Malik vows civil guards for public schools

ISLAMABAD : Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Wednesday said full-fledged arrangements are being taken up for the security of the educational institutions, as 300 civil guards are being provided for the security of public schools. Talking to media here, he said nobody even thought of such an incident of terrorism at an educational institution, adding the security at educational institutes would be aggrandized. The interior minister said one main committee and three sub-committees have been instituted in a meeting held here in connection with the security. He informed that the federal capital has been divided in seven zones as regards the security, and the terror incident at Islamic University occurred at least 24 km away from Islamabad. Commenting upon the Indian allegations, Malik warned against them, saying Indian Home Minister should see about their home first, as it is beset with flaws, adding criticizing Pakistan would not set their issues aright. Rehman Malik stressed that Pakistan may give well-substantiated threats better than those India gave, adding Pakistani offer regarding negotiations should not be deemed as its frailty.

Two female students killed in Islamic University suicide blasts

# ISLAMABAD: Two female students have been killed and several others injured in twin suicide blasts in new campus of Islamic University Islamabad. The first suicide explosion happened in a cafeteria near girls hostel whereas another occurred in Sharia block few minutes later. According to SSP Tahir Alam, both were suicide blasts. Talking to Geo News, a student of Islamic University said it was an intense explosion that damaged the building severely. Thirteen injured including 11 female students and two men have been shifted to PIMS hospital where four have bee reported in a critical condition. According to Executive Director of PIMS Hospital, the injured students identified as Samra, Najma Idrees, Nadia, Ayesha Ambreen and Asma whereas the male student identified as Muhammad Idrees. One suspect has been arrested near the campus. Police and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the blast site.

US defence secretary encouraged by Pakistan push

WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said he was encouraged by the Pakistani offensive in South Waziristan but added it was too early to gauge the impact. "I'm obviously encouraged by the Pakistani operations. I think that the terrorist attacks that have been launched inside Pakistan in recent days made clear the need to begin to deal with this problem," he said. "And so we obviously are very supporting of what the Pakistanis are doing. But it's very early yet." The fighting is a new test of the Pakistani government's determination to tackle an increasingly brazen insurgency that has seen a string of attacks in different parts of the country, including an assault on army headquarters.

US says trusts Pakistan government on terror war

WASHINGTON: US has said combating war on terrorism is in interest of both Pakistan and United States and it has full trust on Pakistani government and will continue extending support to Pakistan in this connection, Geo news reported Monday.

Briefing media here, the spokesman to US state department Ian Kelley said he was unaware of an agreement to keep some militant factions out of the fight for now, but other U.S. officials said the strategy is not surprising or necessarily worrisome.

Because the faction loyal to Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud poses the most direct threat to the Pakistani government and army, it is the logical first target, U.S. officials briefed on the offensive said.

He said conducting operation in tribal mountainous areas is an uneasy job but Pakistan army successfully carried out military offensive against Taliban in Swat and now is engaged in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), which reflects its determination to toot out terrorism.

The United States, while criticizing the suicide bombing on Iran, mentioned that it is not involved in the attack.

Spokesman Kelly said, “We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives”. "Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," he added.

India will fight Taliban at any cost: A K Antony

NEW DELHI: Warning that the situation in Pakistan is "very serious", India's Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said terrorism is "spreading" in that country and asserted that India is prepared to meet any challenge from Taliban militants

"The situation in Pakistan is very serious and terrorism is spreading," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Territorial Army Day parade here

Pakistan has been in the grip of a terror wave with six major attacks in the last fortnight by suspected Taliban militants, the latest being a suicide bomb attack in Peshawar in the restive North West Frontier Province on Friday last killing 14 people

Asked if Talibans' threat to carry out attacks on India was a cause of concern, Antony said, "We are always prepared to meet any challenge to our territorial integrity and national security from any quarter.

Nawaz urges govt not to pass ‘corruption’ from Parliament

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif has raised objection on use of Parliament for passing ‘corruption’ into law.

Talking to media here in Model Town on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif urged the government not to pass National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) by the Parliament. “If this law is passed, it will be a stigma on (National) Assembly,” he added.

He said the government should avoid putting the Parliament, opposition and itself to a test. “Because if (NRO) is passed, ‘corruption’ will get a legal cover,” he maintained, adding, “this will not only bring a bad name to the politicians but also to Pakistan.”

The PML-N Chief said the government will have to break the begging bowl if it holds dear the sovereignty of the country. He said the country can manage without aid.

“The nation should be ready to stand on its own feet,” he said, adding, “the country can progress if the people pay taxes and work hard.”

Russia's Putin warns against sanctions on Iran

BEIJING: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned major powers on Wednesday against intimidating Iran and said talk of sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme was "premature".

Putin, who many diplomats, analysts, and Russian citizens believe is still Russia's paramount leader despite stepping down as president last year, was speaking after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Moscow for two days of talks.

"There is no need to frighten the Iranians," Putin told reporters in Beijing after a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

"We need to look for a compromise. If a compromise is not found, and the discussions end in a fiasco, then we will see."

"And if now, before making any steps (towards holding talks) we start announcing some sanctions, then we won't be creating favourable conditions for them (talks) to end positively. This is why it is premature to talk about this now."

Clinton failed to secure any specific assurances from Russia on Iran during her visit, leaving her open to criticism at home that she had not received anything from Moscow after earlier U.S. concessions on missile defence.

Iranian, Russian, French, U.S. and U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency officials will meet in Vienna on Oct. 19 to discuss how to implement a plan agreed in principle at talks in Geneva for low-grade Iranian uranium to be enriched overseas to a purity suitable for nuclear reactors but not weapons.

The Geneva talks on Oct. 1 also produced Iranian agreement for international inspectors to visit a second enrichment plant now under construction near Qom. Apparent Iranian concession reduced pressure for a widening of economic sanctions some analysts said could be extended to the oil and gas industry.

