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Posts Tagged Drone attacks

آئیں اپنی آواز بلند کریں & PHOTOESSAY ON BRUTALITY OF DRONE ATTACKS ON CHILDREN

 
 
 
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آئیں اپنی آواز بلند کریں

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

میں تقریبا تیس منٹ تک سڑک کنارے سٹاپ پر دیگر لوگوں کیساتھ کھڑا گاڑی آنے کا انتظار کررہا تھا دن کے اوقات میں گاڑی تو آسانی سے مل جاتی ہیں لیکن رات کے وقت دس بجے کے بعد گاڑیاں بہت کم ہی چلتی ہیں اسی وجہ سے پشاور جیسے شہر میں لوگ سٹاپوں پر انتظار کرتے رہتے ہیں اور جن کےجیب میں پیسے ہوں تو وہ رکشہ یا ٹیکسی میں بیٹھ کر اپنی منزل کو روانہ ہو جاتے ہیں تقریبا پینتالیس منٹ بعد ایک گاڑی آکر رکی  اس سے کنڈیکٹر اترا اور پشاور صدر تک آواز لگائی ساتھ میں گاڑی میں بیٹھنے والوں کو کہہ دیا کہ کرایہ پندرہ روپے ہوگا  حالانکہ کرایہ دس روپے تھا  میں بھی سنی ان سنیکرتے ہوئے گاڑی میں بیٹھ گیا گاڑی روانہ ہوگئی اور کنڈیکٹر نے کرایہ مانگا میں نے جیب سے سو روپے نکال کردئیے اس نے بقایا 80 روپے مجھے دئیے میں نے اس سے پوچھا بھائی میرے دس روپے اور بھی دو کیونکہ ہشتنگری سے صدر تک کرایہ دس روپے ہے کنڈیکٹر نے جواب دیا کہ صاحب میںپانچروپے واپس کردیتا ہوں میں نے اسے کہا کہ دس روپے واپس دو  اس نے جواب دیا کہ  میں نے گاڑی میں بیٹھنے والے تمام مسافروں کو کہا تھا کہ کرایہ پندرہ روپے ہے  میں نے اس سے پوچھا کیوں یہ تمھارا فیصلہ ہے  اگر کرایہ نامہ ہے اور اس پر پندرہ لکھا ہے تو مجھ سے بیس روپے لو  لیکن اگر کرایہنامہ نہیں تو پھر مجھے دس روپے واپس کردو  کنڈیکٹر نے جواب دیا کہ بھائی میرے یہ گاڑی میری ہے اور آپ اپنے پیسے واپس لیکر اتر جائیں میں نے اسے جوابا کہا کہ گاڑی اگر تمھاری ذاتی ہے تو پھر مسافر وں کو کیوں اٹھا رہے ہوں اور سڑک جس پر تمھاری گاڑی چل رہی ہیں یہ میرے جیسے لوگوںکی ٹیکسوں کی کمائی لگی ہے اگر خان ہونگے تو اپنے لئے  مجھے تم اتار بھی نہیں سکتے  کرایہ مجھے پورا لو اور مجھے اپنے سٹاپ پر پہنچائو گے  اس پر کنڈیکٹرکو غصہ آیا لیکن مجھے کہنے لگا کہ خاموش ہو جائو  تم سے دس روپے لیتا ہوں لیکن دوسرے مسافروں کے سامنے بحث مت کرو کیونکہپھر یہ بھی نہیں دینگے  میں نے اسے کہا کہ غلط بات مت کرو مجھے اپنے پیسے واپس کرو اس نے بادل نخواستہ مجھے دس روپے واپس کردئیے اسی دوران گاڑی میں مسافر بیٹھے ہوئے تھے لیکن سب نے میرے بعد اسے پندرہ روپے دئیے اور وہ کنڈیکٹر مسافروں پر یہ احسان کرتا رہا کہ اس وقت گاڑی نہیںتھی اگر میں نے آتا تو آپ لوگ کھڑے رہتے  اس لئے میرا احسان مانو کہ میں پندرہ روپے میں تمھیں پہنچا رہا ہوں  یہ ایک چھوٹی سی مثال ہے جس سے اندازہ کیا جاسکتا ہے کہ ہمارے آگے پیچھے چھوٹے بڑے کس طرح دوسروں کی مجبوریوں سے فائدہ اٹھاتے ہیں اور ہم بے حس لوگوں کی طرح خاموشبیٹھے انہیں دیکھ رہے ہوتے ہیں کہ اگر میں نے کچھ کہہ دیا تو شائد مجھے کوئی نقصان ہو جائے ہم لوگ آواز نہیں اٹھاتے نہ ہی اپنا احتجاج ریکارڈ کرتے ہیں حالانکہ ہمیں پتہ ہوتا ہے کہ ہمارے ساتھ زیادتی ہورہی ہیں لیکن صرف اپنی بے عزتی  چھوٹے سے نقصان  ڈر اور خوف کی وجہ سے خاموش رہتےہیں اور یہی وہ چیز ہے جس کا فائدہ ان کنڈیکٹر جیسے بے حس بے غیرت لوگ اٹھاتے ہیں اور شریف لوگ کڑھتے ہی رہتے ہیں کہ شائد ہماری آواز سے کچھ نہ ہو اور یہی ہماری سب سے بڑی غلطی ہوتی ہے-

