Pakistan in the grip of Terrorism

Those who play with fire end up putting their own house on fire. Pakistan is learning this hard way. having cultivated talibans for a long time now Pakistani leaders do not know how to tackle them from captuirng Part of their own country. The article below published in Dawn newspaper of Pakistan gives more details.
Desperate moves on to secure Swat — the lost valley
By Ismail Khan
SWAT, known for its green meadows, gushing river and snow-capped mountains, has unfortunately come to relive its historic name, Suvastu — the white serpent — whose tenacity and viciousness has stung the political and military leadership so badly that both are now looking for new ways to put a lid on the monster of growing bloodshed and reclaim its fast-shrinking territory.
The idyllic valley has gone really bad, its image distorted beyond recognition. Pakistan’s most popular tourist destination is now haunted by death and fear; few officials now dare to go and serve there. Nearly 800 policemen — half of the total sanctioned strength of police in Swat, have either deserted or proceeded on long leave on one pretext or the other. Only one of the 600 police recruits trained by the military at the Punjab Regimental Centre in Mardan, volunteered to
go and serve, while the others plainly refused to head to what is now being called the ‘valley of death’.
The second phase of the military operation Rah-i-Haq in July last to regain control of the northern district of the North-
West Frontier Province appears to have made little headway.
Many analysts agree that the state writ has shrunk from Swat’s 5337square kilometre area to the limits of its regional
headquarters of Mingora — a city of 36 square kilometres. Indeed, local residents say militants routinely carry out patrolling in Mingora, where its central square, the Green Chowk, came to be known as ‘Chowk Zebahkhana’ or the slaughter square. Just last month, militants dumped 27 bodies with a warning not to remove the corpses before 11 am. This coupled with sniper attacks forced the traffic cops to refuse duty in the city centre, prompting the military to impose a night curfew in the city, whose population has swelled in recent months for relative security.
Targeted killings have increased and those showing defiance were made examples for others. Pir Samiullah, who had taken on the militants, was killed and his body hung from a pole before it was removed and buried. Pir’s death and the government’s inability and helplessness to respond in real-time and support him, is perhaps the last nail in the coffin. Officials acknowledge that encouraging and organizing popular support against the militants now is a pipe dream.
Civilian deaths Contributing further to the already grim scenario is the growing negative public perception of the military operation that they say has killed more civilians than militants.
This public perception has been reinforced by rising civilian casualties, shrinking state authority, militants’ ability to strike anywhere and any time and military’s over-reliance on long-range artillery than putting boots on the ground. No credible data is available to estimate the number of civilian casualties in the sevenmonth-old operation due to police absence in most militant-controlled areas and therefore, the resultant lack of reporting. But police officials say the
figure ran in hundreds. The damage caused to property and infrastructure since the emergence of militancy in Swat has been evaluated at Rs3 billion, according to a senior government official, as militants blow up bridges and schools. The number of schools blown up or torched now stands at 181 – the highest perhaps in any insurgency anywhere in the world in an area as small as Swat.
The battle for the airwaves in Swat has taken a new turn. Radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah is back on the air but even his radio has proved to be too weak against his lieutenant Shah Doran whose broadcastes are heard far and wide, thanks to a 500 KV transmitter to defeat government’s efforts to jam his sermons. The government now plans to overcome the problem by setting up a one megawatt transmitter that, it believes, would effectively silence the militant radio propaganda. With state authority on the wane in Swat, relationship between the political and military leadership also took a sharp plunge.
Frustration is mounting within the ANP. On December 18, at a parliamentary party meeting at the chief minister’s house, seven of its lawmakers from Swat threatened to resign. “They were very depressed,” said a senior party leader present in the meeting. Predictably, the issue came up again for discussion at a cabinet meeting the following day, followed by public criticism by Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain that the government was “not satisfied with the military operation”. Not a child’s play An interview to a private television channel by senior party leader Hashim Babar accusing the security establishment of fomenting militancy, rubbed more salt into the wounds, sources within the ANP and security establishment acknowledge.
