandal for the looming and inevitable enquiry, informed the sources. Since its inauguration till construction, OMT project has been under constant criticism and different political parties have expressed their disapproval of the project. The former CM Punjab, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi termed Orange Metro Line Project bigger than Nandipur Power Project, another mega scandal of PML-N, for making dollars and labeled it as an anti-employment and anti-environment project. 
 
 
 
Late in January, the locals of Samanabad, Lahore staged a protest against the construction of Orange Line Train project. The residents received 24-hour deadline from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to vacate their houses causing agitation amongst the protesters who burnt tyres, blocked the roads and removed the barriers put in place for the OMT project. The protesters claimed that they were being thrashed out of their homes without any compensation or alternate arrangements. 
 
 
 
The protesting residents said that the mismanagement in construction of the multi- billion project has turned their lives into hell. Whilst the contactors have not undertaken any plan to control the pollution and disorderly traffic prior to the start of construction, the protesters have also demonstrated against noise and dust pollution and traffic problems they face on daily basis due to the construction project of OMT.
 
 
 
However, a sum of Rs 1 billion has been paid by the LDA as compensation during one day and payment of more than Rs 2 billion has been made so far to the local residents in order to locate them in different residential areas. 
 
 
 
UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights Karima Bennoune, in a press release issued by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, said government’s forced eviction of residents from their houses is completely unjustified as it does not have a resettlement plan. 
 
 
 
“The project will not only destroy physical sites but the ways of life that have been developed there, that people cherish and through which they express their dignity and identity,” she said
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

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US Double Standard of Arms Supply in South Asia by Sajjad Shaukat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Double Standard of Arms Supply in South Asia

 
 
By Sajjad Shaukat
 
International community is so focused on the double standard of the United States in Syria that it
 
has ignored America’s similar policy in South Asia, which also needs appropriate attention.
 
In this regard, the US expressed concern on February 12, this year over the security of Pakistan’s
 
tactical nuclear weapons. The statement followed the US announcement about its intention to sell
 
eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. At a State Department news briefing, Deputy Spokesman
 
Mark Toner said, “Tensions between India and Pakistan is equally worrying…we’re concerned
 
both about the security of those nuclear weapons, and that’s been a common refrain in our
 
discussions with Pakistan.”
 
Tone elaborated, “We believe it’s in our vital national security interests to support Pakistan in
 
carrying out its efforts to destroy these terrorist networks, and we believe it’s an important
 
partner in the region in achieving a stable and secure Afghanistan.”
 
Next day, India summoned the US envoy in New Delhi, Richard Verma and recorded protest
 
over the US announcement to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.
 
On February 17, 2016, rejecting Indian reaction to the F-16 deal with Pakistan, the Pentagon
 
Press Secretary Petro Cook stated, “We don’t think this deal should concern India in any way.
 
Pakistan is combating terrorism and its defence capability needs to be enhanced accordingly.”
 
In this context, during his briefing to the National Assembly, on January 19, last year, while
 
confirming anti-Pakistan lobbies in the US, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja
 
Asif had revealed, “Pakistan is trying to acquire eight F-16 fighter jets from the US on lease, but
 
Husain Haqqani, the former ambassador to the US is campaigning along with India to malign
 
Pakistan and to block delivery of F-16 fighter jets.”
 
On February 11, 2016, in a testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Defence
 
Intelligence Agency Director, Lt-Gen. Vincent Stewart (R) termed Pakistan’s counter-
 
insurgency operations along Pakistan’s western border [Across Pak-Afghan border] and
 
military operation Zarb-e-Azb and Karachi operation as successful in reducing violence in
 
Lt-Gen. Stewart explained, “Pakistan is fast improving its nuclear security and is aware of the
 
threats posed by extremists to its nuclear arsenal.” But at the same time, he remarked about the
 
increasing risks of an incident associated with the growing nuclear stockpile. 
 
However, Lt. Lt-Gen. Vincent Stewart’s contradictory statement is part of US double standard
 
and ambivalent policy in South Asia. Overtly and covertly, US-led India, Israel and some
 
western countries keep on conducting propaganda against Pakistan, because it is the lonely
 
nuclear country in the Islamic World.
 
When terrorists had attacked on Pakistan’s Naval Airbase in Karachi on May 23, 2011, US-led
 
some western countries, including India and Israel exploited the situation through disinformation
 
about the security of Pak nukes. And another terrorists’ assault on Kamra Base was successfully
 
foiled by the personnel of Pakistan Air Force, but, a baseless report, published in the New York
 
Times had indicated that suspected militants attacked a major Pakistani Air Force base where
 
some of the country’s nuclear weapons were considered to be stored in the early hours of the
 
militants’ attack. The ex-US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had also stated, “There is a danger
 
of nuclear weapons of Pakistan, falling into hands of terrorists.”
 
