Yet Indian UPSC CSE aspirants prefer The Hindu over other newspapers. It's just they are very critical.
Sometimes even when no criticism is required.
Sometimes even when no criticism is required.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan : News, Discussions & Updates
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Founded to Protest Pakistan 'Disappearances', Group Now Sees Supporters Go Missing
As they were about to enter the office of the Commissioner of Karachi for a meeting to discuss a rally planned in Pakistan's largest city, leaders of a Pashtun-led rights movement were intercepted by armed men accompanied by paramilitary Rangers.
"A car with men in plainclothes pulled up in front of us and men with guns got out and told us to stand still," Said Alam Mahsud, an organizer with the Pashtun Tahafaz Movement (PTM), told Reuters. He said three PTM activists with him were put in a truck and taken away by the armed men, as uniformed Rangers stood by. They returned two days later saying they had been interrogated, threatened, punched and kicked by the unidentified men, then handed over to the Rangers, who released them.
PTM, which drew nearly 10,000 people to its Karachi rally on Sunday, was founded in January in protest against alleged extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and "disappearances" of young Pashtun men. Leaders of the emerging movement have blamed Pakistan's military for these abuses, in an unusually direct challenge to the country's most powerful institution.
Now, PTM's activists themselves have started disappearing, according to Mohsin Dawar, one of the movement's leaders. PTM organizers again blame the powerful military, saying the movement's growing popularity in major cities, even amid a local media blackout, has left the security forces feeling threatened.
The military's press wing did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations. In the past, the army has said it does not detain individuals without evidence.
Officials from the paramilitary Rangers, which are part of the security forces and have broad powers in Karachi, also did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the office of the Karachi Commissioner, who is the head of the city government.
"ANTI-STATE AGENDA"
In the past month, PTM says dozens of its activists have been detained across the country, while newspaper columnists have had articles on PTM rejected. Some students and academics say they have been threatened and universities forced to call off talks about Pashtun inequality. In the week leading up to the Karachi protest, PTM's leadership said Rangers and unidentified security officials detained and interrogated more than 100 of its supporters and kept nearly 30 workers in custody.
"The amount they are trying to stop us, it shows they are scared," student activist Manzoor Pashteen, who has become the face of the movement, told Reuters. "I don't think they know they are our guardians, their behavior is that of criminals." Despite the apparent crackdown, the protest in Karachi drew nearly 10,000 people. Pashteen himself was stopped from boarding a flight from the capital, Islamabad, to Karachi on Saturday after the airline told him his ticket had been canceled, he said, adding it took him 40 hours to drive to the city after being stopped and detained several times while on the road.
While there has been no official action against the PTM, army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa said recently that "no anti-state agenda in the garb of engineered protests" would be allowed to succeed. His comments were widely interpreted as being directed at the group.
Many of Pakistan's 30 million ethnic Pashtun's hail originally from the borderlands with Afghanistan, where the Pakistani Taliban controlled swathes of territory until they were pushed out by military operations in 2009 and 2014. PTM leaders say they do not want to challenge the government or undermine security, but complain Pashtuns - many of whom have moved to the cities to escape a near-decade long insurgency by Islamist militants - are unfairly targeted and suffer abuses at the hands of security forces in the name of fighting terrorism.
CAMPUS CHALLENGE
In April, a week before PTM was due to stage a rally in Lahore, Habib University in Karachi and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) called off talks related to Pashtun rights organized by students and academics. On the morning of the talks, both universities received calls from security officials, including representatives of Pakistan's spy agency the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), telling them to cancel the discussions, faculty members said.
"Calls were made to the administration as well as in-person visits from people who identified themselves as ISI," said a LUMS professor. "I received a call and was told to refrain from anti-military activity."
Officials from the ISI did not respond to a request for comment. At Habib University, the administration received visits from security officials and a call on the morning the lecture was due to take place, three different faculty members said. Representatives from LUMS and Habib University did not respond to requests for comment.
Three students who had expressed support for PTM on social media told Reuters they had received threatening calls from unknown numbers telling them to stop, adding they knew of a dozen others who had received similar calls.
