War on Terror Archive
A community under siege in tribal Pakistan: As US prepares troop withdrawal, Taliban’s strong hold on border regions reveals Pakistan’s vulnerability. By Mujib Mashal Parachinar, in Pakistan’s tribal north west, remains under siege. The only road connecting this district bordering Afghanistan to the rest of Pakistan
LeT poses formidable terrorist threat to US, India: White House report: The US considers Pakistan based terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), held responsible for 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as a formidable terrorist threat to Indian, US and other Western interests in South Asia and potentially elsewhere. In Afghanistan, the US military
Dysfunctional, incapable or extra clever?: The Pakistani Army and it’s leadership is facing worst sort of credibility crises and increasing criticism of poor administrative and defense practices, and right now practically it finds itself in the midst of a inferno, particularly after Osama Bin
Three ways to help Pakistan: President Obama’s Afghan withdrawal plans include working with Pakistan to “root out the cancer of violent extremism.” Bruce Riedel’s three key steps to do it right. By Bruce Riedel On Wednesday evening, President Obama rightly said we “need to
Zia’s lagacy: Radicalization of Pak Army: The Pakistan army has extended an investigation into officers with links to the Hizb-ul-Tahrir, a spokesman said on Wednesday, in what analysts said was a long overdue move to root out sympathizers of the banned Islamist group. The military,
How the Taliban turned a child into a suicide bomber: By NICK SCHIFRIN A 17-year-old died this week in Afghanistan, hanging from the end of a rope. A prison official fastened it around the boy’s neck in Kabul’s largest jail, tightened the knot, and then, in front of a
‘Where is bin Laden?’ Asked Benazir Bhutto—by Shiraz Paracha: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had enemies in the Pakistani military, Saudi Arabian ruling classes and the U.S government. Benazir had equipped the Pakistani military with missile technology, which she had successfully obtained from North Korea, and supported
The Pakistani Taliban’s media jihad: The piece examines the TTP’s media productions and the movement’s shift toward having its media distributed to jihadi-takfiri Internet forums via the Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF), a long-established jihadi-takfiri media and translation network. The writer argues that this
Extremism thrives under dictatorship -by Saria Benazir: A number of interrogations about the causes of extreme radicalism & terrorism in Pakistan occupy every psyche – from a lay man to the ruler of the state, no one considers his life secure in this country. Indeed, that
Saleem Shahzad, Al Qaeda and ISI: Murdered journalist’s findings show Al Qaeda is winning in nuclear Pakistan more effectively than in Somalia and Yemen By Khaled Ahmed Anyone who has read Inside Al Qaeda and the Taliban: Beyond Bin Laden and 9/11 by Saleem Shahzad
The demise of the world’s most wanted: The future of Pakistan US relations – Ali Asghar Poonawala: Editor’s Note: This post does not reflect the views of LUBP in general The rise of Osama Bin Laden to the last circle of hate previously reserved for states (Cuba, USSR), and statesmen (Castro, Stalin), by the global media
Extra-judicial killings in Pakistan: By Abdus-Sattar Ghazali Disappearance of innocent citizens, extra-judicial and target killings are not uncommon in Pakistan but last Wednesday’s brutal killing of young Sarfraz Shah by para-military Rangers in Karachi has shocked the nation. The trigger-happy Rangers mercilessly sprayed
Who needs a foreign minister? -by Abdul Samad: How many countries function without a Foreign Minister at a time of diplomatic turbulence, when relations with its main ally, United States, stoop to a new low? Well, Pakistan does. In all the drama that has followed Osama’s execution,
Budget deception: Real defense allocation is 850 billion not 495 billion -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in the ‘Daily AajKal’.
An open letter to General Pasha -by Ejaz Haider: Dear General Pasha, I write this letter to you in the wake of the gruesome and gratuitous murder of Syed Saleem Shahzad, friend to many, including myself. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate, the agency you head, is being accused of Saleem’s
Pakistan journalists walk razor’s edge: Reporters often put themselves in harm’s way as they try to dig up the truth about Islamic militant groups, shadowy intelligence agencies and the possible links between the two. One reporter recently ended up dead; another has a harrowing
Mission silencing: State bans Saleem Shahzad’s book: The killing of Syed Saleem Shahzad is brutal confirmation that Pakistan is the world’s most hazardous place for journalists, whistle blowers and Independent thinkers. Saleem Shahzad’s kidnapping a week ago and his later brutal murder sparked off speculation that
Pakistan’s spy agency and terrorism -by Mansoor Ijaz: Mansoor Ijaz says the real danger inside Pakistan is its powerful spy organization, Inter-Services Intelligence—and that an even more notorious outfit is an ISI-affiliate called S-Wing. The murder of a prominent Pakistani journalist, Syed Saleem Shahzad, who was kidnapped
Can anyone control Pakistan’s ISI spies ? Aamer Ahmed Khan on his own ISI experience: Related Article: Then they came for me -by Babar Sattar Pakistan’s dreaded spy agency, the ISI, is back in the spotlight, accused of murdering journalist Saleem Shahzad. The agency’s engagement with the media has become progressively more virulent as
Human Rights Watch calls for Independent Inquiry into Saleem Shahzad’s killing: Inter Services Intelligence suspected of involvement has long been above the law. All aspects of this crime, including the possibility of links to the ISI, need to be independently investigated and prosecuted. The ISI and other military and intelligence-related
Imran Khan: Taliban bachao ‘Tehrik’ -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in ‘Daily Aajkal’.