Particularly, in 2009 when the heavily-armed Taliban entered Swat, Dir and Buner, US high
 
officials and their media had exaggerated the ‘Talibinisation’ of the whole Pakistan, while
 
showing concerns about Pakistan’s atomic arms. In that regard, the then US Secretary of State
 
Hillary Clinton had warned that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of
 
terrorists. But, when Pakistan’s armed forces ejected the Taliban insurgents out of these areas by
 
breaking their backbone, she started appreciating the capabilities of Pakistan’s armed forces.
 
Undoubtedly, Pakistan’s nuclear assets are in safe hands—well-protected and are under tight
 
security arrangements, having the best command and control system. This fact has also been
 
recognized by some top officials of the US and some western countries.
 
It is notable that Indian past record proves various kinds of unprotected incidents, security lapses
 
in relation to various nuclear plants and the related-sensitive materials including events of
 
nuclear theft and smuggling. 
 
In this respect, in the end of November, 2009, more than 90 Indian workers suffered radiation
 
due to contamination of drinking water at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnataka. On July
 
27, 1991, a similar event took place at the heavy water plant run by the Department of Atomic
 
Energy at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. Nuclear radiation had affected and injured many labourers
 
In July 1998, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation seized eight kg. of nuclear material from
 
Arun, an engineer in Chennai, including two other engineers. It was reported that the uranium
 
was stolen from an atomic research center. On November 7, 2000, the International Atomic
 
Energy Agency (IAEA) indicated that Indian police had seized 57 pounds of uranium and
 
arrested two men for illicit trafficking of radioactive material. IAEA said that Indian civil nuclear
 
facilities were vulnerable to thefts. On January 26, 2003, CNN disclosed that Indian company,
 
NEC Engineers Private Ltd. shipped 10 consignments to Iraq, containing highly sensitive
 
equipment including titanium vessels and centrifugal pumps. Indian investigators acknowledged
 
that the company falsified customs documents to get its shipments out of India.
 
On June 12, 2004, Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation, an American company was fined US $
 
300,000 for exporting a nuclear component to the Bhaba Atomic Research Center in India. In
 
December 2005, United States imposed sanctions on two Indian firms for selling missile goods
 
and chemical arms material to a Muslim country in violation of India’s commitment to prevent
 
proliferation. In the same year, Indian scientists, Dr. Surendar and Y. S. R. Prasad had been
 
blacklisted by the US due to their involvement in nuclear theft. In December, 2006, a container
 
packed with radioactive material had been stolen from an Indian fortified research atomic facility
 
Nevertheless, an alarming increase has been witnessed in the acquisition of arms and
 
ammunition on the part of India; and it is likely to spend around $250 bn. on acquisition of
 
weapons in next few years. The appetite is regional-specific with Pakistan being the prime target
 
including China. India has also developed considerable nuclear weaponry and delivery systems.
 
It is mentionable that in its report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
 
had disclosed on February 22, 2015 that India is the world’s largest recipient of arms—“India (14
 
percent of global arms imports), China (4.7 per cent), Australia (3.6 per cent) and Pakistan (3.3
 
New Delhi’s military is acquiring a slew of new equipments from combat aircraft to submarines
 
and artillery. It is currently finalising a deal with France’s Dassault Aviation to buy 126 Rafale
 
fighter jets in a contract worth an estimated $12 billion. 
 
Although peace and brinksmanship cannot co-exist in the modern era, yet India seeks to
 
destabilize Asia through its aggressive designs.
 
While, as part of the double standard, America brushed aside the Indian poor record regarding
 
the safety of nuclear weapons and materials. And despite, Indian violations of various
 
international agreements and its refusal to sign Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Comprehensive
 
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Additional Protocol with the IAEA, Washington signed a pact of
 
nuclear civil technology with New Delhi in 2008. During American President Barack Obama’s
 
visit to India, on January 25, 2016, the US and India announced a breakthrough on the pact
 
which would allow American companies to supply New Delhi with civilian nuclear technology.
 
On November 2, 2010, US agreed to sell India the most expensive—the new F-35 fighter jets
 
including US F-16 and F-18 fighters, C-17 and C-130 aircraft, radar systems, Harpoon weapons
 
etc. Besides acquisition of arms and weapons from other western countries—especially Israel,
 
America is a potential military supplier to India. US also pressurized IAEA and the Nuclear
 
Suppliers Group to grant a waiver to New Delhi for obtaining civil nuclear trade on larger scale. 
 
As a matter of fact, US wants New Delhi to assume anti-China role. Beijing is apprehensive
 
about the emerging threat, as the intent of President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra
 
Modi was quite clear, while mentioning about free sea lanes and air passages in the South China
 
In this connection, tension arose between India and China when Indian army erected a military
 
camp in Chumar Sector of Ladakh at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)-disputed border, situated
 
between the two countries. Similarly, Indian soldiers crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) in
 
Kashmir on January 6, 2012 and attacked a Pakistani check post, killing one Pakistani soldier.
 
Afterwards, Indian troops shot dead more Pakistani soldiers on the LoC.
 