The same week, Punjab University professor Ammar Ali Jan said he was removed from his post for encouraging students to be vocal about human rights issues and supporting PTM. Punjab University spokesman Khurram Shahzad said Jan was dismissed because of incomplete paperwork. Pakistan's minister for state and interior affairs, Talal Chaudhry, said such actions "by unnamed forces" were part of a wider clampdown on freedom of thought in Pakistan.
"We now have to listen to the people of Pakistan," Chaudhry said. "There have been very few such things in Pakistan's history where people come out on their own, to support a leaderless group," he added, referring to PTM.
Relations between the army and civilian government have been increasingly strained since the removal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by the courts last year, with some ruling party insiders accusing elements of the military of trying to destabilize it ahead of a general election expected in July. The military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history, denies any interference in civilian politics.
CRACKDOWN IN KARACHI
Mohsin Dawar arrived in Karachi on May 6 and, along with other PTM leaders, began meeting local Pashtuns to plan the weekend rally. "From the day we arrived they [the Rangers] began arresting our supporters," Dawar said.
People who provided PTM with logistical support, such as a place to hold their meetings, were picked up for five to six hours and threatened, he said.
"They told them not to support us; that we will leave Karachi but they have to continue living here," Dawar added.
Karachi is where the killing of a young Pashtun, Naqeebullah Mehsud, by police in January sparked nationwide peaceful demonstrations about Pashtun rights, from which PTM emerged. Organizers say they attempted to contract vendors to supply chairs, a stage, and a sound system for the rally, but none of the equipment was delivered.
One vendor, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters he received a call after meeting PTM members. "They said that if even one candle was delivered to the rally, my body would never be found," he said.
(Reporting by Saad Sayeed; Additional reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore and Syed Raza Hasan in Karachi; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Kay Johnson and Alex Richardson)
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...earances-group-now-sees-supporters-go-missing
As they were about to enter the office of the Commissioner of Karachi for a meeting to discuss a rally planned in Pakistan's largest city, leaders of a Pashtun-led rights movement were intercepted by armed men accompanied by paramilitary Rangers.
"A car with men in plainclothes pulled up in front of us and men with guns got out and told us to stand still," Said Alam Mahsud, an organizer with the Pashtun Tahafaz Movement (PTM), told Reuters. He said three PTM activists with him were put in a truck and taken away by the armed men, as uniformed Rangers stood by. They returned two days later saying they had been interrogated, threatened, punched and kicked by the unidentified men, then handed over to the Rangers, who released them.
PTM, which drew nearly 10,000 people to its Karachi rally on Sunday, was founded in January in protest against alleged extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention and "disappearances" of young Pashtun men. Leaders of the emerging movement have blamed Pakistan's military for these abuses, in an unusually direct challenge to the country's most powerful institution.
Now, PTM's activists themselves have started disappearing, according to Mohsin Dawar, one of the movement's leaders. PTM organizers again blame the powerful military, saying the movement's growing popularity in major cities, even amid a local media blackout, has left the security forces feeling threatened.
The military's press wing did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations. In the past, the army has said it does not detain individuals without evidence.
Officials from the paramilitary Rangers, which are part of the security forces and have broad powers in Karachi, also did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the office of the Karachi Commissioner, who is the head of the city government.
"ANTI-STATE AGENDA"
In the past month, PTM says dozens of its activists have been detained across the country, while newspaper columnists have had articles on PTM rejected. Some students and academics say they have been threatened and universities forced to call off talks about Pashtun inequality. In the week leading up to the Karachi protest, PTM's leadership said Rangers and unidentified security officials detained and interrogated more than 100 of its supporters and kept nearly 30 workers in custody.
"The amount they are trying to stop us, it shows they are scared," student activist Manzoor Pashteen, who has become the face of the movement, told Reuters. "I don't think they know they are our guardians, their behavior is that of criminals." Despite the apparent crackdown, the protest in Karachi drew nearly 10,000 people. Pashteen himself was stopped from boarding a flight from the capital, Islamabad, to Karachi on Saturday after the airline told him his ticket had been canceled, he said, adding it took him 40 hours to drive to the city after being stopped and detained several times while on the road.