Punjab backs out Quetta NFC decision, while Sindh re-iterates on revenue generation amid multi-criteria

The Punjab’s stance on the National Finance Commission (NFC) award is unchanged and it still believes distribution of resources must be population-based, the Punjab Assembly has been told. The treasury and opposition benches, while debating on the progress made in the inter-provincial meetings on the distribution of resources, were assured that Punjab’s stance on NFC Award remain unchanged, as the province still believes in population-based distribution of resources.

Earlier, following NFC Award meeting at Quetta, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah had said that our main demand i.e. for multi-criteria for the NFC Award was accepted by all the provinces including the Punjab. As per multi-criteria, the Award would be determined on the basis of population, poverty, backwardness and revenue generation. Our demand that GST on Services should go to the provinces was also acceded to and so was our demand for considering revenue generation as the criteria for determination of award, which is a "big achievement", he added. He told that the Federal Government wanted to levy Value Added Tax (VAT), but it has not yet been levied and we will talk to them on this issue. "It is a separate issue and has no relevance to the NFC", he explained. The Chief Minister said that the next meeting of the NFC would be held in Peshawar on October 25 after which the award expected to be announced within a month.

Meanwhile, Sindh Assembly members, agitating on Punjab backing out on the Quetta NFC meeting decision, re-iterated their demand for making the revenue generation a criterion for resource distribution. General sales tax (GST) should be distributed on the basis of “revenue generation” as per the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, or Sindh will not get much benefit from a decision to transfer GST on services to the provinces, said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, Syed Sardar Ahmed.

He, however, welcomed the NFC’s reported decision in Quetta to transfer GST on services to the provinces. Ahmed appreciated the efforts of the Sindh chief minister during the Sindh Assembly session on Tuesday, but said that “sentimentalism” should be avoided over the proposed decision to hand over GST to provinces. “We have lost many things because of the emotional approach. The real question is the mode of transfer or the criteria of distributing GST among the four provinces,” he said, adding that if GST on services is distributed on the basis of collection, Sindh will not get anything, because GST on phone and electricity goes to Rawalpindi and Lahore where headquarters of these utilities are located. Ahmed demanded that GST to provinces should be given on the basis of revenue generation, because distribution on the basis of population will not benefit Sindh. Sindh will suffer if revenue generation was not made a criterion of the NFC, he said.

25 hostages freed, 4 terrorists killed in successful operation

RAWALPINDI: Operation against terrorists in GHQ has entered into last stages and 25 hostages have been freed.

According to sources, 25 hostages have been freed, three hostages were martyred and four terrorists were killed after successful operation in GHQ.

According to DG ISPR, Athar Abbas, operation against terrorist was launched early today at 6 am.

“After the successful operation 25 hostages have safely been freed, while four terrorists were killed.”

A terrorist was wearing suicide jacket to blow himself up causing maximum damage in case of operation, Athar Abbas added.

Meanwhile clearance operation in the Head Quarter is continuing.

Operation launched against terrorists: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Operation against terrorists has been launched in GHQ.

According to Geo News, Director General, Inter Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR), Major General Athar Abbas said the operation against the terrorists has properly been launched and some hostages have been freed.

He said security forces are trying to enter the building and the operation will be met to its logical end and casualties cannot be confirmed at this moment.

Two blasts heard inside GHQ

RAWALPINDI: Three loud blasts and gunshots have been heard inside GHQ.

According to Geo News, Director General, Inter Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR), Major General Athar Abbas said the operation against the terrorists has properly been launched and some hostages have been freed.

Security forces are trying to enter the building and the operation will be met to its logical end, he added.

Pak army HQ attack exposes extremist threat: Clinton

LONDON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the militant attack on Pakistan's army headquarters Saturday served to underline the extremist threat to the Islamabad government.

Clinton, who arrived in London, late Saturday as part of her five-day European tour, said the measures being taken to root out extremists in Pakistan were "very important".

Militants were holding up to 15 people hostage after a bid to storm the army headquarters in the garrison town of Rawalpindi left six soldiers and four attackers dead, Pakistani officials said.

Clinton told reporters she had been briefed about the attack.

She said she wanted to "point out this shows the continuing threats to the Pakistani government and the very important steps that the civilian leadership, along with the military, are taking to root out the extremists and prevent violence and direct assaults on the sovereignty of the state."

Up to 10 suspected Taliban gunmen in military uniform armed with automatic weapons and grenades drove up to the compound and shot their way through one check post.

GHQ attack report published in Daily Jang, The News on Oct 5^th

RAWALPINDI: Proper measures could not be adopted to avoid the tragedy, despite Daily Jang and The News International had published the report of possible attack on GHQ, Rawalpindi on October 5^th.

The report published in Daily Jang and The News International on October 5^th informed that according to the Interior Department Punjab a source had revealed terrorists of Tehreek-e-Taliban, Pakistan were planning attack on GHQ in collaboration with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The report further read the terrorists had planned to enter into the GHQ using fake army uniforms and vehicles.

“If they fail to enter as per the first plan, then as an alternative they will drive the vehicle to the allegedly broken wall of the GHQ and jumped down into the compound using a ladder.”

Afterward they might break into the central building and start gunfire resulting in massacre, the report added.

The report also revealed possible life threats to PM, Sharif brothers and other key personalities.

Meanwhile, another report published on September 30^th warned a possible suicide blast in Lahore through an explosive-laden vehicle possibly targeting the army installations.

GHQ attack: ISPR releases pictures of two terrorists

RAWALPINDI: Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released the pictures of two terrorists who attacked on GHQ early Saturday.

According to ISPR pictures of the two of the four terrorists, involved in attack on GHQ, have been released.

One of the four terrorists, killed during the attack was suicide bomber. His picture has also been released.

Lenience possible if terrorists surrender right now: Rehman

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said days of terrorists are numbered and that if terrorists surrender right now, they may expect lenience.