It is noteworthy that under the Pak-China pretext, Indian ex-Army Chief, General Deepak
 
Kapoor disclosed on December 29, 2010 that the Indian army “is now revising its five-year old
 
doctrine” and is preparing for a “possible two-front war with China and Pakistan.”
 
It is worth-mentioning that that after 9/11, both India and Israel which had openly jumped on
 
Bush’s anti-terrorism enterprise are acting upon a secret diplomacy, targeting Pakistan China and
 
Iran. It could be assessed from the interview of Israel’s ambassador to India, Mark Sofer,
 
published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008. Regarding India’s defense
 
arrangements with Tel Aviv, Sofer had surprisingly revealed, “We do have a defense relationship
 
with India, and “with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret.” In fact, with the
 
support of Israel, New Delhi has been acquiring an element of strategic depth by setting up
 
logistical bases in the Indian Ocean for its navy.
 
Particularly, fast growing economic power of China coupled with her rising strategic relationship
 
with the Third World, and especially Pakistan—after signing of agreement, “China-Pakistan
 
Economic Corridor” which is, though for the benefit of South Asia, but, has irked the eyes of
 
Americans and Indians. Owing to jealousy, America desires to make India a major power to
 
counterbalance China in Asia—while, New Delhi has continued violations at the LoC and cross-
 
border terrorism in Pakistan.  
 
For the purpose, by availing the phenomenon of lawlessness in Afghanistan, secret agencies like
 
American CIA, Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW have well-established their covert network in
 
that country, and as part of the double game, they are using the terrorists of the Islamic State
 
group (ISIS) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for conducting various terror attacks in
 
Pakistan. These secret agencies are also making efforts to weaken Tibetan regions of China,
 
Pakistan’s province of Balochistan and Sistan-Balochistan of Iran by promoting acrimonious
 
sense of dissent and political volatility. 
 
Notably, on July 20, 2011, while hinting towards Pak-China ties, the then US Secretary of State
 
Hillary Clinton urged India to be more assertive in Asia, saying that as American ally, the
 
country should play more of a leadership role. She explained, “India has the potential to
 
positively shape the future of the Asia-Pacific.” 
 
It is owing to the US dual policy that New Delhi openly follows threatening diplomacy in South
 
Asia. In this context, in May 1998 when India detonated five nuclear tests, it also compelled
 
Pakistan to follow the suit. The then Defense Minister George Fernandes had also declared
 
publicly that “China is India’s potential threat No. 1.” New Delhi which successfully tested
 
missile, Agni-111in May 2007, has extended its range to target all Chinese cities. Now, by
 
setting aside peace-offers of Beijing and Islamabad, New Delhi has entangled the latter in a
 
While, international community has been making strenuous efforts for world peace in wake of
 
global financial crisis and war against terrorism, but India has particularly initiated deadly
 
nuclear arms race in South Asia where people are already facing multiple problems of grave
 
nature. Majority of South Asian people are living below the poverty level, lacking basic facilities
 
like fresh food and clean water. Yielding to acute poverty, every day, some persons commit
 
Even, Indian civil society organizations, while complaining of excessive defense spending,
 
recently, pointed out that the government spends very little amount for the betterment of
 
people. Indian defense analyst Ravinder Pal Singh, while indicating New Delhi’s unending
 
defense expenditures at the cost of poverty-alleviation, calls it guns-versus-butter question. 
 
Nonetheless, by ignoring regional problems and especially resolution of Indo-Pak issues,
 
particularly the Kashmir dispute which remains a nuclear flashpoint, Indian rulers state that they
 
do not have any belligerent policy. But, it becomes a big joke of the 21st century, reminding a
 
maxim, “armed to the teeth, but no enemy”, if we take cognizance of India’s increasing defense
 
purchases in wake of her aggressive designs. In fact, it is the fault of the US which openly
 
displays double standard of arms supply in South Asia
 
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
 
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
 
Email: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com
 
Courtesy Veterans Today

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The Indefatigable Raheel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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p style=”text-align: center;”>Ghazwa -I-Hind is his Destiny

 

 

 

LETTER TO EDITOR

February 25th, 2016

 

The Indefatigable Raheel

 

 

It was indeed comforting and reassuring to see the indefatigable Gen. Raheel in Fort Abbas attending a briefing of the army carrying out exercises in that area  the very next day of his being with the troops fighting the extremists in the forward most areas of North Waziristan. As a true defender of Pakistan if he is fighting the terrorists in FATA on the one hand, he is on the other hand not oblivious of his responsibilities also to defend other areas of Pakistan such as the soft underbelly of Pakistan – the Cholistan front, where at places India is only 8 miles away from the GT Road to Karachi.  Well done, Sir, the veterans like me are proud of you as a soldier as well as a commander and wish you Godspeed in your all undertakings.  May Allah (swt) be with you always to protect you and guide you, ameen.

 

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)  

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
30 Westridge 1
Rawalpindi 46000
Pakistan
Tel: (051) 5158033
E.mail: jafri@rifiela.com

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