Then the ISI came for me -by Babar Sattar: Related article: Can anyone control Pakistan’s ISI spies ? Aamer Ahmed Khan on his own ISI experience Mr. Babar Sattar recalls being called to ISI HQ to “discuss” an Op-Ed he wrote on “reforming khakis”. The pall of gloom,
Radicals in ranks -by Abdullah Malik: Takes a look at incidents of support for terrorists from within the armed forces and police Despite Gen Zia’s Islamisation, the promotion of piety in the barracks, and the support for puritanical movements that were allowed to organise sermons,
You can bury a man but not his courage -by Shehrbano Taseer: This article was originally published in the “Daily Express“
Syed Saleem Shahzad’s Courage: The Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad knew he was a marked man. Mr. Shahzad, who covered national security and terrorism, had received repeated threats from Pakistan’s powerful spy agency. Yet he courageously kept doing his job — until somebody
Hameed Haroon backs HRW claims on Saleem Shahzad murder: A leading newspaper publisher in Pakistan and the president of the nationwide newspapers body has reacted sharply to charges by the Inter Services`Intelligence Agency (ISI) that allegations by Human Rights Watch of the intelligence agency’s involvement in the abduction
Saleem Shahzad murdered by Pakistani security service: Saleem Shahzad had warned that the authorities might act against him and revealed a previous threat. by Andrew Buncombe A surge of outrage and grief jolted Pakistan last night after the discovery of the body of a journalist who
Hillary Clinton condemns Saleem Shehzad’s brutal assassination: US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton,condemned the kidnapping and killing of Pakistani journalist. Syed Saleem Shahzad, who worked for Adn Kronos International and La Stampa writing articles and books on the collusion between al Qaeda and Pakistani security and
Who Killed Saleem Shahzad?: “We don’t know if the ISI killed him,” Dayan says, “but the manner of his killing is consistent with the other murders where there has been credible evidence of ISI involvement.” by Ron Moreau Courageous Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem
Saleem Shahzad’s two very important interviews: Asia Times Pakistan Bureau Chief and TRNN contributor Syed Saleem Shahzad was found murdered in Islamabad on Tuesday. In a recent report for Asia Times and a TRNN interview, Shahzad reported on splits in the Pakistan military over support
Pakistan to launch attacks on Haqqani: Pakistan will launch a military offensive in North Waziristan, a newspaper reported on Monday, days after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated a US demand to tackle sanctuaries for al Qaeda and the Taliban on the Afghan border.
Hypocrisy of PML-N: Punjab condemns foreign funds but accepts billions anyway: The government of Punjab, which had recently secured front page coverage by its proclamation about shunning all funding by foreign donors, demanded from Islamabad to increase its borrowing limits and ensure release of development funds to avoid delays in
‘Stop agencies from tapping politicians’ phones’: The intelligence organisations in general, and the ISI in particular is not doing it’s job rightly and due to the high level of negligence and security lapses, we have been witnessing incidents like Osama debacle and PNS Mehran. The
Pakistan’s tragic flaw -by Khaled Ahmed: One book that many people in Pakistan must be reading is Anatol Lieven’s Pakistan a Hard Country (Allen Lane 1011). Lieven is a sympathetic observer of Pakistan, visits it repeatedly and painstakingly interviews all stakeholders of the state. He
ISI might have been involved in Mumbai attacks, says Pakistan’s former foreign secretary: NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s former foreign secretary Shaharyar Khan has acknowledged that ISI might have been involved in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai — in the first-ever confession of its kind by a member of Pakistani establishment. In an interview
Es ghar ko aag lag gayi , ghar ke chirag se -by Arshad Mahmood: Originally published in the ‘Daily AajKal’.
Shehrbano Taseer in UK speaks out against radical political Islam: by Lizzy Millar Religious seminaries Madarash in Pakistan are raising a new generation of children to propagate hatred in the wake of bin Laden’s assassination. Shehrbano Taseer, the daughter of Salman Taseer, the governor of Pakistan’s Punjab region who
Osama’s killing: Is the world safe now? -by Saad Akhter: Osama’s killing has taken world by storm for a small period of time. Frankly I never thought that personalities matter and something like terrorism where people are fighting to get killed and get their names In history. Personalities don’t