While there has been no official action against the PTM, army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa said recently that "no anti-state agenda in the garb of engineered protests" would be allowed to succeed. His comments were widely interpreted as being directed at the group.
Many of Pakistan's 30 million ethnic Pashtun's hail originally from the borderlands with Afghanistan, where the Pakistani Taliban controlled swathes of territory until they were pushed out by military operations in 2009 and 2014. PTM leaders say they do not want to challenge the government or undermine security, but complain Pashtuns - many of whom have moved to the cities to escape a near-decade long insurgency by Islamist militants - are unfairly targeted and suffer abuses at the hands of security forces in the name of fighting terrorism.
CAMPUS CHALLENGE
In April, a week before PTM was due to stage a rally in Lahore, Habib University in Karachi and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) called off talks related to Pashtun rights organized by students and academics. On the morning of the talks, both universities received calls from security officials, including representatives of Pakistan's spy agency the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), telling them to cancel the discussions, faculty members said.
"Calls were made to the administration as well as in-person visits from people who identified themselves as ISI," said a LUMS professor. "I received a call and was told to refrain from anti-military activity."
Officials from the ISI did not respond to a request for comment. At Habib University, the administration received visits from security officials and a call on the morning the lecture was due to take place, three different faculty members said. Representatives from LUMS and Habib University did not respond to requests for comment.
Three students who had expressed support for PTM on social media told Reuters they had received threatening calls from unknown numbers telling them to stop, adding they knew of a dozen others who had received similar calls.
The same week, Punjab University professor Ammar Ali Jan said he was removed from his post for encouraging students to be vocal about human rights issues and supporting PTM. Punjab University spokesman Khurram Shahzad said Jan was dismissed because of incomplete paperwork. Pakistan's minister for state and interior affairs, Talal Chaudhry, said such actions "by unnamed forces" were part of a wider clampdown on freedom of thought in Pakistan.
"We now have to listen to the people of Pakistan," Chaudhry said. "There have been very few such things in Pakistan's history where people come out on their own, to support a leaderless group," he added, referring to PTM.
Relations between the army and civilian government have been increasingly strained since the removal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by the courts last year, with some ruling party insiders accusing elements of the military of trying to destabilize it ahead of a general election expected in July. The military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half its history, denies any interference in civilian politics.
CRACKDOWN IN KARACHI
Mohsin Dawar arrived in Karachi on May 6 and, along with other PTM leaders, began meeting local Pashtuns to plan the weekend rally. "From the day we arrived they [the Rangers] began arresting our supporters," Dawar said.
People who provided PTM with logistical support, such as a place to hold their meetings, were picked up for five to six hours and threatened, he said.
"They told them not to support us; that we will leave Karachi but they have to continue living here," Dawar added.
Karachi is where the killing of a young Pashtun, Naqeebullah Mehsud, by police in January sparked nationwide peaceful demonstrations about Pashtun rights, from which PTM emerged. Organizers say they attempted to contract vendors to supply chairs, a stage, and a sound system for the rally, but none of the equipment was delivered.
One vendor, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters he received a call after meeting PTM members. "They said that if even one candle was delivered to the rally, my body would never be found," he said.
(Reporting by Saad Sayeed; Additional reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore and Syed Raza Hasan in Karachi; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Kay Johnson and Alex Richardson)
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...earances-group-now-sees-supporters-go-missing
Pakistan expecting $2 billion from China
ISLAMABAD: In the wake of rising current account deficit that swelled to $14.035 billion in the first 10 months and resulting into slashing down of foreign currency reserves with every passing week, Pakistan is looking towards China as the last available option with expectations of receiving $01 to $02 billion on account of safe deposits before June 30, 2018, The News has learnt.
If China does not rescue Islamabad, then there will be no other choice but to knock at the door of the IMF as lender of last resort for all countries facing balance of payment crisis and avoiding default on external payment position.
One top official of the Finance Ministry confirmed to The News on Friday that Pakistan did not make any formal request to China for keeping dollars in the shape of safe deposits into the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), but Beijing had conveyed through informal channels that they might sanction putting $01 to $02 billion for keeping into Pakistan’s central bank in a bid to jack up the dwindling foreign currency reserves. At the moment, China’s $500 million are lying into safe deposit with the SBP.