Talking to Geo News, the Federal Minister said we had no prior information about the attack on GHQ, although a major terror activity in Rawalpindi/Islamabad had been reported.

“Terrorists have no link with Islam. Those who term Pakistan as a failed state will not be successful.”

The Minister said all terror activities have links in Northern Waziristan and the situation demands an inevitable operation in the region.

“Days of terrorists are numbered; they might expect leniency, if surrender right now.”

Rehman Malik advised landholders not to rent out their property on temporary basis to any foreigner or local person.

New Delhi will have to provide concrete evidences for the arrest of Hafiz Saeed, he added.

Pakistani army headquarters siege ends, 30 hostages freed (Fourth Lead)

RAWALPINDI - Nine people were killed Sunday in a dramatic hostage rescue operation at Pakistan’s military headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, an army spokesman said.

Major General Athar Abbas said three hostages, two military commandos and four of the attackers died in the operation that freed several hostages after a 22-hour standoff inside the army base.

“By the grace of God, the operation has been successfully completed,” Abbas said. “Up to 30 hostages have been rescued from the building and four terrorists are dead.”

“The main focus of the operation was a suicide bomber who could have detonated the suicide vest he was wearing, but our soldiers killed him skilfully before he could pull the trigger,” he added.

Three captives - two civilian employees of the base and a soldier - died while three more were injured during the rescue attempt. Two commandos were also killed in the combat.

One militant resisted the troops for more than two hours and eventually detonated some explosive material, severely injuring himself and five personnel of Pakistan’s elite forces.

The army spokesman identified the captured terrorist as Aqeel alias Dr. Usman. “He was the leader of the terrorist gang.”

Earlier, sound of explosions and gunfire rang out when the troops moved into the building shortly before dawn. Ambulances were later seen rushing to the nearest hospital while an army helicopter flew overhead with snipers on board.

On Saturday, militants wearing military uniforms took more than two dozen soldiers and civilian employees on the army base captive inside a security office near the compound, in a daring midday raid that left six soldiers and four attackers dead.

A brigadier and a lieutenant colonel were among the dead, an intelligence official who requested anonymity said.

The brazen raid and siege came as Pakistani security forces are preparing for a major offensive against Taliban insurgents in South Waziristan, a lawless tribal district along the Afghan border.

Insurgents have intensified recent attacks on civilian, official and foreign targets.

On Friday, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car in a busy commercial area of Peshawar, killing 53 people and injuring more than 100.

Six days ago, a suicide bomber dressed as a paramilitary soldier killed five employees of the UN’s World Food Programme in an attack on its offices in Islamabad.

Pakistani commandoes storm army base, free hostages (Second lead)

RAWALPINDI - Pakistani commandoes stormed a building Sunday morning in an army compound here, freeing more than two dozen hostages held by militants, an Army spokesman said.

Explosions and gunfire were heard from inside the premises when the troops moved into the building shortly before dawn. Ambulances were later seen rushing to the nearest hospital.

“The operation is reaching to its logical conclusion,” said Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas. “Around 25 of the hostages have been freed and four terrorists killed.”

He said there were some casualties among the hostages but did not provide details. He said that “the situation will be clear hopefully” within 30 minutes.

Militants took more than two dozen soldiers and civilian employees on the Army base captive inside a security office near the compound, in a daring midday Saturday raid that left six soldiers, a passer-by and four attackers dead.

GHQ attack foiled

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan army has foiled the terrorists attack on GHQ and killed four terrorists whereas six army men embraced shahadat during the action completed within one hour.

According to reports, four terrorists riding in a white car targeted check post near GHQ.

They tried to move another check post when security guards intercept them. Security forces retaliated swiftly and effectively and killed four terrorists during an hour long action. Six security personnel had been martyred in the operation.

DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said terrorists wearing forces uniform and riding in a white Suzuki car attacked first check post with automatic weapons. On the resistance of security guards, they tried to move towards another check point. Four terrorists were killed during exchange of fire. The area has been cordoned off as search operation in underway in the area and situation is completely under control.

TTP group claims GHQ attack
KARACHI: Tahreek-e-Taliban (Ajmad Farooqi) group has claimed responsibility of attack on army headquarters.

In a telephone call made to Geo News office, member of TTP group demanded halt of operation in northern areas, accountability of former President Pervez Musharraf, return of black water and closure of Western NGOs.

Six army men martyred in GHQ onslaught
ISLAMABAD: Spokesman Pakistan armed forces and DG ISPR Major General Athar Abbas said Friday that six army personnel embraced martyrdom during gunbattle with suspected Taliban militant outside army headquarters in Rawalpindi, Geo news reported.

This ISPR spokesman stated while giving details on the military-militants encounter during Geo news program Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Sath.

He said the search operation cum air surveillance, with a view to locate the fled militants, are underway in areas adjacent to headquarters.

Attack at GHQ condemned

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani slammed the attack at Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi

President Zardari in his statement said such incidents could not weaken governments’ commitment against terrorism.

PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ibad and other leaders also condemned the incident.


4 army men killed in attack: ISPR
RAWALPINDI: The Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Athar Abbas has confirmed that four army personnel have been killed during the attack at GHQ on Saturday, Geo News reported.

PM Gilani slams GHQ attack
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani slammed the attack at military headquarters in Rawalpindi

All terrorists killed in GHQ gunbattle: ISPR
ISLAMABAD: The spokesman Pakistan army Major General Athar Abbas has confirmed to Geo news that the situation outside army General Headquarters (GHQ) has been brought under total control meanwhile, all four terrorists who carried out gun onslaught at army checkpost, have been killed.

According to sources, four terrorists, driving a white Suzuki van and dressed in army uniform, opened firing and hurled hand grenades at army checkpost outside headquarters’ main gate, which security forces retaliated successfully, killing all four terrorists while two were arrested.

Some security guards were also embrace martyrdom during offensive, Abbas said, adding, army commandos had cordoned off the entire area and search operation remained underway to locate other militants who might have fled through adjacent areas.