اب اسی چیز کو آپ بڑے کینوس پر دیکھ لیں کیا یہ ملک کل کے چور وں اور آج کے ڈاکوئوں کیلئے بنا ہے جو جمہوریت کی راگ الاپ رہے ہیں ملک میں جمہوریت کی مضبوطی جیسے نعرے بلند کرکے اس قوم کو بے وقوف بنا رہے ہیں ایک دوسرے کو باری آنے پر حکومت دینے والے میڈیا اور اپنے چندخوشامدی صحافیوں کو استعمال کرکے پوری قوم کا استحصال کررہے ہیں لیکن اس ملک سے کوئی آواز ہی نہیں اٹھ رہی ہر شخص یہی سوچ کر خاموش بیٹھ جاتا ہے کہ میرے آواز بلند کرنے سے کچھ نہیں ہوگا کیا یہ ملک مخصوص خاندانوں اور ان کے بچوں کیلئے کھیلنے کا میدان ہے کہ جب ان کا دل چاہاسیاست کے میدان میں آئے ایک دوسرے کے خلاف آواز بلند کی اور ہم جیسے بے وقوف صحافی ان کی آواز بن گئے اور پوری قوم کو چور اور ڈاکوئوں کے پیچھے لگا دیا اور آوے اور جاوے کے نعرے لگنے شروع ہوگئے-آوے جاوے کی سیاست کرنے والے اور بھاری مینڈیٹ لیکر آنیوالوں کا یہ حال ہےکہ دو ماہ میں بجلی کی قیمتیں کہاں سے کہاں تک پہنچا دی ہیں کل تک عزت غیرت کے دکانداری کرنے والے آج قرضے مانگ کر اس قوم کو بیڑہ غرق کرنے پر تلے ہوئے ہیں سابق حکمرانوں کو اس صورتحال کا ذمہ دار ٹھہرا کر اب حالات بہتر کرنے کے دعوے کئے جارہے ہیں اب کوئی یہ نہیں پوچھتا کہپانچ سال تک تو آپ ہی ان کے اپوزیشن لیڈر بنے ہوئے تھے اور انکو سپورٹ کررہے تھے خوشامدی چمچوں اور مخصوص صحافیوں کی مدد سے اپنا کام نکالنے والے یہ لیڈر قوم کو بتانا پسند کرینگے کہ آخر کیا وجہ ہے کہ جب بھی بیرون ملک دورہ ہوتا ہے اپنے خاندان کے بچوں کو سرکاری خرچ پر دورےکیوں کرواتے ہیں کیا عوام کا ٹیکس ان کی اور ان کے خاندان کی عیاشیوں کیلئے ہے کہ جب چاہا بیرون ملک دورے پر نکل گئے اور بعد میں ایجنڈا طے کردیاکہ ہم نے یہ کرنا اور یہ کردیا –