According to the plan of the Ministry of Finance, Pakistan will be receiving $01 to $02 billion from China for keeping into safe deposit and then the government will go for launching Eurobond in the range of $02 billion.
Pakistan Mehsud Scout troops resigned over military’s support to religious extremists
At least 23 soldiers of Mehsud Scout have reportedly tendered their resignations purportedly in reaction to alleged covert support to militant outfits in South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and Khyber Agency.
According to the Pashtun Times, “Inside the Mehsud Scouts, it is rumoured they have been detained for making public their support to the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) among their batch fellows and tending to participate in Pashtuns’ protest demonstration in Karachi.”
While other sources on condition of keeping his identity anonymous rejected the rumours of support to PTM and said, “all the paratroopers tendered their resignations in protest to the resurgence of the Taliban groups in the tribal belt particularly in the three tribal agencies well before the Pashtuns’ protest demonstration in Karachi,” the sources told The Pashtun Times on the condition of keeping his identity anonymous.
The PT (Pashtun Times) further reported, “One Subaidar, four Hawaldars, seven Lance-Nayaks, and eleven Sepoys have been detained.”
There is a growing concern among the paratroopers about the resurgence of the Taliban amid heightened espionage on the soldiers by FIU, an internal intelligence unit.
After PTM came out in full swing across Pakistan in condemnation to alleged support of Pakistan’s military to terrorist groups in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan the Taliban reappeared mysteriously followed by target killings resumption.
Foreign exchange: SBP's reserves plunge 3.26% to $10.8b
(All cooked Sialkoti statictics.About $5 billion has been double counted.)
Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) again came under pressure, falling 3.26% on a weekly basis, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday.
The SBP gave no reason for the decline in reserves.
Overall, liquid foreign reserves held by the country, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, stood at $17,067 million. Net reserves held by banks amounted to $6,268.1 million
Earlier, the SBP received $350 million under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).
ISLAMABAD: In the wake of rising current account deficit that swelled to $14.035 billion in the first 10 months and resulting into slashing down of foreign currency reserves with every passing week, Pakistan is looking towards China as the last available option with expectations of receiving $01 to $02 billion on account of safe deposits before June 30, 2018, The News has learnt.
If China does not rescue Islamabad, then there will be no other choice but to knock at the door of the IMF as lender of last resort for all countries facing balance of payment crisis and avoiding default on external payment position.
One top official of the Finance Ministry confirmed to The News on Friday that Pakistan did not make any formal request to China for keeping dollars in the shape of safe deposits into the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), but Beijing had conveyed through informal channels that they might sanction putting $01 to $02 billion for keeping into Pakistan’s central bank in a bid to jack up the dwindling foreign currency reserves. At the moment, China’s $500 million are lying into safe deposit with the SBP.
According to the plan of the Ministry of Finance, Pakistan will be receiving $01 to $02 billion from China for keeping into safe deposit and then the government will go for launching Eurobond in the range of $02 billion.
Pakistan Mehsud Scout troops resigned over military’s support to religious extremists
At least 23 soldiers of Mehsud Scout have reportedly tendered their resignations purportedly in reaction to alleged covert support to militant outfits in South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and Khyber Agency.
According to the Pashtun Times, “Inside the Mehsud Scouts, it is rumoured they have been detained for making public their support to the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) among their batch fellows and tending to participate in Pashtuns’ protest demonstration in Karachi.”
While other sources on condition of keeping his identity anonymous rejected the rumours of support to PTM and said, “all the paratroopers tendered their resignations in protest to the resurgence of the Taliban groups in the tribal belt particularly in the three tribal agencies well before the Pashtuns’ protest demonstration in Karachi,” the sources told The Pashtun Times on the condition of keeping his identity anonymous.
The PT (Pashtun Times) further reported, “One Subaidar, four Hawaldars, seven Lance-Nayaks, and eleven Sepoys have been detained.”
There is a growing concern among the paratroopers about the resurgence of the Taliban amid heightened espionage on the soldiers by FIU, an internal intelligence unit.
