War on Terror Archive
Mohmand IDPs: forced expulsion? — by Farhat Taj: The IDPs from Mohmand must not be forced to leave the camp. Let us not forget that the people of Mohmand Agency, like people from elsewhere in FATA, are paying the torturous price for the military establishment’s policy of
Controversial Chief Justice of Pakistan assumes executive authority; challenges the attorney-client privilege – by Aamir Mughal and Sarah Khan: Adapted from: Aamir Mughal’s blog Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, controversial Chief Justice of Pakistan, today created a new chapter in Pakistan’s history by assuming the executive authority of the federal government and also objecting to the attorney-client privilege. Pakistan’s
At the Presidency: Tearful on Pakistan Day – by Adil Najam: Cross-posted from All Things Pakistan On March 23 I was at the Presidency in Islamabad for the Pakistan Day Awards Ceremony. This is usually a festive occasion full of pomp and ceremony and amongst the most elaborate state occasions of the
Obama bin Laden – by Nadeem Khan: New World Order plan in jeopardy The following article truly shows the US long term perspective that how they will slowly and gradually pull out of the mess they have gotten into and pulled others in, as well. Truly,
Pak-Afghan relations — by Agha H Amin: I fail to understand how some of the country’s leading analysts can dub Afghanistan as being Pakistan’s backyard. Afghanistan is an independent state that boasts a great history. Seen in this context, how would Pakistanis feel if India tried
‘Strategic depth’ at heart of Taliban arrests – by Shibil Siddiqi: Pakistan has recently arrested a number of top Taliban leaders, including the second in command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and many of the Quetta shura. It also killed in a drone attack Mohammad Haqqani, a leader of the powerful
The chestnuts are our own – by Kamran Shafi: It is wrong to think that all it will take for the Taliban to stop their attacks on Pakistan is the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan And by golly are they in a raging fire, no matter what
As things get worse in Pakistan, the optimism continues to soar – by Robert Fisk: Thanks: The Independent As things get worse in Pakistan, the optimism continues to soar Civilians have paid the price in revenge attacks that usually target the army A few days ago, I was driving around Lahore, its population still
Dialogue about Pakhtuns without Pakhtuns! — by Shahid Ilyas: Talking is not a bad thing, but when it is done without the participation of those who are the subject of such talks, it will most likely result in a disaster Pakistan’s political and military top brass will soon
For Pakistan’s Sikhs, a kidnapping – and a killing – reflect fears of nation’s minorities: In this photo made on March 19, 2010, Surjeet Singh, from Pakistan’s Sikh community, sits with family members after his release in Peshawar, Pakistan. Singh, who had been kidnapped for ransom by alleged militants, was freed after 42 days
Jirga: Army must destroy Taliban: Political situations in Pakistan in general and Pukhtunkhawa province in particular were worst to extent that life here had become like hell for our people. Extremism and terrorism activities had increased manifold and militants had made the people of
Dilemmas of counter-terrorism — by Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi: The perspective of Islamic parties and the political right that expresses varying degrees of sympathy for the Taliban has seeped into other sections of society that either do not blame the Taliban for the violence or attempt to rationalise
Verbal diarrhoea of Shahbaz Sharif – by Fasi Zaka: Imagine a situation where you have to speak before a large crowd. Right there and then, even though you are not a cow, you discover you have foot-and-mouth disease. That is to say, you mistakenly put your foot in
Begging Taliban for mercy: Shahbaz Sharif is loyal to Punjab at Pakistan’s expense?: Related articles: The Punjabi Taliban and the Ostrich of Punjab: Shahbaz Sharif The umbilical connection between PML-N and religious conservatism: Jaag Punjabi jaag – by Aamer Ahmed Khan Shahbaz Sharif’s bargain with the Taliban – by Ayesha Siddiqa According
The Al Qaeda Connection – by Imtiaz Gul: Chilling truths Book Review by Afrah Jamal The Al Qaeda Connection – By Imtiaz Gul, Penguin Global; Pp 320 Today, the landscape has been transformed into a hunting ground as the showdown between the military and militants gets underway
ISI’s Colonel Imam: Ideologue or pragmatist? – by Wasif Khan: Amir Sultan Tarar also known as Colonel Imam. — File photo In a recent interview with the New York Times, the once renowned Colonel Imam made some very insightful remarks and dire predictions. For those unfamiliar with the name,
Arresting Taliban to serve America’s interests – Guest post by Peter Chamberlin: First published at: Therearenosunglasses’s Weblog The multitude of theories on the reasons for the arrests are divided between cooperation and confrontation theories, either it is explained by mutual interests or by rivalries. In my opinion, it is both. Researchers
Haroon Rasheed, the provincial deputy head of Jamaat-e-Islami NWFP, harbouring Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists: For the past one week, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and their pro-Taliban agents (Pakistani Taliban Union of Journalists – PTUJ) in media (e.g. Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasi etc) have been propagating a one sided story of the “brutal killing” of the
Interpreting tribal leaders of FATA — by Farhat Taj: Anger against the Pakistan Army and the Taliban is intense and getting more intense with every passing day and so is disappointment with the government of Pakistan I am compiling a list of the tribal leaders of FATA who