رون حملے کررہے ہیں اس سے قبل بھی یہی ڈرامہ جاری تھا اور یہ ڈرامہ اب بھی جاری ہے ہاں کل اگر آپ چوروں کیساتھ ملے ہوئے تھے تووہ چور آجڈاکوئوں کاساتھ د ے رہے ہیں خارجہ اور دفاع کے وزارت رکھنے والے حکمرانوں کا یہ حال ہے کہ انہیں امریکی سفیر رچرڈ اولسن نے ائیرپورٹ پر ریسیو کیا کوئی اعلی عہدیدار انہیں ریسیو کرنے ہی نہیں یا نہ ہی سٹیٹ گیسٹ کے طور پر انہیں بلایا گیا تھا اسی وجہ سے ہوٹل میں رہائش اختیار کی جس کیادائیگی بھی پاکستان کے بھوکے  ننگے عوام ہی کرینگے انہی کیساتھ مشیر کے طور پر کام کرنے والے ایک صاحب نے کچھ دن قبل بیان دیا تھا کہ امریکہ بہادرپاکستانی حکمرانوں سے افغانستان سے نکلنے کے بعد تعاون سمیت غداری کے الزام میں گرفتار ہونیوالے ڈاکٹر شکیل کی رہائی چاہتے ہیں جس کامطالبہ بھی کیا گیا لیکن یہ بات چھپا لی گئی اور صحافیوں کے سوال کرنے پر اس پر گول مول جواب دیدیا گیاپہلے سب کچھ غلط تھا اور اب ٹھیک کرنے جارہے کے نام پر کونسل آف یورپ کنونشن کے معاہدے کرنے والے حکمران کیا یہ بتانا پسند کرینگے کہ کیا یہ غداروں کو نکالنے کیلئے راستہ فراہم کرنانہیں ہے-باتیں تو بہت ساری ہیں لیکن کیا یہ آواز بلند کرنا صرف صحافیوں کا کام ہے کیا اس ملک کے عوام شعور نہیں رکھتے جو آئی ایم ایف کے غلام حکمرانوں سے یہ سوال کرے کہ آخر انہیں کس چیز کی سزا دی جارہی ہیں اور یہ حکمران کب تک عوام کیساتھ جھوٹ بولتے رہیں گے – سو موجودہ حالاتمیںیہ اس ملک کے ہر شہری کا فرض ہے کہ اپنی آواز بلند کریں سوال کریں کب تک خاموش رہینگے صرف اس طرح کے پیغامات موبائل فون پر ایک دوسرے کو بھیجنے سے سے کچھ نہیں چلے گا کہ شیر کتے سے زیادہ کھاتا ہے –

 
 

— 

Musarrat Ullah Jan
Blogger , Photo Journalist , Columnist

 سرکار کے کھاتے میں امریکہ یاترا کرنے والے حکمرانوں سے کوئی یہ پوچھے کہ ڈو مور کا مطالبہ کرنے والے امریکی کیسے آپ کی مرضی کے بغیر ڈ

 
 

 

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Understanding Pakistani Mistrust of the United States

Over the years, U.S. bashing has become a national pastime in Pakistan. This trend is dominant almost everywhere, ranging from drawing room discussions to media talk shows, and in recent months has assumed alarming proportions due to host of events such as Afia Siddique verdict, Raymond Davis’s capture and subsequent release, incessant drone attacks and above all, the recent killing of Osama bin Laden.

Although it would be an exaggeration to say that everyone in Pakistan mistrusts and hates the U.S., a substantial majority does. Several surveys have revealed that majority of Pakistanis consider USA as an enemy rather than a friend. In fact Al-Jazeera-Gallup Pakistan Survey 2009 revealed that 59% identified the U.S. as the greatest threat to Pakistan. Even India, the arch rival was considered as the greatest threat by only 18% of the respondents. And Taliban, despite blowing off thousands of people, were considered as the biggest threat by only 11%.

Likewise, drone attacks, which are designed to efficiently kill militants while minimizing the collateral damage, evoke far more condemnation from the public than brutal and indiscriminate suicide attacks carried out by the Taliban. It is baffling that majority of Pakistanis feel aggrieved over drone attacks because they consider it a violation of sovereignty despite the fact that the tribal areas targeted by the drones are largely lawless with no effective writ of the state. In essence, so called violation of the sovereignty becomes a meaningless accusation because the writ of the state as well as its monopoly over physical violence, which underpin the entire concept of sovereignty, are simply absent from the tribal areas.

What makes this mistrust and hatred somewhat of an anomaly is the fact that throughout its history Pakistan has received humungous amount of USA economic aid as well as assistance of various types. In fact, Pakistan has registered its highest growth rates during times when it was also the recipient of uninterrupted US aid. It is incomprehensible how Pakistanis keep censuring the US for all of their problems, yet continuing to receive economic and military assistance which is vital for their survival.