The miscreants have been overpowered and the situation is under complete control just after one-hour long gunbattle, spokesman ISPR Athar Abbas confirmed to Geo news.

According to details suspected militants attacked tightly guarded army headquarters on Saturday, as they were in a white Suzuki vehicle and were intercepted at army checkpost no 1, they opened fire and threw five hand grenades at a main gate, security officials and media said.

"They wore army uniforms and tried to enter the headquarters area but when they were stopped they opened fire and hurled hand grenades and later were killed following a deadly gunbattle," a security official told media.

Four terrorists were killed and two were arrested during one-hour long encounter and four army men embraced martyrdom, army sources said.

Media sources said firing continued with the two or three gunmen for forty minutes after the attack was launched. Three blasts had been heard, they said.

Soldiers had sealed off roads leading to the headquarters and two helicopters remained hovering over the area.

Search operation air surveillance at GHQ

RAWALPINDI: Firing has come to halt after one-hour long army operation outside army GHQ, Geo news reported on Friday morning, meanwhile, search operation and air surveillance is still continued.

At least four terrorists were killed and two were arrested while a dead body of an unidentified person was also recovered form the encounter place, sources said.

The miscreants have been overpowered and the situation is under completely control, spokesman ISPR Ather Abbas confirmed to Geo news.

According to details suspected militants attacked tightly guarded army headquarters on Saturday, as they were in a white Suzuki vehicle and were intercepted at army checkpost no 1, they opened fire and threw five grenades at a main gate, security officials and media said.

"They wore army uniforms and tried to enter the headquarters area but when they were stopped they opened fire and hurled hand grenades," a security official told media.

Four terrorists were killed and two were arrested during one-hour long encounter, army sources said.

The suspected militants had driven up to the gate in a white Suzuki van that was carrying explosives, the official said.

Media sources said firing was still going on with the two or three gunmen for forty minutes after the attack was launched. Three blasts had been heard, they said.

Soldiers sealed off roads leading to the headquarters and ahelicopter was hovering over the area.

President Zardari condemns GHQ attack
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the attack at GHQ in Rawalpindi.

President Zardari in his statement said such incidents could not weaken governments’ commitment against terrorism.

Four killed, two held outside GHQ
RAWALPINDI: At least four militants were killed and two were arrested amid firing between miscreants and army commandos outside army headquarters while the situation has been brought under control, army sources said.

Some security personnel might be martyred during offensive, sources feared.


Heavy firing, blasts near GHQ in Pindi
RAWALPINDI: Heavy firing has been reported near GHQ army Headquarters here in Rawalpindi, meanwhile, several loud explosions have also been heard, Geo news reported.

Soldiers guarding army headquarters opened fire at a suspected suicide bomber in a vehicle on Saturday, a security official and media said.

According to an eyewitness, the shooting began when a white Suzuki vehicle was intercepted by army personnel for routine checking at army checkpost near army headquarters on Mall Road, so the miscreants, sitting on vehicle, opened heavy and indiscriminate firing meanwhile, army soldiers have surrounded the vehicle and started retaliation.

As many as five hand grenades have been hurled from the vehicle meanwhile, the entire area has been cordoned off and the roads leading to GHQ have been closed for traffic, sources said

The details said firing is still going on with gunmen who had tried to enter the tightly guarded sprawling headquarters in the city of Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad.

Army commandos have kicked off search operation to locate some fled miscreants into areas adjacent to GHQ, witnesses said.

Moreover, the miscreants are dressed in army uniform while army helicopters have began hovering over the firing spot.

Witnesses also feared there might be heavy explosive materials inside the vehicle.

Heavy firing heard near GHQ

RAWALPINDI: Heavy firing heard near GHQ, sources said.

Rported By GEO Pakistan

Pak-Chini Bhai Bhai

A Chinese (or Chinese-American) young woman does an excellent job at singing Pakistan’s national anthem (qaumi tarana).

copy to : youtube and pakistanpolicy.com

Will the parliament’s outbursts of national pride lead to outright rejection of KL-Bill?

The National Assembly is set to hold debate on Kerry-Lugar bill, the US aid tripling annual civilian aid for Pakistan, during its proceedings beginning this evening today.

At the same time, the Kerry-Lugar bill is expected to consume a fair share of the corps commanders’ time, when they meet in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. There are indications that the US aid legislation is likely to find little support at the General Headquarters and may ultimately sour relations between the armed forces and the government, which favours the bill and claims it as a major foreign policy success.

The certifications include confirmation that the government continues to cooperate in investigating nuclear proliferators; is making sustained efforts against terrorists, including blocking support by elements within the military and intelligence network for terrorists, taking action against terrorist bases and acting on intelligence about high-value targets provided to it; and that the security forces are not subverting the political and judicial processes.

President Asif Ali Zardari rejected criticism that the conditions in the Kerry-Lugar Bill undermined the country’s sovereignty. The president said the bill was the first Pakistan aid legislation that did not require U.S. presidential certifications every year. ‘It only required certification by the Secretary of State that Pakistan was moving along the path of democracy, nuclear non- proliferation and drugs control. ‘Who in Pakistan under the present democratic dispensation would disagree with these goals?’ he asked.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani hailing the Bill said, “The passage of the Kerry-Lugar Bill is a big success of the government as it is for the first time that the United States has supported a democratic government in Pakistan instead of dictatorship,” he said while addressing a meeting of the parliamentary party of the coalition partners of the government.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, while endorsing the GHQ views, dubbed the Kerry-Lugar Bill as a complete failure of the incumbent government and its lobbyists sitting in the US. “Besides other questions relating to terms and conditions, the language used in the bill about Pakistan and its institutions is highly objectionable that we, the members of parliament, must reject while adopting a collective approach,” Chaudhry Nisar told. Responding to a counter question related to the Pakistan armed forces that are already paying sacrifices in the war on terror, the opposition leader said the bill was actually targeting our institutions, including the Army.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has advised the critics of the bill to read it carefully. She said the bill would help Pakistan improve education and other social areas. The US was in a serious engagement with Pakistan, she added. US Senator John Kerry said the manuscript of Kerry Lugar Bill has been sent to President Barack Obama for signature. US Senator said this Bill is a clear sign of direct relations with the people of Pakistan. “Pakistan will be given $7.5 billions aid under KL-Bill. We want good relationship with the government of Pakistan.” He said this Bill would not harm the sovereignty of Pakistan.