After PTM came out in full swing across Pakistan in condemnation to alleged support of Pakistan’s military to terrorist groups in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan the Taliban reappeared mysteriously followed by target killings resumption.
Foreign exchange: SBP's reserves plunge 3.26% to $10.8b
(All cooked Sialkoti statictics.About $5 billion has been double counted.)
Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) again came under pressure, falling 3.26% on a weekly basis, according to data released by the central bank on Thursday.
The SBP gave no reason for the decline in reserves.
Overall, liquid foreign reserves held by the country, including net reserves held by banks other than the SBP, stood at $17,067 million. Net reserves held by banks amounted to $6,268.1 million
Earlier, the SBP received $350 million under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF).
Ready to join dialogue with India: Pak. Army
@STEPHEN COHEN I think its time for you to go back to the green place. looks like pak conceded defeat.
PA will never let any Dialogue suceed. and they will never admit defeat. Just a distraction. nothing else.
Pakistan ‘Blocks’ Dawn Newspaper Over Nawaz Sharif’s 26/11 Mumbai Attacks Confession
Pakistani authorities have blocked the circulation of a leading English daily in many parts of the country, a media watchdog has alleged, days after the newspaper published ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s controversial remarks on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
The interview of Sharif, which reportedly displeased the Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, appeared in Dawn newspaper’s May 12 issue and the blocking began on May 15, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said as it condemned the “latest attack on media freedom in Pakistan”.
According to RSF, distribution is being disrupted in most of Balochistan province, many cities in Sindh province and in all military cantonments.
Sharif dropped a bombshell in an interview with Dawn newspaper last week when he said: “Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?”
His comments triggered a massive controversy, drawing sharp criticism from all quarters. The National Security Committee (NSC) – Pakistan’s top civil-military body – also condemned his statement in a high-level meeting.
The Press Council of Pakistan has notified Dawn’s editor that the newspaper breached the ethical code of practice by publishing content that “may bring into contempt Pakistan or its people or tends to undermine its sovereignty or integrity as an independent country”.
“The unwarranted blocking of the distribution of one of the main independent newspapers has yet again shown that the military are determined to maintain their grip on access to news and information in Pakistan,” RSF said.
“It is clear that the military high command does not want to allow a democratic debate in the months preceding a general election.
“We call on the authorities to stop interfering in the dissemination of independent media and to restore distribution of Dawn throughout Pakistan,” RSF added.
Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had fired a broadside at Nawaz for statement about the Mumbai attack, with some going as far as demanding that the PML-N supremo be tried for high treason; that his name be placed on the Exit Control List, and a thorough investigation be undertaken to determine the reasons behind the statement made by three-time prime minister.
Govt racing to meet FATF demands before June
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is putting the finishing touches to its action plan with proposed measures for combating money laundering and terror financing with the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to chart its way forward once it is placed on the grey list by the global watchdog in June.
When approached to seek comment on the issue, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail told Dawn that his government had already taken several administrative steps complying with global standards to counter money laundering and terror financing.
He said Pakistan’s law to counter money laundering and terror financing was the most effective and strong legislation in the region. He said Pakistan would take all administrative measures as suggested and agreed under the proposed action plan.
However, the minister said it would be up to the FATF to remove Pakistan from the grey list or not. “It will be a political question,” he said.
Pakistani authorities have blocked the circulation of a leading English daily in many parts of the country, a media watchdog has alleged, days after the newspaper published ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s controversial remarks on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
The interview of Sharif, which reportedly displeased the Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, appeared in Dawn newspaper’s May 12 issue and the blocking began on May 15, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said as it condemned the “latest attack on media freedom in Pakistan”.
According to RSF, distribution is being disrupted in most of Balochistan province, many cities in Sindh province and in all military cantonments.
Sharif dropped a bombshell in an interview with Dawn newspaper last week when he said: “Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?”
His comments triggered a massive controversy, drawing sharp criticism from all quarters. The National Security Committee (NSC) – Pakistan’s top civil-military body – also condemned his statement in a high-level meeting.
The Press Council of Pakistan has notified Dawn’s editor that the newspaper breached the ethical code of practice by publishing content that “may bring into contempt Pakistan or its people or tends to undermine its sovereignty or integrity as an independent country”.