Why do Pakistanis hate a country that has helped Pakistan so much? Explanations abound, including an oft-repeated one that Pakistanis, and for that matter a substantial chunk of the Muslim world, are envious of the lifestyle of and economic progress made by the U.S. But this begs another question: why the U.S. is being especially singled out when economic prosperity and liberal lifestyles are prevalent in many other countries.

In my opinion Pakistanis’ irrational hatred of the U.S. emanates from complex interplay between the way the state has cultivated the Pakistani brand of civic nationalism, exaggerated self importance, which a majority of Pakistanis feel, and the U.S. role in the international events particularly those involving the Muslim world. And overarching these reasons is the deep mistrust of the U.S., which makes it impossible for the Pakistanis to believe that U.S. may actually be carrying any noble intentions for Pakistan.

Since independence, the state in Pakistan has tried to cultivate civic nationalism through fusion of Islam and “Honour” centered patriotism. The central purpose of infusion of religion with state has been to use it as a unifying force. Let’s not forget that Pakistan is a home to various ethnicities that have a strong penchant for greater autonomy. To prevent the emergence of any ethnic based secession movement, the state has tried to unite diverse ethnicities through the promotion of the common factor of religion. While this approach has failed to check ethnic strife, it has nevertheless nurtured a mindset that is very conscious of its Islamic identity and consequently feels aggrieved when anything happens to the Muslims around the world. Even purely regional disputes of Muslims with non-Muslims have a potential of creating a strong reaction in Pakistan. In the case of the U.S., its support to Israel has created a very strong resentment in Pakistan and even huge U.S. assistance to the country has not been able to ameliorate the situation. Pakistan, like most of the Arab world, yet despite being a non-Arab country, is held hostage by the Palestine issue. Whereas Arab resentment can still be somewhat understood due to its regional context, Pakistan’s ferocity apparently defies logic. Due to this particular way of perceiving things, Israeli attacks in Gaza give rise to far more anger against the U.S. than against Taliban atrocities committed within Pakistan.

Another issue is that as a nation, Pakistanis needs some citable evidence of their country’s importance in the international arena. Unfortunately, since economic success has largely eluded Pakistan, things like “strategic location” and nuclear arsenal become the “symbols” of national pride and importance. Due to this exaggerated feeling of self importance as well as interpretation of the U.S. as an-anti Muslim country, a majority of Pakistanis actually believe that the U.S. is fearful of the nuclear arsenal and is waiting for an excuse to purge it. In fact everything, from war in Afghanistan to suicide blasts on the Pakistani soil, is interpreted as U.S. conspiracy to create “conducive” environment for purging nuclear arsenal. Conspiracy theorists argue that the U.S. has “bought” Taliban and is using them to destabilize Pakistan with the eventual aim of taking hold of the nuclear arsenal. Unfortunately, the U.S. invasion of Iraq on flimsy grounds has merely exacerbated the situation, providing the conspiracy theorists irrefutable “evidence” of US hegemony. They argue that if the U.S. can invade a country that did not possess weapons of mass destruction then to assume that it would leave a nuclear armed Muslim country alone is sheer naivety. This belief is so pervasive that immediately after the recent attack on the navy compound in Karachi, some of the media persons were openly alleging that USA was behind the attack and the sole purpose was to create doubts about the capability of the armed forces to defend the nuclear assets in case of a terrorist attack. Nuclear Arsenal, more than anything else, is the main driver of the conspiracy theory industry in Pakistan. And this conspiracy theory mindset is deeply suspicious of everything the U.S. does. The Pakistani media has been responsible for aggravating the situation more than anyone else. Its hard earned independence has unfortunately come at the time where it has actually become jingoistic. Consequently rather than playing any meaningful progressive role, it is merely reinforcing rabid anti Americanism in order to commercially capitalize on the existing hatred. Opinions are not changed or even challenged, just reinforced and strengthened.

To some extent the suspicion ridden environment has also worsened due to the negative perception about the dealing tactics of USA with Pakistan. The impression of the majority of the Pakistanis is that U.S. does not consider it more than a client state. Instead of engaging with the people of Pakistan, US strikes deals with shady characters in the establishment and political top tier. Most of the Pakistanis feel that the case for war on terror has never been convincingly presented to them. The irony is that the elements which are striking deals with the U.S. are also highly critical of it, when it comes to public posturing. This kind of double behavior merely aggravates the negative impression of the U.S. in the eyes of masses. Apart from behind the door deals, another perception is that U.S. often bullies Pakistan and cares little for what the people of Pakistan feel. The recent issue of Raymond Davis merely worsened USA’s repute in the eyes of ordinary Pakistanis who construed the release of Raymond as an affront and open coercion by the superpower.