While the Pakistani media and opposition leaders are going ballistic about how the Kerry-Lugar bill impairs Pakistan’s sovereignty, Indian government and the media riling Obama Administration for having given Pakistan unqualified support and assistance. A former Indian intelligence chief observed, both the Indian lobby in US and the Indian government fought to reduce, if not prevent any aid been given to Pakistan. In articles and on television, Indians have admitted that the main reason they failed was due to the tremendous lobbying and diplomatic efforts of the Pakistani government.

Rport By DOWN NEWS

49 killed, 100 hurt in Peshawar suicide blast

PESHAWAR: A massive suicide car bomb Friday ripped through Khyber market in the Peshawar, leaving at least 49 people dead, officials said.

The blast in a shopping area close to the northwestern city's main Khyber Bazaar also wounded more than 100 people, provincial health minister Zahir Ali Shah told reporters.

"At least 49 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the blast," Shah told reporters in the main Lady Reading Hospital.

Doctor Mehboob Ali at the hospital confirmed the toll and put the number of wounded at 103. The injured included women and children, he said.

More than 50 people were in serious condition, he said.

Police official Mohammad Karim estimated the size of the bomb at around 100 kilogrammes (220 pounds), while Shafqat Malik, chief of the bomb disposal squad, confirmed that a suicide attacker had detonated the bomb.

The device was planted in the door panels of the vehicle and included machinegun ammunition, designed to cause maximum casualties, Malik said.

"The suicide attacker was sitting in the vehicle," he added.

Another police official, Nisar Marwat, said the death toll could rise, given that some of the wounded were in critical condition.

"We have declared an emergency in the hospitals," Local administration chief Sahibzada Mohammad Anis told reporters.

Rport By GEO NEWS

Peshawer BlastCCTV

Rport By GEO NEWS

Pakistan's army heads into the belly of the beast

South Waziristan -- home of Baitullah Mehsud, the slain don of the Pakistani Taliban -- is the next stop in Pakistan's war on terror.

Though Washington has been encouraging an operation in the lawless Waziristan area since early summer, the Pakistan Army has decided to go into Mehsud country at a time of its choosing and based on its own reasoning. Pakistan's largely American-funded counterinsurgency is, to a large extent, being conducted on Rawalpindi's terms, not Washington's. The probability of the Pakistan Army going beyond taking care of its own enemy in South Waziristan, the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan, and making an honest effort to go after America's foes engaged in attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan, is low.

Preparation for the operations began in June, when the Pakistan Army -- aided by suspected American drone strikes -- started "softening" the terrain with airstrikes and mortar fire and choking off the TTP's supply routes into South Waziristan. The United States, armed with Pakistani intelligence and Predator drones, took out Baitullah Mehsud in a strike on August 5, which has been a considerable blow to the TTP's cohesiveness.

Precision air and drone strikes have eliminated key TTP operatives and facilities, reducing the quality and scale of terrorist activity inside Pakistan. Operation Rah-e Rast, which targeted the TTP in the Malakand division, also in northwest Pakistan, and a series of smaller scale operations throughout the tribal areas, have reduced the TTP's operational space. Much of its leadership is currently confined to the greater Waziristan area.

At the same time, the Pakistani government has been playing hardball with the Mehsud tribe, trying to get it to turn against the TTP. This effort, which includes attempts to form anti-TTP lashkars, has yielded limited success.

But the Pakistan Army apparently feels that now, as winter begins in Waziristan, is an opportune time to seriously debilitate the TTP. The local population in Mehsud country has been ordered by radio to evacuate the area; tens of thousands have left. Heavy ground operations could begin sometime in October. The window of opportunity is closing. As the New York Times' Ismail Khan notes, the rugged region is generally hit by snow starting in late November.

The Pakistan Army, it is said, distinguishes between the "good" and "bad" Taliban. But such language mischaracterizes the decision making process in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan Army is a coherent, modern organization with a cold, rational outlook on its surrounding landscape. It is interested in furthering its strategic objectives. For the Pakistan Army, some Taliban groups can be seen as strategic assets, while others, such as the TTP, are more clearly enemies.

And so as the Pakistan Army heads into South Waziristan to give the TTP network a decisive blow, there is little likelihood that it will target the networks of commanders like Maulvi Nazir, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, and Jalaluddin Haqqani, all of whom chiefly target coalition forces in Afghanistan rather than the Pakistani state or military. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that the Pakistan Army would begin operations in South Waziristan without the confidence that these three networks would not attack it in defense of the TTP.

The reasons for this are, in part, economic. It's easier to target one group focused in a single area, rather than four or more groups each located on opposite ends of North and South Waziristan. But beyond this, the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment remains concerned with its security predicament in a post-America Afghanistan.

It would like to see a coherent and non-hostile government in Kabul that can, at the very least, serve as an energy and trade corridor from Gwadar and Karachi to the ancestral lands in Central Asia of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire. Rival India is emerging on the world stage, and Pakistan would like to restrain the growth of the Indian presence in its own backyard. Add to this the shared population and borders between the two countries, and it becomes clear that no country in the world is as impacted by developments in Afghanistan as is Pakistan.