“The unwarranted blocking of the distribution of one of the main independent newspapers has yet again shown that the military are determined to maintain their grip on access to news and information in Pakistan,” RSF said.
“It is clear that the military high command does not want to allow a democratic debate in the months preceding a general election.
“We call on the authorities to stop interfering in the dissemination of independent media and to restore distribution of Dawn throughout Pakistan,” RSF added.
Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had fired a broadside at Nawaz for statement about the Mumbai attack, with some going as far as demanding that the PML-N supremo be tried for high treason; that his name be placed on the Exit Control List, and a thorough investigation be undertaken to determine the reasons behind the statement made by three-time prime minister.
Govt racing to meet FATF demands before June
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is putting the finishing touches to its action plan with proposed measures for combating money laundering and terror financing with the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to chart its way forward once it is placed on the grey list by the global watchdog in June.
When approached to seek comment on the issue, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail told Dawn that his government had already taken several administrative steps complying with global standards to counter money laundering and terror financing.
He said Pakistan’s law to counter money laundering and terror financing was the most effective and strong legislation in the region. He said Pakistan would take all administrative measures as suggested and agreed under the proposed action plan.
However, the minister said it would be up to the FATF to remove Pakistan from the grey list or not. “It will be a political question,” he said.
Lt Gen (r) Shahid Aziz Reportedly Found Dead in Afghanistan
Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 19th May, 2018) Lieutenant General (r) Shahid Aziz is reportedly found dead.
According to media reports, his dead body has been recovered from Pak-Afghan border.
Lt General (retd) Shahid Aziz was a Pakistani military author, intelligence writer, and retired three-star general of pakistan Army. He also served as the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.
Media sources said that he has been killed in Afghanistan some time ago. According to sources, Lt Gen (r) Shahid Aziz was in Afghanistan in an attempt to compensate for what he had done in favor of the US troops.
He has reportedly been found dead while he was in Afghanistan.
But Upon contacting, Lt Gen (r) Shahid Aziz's family refused to confirm his death news. Earlier, Media sources claimed Shahid Aziz's own family broke the news of his death. But in latest development, family sources denied any such claims and refused to confirm death news of PakistanArmy's retired General.
Not to forget, Aziz had taken admission in Islamic Studies department of a university. He had written a book ‘Ye khamoshi kahan tak’ and had criticized Pakistan for being an ally to the United States in war against terrorism.
Former president Pervez Musharraf had said in a recent statement that Shahid Aziz had grown beard and gone to Syria where he had been killed.
Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 19th May, 2018) Lieutenant General (r) Shahid Aziz is reportedly found dead.
According to media reports, his dead body has been recovered from Pak-Afghan border.
Lt General (retd) Shahid Aziz was a Pakistani military author, intelligence writer, and retired three-star general of pakistan Army. He also served as the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.
Media sources said that he has been killed in Afghanistan some time ago. According to sources, Lt Gen (r) Shahid Aziz was in Afghanistan in an attempt to compensate for what he had done in favor of the US troops.
He has reportedly been found dead while he was in Afghanistan.
But Upon contacting, Lt Gen (r) Shahid Aziz's family refused to confirm his death news. Earlier, Media sources claimed Shahid Aziz's own family broke the news of his death. But in latest development, family sources denied any such claims and refused to confirm death news of PakistanArmy's retired General.
Not to forget, Aziz had taken admission in Islamic Studies department of a university. He had written a book ‘Ye khamoshi kahan tak’ and had criticized Pakistan for being an ally to the United States in war against terrorism.
Former president Pervez Musharraf had said in a recent statement that Shahid Aziz had grown beard and gone to Syria where he had been killed.
Pakistan racing to meet FATF demands before June
Pakistan is giving finishing touches to its action plan that proposes measures for combating money laundering and terror financing to prevent itself from being placed on the grey list of a global watchdog next month, according to a media report.
A compliance report has been submitted by the Pakistani government to the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) - a sub-group within the Paris-based watchdog Financial Action Task Force - detailing the steps taken thus far and those that will be taken in the future to bring Pakistan's financial, regulatory and legal landscape into compliance with the watchdog's requirements, Dawn News reported.