Despite the mistrust, the fact is that both countries need each other as they are fighting a common enemy. The U.S. cannot and should not leave Pakistan completely in isolation even after withdrawal from Afghanistan as to do so would be a repeat of the grave mistake it made in late 1980s when after the defeat of Soviet Union it simply packed up from the region. However, the prevailing deep mistrust has to be removed and both the parties need to take concrete steps. Pakistani media has to exercise maturity and try to cultivate rational self interest instead of indulging in rightwing hollow sloganeering about so called national honor and violation of sovereignty. Media needs to understand that freedom of expression comes with a responsibility that it would not be used for cheap sensationalizing and petty commercial interests. Pakistanis need to be convinced that due to their irrational and delusional mindset, they are getting completely isolated in the world while at the same time strengthening forces of extremism. They need to understand that USA and Pakistan are facing a common enemy and Media can potentially play a constructive role by at least allowing space to liberal opinion. At present the media is overwhelmingly dominated by the right wingers.

The U.S. has to engage with the people of Pakistan and dispel this impression that it is just a bullying coalition partner. It has to highlight its contributions to the country of Pakistan and those are many. Above all, it needs to strengthen democracy in Pakistan and should completely discard the previous policy of dealing with the unelected institutions.

 
 Additional Reading

FT Article: Distrust runs deep between Pakistan and US

By Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad and James Lamont in New Delhi

Reference

 

Shops burn following a deadly car bombing at a market in Peshawar©AFP

Inferno: shops burn following a deadly car bombing at a market in Peshawar

As the death toll steadily rose on Wednesday from a powerful car bomb in Peshawar, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, stood up grimly in Islamabad to appeal for Pakistanis to overcome the misperceptions and stereotypes they had of the US.

Misperceptions carry the weight of fact in Pakistan; nowhere more so than where the US, and arch-rival India, are concerned.

Before the latest wave of terror attacks that have swept Pakistan’s big cities, rumours swirled in the capital about the US’s imperial ambitions for Pakistan.

A large contingent of US marines was imagined to be stationed at the embassy compound. Likewise, hundreds of houses were supposedly rented in the city to house staff of Blackwater, a private military company.

 

These fictions unnerved embassy staff, all too familiar with the incendiary nature of the society around them. They feared a possible repeat of the 1979 storming of the embassy. Then, an inaccurate radio report blaming the US for bombing the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca stirred students to burn the embassy down. Yet the attack on the mosque was the work of someone closer to home: a Saudi Arabian zealot.

Thirty years later, such grand misunderstandings still play themselves out on the streets of Pakistan. The brutal killings meted out by Taliban militants on Pakistan’s people are somehow either the US’s fault, or the handiwork of India.

Afghan map

Distrust between Islamabad and Washington runs deep, in spite of an embrace that spans decades when Pakistan was seen as a strategic counterweight to Moscow-leaning New Delhi and Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. Times have changed and more development assistance is on offer. Yet perceptions of the US have worsened. On the streets, Pakistanis are openly defiant towards the US. In the highest offices in government, officials are similarly resentful. They complain that the US has treated Pakistan as a “hired gun” to fight the Soviets and more recently al-Qaeda militants responsible for the 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington.

Mrs Clinton’s visit offers a chance for the top US diplomat to present Washington’s case for a long-term relationship with a country where anti-US sentiment is fervent. “I want you to know that this fight is not Pakistan’s alone,” she said in remarks aimed at Pakistani sceptics. “So this is our struggle as well and we commend the Pakistani military for their courageous fight and we commit to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistani people in your fight for peace and security.”

Mrs Clinton’s formidable task is to convince Pakistan’s leadership of Barack Obama’s determination to turn a page. Her visit comes amid controversy in Pakistan over the passage of a bill to triple US help to the country to $1.5bn a year. It also comes in the face of a widespread militant assault.