Recent reports that the United States and NATO members have come to terms with another Karzai presidency have proven Pakistan's contention that to shape events in Afghanistan, you need an allied Pashtun on top. Karzai is the least incapable of America's Pashtuns. But Pakistan, whose relations with Karzai have improved in the past year, also has Afghan Pashtuns of its own, the most important of whom is Mullah Muhammad Omar, head of the Afghan Taliban. And with the Afghan Taliban ascendant, it is not realistic to expect Pakistan to turn against it and affiliated networks just yet. Why would the Pakistan Army ditch a rising Afghan Taliban for a sinking Karzai and his band of kleptomaniacs? The Pakistan army might see itself as betting on the winning horse in the long run.

Rport By GEO NEWS

A Muslim Solution for Afghanistan

“After eight years of US involvement in Afghanistan, a strategic crossroads within Asia, the country remains a deadly conflict zone. In fact, this weekend insurgents attacked two US military bases along the Pakistani border. Helping Afghanistan stand on its own – an imperative for both regional and Western states – is a task that will take decades. But it is increasingly clear that it is not one that the West can perform….

However, a precipitous Western withdrawal from Afghanistan would leave a major void in the state….

Afghanistan is factionalized, pockmarked by ethnic and tribal divisions. Its government’s sole success is an election rigged in its own favor. Warlords run much of the country. The national Army and police are years away from being able to secure the country on their own. Other state institutions lack the minimal human and financial resources to function without external crutches. US and Western troops should leave. But because Afghanistan will remain dependent on international aid for development and security, troops cannot leave without something to fill the vacancy.

The solution? Muslim and regional states must fill the voicancy

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

Hakimullah Mehsud Confirms Baitullah’s Death

Hakimullah Mehsud has told BBC Urdu that Baitullah Mehsud died two days ago.

The BBC also spoke with Wali-ur-Rehman Mehsud, who denied claims of rifts in the TTP. The report also states that Wali-ur-Rehman has been made TTP commander in the Mehsud areas of Waziristan.

So, we have a power sharing arrangement in which Hakimullah heads the TTP, but Wali-ur-Rehman runs the show in the TTP’s heartland. Given that it took the Taliban so long to acknowledge Baitullah’s death, it’s clear that there are some real internal sensitivities. The big question is: Can Hakimullah and Wali-ur-Rehman work together, or will they step on each other’s toes?

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

Faqir Muhammad Claims Position of “Acting” TTP Chief

that Maulvi Faqir Muhammad has announced that he is the “acting” amir of the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Faqir, who spoke with the BBC via phone from an undisclosed location, claimed that Baitullah Mehsud is still alive. He also added that the TTP-Swat spokesman, Muslim Khan, has replaced the recently arrested Maulvi Umar as the organization’s central spokesman.

Faqir, who has been the TTP’s naib amir (second-in-command) and head of its Bajaur Agency affiliate, said that the organization has not held a shura meeting recently. So it’s unclear as to how he has become the group’s temporary leader if, as he claims, neither is its permanent leader dead nor has its leadership council met. Also interesting is that Faqir chose to call the BBC himself, rather than delegating the task to Muslim Khan.

There is indication Faqir is concerned about others unilaterally seizing the mantle of TTP amir. In response to a question, Faqir stated, “Neither Maulvi Wali-ur-Rehman, nor Hakimullah Mehsud has the power [that would permit them to] appoint themselves as amir without consulting other areas’ Talibans. Neither can Waziristan’s Taliban do the same.” But Faqir then went on to laud the Waziristan Taliban for its “sacrifices” and state that Hakimullah and Wali-ur-Rehman are both qualified to lead the central organization, if legitimately selected.

Factional and tribal differences could play a role in weakening the TTP’s cohesiveness. Faqir is not a member of the Mehsud tribe; he’s a Mohmand from Bajaur (there are also Mohmand tribesmen in, you guessed it, the Mohmand Agency).

If Faqir continues to lay claim to the TTP’s amirship, will the Mehsud Taliban and tribesmen stay loyal or defect? Can a non-Mehsud really run the show in Mehsud country? And will other Taliban commanders remain content as subordinates? Hakimullah, for example, appears to have a highly independent streak. Last week, there were reports that he appointed a man by the name of Azam Tariq as TTP spokesman, which would contradict Faqir’s announcement of Muslim Khan’s promotion. And North Waziristan’s Hafiz Gul Bahadur could also be interested in the top spot. Ismail Khan, Dawn’s excellent Peshawar editor, suggested that Gul Bahadur’s continued aggresiveness against the Pakistan Army could be part of a power play to take over the TTP.

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

The Bhutto-Zardari Kids Go Public

Bilawal and his younger siblings were publicly unveiled in Multan this July. Each gave a speech that was in English save for some greetings and slogans in Urdu. The speeches were very hollow. The kids spoke on working for the poor, but failed to articulate any pro-poor policies. Asifa spoke of her hope to be able to match her late mother’s achievements, but never mentioned what exactly her mother achieved. She looked a bit uncomfortable with the random jiyalas yelling slogans in her name. I don’t blame her. But it’s clear these kids, whose formative years were not spent in Pakistan, are really Dubaiwallas.

I found a few things interesting.

One, it appears that Bilawal is attempting to imitate his grandfather’s style of speech in English. He’s off to a good start, but the English language’s political utility is really limited in Pakistan today.

Two, after Bilawal raises his voice, the camera pans to Asif Zardari, who has an obvious smirk on his face. The same thing occurred during Bilawal’s infamous scream speech, in which he proved Zardari’s statement that “Bhuttoism begins where logic ends.” Zardari, Pakistan’s Joe Jackson, takes pride in pimping his kids.

Three, it appears that Jehangir Badr might be their manny (male nanny)/political tutor. He pushes Bilawal’s luggage cart at the airport and introduced the kids during this speech.

The speeches are below.

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

Bilawal Bhutto's Speach

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

Bakhtawar Bhutto's Speach

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

Asifa Bhutto's Speach

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com

Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency After Baitullah: Move Forward, But Not Too Fast

Almost two weeks after the killing of Baitullah Mehsud, Pakistan continues to have an upper hand over the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). But Rawalpindi-Islamabad’s gains over the TTP are unconsolidated. The Pakistani Taliban network can rejuvenate itself. Pakistan needs to sustain its vigilance against the militants, while at the same time not drag itself into a full-fledged conflict in South Waziristan it is not ready for.

