Nothing shows Pakistan's failures and where it is headed better than this simple chart:
Islamic Republic of Pakistan : News, Discussions & Updates
- Thread starter Butter Chicken
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Officially, it is "Full Speed Ahead!" with the accelerator mashed to the wall, but not realizing that reverse gear is engaged.
well you wont find me complaining about itOfficially, it is "Full Speed Ahead!" with the accelerator mashed to the wall, but not realizing that reverse gear is engaged.
..well you wont find me complaining about it
You are talking to a Pakistani who loves his homeland. Just not the current dispensation.
Pity the kids.
Yes, it is the kids who suffer the most through no fault of their own, and the whole nation jeopardizes its future. The implications are dire.
US owes Pakistan $9 billion in reimbursements from the war on terror, says defense minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) held a consultative meeting on Thursday to discuss the country’s response to recent criticisms by US officials, including President Donald Trump.
“Everyone needs to be united on the issue since it is a matter of the country’s survival,” said National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq while chairing the PCNS meeting, which was briefed by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Defense Minister Khurram Dastagir.
National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed and key opposition leaders also attended the meeting.
Opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah demanded that all defense institutions and representatives of the Finance Ministry should participate in the follow-up session that will be held next week.
“We cannot make decisions based on emotions. The next session should review the military and financial situation of the country,” Shah said, adding that the situation needed careful examination before the country could frame a measured response.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said US pressure has regional implications and Pakistan needs to weigh its options.
“We have to look at the situation in the Middle East, at relations between the US and Iran, and the border that Pakistan shares with Iran,” he said.
“We have to consider these things as they are part of the larger picture upon which our response must be formulated.”
Meanwhile, Dastagir said the US owes Pakistan $9 billion in reimbursements from the war on terror.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) held a consultative meeting on Thursday to discuss the country’s response to recent criticisms by US officials, including President Donald Trump.
“Everyone needs to be united on the issue since it is a matter of the country’s survival,” said National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq while chairing the PCNS meeting, which was briefed by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Defense Minister Khurram Dastagir.
National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed and key opposition leaders also attended the meeting.
Opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah demanded that all defense institutions and representatives of the Finance Ministry should participate in the follow-up session that will be held next week.
“We cannot make decisions based on emotions. The next session should review the military and financial situation of the country,” Shah said, adding that the situation needed careful examination before the country could frame a measured response.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said US pressure has regional implications and Pakistan needs to weigh its options.
“We have to look at the situation in the Middle East, at relations between the US and Iran, and the border that Pakistan shares with Iran,” he said.
“We have to consider these things as they are part of the larger picture upon which our response must be formulated.”
Meanwhile, Dastagir said the US owes Pakistan $9 billion in reimbursements from the war on terror.
US suspends over $1.1 billion security assistance to Pakistan
US suspends over $1.1 billion security assistance to Pakistan
US suspends over $1.1 billion security assistance to Pakistan
They could have progressed way more in the correct direction if they had their priorities right from the 60s. They had a potential to be another Korea or Taiwan. They blindly chose not to. I sometimes feel sorry for their citizens.
Amid worsening tensions, US and Pakistan announce they will only speak to each other on Twitter
Michael KugelmanUpdated January 04, 2018
418
16
Amid dangerously deepening tensions, Washington and Islamabad have announced they will be downgrading their diplomacy to Twitter-based communication only.
“Given the recent difficulties in our relations, and given the ability of President Trump and many of our ministers to interact adroitly via Twitter, we have decided to restrict our communications to that medium only, for the time being,” according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, the White House released the following statement: “Until Pakistan demonstrates that it is doing more to take out the terrorists that target our troops in Afghanistan, we will limit our relations to rapid-fire bursts of 140—sorry, 280 (yay!)—character tweets.”
In interviews, officials in both capitals pledged support for the decision, which one White House staffer referred to as “tough love, Twitter style.”
Tough love, Twitter style: Exhibition 1.
“We have repeatedly conveyed the need for Pakistan to step up its game when it comes to terror,” said a US official reached by phone who demanded anonymity for reasons that are unclear, other than the fact that Americans like to make demands.
“We have conveyed this demand repeatedly through every communication channel known to humanity, including in-person meetings, public statements, emails, faxes, Morse code, smoke signals—the frequent smog in Islamabad helps with that—and much more. But it hasn’t worked.
“We’d like to push it more on Twitter, a platform the President already uses so frequently and which enjoys the multiplier effect of social media. We can get through to many folks. Just watch.”
When asked why the US would expect to be any more successful on Twitter than off it, the official had a quick answer: “The power of replication.”