In Pakistan we are fighting for our lives – by Asif Ali Zardari: In Pakistan we are fighting for our lives We will defeat the terrorists. Our security is backed up by democracy and a strong economy By Asif Ali Zardari Thanks: The Guardian 1 March 2010 When I was elected president
The dauntless heroes of NWFP Police — by Farhat Taj: A police officer and bystanders remove an injured victim of a suicide car bomb in Peshawar. Photograph: A Majeed/AFP/Getty Images The public perceive the police as as much an innocent casualty as the innocent civilians in the state’s pursuit
The battle of the ‘commons’ and (de)militarizing the Sri Lankan society: This rather long article about presidential elections in Sri Lanka was published in the South Asia Citizens Web (SACW). It seems relevant to the political stuggle for democratization of Pakistan. Sri Lanka had a long fight against organized terrorism,
A new dawn – by Agha Haider Raza: Over the past few days – out-of-public viewing – Pakistan has witnessed a welcoming shift in policy. With the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Mullah Abdul Salam, the trust deficit between the United States and Pakistan or
A critical analysis of Aafia Siddiqui’s case – by Anas Abbas: First published on: AA Counter Terror Aafia Siddiqui was finally convicted on 4rd February 2010 for trying to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan. She is now expected to face a maximum of 60 years in prison. Below is a
Soviet Lessons From Afghanistan – by Mikhail Gorbachev: A scene from the Red Army’s withdrawal from Afghanistan through the Uzbek town of Termez Picture Source Thanks: The New York Times Afghanistan is in turmoil, with tensions rising and people dying every day. Many of them — including
Drone attacks and US reputation — by Farhat Taj: In terms of the drone attacks, the US must not make any distinction between al Qaeda and the Taliban. They both have internalised a global ideology that is anti-civilisation and anti-human There is news coming up in the media
Pakistan Army facing ‘friendly fire’ by the Taliban – by Farhat Taj: Dangerous abyss of perception The Pakistan Army is engaged in ‘friendly fire’ with the jihadi gangs in which the civilians, poor soldiers of the security forces, especially FC soldiers, policemen and foot soldiers of the Taliban are killed. This,
The post-NRO dynamic – by Talat Masood: In these times when Pakistan is beleaguered with multiple crises — a major insurgency, constant fear of terrorist attacks, lurking danger of economic melt-down, political infighting etc — it is additionally burdened with the unique challenge of managing the
Khuda zameen se gaya nahin – A must watch: I know I am very late. Wanted to write this post for quite some time but was distracted by other urgent and non-urgent businesses. Yet, it is never too late. Here is my recommendation for a must watch TV
Taliban are escalating the cost for the public – by Syed Talat Hussain: In the following article in Daily Times, renowned journalist and TV anchor Syed Talat Hussain discusses a new strategy of the Taliban militants, i.e. a deliberate and strong effort to escalate the
Certain of victory over militants – by President Asif Ali Zardari: Two years ago the world stopped for me and for my children. Pakistan was shaken to its core and all but came apart. Women everywhere lost one of their greatest symbols of equality. And Islam, our great religion,
Pakistan at the crossroads – Guest post by Qudrat Ullah: No other nation in the world has so badly faced the consequences of 9/11 as did Pakistan. In fact, Pakistan is the only victim of this complex imbroglio which has hitherto incurred cumulative losses of more than 38 billion
Takfiri Taliban and their supporters in PTUJ plan to incite a Pakistan-India war: The Takfiri Taliban and their affiliate jihadi and sectarian groups are planning to instigate a war between Pakistan and India. Their real aim to divert the military operation in FATA to the borders with India. In this way, terrorists
366 killed in 7 attacks targeting mosques in 2009 – Report by Amir Mir: 7 December 2009 LAHORE: At least 366 innocent Pakistanis have been killed and 901 injured in the first 11 months of year 2009 in seven bloody incidents of terrorism across Pakistan, targeting mosques with the help of suicide bombers
Aye rah-e-haq ke shaheedo: Names of army men and their kin killed by Taliban in the Rawalpindi mosque attack: Following are the names of the senior army officials and their kin killed in the terrorist attack at a mosque in Rawalpindi’s Parade Lane on Friday
The Afghan-Pakistan Solution – By Pervez Musharraf: The Afghan-Pakistan Solution: An exit strategy must be predicated on achieving military and political goals, not dictated by time limits. By PERVEZ MUSHARRAF My recent trip to the United States has been an enriching experience, during which I had a
Why did Taliban-US talks fail? By Amir Mir: LAHORE: The American initiative to hold talks with the Afghan Taliban through Saudi and Pakistani intelligence agencies has failed to produce the desired results so far primarily due to the trust deficit between the two sides and the obstinacy
We must support Police in Pakistan’s war against Takfiri Deobandi terrorists: Here are two excellent articles by Dr Ayesha Siddiqa and Muhammad Amir Khakwani in appreciation of policemen sacrificing their lives in Pakistan’s war on terror.
Car bomb kills 117 in Meena Bazar in Peshawar, and Imran Khan’s stance on Taliban: Car bomb kills 91 in Pakistani city of Peshawar By RIAZ KHAN (AP) PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A car bomb tore through a busy market in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing 91 people as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
With thousands killed in jihadi and sectarian violence, Pakistanis still consider terrorism to be a secondary problem?: Leaving sanity By Nadeem F. Paracha Friday, 09 Oct, 2009 (Dawn) With thousands that continue to die so harrowingly in bomb blasts and suicide attacks year after year, Pakistanis still consider terrorism to be a secondary problem? —AFP Photo