Pakistan has managed to:

• secure its major urban areas outside the Pashtun belt, and, to a large extent, Peshawar, from militant attacks. There has been no equivalent of the Manawan police academy or ISI office attacks in Lahore or the Pearl Continental attack in Peshawar.
• cleanse the Malakand division of militants (though not completely — see below) to the extent that much of the internally displaced population is returning home and willing to facilitate policing efforts to prevent a Taliban return.
• increase approval of the Pakistan Army in the Malakand division, despite the fact that it hasn’t followed a COINdinista Network Approved Strategy (CNAS).
• continue to penetrate terrorist cells and apprehend key facilitators, funders, and trained suicide bombers.
• push the militant leadership into the North-South Waziristan corridor.
• fracture the TTP leadership, or at least create the perception that it is in “disarray.”
• put the Mehsud network — and anti-state takfiri terrorists, in general — on the defensive, both physically and ideologically.
• maintain pressure on TTP remnants in Bajaur, Khyber, Mohmand, and Orakzai. Note that there hasn’t been an attack on a NATO convoy in Pakistan recently.
• transfer the Pashtun “hot potato” on to the United States.

This success is due to:

• the use of air power against militants in the Malakand division and the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that, while causing significant civilian casualties, neither turned the local population against the central government nor strained the manpower of the Pakistani security services.
• a commitment to keep a large military presence in Swat for the next few years.
• a sustained counterpropaganda campaign utilizing the private media and religious scholars, particularly Barelvis.
• a clever psy-ops campaign against the TTP.
• a whole-hearted embrace of its fallen soldiers, with public funerals made accessible to the media.
• excellent investigative and police work done by the federal interior ministry down to the provincial police forces.
• the decision by the Obama administration to focus drone attacks against the Baitullah Mehsud network.

The TTP has failed to:

• prove that Baitullah Mehsud is alive. Hakimullah Mehsud, who appears to be living, promised a Baitullah video by last Monday, but it never appeared.
• demonstrate leadership continuity by appointing a successor to Baitullah.
• counter Pakistan Army claims that there was a clash between Hakimullah and Wali-ur-Rehman Mehsud by having the two agree on a Baitullah successor or, somehow, publicly prove they are on the same page.
• show that it remains a force to be reckoned with by pulling off a major attack in Islamabad, Peshawar, or urban Punjab.
• legitimize (or re-legitimize) its insurgency and campaign of terror in the eyes of the Pakistani public by linking it to Pakistan’s support for the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan.

Despite the Pakistan military’s gains against the TTP, the terrorist outfit’s senior leadership — aside from Baitullah — remains alive. Commanders such as Faqir Muhammad and Hakimullah Mehsud are around. But their continued existence does not preclude a disassembly of the TTP. Afterall, it is an umbrella organization. Disassembly would require the commanders to no longer share the same threat: the Pakistan military-intelligence establishment. And that would require an undesirable return to a messy policy of Rawalpindi sorting out the bad guys from the less bad guys (i.e. “good” vs. “bad” Taliban).

For the Pakistan Army, South Waziristan remains the belly of the beast. Its unforgiving land is the home of the Mehsud network as well as a host of Pakistani and foreign jihadi groups.

But, for many reasons, the Pakistan Army cannot afford a ground incursion into South Waziristan:

• Its gains in the Malakand Division have yet to be consolidated and the troops there must remain. Militant attacks in the North-West Frontier Province have risen in the past week. Today, a suicide bomber struck a gas station in Charsadda, killing at least seven. And in the past week, there have been two suicide bombings in Swat. The most recent one occurred in Mingora, where Ambassador Richard Holbrooke is scheduled to visit on today. These events suggest the possibility that the Taliban could pop up again amidst a returning displaced population. A recent Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) briefing with the New York Times indicated that the Pakistan Army won’t move any additional troops from the border with India. So Swat will utilize the Pakistan Army’s only ‘extra’ manpower.
• It lacks the public support necessary for a sustained and costly battle there. While more Pakistanis support the fight against militants now than ever, the supporters do not constitute a commanding majority; and even among the supporters for the war, there is a high preference for peace talks. The fight in the Malakand division was a cakewalk compared to what the Pakistan Army would face in South Waziristan. Public support for a prolonged South Waziristan ground campaign would collapse quickly.
• It does not have the support of the Mehsud tribe. A Mehsud tribal leader, while visiting Islamabad, referred to Baitullah as a “shaheed” or martyr. His tribe has yet to revolt against the Mehsud terror network, despite the Pakistani security services’ prodding. I sensed that the tribal leader lacked trust with the military-intelligence establishment. If his tribe stood up against the Mehsud network, only to have the Pakistan Army make a peace deal with the group, the tribal leaders who had supported the army could be targeted by the terror group. Presently, the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment has been playing a bit of hardball with the Mehsuds by using the rival South Waziristan Bhittani tribe against them. But, according to some reports, the Bhittanis have killed regular Mehsud tribesmen. And some fear a new problem, a Bhittani-Mehsud tribal war, could emerge. While there is merit to the idea of converting the Mehsuds with a bit of hard power, overdoing it could harden their resolve. The Mehsud tribe needs to know that the Pakistan Army will have its back if it turns against Baitullah’s network and that there are costs to supporting the TTP and rewards from opposing it.
• It has hostile forces to the Mehsud country’s north, where the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group continues to engage in suicide attacks against Pakistani security forces in North Waziristan. A jihadi video from this summer indicates that at least one suicide bomber was an Uzbek. Was the Uzbek with Bahadur or borrowed from Baitullah?
• It potentially also has hostile forces to the Mehsud country’s west. A peace deal with Maulvi Nazir, an Ahmedzai Wazir in South Waziristan, was thought to have helped contain Baitullah Mehsud and challenge irredentist Uzbek militants. But U.S. drone attacks and possibly the encouragement of al-Qaeda pushed the militant against the Pakistani establishment. Nazir appeared on an al-Sahab (al-Qaeda’s media arm) video damning the Pakistani state (for, among other things, its Macaulay-originated education system). A pro-government tribal leader was recently killed in his network’s vicinity. However, Nazir’s conflagrations with the Pakistani security forces have been limited, as compared to Gul Bahadur’s. And, in a curious press report, he is said to have been killed on Monday in a supposed clash with Baitullah’s network. The Mehsud network denied taking part in the battle; it is certainly possible that the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment eliminated Nazir and, neither wanting conflict with the Ahmedzai Wazirs nor wishing Wazir-Mehsud unity, sought to blame the Mehsud network instead. It also remains possible that Nazir’s group could have really been attacked by the Mehsuds, but I am skeptical. And Nazir still could be alive.