Pressed further, the official said, “The magic of Twitter enables us to say ‘do more’ many times in a single missive.” The sound of a pen scribbling on paper could be heard in the background.
The list was too long for a screenshot but if you're curious, Pakistan is on 16th spot.
Then the US official continued: “I’ve just done the math. With the new 280 character limit, the President can say ‘do more’ 40 times in a single tweet. That’s remarkable.”
At the State Department, where it took numerous attempts to get someone to answer the phone, several officials acknowledged that restricting diplomatic relations to Twitter—notorious for its toxic environment—could further poison bilateral relations.
“That may be true,” one State officer said, sighing, “but then again, it’s not our call.”
Several staffers at the State Department looked on the bright side. “Our diplomats’ access to Pakistanis is often limited due to security considerations.
“Now, via Twitter, we’ll have instant access to the highly strategic demographic—young, urban-based, tech-savvy, English-speaking—that dominates the Pakistani Twittersphere,” one opined.
When told that Pakistan’s roughly three million Twitter users may also include many boisterous bots that are not terribly inclined to engage cordially with US officials, the staffer did not respond.
TBT to rosier times.
On the Pakistani side, policymakers cast the move as inevitable. “They often don’t speak nicely to us in person,” reasoned one official, “so why not just give in and take to Twitter, where no one ever seems to talk nicely to anyone.”
Pakistani officials, like their American counterparts, looked on the bright side. “Twitter-based ties shall promote democracy,” said one.
“We will be speaking directly to the people, while being fully transparent in our deliberations. We have the option of doing Twitter polls.
“And if there’s a need to opt for the back channel route, or if the Americans need a quiet and private space to conduct that audit we’ve invited them to undertake, then we’ll simply resort to DM.
“Does President Trump have an open DM policy?”
“Also,” the official continued, “US-Pakistan Twitterplomacy will provide open channels for dissent. The Insaafians and Ghairat Brigade can weigh in angrily with their awkwardly worded hash tags.
“And ISPR will surely step in with inputs when necessary, and when not necessary as well.”
To be honest ...
Asked why Pakistan would settle for an arrangement that could presumably lead to more abrasive treatment, the official replied:
“We’re used to it, we can deal with it, and best of all Twitter allows us to mute or block the invective if we wish. In effect, we can easily deflect their demands.
“When they tweet ‘do more,’ we’ll tweet ‘no more.’ We’ll mute them if they persist. This constant dynamic, so onerous and uncomfortable offline, is a quick and painless 280-character process on Twitter.”
There may be something fitting about US-Pakistan relations being relegated to the Twittersphere. “Twitter and US-Pakistan relations, improbably enough, are like two peas in a pod,” according to a sideburned South Asia analyst in Washington who seemingly opines on everything under the Subcontinental sun.
“Pundits have long forecast the demise of both, and yet each manages to survive. And now we have these two resilient forces coming together as one.”
“Poetic, isn’t it?”
Amid worsening tensions, US and Pakistan announce they will only speak to each other on Twitter - Blogs - DAWN.COM
A satire
Michael KugelmanUpdated January 04, 2018
418
16
Amid dangerously deepening tensions, Washington and Islamabad have announced they will be downgrading their diplomacy to Twitter-based communication only.
“Given the recent difficulties in our relations, and given the ability of President Trump and many of our ministers to interact adroitly via Twitter, we have decided to restrict our communications to that medium only, for the time being,” according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, the White House released the following statement: “Until Pakistan demonstrates that it is doing more to take out the terrorists that target our troops in Afghanistan, we will limit our relations to rapid-fire bursts of 140—sorry, 280 (yay!)—character tweets.”
In interviews, officials in both capitals pledged support for the decision, which one White House staffer referred to as “tough love, Twitter style.”
Tough love, Twitter style: Exhibition 1.
“We have repeatedly conveyed the need for Pakistan to step up its game when it comes to terror,” said a US official reached by phone who demanded anonymity for reasons that are unclear, other than the fact that Americans like to make demands.
“We have conveyed this demand repeatedly through every communication channel known to humanity, including in-person meetings, public statements, emails, faxes, Morse code, smoke signals—the frequent smog in Islamabad helps with that—and much more. But it hasn’t worked.
“We’d like to push it more on Twitter, a platform the President already uses so frequently and which enjoys the multiplier effect of social media. We can get through to many folks. Just watch.”
When asked why the US would expect to be any more successful on Twitter than off it, the official had a quick answer: “The power of replication.”