“The military was not happy,” a party official admitted. The ANP MPA from Swat, Mr Ayub Ashari, was called and given a piece of mind, as one official put it: “We have lost 142 men in Swat since July last. This is not child’s play. This is no friendly match,” a visibly angry security official said.
The ANP leaders defend their public statements and one of whom said: “When you see that the operation is not effective and is going on and on, causing more collateral damage, then how can you remain indifferent?” “The militants have taken over Fata and now they want to take over the province. It’s clear. So should we remain silent and play second fiddle?” he asked. “We have been constrained to re-think our support to the military operation,” he said.
Security officials say that the political leadership at the helm was also to blame for failing to put in place a civil administration that responds to public needs and generate public support.
“We should have had the back-up support from the police and the civil administration which is not there. This has put us on the back foot,” the security official said.
“It’s a tough area and when you operate in an area where you don’t know who the enemy is and who your friends are, it makes things a lot more difficult,” he said.
But before things could reach breaking point, Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani intervened. On December 25, in a meeting with the army chief, the political leadership agreed to overcome its differences with the military high command and devise a new strategy.
Shariah law But that may leave another issue unaddressed. Both sides are piqued that the federal government was also dragging its feet on the amendments proposed in the so-called Shariah regulation promulgated in 1999. The amendments, part of the May 2008 agreement with the militants in Swat, say the ANP leaders are central to helping restore peace in Malakand ProvinciallyAdministered Tribal Area, of which Swat is a district. President Asif Zardari returned the summary containing the proposed amendments with observations.
“Being head of a secular liberal party, he is worried that introducing Shariah in Malakand would harm his international image,” they said. “What we are trying to do is to convince him that we are not enacting a new law. These are amendments to a law that already exists,” explained the senior ANP leader.
The new strategy, however, has already been put in motion. While the NWFP government awaits Mr Zardari’s approval to the amendments, it is working on a public statement that would commit the government to introduce Islamic judicial system in Malakand. The statement – a suggestion by octogenarian Sufi Muhammad – is still in the works and does not include a timeframe. In return, the head of the banned Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-iMuhammadi, has offered to leave his protest camp at Timergarah in native Dir and go to Swat to convince the militants to lay down their arms.
“I am an old man. I know I may be killed in the process but it’s worth the sacrifice,” a source privy to behind-the-scene negotiations quoted him as saying.
The security official concurred. “Whether the government introduces the amendments or issues a public statement, it would deny the militants the moral high ground of fighting for Shariah.” Simultaneously, the government is also working, albeit quietly, to incorporate some of Sufi Muhammad’s suggestions in the proposed amendments to make it more acceptable to him and strengthen his hands vis-à-vis the militants.
New strategy The military, meanwhile, has begun to implement the new strategy since last week which, it says, would focus more on consolidating and securing the main supply routes and urban and rural centres “by putting more boots on the ground.” Presently, it has four brigades in Swat including one from Rawalpindi overseen by a GOC (General Officer Commanding). “We have made some adjustments and we should be okay with it,” the official said. To begin with, the military is gearing up to secure Mingora and its outer-parameters. For its part, the government has agreed to depute three MPAs from Swat to set up a secured camp office in Mingora to
touch base with their electorate and garner the essential public support.
But analysts say that while there has to be a more concerted and focussed military operation to overcome the militancy, the government too needs to devise a back-up socio-economic development plan to put in place once an area is cleared and returned to the civil administration.
“This is a fight to defend a state system. There is growing cynicism amongst the people in Swat whose feeling of helplessness has been compounded by the state to provide security and social service delivery. This is where we all have to act, the sooner the better. The blame-game is not going to take us anywhere,” a senior official said.