“The US in the past has only preferred to do business with people who suited its own interests. The interests of Pakistanis have never been considered,” said Ghaus Khan, an Islamabad student, on Wednesday, echoing wider public views.

General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, the Pakistan army’s chief, in a rare public criticism, cited “serious concern” over the Kerry-Lugar bill which was viewed as intrusive in areas including military promotions and Pakistan’s nuclear program.

Mrs Clinton has tried to emphasise development goals over military ones. On Wednesday, she offered US help to modernise Pakistan’s electricity infrastructure. Little investment went into power during Mr Musharraf’s time in office and now cities are blighted with outages.

“What do people in Pakistan want? Good jobs, good healthcare, good education for our children, energy that is predictable and reliable – the kinds of everyday needs that are really at the core of what Americans want,” she said.

That question is on the minds of many Pakistanis too. Instead of jobs, schools and hospitals they have escalating terror attacks.

“The people of Pakistan will be convinced of good American intentions when we see them in real life,” Mr Khan said. “There is a long history of bad American behaviour towards our people.”

 
 

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An Open Letter to the PM Pakistan

An Open Letter to the PM Pakistan
 
Pakistan sets sights on drones

H’onble Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab,

 
Salaam.
 
Regarding drone issue, I don’t think this fact may have been brought to your kind notice that drones are just machines; and if we shoot them, no US loss of life will entail.
 
Now, there is a question that why Pakistan must shoot down the US drones? The answer lies in the fact that its not ONLY a matter of violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. If today, the US is attacking our tribal areas,tomorrow who can stop them targeting areas in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore? And then the  US can easily say “sorry it was a computer malfunction, caused by a cyber attack from Iran or China”.
 
As I have already informed you in one of my earlier emails, the biggest crime of Pervaiz Musharraf was not the toppling of your elected government. Rather, his biggest crime was to remove the fear of a nuclear power country from the hearts of its enemies. And that was the SPECIFIC reason, Americans knew in advance, before launching a full fledged bombardment on Salala post, resulting in killings of about 28 Pak Army officers and Jawans and injuring many others, that this was a gutless, pseudo and impotent nuclear power, with which they can do any offensive, without any HARD retaliation.
 
This fact is proved with the Americans refusal to apologise on their aggression. We must also never forget that this was not only an attack on Pakistan, but also a gift to India, EXACTLY on 26/11, for satisfying Indian’s ego on the anniversary of Mumbai attack. Americans call Pakistan a major non-NATO ally, but the fact is that in Asia, after Israel, no country is closer friend of America, than India.
 
Further, can anyone imagine the sorry image of a nuclear power, that a country like Afghanistan, which doesn’t even possesses regular armed forces, attacks Pakistani forces, at will; and beheads our soldiers in large numbers. All these HIGHLY aggressive and provocative acts against our country, have proven to our enemies that Pakistan either doesn’t have any threshold, or if at all there is any red line, its absolutely NOT visible to our enemies.
 
This is a very dangerous situation which constantly invites aggression against Pakistan. THIS IS ALSO AN OPEN INVITATION TO SNATCH AND GRAB OUR NUCLEAR ASSETS (WHENEVER THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY) WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF NUCLEAR OR CONVENTIONAL RETALIATION FROM PAKISTAN, ON THEIR ASSETS IN THE REGION. THE MAXIMUM THEY WILL EXPECT IS A LOCALISED RESISTANCE FROM PAKISTAN, WHICH IS ALWAYS FEARFUL ABOUT A FULL FLEDGED ATTACK AND CHOCKING OF ITS ECONOMIC LIFE LINE. But the recent OPEN NUCLEAR threat from North Korea, to attack America, is a classical case study, which proves that US can ill afford a nuclear attack. It will not be out of place to mention here that India, after testing 5000 KM range missiles, is now almost ready for the test of 10,000 KM range missiles. Which means for all the practical purposes, America will be, within the range of Indian nuclear attack.
 
In today’s world, nuclear weapons are NOT FOR — — USE; and are just acquired as a deterrence and to push the country’s interests, among the comity of nations.
 