Pressed further, the official said, “The magic of Twitter enables us to say ‘do more’ many times in a single missive.” The sound of a pen scribbling on paper could be heard in the background.
The list was too long for a screenshot but if you're curious, Pakistan is on 16th spot.
Then the US official continued: “I’ve just done the math. With the new 280 character limit, the President can say ‘do more’ 40 times in a single tweet. That’s remarkable.”
At the State Department, where it took numerous attempts to get someone to answer the phone, several officials acknowledged that restricting diplomatic relations to Twitter—notorious for its toxic environment—could further poison bilateral relations.
“That may be true,” one State officer said, sighing, “but then again, it’s not our call.”
Several staffers at the State Department looked on the bright side. “Our diplomats’ access to Pakistanis is often limited due to security considerations.
“Now, via Twitter, we’ll have instant access to the highly strategic demographic—young, urban-based, tech-savvy, English-speaking—that dominates the Pakistani Twittersphere,” one opined.
When told that Pakistan’s roughly three million Twitter users may also include many boisterous bots that are not terribly inclined to engage cordially with US officials, the staffer did not respond.
TBT to rosier times.
On the Pakistani side, policymakers cast the move as inevitable. “They often don’t speak nicely to us in person,” reasoned one official, “so why not just give in and take to Twitter, where no one ever seems to talk nicely to anyone.”
Pakistani officials, like their American counterparts, looked on the bright side. “Twitter-based ties shall promote democracy,” said one.
“We will be speaking directly to the people, while being fully transparent in our deliberations. We have the option of doing Twitter polls.
“And if there’s a need to opt for the back channel route, or if the Americans need a quiet and private space to conduct that audit we’ve invited them to undertake, then we’ll simply resort to DM.
“Does President Trump have an open DM policy?”
“Also,” the official continued, “US-Pakistan Twitterplomacy will provide open channels for dissent. The Insaafians and Ghairat Brigade can weigh in angrily with their awkwardly worded hash tags.
“And ISPR will surely step in with inputs when necessary, and when not necessary as well.”
To be honest ...
Asked why Pakistan would settle for an arrangement that could presumably lead to more abrasive treatment, the official replied:
“We’re used to it, we can deal with it, and best of all Twitter allows us to mute or block the invective if we wish. In effect, we can easily deflect their demands.
“When they tweet ‘do more,’ we’ll tweet ‘no more.’ We’ll mute them if they persist. This constant dynamic, so onerous and uncomfortable offline, is a quick and painless 280-character process on Twitter.”
There may be something fitting about US-Pakistan relations being relegated to the Twittersphere. “Twitter and US-Pakistan relations, improbably enough, are like two peas in a pod,” according to a sideburned South Asia analyst in Washington who seemingly opines on everything under the Subcontinental sun.
“Pundits have long forecast the demise of both, and yet each manages to survive. And now we have these two resilient forces coming together as one.”
“Poetic, isn’t it?”
Amid worsening tensions, US and Pakistan announce they will only speak to each other on Twitter - Blogs - DAWN.COM
A satire
SC to ISI: You're a top agency, don't turn Pakistan into laughing stock
By Hasnaat Mailk
Published: January 3, 2018
The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised intelligence agencies for their failure to respond to vital queries regarding the Faizabad sit-in
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court had raised questions over the role of the armed forces in ending the protest. Now the top court expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding monitoring of the sit-in.
During suo motu hearing on Wednesday, a bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the country’s top spy agency whether a cell to monitor the activities of such protests existed in it. “Who were these protesters, what is the source of their earning and from where they were getting money during the sit-in”, Justice Isa asked a grade-18 officer who was representing the ISI before the bench. “You are an intelligence agency. What intelligence you have provided us regarding the case?” the judge asked.
Justice Alam also expressed dissatisfaction over the agencies’ (ISI and Intelligence Bureau) reports, saying they had given general information. He said more information was available with media persons than the agencies regarding this matter. He also wondered why the agencies were claiming that these reports were privileged communication.
Justice Isa asked about the budget of the ISI. “You are the finest agency of the country. Don’t make a joke of the country,” he said, lamenting that the state’s authority was surrendered.
He said that if the agency’s representative did not have sufficient information then the court might ask its head. “Who is head of ISI?” Justice Isa asked. Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali told the bench that a serving lieutenant general was the director general. “Should we summon him?” the judge asked. He said it appeared that the agencies could do everything but not for the sake of the people.
He said the headquarters of all armed forces were in the twin cities and the agencies should be ready to face such challenges. Justice Isa also said that Pakistan had not come into being due to the army but the struggle of the common people and it was a proven fact that the pen was mightier than the sword. He wondered where the country was heading to, saying that violence, hate and extremism were spreading day by day.