So, rather than being triangulated by the Ahmedzai Wazirs, Utmanzai Wazirs, and the Mehsuds, the Pakistan Army seems to be making economical use of its resources by not heightening hostilities with each tribe’s militant network at once. The Mehsud network is the declared public enemy, while Gul Bahadur can be countered under the pretenses of ‘reluctance’ and Nazir can, possibly, be targeted through covert methods that offer deniability. Pakistani air power and local paramilitary and army forces can continue pressure on the Mehsud network and Gul Bahadur’s group (under the cover of “retaliation”), and American drone attacks can target all three groups. This would soften up the rough terrain of South Waziristan, weaken its jihadi infrastructure, and increase coherence in U.S.-Pakistan relations.

But, in the end, all this talk of the various Pakistani Taliban groups begets the question: whither the Haqqani network? Does going against any or all of the jihadi three in Waziristan mean a conflict between the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment and the Haqqani network is guaranteed, if it hasn’t begun already?

This is where things get the shadiest. How can the Haqqani network have ties to the ISI, the Baitullah Mehsud network, and al-Qaeda at the same time? The enemy of my enemy is, perhaps, my friend; the friend of my friend can be my friend; but can the friend of my enemy be my friend? Perhaps if the friend of my enemy is also the enemy of another enemy of mine. But is that enough glue to hold ‘friends’ together? The puzzle would be easier to solve if it became clear that Maulvi Sangeen — presently, the major linkage between the Haqqani and Mehsud networks — is a bit of a renegade. It also helps to remember that jihadi groups are prone to insubordination and splintering; in fact, there have been instances in which the elimination or arrest of Taliban commanders was ‘facilitated’ by the parent group. So, there is always more than meets the eye.

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Rawalpindi not parting ways with the Haqqanis and Mullah Omar. Any future political resolution in Afghanistan will involve re-balancing the ethnic power distribution there, with a re-tilt toward the Pashtuns. The Haqqanis, Mullah Omar, and to some extent, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, are Pakistan’s only Pashtun cards to play. And everyone — the Germans, the Turks, the Indians, the Brits, the Iranians, the Americans, and hell, probably even the Polish — all have, want, and need cards to play in Afghanistan. Let’s not be naive about Afghan independence. It is a penetrated state; its penetration is guaranteed by the fact that it is landlocked, surrounded by middle and emerging global powers, host to a north Atlantic alliance that has found itself in the middle of Central Asia (dangerously in Chinese, Iranian, Pakistani, and Russian strategic space), home to Pashtuns and Tajiks who will ally with a foreigner to mercilessly combat one another, and a possible transit route for a number of energy pipelines in a post-peak oil, post-Chinese riding bicycles to work world.

I think a quid pro quo in the form of Baitullah for the Haqqanis and/or Mullah Omar is not probable. Washington took out Baitullah, but he was a bigger threat to Pakistan than he was to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Now that Rawalpindi got what it wanted, what will guarantee it reciprocating through giving up the Haqqanis and/or Mullah Omar?

Baitullah, in a loose sense, served as leverage over Pakistan. But now he and that leverage are gone. At the same time, the U.S.-led coalition is increasingly vulnerable as it faces an uphill battle in Afghanistan. Days before national elections, the Afghan capital of Kabul was struck by a SVBIED with approximately 1,000 pounds of explosives. The suicide bomber managed to penetrate the most secure area of Kabul. The attack was a public relations coup for the Taliban, which managed to strike near the local seat of the world’s most powerful collective security alliance, led by world’s sole superpower, with a security blimp watching from the sky.

Assuming the elections turn out fine (reasonable turnout, especially among Pashtuns, no major claims of rigging, and a Karzai victory), Afghanistan remains a challenged country. American operations in Helmand are moving slow. Meanwhile, the Taliban are making major gains in Kandahar and areas outside the Pashtun provinces. General Stanley McCrystal’s surrogates, i.e. those who served on his review committee, are hitting the airwaves and op-ed pages calling for a significant troop increase. But the Obama administration remains conflicted. National Security Advisor Jim Jones is dead against any new commitment of additional troops. Vice President Joe Biden also seems to be extremely cold to the idea. A majority of Americans do not approve of the war in Afghanistan (though this can certainly change). The “good war” isn’t as good as it once was. Add to that the fact that COINdinista-style wars are expensive, while American tolerance for deficit spending has evaporated.

Washington has increasingly made clear that it is willing to negotiate with elements of the Afghan Taliban (save for the senior leadership), as long as they commit to some behavioral change (e.g. disarming and accepting the Afghan constitution). Theoretically, it’s a perfect formula. But in reality, it’s somewhat dangerous. Negotiations, in the Washington consensus, are contingent upon the United States breaking the present stalemate and gaining an upper hand. But what if the U.S.-led coalition never gains an upper hand? Will it continue to walk into the quicksand? This is a critical question that need to be addressed before it’s too late.

Rported By By www.pakistanpolicy.com