Manufacturing the nuclear weapons are very expensive, but maintaining and securing the nuclear weapons are even more costly. We have to derive the CBR (cost benefit ratio) of manufacturing and maintaining the nuclear arsenals of Pakistan, knowing very well that these nuclear weapons are NOT for use, but are there to diffuse, the ill intentions of the Pakistan’s adversaries. And this BASIC purpose of acquiring nuclear weapons by Pakistan, has been ALMOST diluted, by the sell off, of the nation by Pervaiz Musharraf, which has prompted our adversaries to embark upon their plans of BALKANISATION of Pakistan, by various overt and covert means. Even today (9 June, 2013) there was a news item Published in the daily “The News” page #2 under the heading “US, UK support for Baloch leaders Shocks Pakistan, allies at UN”. This proves my stance that our nuclear status and stature = zero as far as, our influence is concerned, to steer Pakistan’s foreign policy and its image. And don’t forget we are a major non-NATO ally of the 49 nations NATO alliance, fighting US imposed WOT (war on terror) in Afghanistan; and our losses in men and material are minimum 10 times higher than the combined losses of the 49 countries.
 
On the other hand, the impact of North Korea’s nuclear image can be easily gauged with another news item published on 9 June, 2013, by the daily “The News” on page #24 under the tittle “UN food body approves $200m food aid to N Korea”.
 
So, coming back to the main issue, we should not forget that even non nuclear nations have been preserving their integrity and sovereignty in the face of blatant aggression from the US. The examples of Cuba and Iran are standing tall against American aggression, which also clearly proves that “one can’t be insulted more than he permits” or in other words “our respect is in our own hands”. Here, we must not forget that after Iran brought down US drone violating its air space, it refused to hand over the (intact) plane, despite severe pleadings from the US government. However, in our case it was reported in the press that our previous government, handed back the tail of the crashed US helicopter to America, which invaded Pakistan’s city of Abbotabad.
 
As such, Mr. Prime Minister, your number 1 job is to restore the image and reputation of a nuclear Pakistan. And luckily, the importance of Pakistan has gone so high (at least till the end of the year 2014) that you need not at all, embark upon war with any nation; only correct posturing with unmistakeable intentions, known VERY clearly to all and sundry, will deliver your objectives.
 
Last but not the least, a great statesman is not the person who wages the war and wins it. The greatest statesman is he, who achieves his objectives without waging a war. In this regard, Allah has ordained in the holy Quran, the art of statecraft, by telling the Muslims to keep your horses READY and FIGHTING FIT, and to your enemies, your 20 horses will look 200.

Best Wishes and Highest Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore

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PTT Archive: Imran Khan Condemns Drone Attacks

imran-khan-r670

Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chief Imran Khan. – File Photo by Reuters

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, strongly condemning United States drone strike in North Waziristan which killed 24 people, said on Saturday latest drone attack speaks volumes about so-called close working partnership between Pakistan and the US in ongoing war.

The PTI chief said rulers reopened Nato supply routes against strong sentiments of people and bypassed parliamentary resolutions to appease the US which reciprocated by continuous drone strikes, last of which killed 24 people on Friday.

hose killed in these strikes.

Khan demanded that government should disclose identification details of causalities so that “we know how many women children and ordinary civilians have been killed.”

He asked will any other nation allow indiscriminate killing of its citizens? The fact that their identities are not disclosed casts serious doubts on claims that those killed in strikes were militants, he added.

Khan said the government is equally responsible in indiscriminate elimination of its citizens as it has consciously avoided disclosing identification details of those killed in American drone strikes.

“Our rulers are blindly supporting US claims of high precision drone strikes and minimum collateral damage when they are actually aware of details of civilian casualties in tribal areas,” he He said continuing drone assaults were in clear violation of international humanitarian laws. There is complete media censorship in tribal areas and resultantly no way to ascertain identities of tadded.

Rejecting the claims that these strikes are primarily carried out against foreign militants, he said statistics from independent organisations suggest that both US and Pakistan government are grossly under reporting civilian casualties. Accounts of local, western journalists suggest large number of civilians killed in these strikes.

The PTI chief said the government avoided commenting on stopping unilateral drone strikes that was one of most critical parliamentary preconditions before reopening Nato supply routes.

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Dealing Remote-Control Drone Death, the US Has Lost Its Moral Compass

Published on Saturday, May 4, 2013 by The Guardian/UK

Dealing Remote-Control Drone Death, the US Has Lost Its Moral Compass

Anti-drone protesters hold signs before the start of the Senate intelligence committee hearing on the nomination of John Brennan as CIA director. (Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA)The armed drone is being heralded as the next generation of American military technology. It can fly overheard with its unblinking eye, almost invisible to its targets below. Without warning, its missiles will strike, bringing certain death and destruction on the ground. All the while, the military pilot, sitting in a cushioned recliner in an air-conditioned room halfway across the world, is immune from the violence wrought from his or her single keystroke.