He also asked whether any agency contemplated why violence was spreading in the country. The judge said every pillar of the state was being attacked by the protesters.
The AGP said someone might not have convinced the court but a whole institution should not be blamed in the case.
However, the bench, while issuing its order, said the agency should be represented by an official not below the level of secretary. It asked the intelligence agencies, including the ISI, to brief the AGP regarding the queries raised by the bench. It asked the AGP to submit a concise statement on the issues within 15 days but observed that the agencies might request an in-camera briefing to the bench.
The court also expressed dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) regarding its responsibility to curb hate speech on TV channels. It noted that majority of journalists were responsible but there were some black sheep in the media as well.
Pemra submitted a report informing the bench that one channel had violated the code of conduct during the sit-in. The court asked what action had been taken against the channel which violated the law. Justice Alam said Pemra was a regularity authority and it should act independently. “When Pemra is itself admitting that law was broken by a TV channel then what the regularity authority has done?” Justice Isa asked.
He said the right to protest should be exercised peacefully as thousands of people held peaceful protests in the West. The court asked Pemra to submit a revised report on the next date of hearing.
It asked the AGP to explain which authority regulated the social media because sometimes certain things on them affected national security. The hearing was adjourned till the first week of February.
SC to ISI: You're a top agency, don't turn Pakistan into laughing stock - The Express Tribune
By Hasnaat Mailk
Published: January 3, 2018
The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised intelligence agencies for their failure to respond to vital queries regarding the Faizabad sit-in
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court had raised questions over the role of the armed forces in ending the protest. Now the top court expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) regarding monitoring of the sit-in.
During suo motu hearing on Wednesday, a bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa asked the country’s top spy agency whether a cell to monitor the activities of such protests existed in it. “Who were these protesters, what is the source of their earning and from where they were getting money during the sit-in”, Justice Isa asked a grade-18 officer who was representing the ISI before the bench. “You are an intelligence agency. What intelligence you have provided us regarding the case?” the judge asked.
Justice Alam also expressed dissatisfaction over the agencies’ (ISI and Intelligence Bureau) reports, saying they had given general information. He said more information was available with media persons than the agencies regarding this matter. He also wondered why the agencies were claiming that these reports were privileged communication.
Justice Isa asked about the budget of the ISI. “You are the finest agency of the country. Don’t make a joke of the country,” he said, lamenting that the state’s authority was surrendered.
He said that if the agency’s representative did not have sufficient information then the court might ask its head. “Who is head of ISI?” Justice Isa asked. Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali told the bench that a serving lieutenant general was the director general. “Should we summon him?” the judge asked. He said it appeared that the agencies could do everything but not for the sake of the people.
He said the headquarters of all armed forces were in the twin cities and the agencies should be ready to face such challenges. Justice Isa also said that Pakistan had not come into being due to the army but the struggle of the common people and it was a proven fact that the pen was mightier than the sword. He wondered where the country was heading to, saying that violence, hate and extremism were spreading day by day.
He also asked whether any agency contemplated why violence was spreading in the country. The judge said every pillar of the state was being attacked by the protesters.
The AGP said someone might not have convinced the court but a whole institution should not be blamed in the case.
However, the bench, while issuing its order, said the agency should be represented by an official not below the level of secretary. It asked the intelligence agencies, including the ISI, to brief the AGP regarding the queries raised by the bench. It asked the AGP to submit a concise statement on the issues within 15 days but observed that the agencies might request an in-camera briefing to the bench.
The court also expressed dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) regarding its responsibility to curb hate speech on TV channels. It noted that majority of journalists were responsible but there were some black sheep in the media as well.
Pemra submitted a report informing the bench that one channel had violated the code of conduct during the sit-in. The court asked what action had been taken against the channel which violated the law. Justice Alam said Pemra was a regularity authority and it should act independently. “When Pemra is itself admitting that law was broken by a TV channel then what the regularity authority has done?” Justice Isa asked.
He said the right to protest should be exercised peacefully as thousands of people held peaceful protests in the West. The court asked Pemra to submit a revised report on the next date of hearing.
It asked the AGP to explain which authority regulated the social media because sometimes certain things on them affected national security. The hearing was adjourned till the first week of February.
SC to ISI: You're a top agency, don't turn Pakistan into laughing stock - The Express Tribune
Pakistan will become another North Korea if it doesn't stop nuclear blackmail: US
US National Security General H R McMaster has said that Pakistan uses terror as state policy and goes after terrorists 'very selectively' and if the country tries its nuclear capability as a lever to blackmail others, it would end up as another North Korea.