There are Talibans everywhere

I was reading an article from Pakistan about anti-fundo sentiments prevalent in Pakistan. Common man there is as much loathful of fundamentalists as anywhere else. No one likes to be dictated as to what is right to do and what not at gun point. The view is same everywhere that these guys want to remove any trace of enjoyment from people's life.

But then I realised how much these Talibans resemble similar groups with different names. When some group which includes government decides as to what languages I should study in school and college, in what language business establishments should put their signboards, whether or not I can give gift on Valentine day and so on, what is the difference. Impose your own thinking by force and intimidation on larger masses. In a government office I can get forms only in one language. Imagine in Tamilnadu I get government forms only in Tamil, in Maharashtra only in Marathi and in Gujarat only in Gujarati. If I want to live or do business there I should know local language or get out.

That also brings me to micro level where my loyalty should be. Other day I was with some one whose cell phone rang and promptly he replied "Jai Maharashtra" instead of hello. Nothing wrong. But then I thought can I be broad minded and say "Jai Hind" or go further and say "Jai World" or go down and say " Jai Versova", " Jai Borivali" etc. Why loyality is to be predetermined by a group of people with their own agenda.

That brings me back to my question why there are Talibans everywhere?

Do Not Exploit Emotions

Recent political tamasha by Shiv Sena and like minded parties of attacking and warning advocates who show any inclination to represent Ajmal Amir Kasab is disgusting and shows a utter lack of responsibility and total lack of intelligence on the part of such elements. They fail to understand that a responsible Nation is not run by Mob but by responsible people within constitutional guide lines. Firstly they wrongly presume that representing an accused amounts to defending him by hook or crook. secondly they fail to understand the role of an advocate in our legal system An advocate is treated as a friend of the court in our legal system. He is not supposed to bend the truth and present false argument for defending his client, but to present facts. So A lawyer provided to Kasab will only help him to the extent of filing his replies to court. Yes if any false or legally unacceptable evidences are presented by prosecution in their enthusiasm , the same shall be pointed out by such lawyer. After all when there are ample evidences and eye-witnesses are available , no Lawyer can persuade a judge to set him free. But A defence lawyer will along with public prosecutor will help to put the facts in right perspective without being swayed by emotions to arrive at the right judgement. No one should feel jittery that a defense lawyer is going to help Kasab going scot-free. This shows a lack of understanding and faith in capability of investigation agencies and our legal system. So Shiv Sena is just exposing itself again that it only believes in rule of Mob and not the rule of Law. They are trying to present a very wrong image of India before the world.

Interaction of Police with Media

I was reading an article in Hindustan Times by Anees Jillani who is a lawyer based in Islamabad. The article apart from general reaction in Pakistan to recent incidents in Mumbai mentions that while India is asking for extradition of some persons from Pakistan there is a growing public opinion in Pakistan that India should also be asked to hand over Purohit and Prgya Singh to Pakistan for facing trial for their roles in Samjhauta Express Blast. A number of pakistani nationals were killed in the blast.

This highlights one important aspect of tendency in our Police officers for rushing to media with Unsubstantiated charges about accused persons. ATS has bungled in linking Malegaon accused to so many incidents including Samjhauta Express Blast. They had no proof for this. Even if they had any proof, considering the sensitive nature of case there was no need to rush to press. Actually most of our police officers have no capability to handle press and for their 5 minutes of fame rush to media with wild accusations. This has been proved in Malegaon blast case, in arushi case and in so many other cases where so many alleged master-minds have been arrested. The job of Police is to make investigation. It is for Courts to pronounce guilt verdict.

There is urgent need to put a stop to this . Only a professional PR person should be allowed to interact with media on behlf of police who should give only necessary information for which there is subtantial surety. Even then there is no need to pass on every bit of information to people. Transperancy does not mean that all sort of guesswork should be passed on. Considering the sensitive nature of work being handled by like of ATS, it is important that top officials from such departments control their urge to get fame by appearing on t.v. channels. They can do their job more professionaly by remaining in backgoround.

A Voice from Pakistan

I am reproducing the editorial in DAWN newpaper fromPakistan about their views on how Pakistan is today trapped in terrorism of its own making,

DAWN Dec 8, 2008
The terrorism riddle
PAKISTAN, never far from the news, has been firmly in the international spotlight since the Mumbai attacks. The steady drip of leaks from investigators in India and comments by Indian and American officials suggest that a Pakistani connection to the Mumbai attacks has been irrefutably established, at least in the eyes of the wider world. There is, however, a second, sometimes unspoken line of allegations against Pakistan: that we are a state with weak governance where terrorist groups have long run amok. Enough is enough, now put your house in order, the world led by India and the US is saying to Pakistan. We wish the world, and in particular the US, was not so selective in its memories of what has brought Pakistan to such a pass.
If Lashkar-i-Taiba has grown to a position of such strength that it could execute the Mumbai attacks with consummate ease, it has not done so in a vacuum. The Lashkar’s capabilities grew on the watch of Gen Musharraf, a military strongman supported by American dollars and a White House that believed he was its best bet to take on Al Qaeda and the Taliban in the tribal areas. Even as it became clear that Gen Musharraf was not delivering on American demands and was possibly playing a dangerous double game by covertly supporting some militant groups, the
Americans steadfastly stood by their man.
The past year provided a particularly unedifying juxtaposition of a desperate general clinging to power and the resurgence of the two largest political parties, the PPP and the PML-N, both of which unambiguously support closer ties with India. Throughout that tussle the US remained a silent spectator, keen not to upset a fading dictator. So militancy is a problem in the region not only because of Pakistan’s numerous sins of commission but also because of the sins of the US, whose interests in Afghanistan led it to back a ruler who made neither Pakistan nor the region safer.
Making the region a safe place is no easy task now. The torching of 150 trucks laden with Nato supplies and vehicles outside Peshawar on Sunday confirms that a dangerous game of whack-a-mole is under way — hit the militants in one area and they pop up in another. This is possible because the militants are neither a monolith nor neatly divisible into separate groups; they have overlapped and melded in ways that have extended their overall reach. So for Pakistan the
priority then must be to push back against all militants, not just the ones that the US or India wants us to stamp out. To do so would require a well-thought-out plan. However, no plan will succeed if foreign countries regard terrorism in Pakistan in a piecemeal way that only narrowly focuses on their own interests.