While the debate about drones in this country swirls around the precision of the weapon, the sometimes faulty intelligence behind its unleashing of a missile, the ability to keep American boots off the ground, or the legality of the strikes, few take into consideration the morality of the weapon and the damaging effects of its use on both the people targeted and the individuals operating it. The ripples of the drone strikes are felt far beyond those killed or wounded in the actual strike.

Americans are just now becoming dimly aware of the problems and dangerous precedents being set for the future.

The drone is destabilizing the small tribal communities of the Pukhtun, Somali, and Yemeni with their ancient codes of honor, making it difficult to implement any long-term peace initiatives in the volatile regions already being pounded by their own militaries. Too many stories have filtered into the media of innocent men, women, and children being killed.

People have fled their families and their homes due to the constant violence and are forced to live as destitute and vulnerable refugees in the slums of larger cities. They are lost without the protection of clan and code. The drone is also feeding into a growing anti-Americanism, becoming a deadly symbol of the United States, and fueling the recruitment of future terrorists.

At one stroke, the drone has destroyed any positive image of the United States in the countries over which it operates. It has contributed to the destruction of the tribal codes of honor, such as Pukhtunwali among the Pukhtun tribes of Afghanistan and Pakistan. And this immorality and destructive nature reflects back on those who use it, harming the warrior ethic of the American military so critical to battlefield bonding among soldiers in combat.

The warrior ethos may be largely a myth but, like most myths, it protects something very important: the psychology of killing in the name of the state. That killing becomes nothing less than murder when the soldier doing it is utterly invulnerable. Most US citizens, so long divorced from any responsibility to take up arms and fight and kill, do not understand this. Soldiers – good ones – do. Such understanding was behind the recent cancellation by Secretary of Defense Hagel of the valor award for drone operators.

Moreover, remote-controlled killing is a dishonorable way of fighting battle, not simply because it often results in the deaths of women and children and removes the combatants from face-to-face combat. It is making war more like a video game and giving technicians the dissociated power of life and death for the figures on the screen before them. It is making war into murder.

After over a decade mired in a seemingly endless war against a methodology as old as time, it is clear that the extension of military force is increasingly counterproductive.

However precise the weapon, this is the reality and the price on the ground, destroying the codes so vital to both parties involved – those who are targets and the people who see them die and the operators at their computer terminals. The use of the drone is creating more problems than it is solving.

Americans are just now becoming dimly aware of the problems and dangerous precedents being set for the future. We have read reports of drones the size of a mosquito, police gaining possession of potentially armed domestic drones, and violations of the laws of privacy in the United States. These are apart from the fact that many foreign powers, many of which are hostile to us, will soon have broad access to drone technology without any mechanisms or international agreements to regulate its use.

Washington has plunged blindly ahead, neglecting law – both domestic and international – protocol, and ethical codes. We find it distressing that the debate on the drone, which has now picked up in the United States, remains so narrow – with none of these points being raised except in esoteric circles. The debate has been enmeshed in the emotional responses to the war on terror: if you like the drone, you are pro-American; if you don’t, you are anti-American. It has, unfortunately, become a definition of patriotism despite its destructive nature on both sides.

After over a decade mired in a seemingly endless war against a methodology as old as time, it is clear that the extension of military force is increasingly counterproductive. The United States needs to pursue political, economic, diplomatic, and law enforcement solutions.

Instead of sending missiles and funding military operations that destroy societies, the US and its allied central governments should be funding education projects and development schemes and promoting honest and just civil administration. In this effort, we all should be guided by the Jewish shibboleth tikkun olam, to go out and “heal a fractured world”.

© 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited
Lawrence Wilkerson

Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson is distinguished adjunct professor of government and public policy at the College of William and Mary. Previously, during a 31-year career in the US army, served as chief of staff to US Secretary of State Colin Powel

Akbar Ahmed

Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun chair of Islamic studies at American Univerity in Washington, DC. He has also taught at Princeton, Harvard, and Cambridge Universities. Formerly, he was the Pakistan High Commissioner (ambassador) to the UK and Ireland. His most recent book is Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization (2011).

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