McMaster, a former US Army General, was speaking on US President Donald Trump's New Year Day tweet on Pakistan in a Voice of America interview.
He said that the tweet speaks for itself where Trump blamed Pakistan for being a lying and deceitful country in spite of receiving huge US aid and helping those very terrorists the US hunts in the Afghanistan and pledged 'no more US aid to Pakistan'.
McMaster said Pakistan's double-dealings have frustrated Donald Trump and America. He said by very selectively going after terror groups, hitting some while choosing others as an arm of its foreign policy, Pakistan has not only betrayed the values America hoped would make for a great partnership, but also its own people.
"What's frustrating at times is we see Pakistan operating against the interests of its own people by going after these groups only selectively, by providing safe havens and support bases for Taliban and Haqqani network leadership that operate out of Pakistan as they perpetuate hell in portions of Pakistan and in Afghanistan," he said.
"America has great sympathy for the Pakistani people and in particular, how much they've suffered at the hands of terrorists who have victimized so many Pakistanis with mass murders, with that horrible mass murder in a school a few years ago," McMaster says in the interview and emphasizes that for its own sake, the Pakistani government must go after these groups less selectively.
Putting the Trump tweet in a clear perspective, his NSA says this is not a blame game but an effort to communicate clearly to Pakistan that the US relationship can no longer bear the weight of contradictions, and that we have to really begin now to work together to stabilize Afghanistan, emphasizing that doing so would hugely benefit Pakistan.
PAKISTAN WOULDN'T WANT TO BECOME A PARIAH STATE
McMaster warns if Pakistan doesn't want to become a pariah state, it will have to stop going after terror groups only selectively, and will have to stop providing safe havens and support bases and other forms of support for leadership.
On asking if any other country may step in to aid Pakistan in case the US pulls out, McMaster says he doesn't think any country including China would like Pakistan to continue its support for terror groups like the Taliban or the Haqqani Network.
China may be Pakistan's all-weather friend and has defended Pakistan in the wake of Trump tweet but it has a terrorist problem on its southern border that does have connections back into Pakistan, "It's not going to be any other country in the region, certainly, who will want Pakistan to continue this, really, pattern of behaviour that we've seen, where it goes after these groups only selectively, while it sustains and supports others who act as an arm of its foreign policy."
NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL WILL MAKE PAKISTAN ANOTHER NORTH KOREA
On the possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear capability as a leveraging tool, or to extort or blackmail, something that North Korea is doing, McMaster says he doesn't think so, "It would just be unwise for any Pakistani leader - I can't imagine a Pakistani leader using nuclear weapons to extort or for blackmail. That's the day when Pakistan would become North Korea."
He puts a very vital question before the Pakistani leadership, "Does Pakistan want to become North Korea? Doesn't look too appealing a model to me. So, I think Pakistan could be on a path to increase security and prosperity, or it could be on a path to replicating North Korea. I think that's an easy choice for Pakistani leaders."
US National Security General H R McMaster has said that Pakistan uses terror as state policy and goes after terrorists 'very selectively' and if the country tries its nuclear capability as a lever to blackmail others, it would end up as another North Korea.
McMaster, a former US Army General, was speaking on US President Donald Trump's New Year Day tweet on Pakistan in a Voice of America interview.
He said that the tweet speaks for itself where Trump blamed Pakistan for being a lying and deceitful country in spite of receiving huge US aid and helping those very terrorists the US hunts in the Afghanistan and pledged 'no more US aid to Pakistan'.
McMaster said Pakistan's double-dealings have frustrated Donald Trump and America. He said by very selectively going after terror groups, hitting some while choosing others as an arm of its foreign policy, Pakistan has not only betrayed the values America hoped would make for a great partnership, but also its own people.
"What's frustrating at times is we see Pakistan operating against the interests of its own people by going after these groups only selectively, by providing safe havens and support bases for Taliban and Haqqani network leadership that operate out of Pakistan as they perpetuate hell in portions of Pakistan and in Afghanistan," he said.
"America has great sympathy for the Pakistani people and in particular, how much they've suffered at the hands of terrorists who have victimized so many Pakistanis with mass murders, with that horrible mass murder in a school a few years ago," McMaster says in the interview and emphasizes that for its own sake, the Pakistani government must go after these groups less selectively.