Confession of a Political Leader

Former Revenue Minister of Maharashtra Narayan Rane after losing the race for CM post made the startling revelation that certain political leaders had provided financial and logistical support to the Pakistani terrorists who created mayhem in Mumbai. He said that he was making a responsible statement and will reveal the details at appropriate time.
I hope he understands what he has said publicly. There are some very important questions he has thrown.
Firstly he has not disclosed exactly when he came to know about the involvement of political leaders in this unparallel crime. But it may be safe to assume that he had knowledge of this beforehand and due to political compulsions of his friends and colleagues involved in the conspiracy did not disclose it to police. Does it mean at he has confessed now of his own direct or indirect involvement in the crime? Do we now know at least one leader in our political system who is actually a Pakistani Mole?
Secondly by saying that he will reveal the names at appropriate time, he his hinting that he is available for bargain. When the whole nation is looking for a swift and decisive action a CM aspirant is ready to bargain on national security. He does not see merit in speedily disclosing the information for the law enforcement agencies to take speedy action. Can someone define what a traitor means?
But what is the response of government both central and Maharashtra (does it exist after resignation of Deshmukh). Inaction.
So friends it is clear our rallies at gateway of India are not going to lead us anywhere. As long as we have traitors not one but many occupying topmost positions in government what else does Pakistan and his team of terrorists need?

Avenge and Revenge

4th Decemeber, 2008

I saw one news article which I am reproducing below

"Israel buries victims, vows revenge :

Amid heart-rending scenes, thousands of tearful Israeli mourners dressed in black and chanting hymns today bid an emotional farewell to the six Jews who were killed in the deadly Mumbai terror strikes. President Shimon Peres, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu joined about 10,000 people who crowded outside the sect's headquarters in Kfar Chabad near Tel Aviv. Indian ambassador to Israel Navtej Sarna and members of the Indian community were present to share the grief. Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, a Chabad official from New York, delivered a moving eulogy for the young Rabbi and his wife and said "We will answer the terrorists." He pledged to rebuild the Mumbai centre and name it after the Holtzbergs"

I was moved by the bonding where some Israeli citizens killed in some far off places agitate the whole nation and their funeral is attended by President & Defense Minister. When Israel says it will avenge, it will. It will go against the whole world and defend its citizens and its honour. Many might have forgotten the extent to which it can go to save its fellow citizens. Given below is operation Entebbe which will reminder all about what is determination of a nation.