On Friday, a meeting was convened at the Foreign Office to review the proposed actions which are to be discussed with APG joint working group in Bangkok next week.
This was the last in a series of meetings taking place within the government as officials race to meet the June deadline by when Pakistan will be placed on the FATF grey list.
A senior official in the finance ministry was quoted as saying in the report that a delegation from Pakistan would depart within the next few days for consultations with the APG's Joint Working Group in Bangkok.
That meeting will discuss the steps proposed by Pakistan to be taken after June to exit the grey list. The report has been drawn up by the Financial Monitoring Unit, a department housed in the State Bank of Pakistan, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
The FATF earlier sent an email to the SBP highlighting its concerns over the amnesty scheme introduced by the government in its last budget.
The email points out that Pakistan is required to inform FATF before announcing any such scheme. To address their concerns, Pakistan included a provision to specify that 'proceeds of crime are not eligible' for the amnesty scheme.
The senior official confirmed that the placement of Pakistan on the grey list was set to commence in June. He said the action plan drawn up by the government would set conditions for Pakistan to meet in a period of one year, the report said.
None of those working on the matter were willing to discuss the details of the action plan.
"Whatever conditions are being finalised, we will implement it administratively," one source said.
The details of action plan remained under negotiation with the FATF and set to be finalised by next month, the official said.
Pakistan was listed as grey in 2012 but was removed in 2015 after strenuous efforts to address the concerns of the group.
The US spearheaded the latest efforts to place Pakistan on the Grey List and was supported by the UK, France and Germany.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was set up in 1989 with a primary aim to set standards to combat money laundering, but in 2001 its mandate was expanded to include countering terror financing.
It can take action against any country by including a country in black or grey lists.
Pakistan racing to meet FATF demands before June - Times of India
Pakistan is giving finishing touches to its action plan that proposes measures for combating money laundering and terror financing to prevent itself from being placed on the grey list of a global watchdog next month, according to a media report.
A compliance report has been submitted by the Pakistani government to the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) - a sub-group within the Paris-based watchdog Financial Action Task Force - detailing the steps taken thus far and those that will be taken in the future to bring Pakistan's financial, regulatory and legal landscape into compliance with the watchdog's requirements, Dawn News reported.
On Friday, a meeting was convened at the Foreign Office to review the proposed actions which are to be discussed with APG joint working group in Bangkok next week.
This was the last in a series of meetings taking place within the government as officials race to meet the June deadline by when Pakistan will be placed on the FATF grey list.
A senior official in the finance ministry was quoted as saying in the report that a delegation from Pakistan would depart within the next few days for consultations with the APG's Joint Working Group in Bangkok.
That meeting will discuss the steps proposed by Pakistan to be taken after June to exit the grey list. The report has been drawn up by the Financial Monitoring Unit, a department housed in the State Bank of Pakistan, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
The FATF earlier sent an email to the SBP highlighting its concerns over the amnesty scheme introduced by the government in its last budget.
The email points out that Pakistan is required to inform FATF before announcing any such scheme. To address their concerns, Pakistan included a provision to specify that 'proceeds of crime are not eligible' for the amnesty scheme.
The senior official confirmed that the placement of Pakistan on the grey list was set to commence in June. He said the action plan drawn up by the government would set conditions for Pakistan to meet in a period of one year, the report said.
None of those working on the matter were willing to discuss the details of the action plan.
"Whatever conditions are being finalised, we will implement it administratively," one source said.
The details of action plan remained under negotiation with the FATF and set to be finalised by next month, the official said.
Pakistan was listed as grey in 2012 but was removed in 2015 after strenuous efforts to address the concerns of the group.
The US spearheaded the latest efforts to place Pakistan on the Grey List and was supported by the UK, France and Germany.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was set up in 1989 with a primary aim to set standards to combat money laundering, but in 2001 its mandate was expanded to include countering terror financing.
It can take action against any country by including a country in black or grey lists.