Putting the Trump tweet in a clear perspective, his NSA says this is not a blame game but an effort to communicate clearly to Pakistan that the US relationship can no longer bear the weight of contradictions, and that we have to really begin now to work together to stabilize Afghanistan, emphasizing that doing so would hugely benefit Pakistan.
PAKISTAN WOULDN'T WANT TO BECOME A PARIAH STATE
McMaster warns if Pakistan doesn't want to become a pariah state, it will have to stop going after terror groups only selectively, and will have to stop providing safe havens and support bases and other forms of support for leadership.
On asking if any other country may step in to aid Pakistan in case the US pulls out, McMaster says he doesn't think any country including China would like Pakistan to continue its support for terror groups like the Taliban or the Haqqani Network.
China may be Pakistan's all-weather friend and has defended Pakistan in the wake of Trump tweet but it has a terrorist problem on its southern border that does have connections back into Pakistan, "It's not going to be any other country in the region, certainly, who will want Pakistan to continue this, really, pattern of behaviour that we've seen, where it goes after these groups only selectively, while it sustains and supports others who act as an arm of its foreign policy."
NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL WILL MAKE PAKISTAN ANOTHER NORTH KOREA
On the possibility of Pakistan using its nuclear capability as a leveraging tool, or to extort or blackmail, something that North Korea is doing, McMaster says he doesn't think so, "It would just be unwise for any Pakistani leader - I can't imagine a Pakistani leader using nuclear weapons to extort or for blackmail. That's the day when Pakistan would become North Korea."
He puts a very vital question before the Pakistani leadership, "Does Pakistan want to become North Korea? Doesn't look too appealing a model to me. So, I think Pakistan could be on a path to increase security and prosperity, or it could be on a path to replicating North Korea. I think that's an easy choice for Pakistani leaders."
Security Personnel Injured In Blast In Mohmand
GHALLANAI: A security personnel was injured in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency after a vehicle he was traveling was targeted in a bomb blast, officials at the political administration said.
They said they forces were on way to defuse a unexploded bomb planted near a security point checkpoint in Alingar area.
The vehicle was hit by another bomb planted at a roadside by militants, injuring one personnel who was shifted to a hospital. The security forces surrounded the area and launched search operation however no arrest could be made.
Two Killed In DI Khan Blast
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two people have been killed in a bomb blast in Dera Ismail Khan.
Police said a bomb planted on the roadside in Loni area of Kulachi tehsil exploded on Wednesday night, leaving two people dead. The dead were yet to be identified till filing of this report.
Police said initial information showed that both the dead were militants and the bomb went off prematurely on them when they were planting it under a bridge. Further investigations into the case are continuing.
GHALLANAI: A security personnel was injured in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency after a vehicle he was traveling was targeted in a bomb blast, officials at the political administration said.
They said they forces were on way to defuse a unexploded bomb planted near a security point checkpoint in Alingar area.
The vehicle was hit by another bomb planted at a roadside by militants, injuring one personnel who was shifted to a hospital. The security forces surrounded the area and launched search operation however no arrest could be made.
Two Killed In DI Khan Blast
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Two people have been killed in a bomb blast in Dera Ismail Khan.
Police said a bomb planted on the roadside in Loni area of Kulachi tehsil exploded on Wednesday night, leaving two people dead. The dead were yet to be identified till filing of this report.
Police said initial information showed that both the dead were militants and the bomb went off prematurely on them when they were planting it under a bridge. Further investigations into the case are continuing.
Iran prevented an attempt to import from Pakistan explosives and sabotage equipment of terrorists
Dubai. 13th of January. INTERFAX - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unit prevented terrorists from attempting to import explosives to Pakistan from Pakistan to destabilize the situation in the country, the report said on the website of the IRGC on Saturday.
"The terrorist group tried to import a batch of explosive devices into Iran in an attempt to carry out sabotage activities, create a dangerous situation and stir up riots inside the country," the report said.
A batch of explosives, suicide belts and equipment intercepted at the border were liquidated in Seravan in the southeast of Iran near the border with Pakistan, the report said.
World Bank puts $250m policy loan for Pakistan on hold
ISLAMABAD: Amid Pakistan’s weakening macroeconomic situation, the World Bank has put on hold a $250-million policy loan, which the lender till recently was ready to give for disaster risk management.
Pakistan has been facing serious problems on the external account. The country has been struggling in the face of challenges stemming from a growing trade deficit, which is eating up precious foreign currency reserves. Even after raising $2.5 billion bonds in the ongoing fiscal year, gross official foreign currency reserves have again fallen to below $14 billion.