Operation Entebbe, also known as the Entebbe Raid or Operation Thunderbolt, was a counter- terrorism hostage-rescue mission carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on the night of 3 July and early morning of 4 July 1976. In the wake of the hijacking of Air France Flight 139 and the hijackers' threats to kill the hostages if their prisoner release demands were not met, a plan was drawn up to airlift the hostages to safety. These plans took into account the likelihood of armed resistance from Ugandan military troops.
On 27 June 1976,Air France Flight 139, an Airbus A300, originating from Tel Aviv, Israel, carrying 238 passengers and a crew of 12, took off from Athens, heading for Paris. Soon after the 12:30 p.m. takeoff, the flight was hijacked by two Palestinians and two Germans from the German "Revolutionary Cells (RZ)". The flight was diverted it to Benghazi, Libya. There it was held on the ground for seven hours for refueling, during which time a female British hostage was released on medical ground. The plane left Benghazi, and at 3:15 it arrived at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
At Entebbe, the four hijackers were joined by three others, supported by the pro-Palestinian forces of Uganda's President, Idi Amin. The hijackers demanded the release of 40 Palestinians held in Israel and 13 other detainees imprisoned in Kenya, France, Switzerland, and West Germany; if these demands were not met, they threatened to begin killing hostages on 1 July 1976.
The hijackers deliberately sorted the hostages into Jew and others. The hijackers held the passengers hostage for a week in the transit hall of Entebbe Airport. Some hostages were released and the hijackers threatened to kill the remaining if Israel did not comply with their demands. Subsequently the hijackers announced that the airline crew and non-Jewish passengers would be released and put on another Air France plane that had been brought to Entebbe for that purpose, the flight captain Michel Bacos told the hijackers that all passengers, including the remaining ones, were his responsibility, and that he would not leave them behind. Bacos' entire crew followed suit. A total of 83 Israeli and/or Jewish hostages remained, as well as 20 others, most of whom included the crew of the Air France plane.
On the 1 July deadline the Israeli government offered to negotiate with the hijackers in order to extend the deadline to 4 July. Idi Amin asked the hijackers to extend the deadline until 4 July, so he could take a diplomatic trip to Port Louis, Mauritius in order to officially hand over the chairmanship of The Organization of African Unity to Sir Ramgoolam. This extension of the hostage deadline would prove crucial in allowing Israeli forces enough time to get to Entebbe.
On 3 July, the Israeli cabinet approved a rescue mission, Operation Entebbe, under the command of Major General Yekutiel Kuti Adam, After days of collecting intelligence and planning , four Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft flew secretly to Entebbe Airport, by cover of night, without aid of Entebbe ground control. They were followed by two Boeing 707 jets. The first Boeing contained medical facilities and landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. The commander of the operation, General Yekutiel Adam, was on board the second Boeing that circled over Entebbe Airport during the raid.
The Israeli ground task force numbered approximately 100 personnel and comprised the following:
The Ground Command & Control Element
The Assault or "Takeover" Element
The Blocking / Reinforcement or "Engagement" Element
The Israeli forces landed at Entebbe an hour before midnight, with their cargo bay doors already open. A black Mercedes with accompanying Land Rovers was taken along to give the impression that the Israeli troops driving from the landed aircraft to the terminal building were an escort for a returning Idi Amin or other high-ranking official.
The Mercedes and its escort vehicles were quickly driven by the Israeli assault team members to the airport terminal in the same fashion as Amin. However, along the way, two Ugandan sentries, who were aware that Idi Amin had recently purchased a white Mercedes to replace his black one, ordered this procession of vehicles to stop. Both of these sentries were immediately shot dead by the Israeli commandos. Fearing premature alerting of associates to the hijackers, the Israeli assault team was quickly sent into action.
The hostages were in the main hall of the airport building, directly adjacent to the runway. The Israelis sprang from their vehicles and burst into the terminal yelling, "Get down! Get down!" in both Hebrew and English. A 19-year-old French Jew named Jean-Jacques Maimoni stood up, He was killed by the Israeli commandos, who mistook him for a hijacker. Two more hostages were also killed in the crossfire. At one point, an Israeli commando called out in Hebrew, "Where are the rest of them?", apparently referring to the hijackers. The hostages pointed to a connecting door of the airport's main hall, into which the Israeli commandos threw several hand grenades. They then entered the room and shot dead the three remaining hijackers, thus completing their assault.
Meanwhile, the other three C-130 Hercules had landed and unloaded armored personnel carriers, which were to be used for defense during the anticipated hour of refueling, for the destruction of grounded Ugandan jet fighters so as to prevent them from pursuing the Israelis after their departure from Entebbe Airport, and for intelligence-gathering.
After the raid, the Israeli assault team returned to their aircraft and began loading the hostages on board. Ugandan soldiers shot at them in the process. The Israeli commandos returned fire, finished the loading, and then left Entebbe Airport.
The entire assault lasted less than 30 minutes and all seven hijackers were killed. Only one Israeli commando who died during the operation. At least five other Israeli commandos were wounded. Out of the 103 hostages, three were killed and approximately 10 were wounded. A total of 45 Ugandan soldiers were killed during the raid, and about 11 Ugandan Army Air Force MiG- 17 fighter planes were destroyed on the ground at Entebbe Airport. The rescued hostages were flown to Israel via Nairobi, Kenya shortly after the fighting.
Dora Bloch, a 75-year-old hostage taken to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, was killed by the Ugandan government, as were some of her doctors and nurses .
Aftermath
The government of Uganda later convened a session of the United Nations Security Council to seek official condemnation of the Israeli raid, as a violation of Ugandan sovereignty. The Security Council ultimately declined to pass any resolution on the matter. In his address to the Council, the Israeli ambassador Chaim Herzog said:
We come with a simple message to the Council: we are proud of what we have done because we have demonstrated to the world that a small country, in Israel's circumstances, with which the members of this Council are by now all too familiar, the dignity of man, human life and human freedom constitute the highest values. We are proud not only because we have saved the lives of over a hundred innocent people—men, women and children—but because of the significance of our act for the cause of human freedom.

One day I want a similar speech from Indian Ambassador to UN.