Pakistan racing to meet FATF demands before June - Times of India
When Indian spook came to rescue of ex-ISI chief son
In an incident that reads like the script of a Bollywood spy thriller, the son of a former ISI chief was rescued and sent safely back home by the Indian intelligence establishment.
In May 2015, former director general of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Asad Durrani's son Osman came to Kochi for work on behalf of a German company. Osman should have exited the country from the city that he entered from. But his office booked him from a flight back via Mumbai.
He was stopped by authorities in Mumbai and what followed were 24 hours of backchannel networking to get him out of India despite the visa violation. Durrani and former secretary of India's external spy agency Research &Analysis Wing (RAW) A S Dulat discuss this in the upcoming book- The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace - by the two spymasters and journalist Aditya Sinha.
"We were in a panic because we did not know what would happen. But even those people (Mumbai special branch) did not say to him, 'you don't have a visa for Bombay, what are you doing, pakdo, andar karo (arrest him.)' That could have happened, but it didn't. All this while my wife and I had another concern-what if someone reported that Osman, the son of a former ISI chief, was roaming around Mumbai, which hadn't forgotten 26/11,'' recalls Durrani.
When Durrani heard that Osman had been detained, he called Dulat for help. Dulat called several people including then RAW chief Rajinder Khanna. The wheels of the Indian intelligence establishment began to turn even as Osman was stonewalled.
Things however worked out, and Osman was able to fly back to Germany after a day from Mumbai. Dulat recalls the most touching part of the incident was that when he called Khanna to thank him for his help, the RAW chief said in reference to Durrani,''It's our duty,' he said, 'after all, he's a colleague.''
When Indian spook came to rescue of ex-ISI chief son - Times of India
In an incident that reads like the script of a Bollywood spy thriller, the son of a former ISI chief was rescued and sent safely back home by the Indian intelligence establishment.
In May 2015, former director general of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Asad Durrani's son Osman came to Kochi for work on behalf of a German company. Osman should have exited the country from the city that he entered from. But his office booked him from a flight back via Mumbai.
He was stopped by authorities in Mumbai and what followed were 24 hours of backchannel networking to get him out of India despite the visa violation. Durrani and former secretary of India's external spy agency Research &Analysis Wing (RAW) A S Dulat discuss this in the upcoming book- The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace - by the two spymasters and journalist Aditya Sinha.
"We were in a panic because we did not know what would happen. But even those people (Mumbai special branch) did not say to him, 'you don't have a visa for Bombay, what are you doing, pakdo, andar karo (arrest him.)' That could have happened, but it didn't. All this while my wife and I had another concern-what if someone reported that Osman, the son of a former ISI chief, was roaming around Mumbai, which hadn't forgotten 26/11,'' recalls Durrani.
When Durrani heard that Osman had been detained, he called Dulat for help. Dulat called several people including then RAW chief Rajinder Khanna. The wheels of the Indian intelligence establishment began to turn even as Osman was stonewalled.
Things however worked out, and Osman was able to fly back to Germany after a day from Mumbai. Dulat recalls the most touching part of the incident was that when he called Khanna to thank him for his help, the RAW chief said in reference to Durrani,''It's our duty,' he said, 'after all, he's a colleague.''
When Indian spook came to rescue of ex-ISI chief son - Times of India
Dulat needs to be given an Ashok Chakra. He's a living example of the term "supreme sacrifice ".
Plus he's also rendering himself useful if the incumbent or any future government decide on tea biskoot Track -II diplomacy and also announcing measures we need take if another 26/11 occurs. Needless to say he's advertising sorry offering his services too . All this while promoting his book.
Ek toh Sikh. Oopar se mauna. Ex RAW aur baatein netaonwaali.
It happens only in India !!
When ISI goes around arranging train d railments and Kashmir Ts. Ours was going around doing Aman ki aasha. Pathetic.
And he's an ex CI czar . The piece of shit must have a new book to sell.
A littele birdie has told me that Indian establishment expects a strike on Hindu pilgrims to Amarnath Yatra and that will become the trigger to wipe out Pakistan. Every IBG supposed to undertake strikes deep inside Pakistan have exercised their strike elements and they are ready with fuses set in the bombs.
Do we even have some kind of reliable BMD equipped first?