Sources in the finance ministry said that the World Bank’s policy loans were now contingent upon a good health certificate from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They said Pakistan and the IMF could not converge on a consensus for the macroeconomic framework during the post-programme monitoring talks, although Pakistan had accepted the IMF’s major demand of devaluing the rupee against the US dollar.
'Test our resolve': Pakistan's challenge to India on nuclear war
Pakistan on Saturday challenged India to "test our resolve" over a nuclear war, in response to Army chief General Bipin Rawat's remarks from Friday.
"Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah," tweeted Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif.
The neighbouring country's foreign office, too, was at pains to clarify that "Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself," in a series of tweets from its spokesperson.
While addressing the press in the run-up to Army Day, Gen Rawat had called out "Pakistan's nuclear bogey," saying it will be thoroughly exposed if the situation escalates to a war.
Pakistan often brandishes its short-range Nasr (Hatf-IX) nuclear missiles as a battlefield counter to India's 'Cold Start' strategy which focusses on 'limited' and 'calibrated' strikes to make swift and hard inroads into enemy territory.
"We will call their bluff. If given the task, we will not say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons," he had said.
Dubai. 13th of January. INTERFAX - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unit prevented terrorists from attempting to import explosives to Pakistan from Pakistan to destabilize the situation in the country, the report said on the website of the IRGC on Saturday.
"The terrorist group tried to import a batch of explosive devices into Iran in an attempt to carry out sabotage activities, create a dangerous situation and stir up riots inside the country," the report said.
A batch of explosives, suicide belts and equipment intercepted at the border were liquidated in Seravan in the southeast of Iran near the border with Pakistan, the report said.
World Bank puts $250m policy loan for Pakistan on hold
ISLAMABAD: Amid Pakistan’s weakening macroeconomic situation, the World Bank has put on hold a $250-million policy loan, which the lender till recently was ready to give for disaster risk management.
Pakistan has been facing serious problems on the external account. The country has been struggling in the face of challenges stemming from a growing trade deficit, which is eating up precious foreign currency reserves. Even after raising $2.5 billion bonds in the ongoing fiscal year, gross official foreign currency reserves have again fallen to below $14 billion.
Sources in the finance ministry said that the World Bank’s policy loans were now contingent upon a good health certificate from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They said Pakistan and the IMF could not converge on a consensus for the macroeconomic framework during the post-programme monitoring talks, although Pakistan had accepted the IMF’s major demand of devaluing the rupee against the US dollar.
'Test our resolve': Pakistan's challenge to India on nuclear war
Pakistan on Saturday challenged India to "test our resolve" over a nuclear war, in response to Army chief General Bipin Rawat's remarks from Friday.
"Very irresponsible statement by Indian Army Chief,not befitting his office. Amounts to invitation for nuclear encounter.If that is what they desire,they are welcome to test our resolve.The general's doubt would swiftly be removed, inshallah," tweeted Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif.
The neighbouring country's foreign office, too, was at pains to clarify that "Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself," in a series of tweets from its spokesperson.
While addressing the press in the run-up to Army Day, Gen Rawat had called out "Pakistan's nuclear bogey," saying it will be thoroughly exposed if the situation escalates to a war.
Pakistan often brandishes its short-range Nasr (Hatf-IX) nuclear missiles as a battlefield counter to India's 'Cold Start' strategy which focusses on 'limited' and 'calibrated' strikes to make swift and hard inroads into enemy territory.
"We will call their bluff. If given the task, we will not say we cannot cross the border because they have nuclear weapons," he had said.
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10 Pakistani nationals arrested in Kenya over terror links
Mombasa [Kenya], Jan.11 (ANI): Kenyan police on Monday arrested ten Pakistanis after raids at their residents within Kizingo for their alleged involvement in terror finding, money laundering and drug trafficking.
Kenya's The Star newspaper quoted Mombasa police Commander Johnstone Ipara who confirmed the suspects were carrying out illegal commercial activities.
"We suspect they were carrying out illegal commercial activities," Ipara said.
Among those seized is the father of a terror suspect arrested in Pakistan. He was identified as Mohammed Tasleem. The 50-year-old owns company that imports rice from Pakistan.
Mombasa CID boss Washington Njiru said they were working with different agencies to investigate the suspects.
The Star quoted sources that Tasleem could be deported to Pakistan to assist with investigations. It is suspected that the proceeds of his business is used to fund terrorism activities in Pakistan.
Kenya has recently worked with different foreign agencies including the FBI and the Scotland Yard in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking.
Documents indicate the ten suspects have been in Kenya for the last four years.
Mombasa [Kenya], Jan.11 (ANI): Kenyan police on Monday arrested ten Pakistanis after raids at their residents within Kizingo for their alleged involvement in terror finding, money laundering and drug trafficking.
Kenya's The Star newspaper quoted Mombasa police Commander Johnstone Ipara who confirmed the suspects were carrying out illegal commercial activities.
"We suspect they were carrying out illegal commercial activities," Ipara said.
Among those seized is the father of a terror suspect arrested in Pakistan. He was identified as Mohammed Tasleem. The 50-year-old owns company that imports rice from Pakistan.
Mombasa CID boss Washington Njiru said they were working with different agencies to investigate the suspects.
The Star quoted sources that Tasleem could be deported to Pakistan to assist with investigations. It is suspected that the proceeds of his business is used to fund terrorism activities in Pakistan.
Kenya has recently worked with different foreign agencies including the FBI and the Scotland Yard in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking.
Documents indicate the ten suspects have been in Kenya for the last four years.
Body of MQM-L leader found near Ibrahim Hyderi - The Express Tribune
KARACHI: Body of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London leader, Hassan Zafar Arif, was found near Ilyas Goth in Karachi.
According to initial details, the body was found from a car near Ilyas Goth. The body has been shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College.
Cause of death will be clear after the postmortem.
A Philosopher In Jail
However, JPMC head of emergency Seemi Jamali said that body does not bear any marks of torture or bullet wounds. Further investigation is going on.
MQM-L leader Nadeem Nusrat condemns the death
Deputy-convener of MQM-L Nadeem Nusrat condemned the death of Dr Arif in a tweet. “Can’t believe Prof Sahab is no more! It’s definitely a targeted killing,” he wrote.
MQM-P chief expresses grief and concerns over the body of Dr Hasan Zafar Arif being found in Karachi
Sattar said he received the shocking news of Dr Hasan Zafar Arif’s death when he landed in Multan. “I am grief-stricken by his martyrdom,” he said.
He termed the ‘murder’ a conspiracy to disrupt peace in Karachi. “We may have political differences [with Dr Arif] but we will not let any conspiracy against the city’s peace.”
“It is a horrifying situation, he has been martyred, murdered,” Sattar told media. “Despite our political differences, I and my party [MQM-P] stands with him.”
He demanded the provincial government and law enforcement agencies to find and punish the professor’s killers.
Interview with The Express Tribune
In an interview with The Express Tribune, Dr Arif had said that Marxists and communist parties across the world and throughout history have supported the ongoing democratic struggle to pave the way for a revolutionary change and saw MQM’s struggle as furthering democratic values.
The professor had said he used Marxism as a framework to evaluate his political steps. Every support he extends to the ‘bourgeois’ parties came only after he measured the probable consequences, and in each case the litmus test is the role of the party at that juncture in the advancement of the democratic cause.
KARACHI: Body of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London leader, Hassan Zafar Arif, was found near Ilyas Goth in Karachi.
According to initial details, the body was found from a car near Ilyas Goth. The body has been shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College.
Cause of death will be clear after the postmortem.
A Philosopher In Jail
However, JPMC head of emergency Seemi Jamali said that body does not bear any marks of torture or bullet wounds. Further investigation is going on.
MQM-L leader Nadeem Nusrat condemns the death
Deputy-convener of MQM-L Nadeem Nusrat condemned the death of Dr Arif in a tweet. “Can’t believe Prof Sahab is no more! It’s definitely a targeted killing,” he wrote.
MQM-P chief expresses grief and concerns over the body of Dr Hasan Zafar Arif being found in Karachi
Sattar said he received the shocking news of Dr Hasan Zafar Arif’s death when he landed in Multan. “I am grief-stricken by his martyrdom,” he said.
He termed the ‘murder’ a conspiracy to disrupt peace in Karachi. “We may have political differences [with Dr Arif] but we will not let any conspiracy against the city’s peace.”
“It is a horrifying situation, he has been martyred, murdered,” Sattar told media. “Despite our political differences, I and my party [MQM-P] stands with him.”
He demanded the provincial government and law enforcement agencies to find and punish the professor’s killers.
Interview with The Express Tribune
In an interview with The Express Tribune, Dr Arif had said that Marxists and communist parties across the world and throughout history have supported the ongoing democratic struggle to pave the way for a revolutionary change and saw MQM’s struggle as furthering democratic values.
The professor had said he used Marxism as a framework to evaluate his political steps. Every support he extends to the ‘bourgeois’ parties came only after he measured the probable consequences, and in each case the litmus test is the role of the party at that juncture in the advancement of the democratic cause.