The state of education as a whole, no matter how one looks at it, is dire and worsening, public, private, religious, higher, all of them. The only remaining area of education that works in its own myopic ways is within the military, and even that is more demagoguery than substance by necessity. This nation is going only one way and that is down.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan : News, Discussions & Updates
- Thread starter Butter Chicken
- Start date
The state of education as a whole, no matter how one looks at it, is dire and worsening, public, private, religious, higher, all of them. The only remaining area of education that works in its own myopic ways is within the military, and even that is more demagoguery than substance by necessity. This nation is going only one way and that is down.
Pak army man posted in Austria missing with sensitive papers
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan army official, appointed as a clerk at the country's embassy in Austria some five months ago, disappeared this month along with some sensitive documents, a media report has said.
A case of his disappearance and missing documents was registered at the Tarnol police station in Islamabad on a complaint of a defence ministry official, Dawn reported.
"It is suspected that he might have become a tool in the hands of enemy of the country," according to the FIR.
The missing official was enrolled in the Pakistan army as sepoy and appointed as a clerk at the Pakistani embassy in Vienna, Austria, in August last year, it stated.
He was given a sensitive assignment by the defence ministry, the paper said, citing the FIR.
He was made an official in charge of some important and sensitive national affairs in Vienna, it stated, adding that "it was very important duty, besides sensitive for country's sovereignty".
The official had been found absent from his duty since January 2, the FIR stated.
It said on checking of embassy's record the documents carrying sensitive information were also found missing.
After his disappearance, the man contacted his family and asked his wife to shift to her parents' house at Tarnol in Islamabad, the FIR stated.
According to his wife, her husband left the embassy of his free will and will "return after five years".
So far the man had not contacted his department or the Pakistani embassy in Vienna to inform them about his whereabouts, the FIR stated, adding that the wife, parents and brother of the man were in contact with him, but avoiding sharing information about him with the police.
In reply to a question, a police official on condition of anonymity said that the defence ministry had asked the law enforcement agency to investigate and interrogate his family to trace his whereabouts and arrest him.
Pak army man posted in Austria missing with sensitive papers - Times of India
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan army official, appointed as a clerk at the country's embassy in Austria some five months ago, disappeared this month along with some sensitive documents, a media report has said.
A case of his disappearance and missing documents was registered at the Tarnol police station in Islamabad on a complaint of a defence ministry official, Dawn reported.
"It is suspected that he might have become a tool in the hands of enemy of the country," according to the FIR.
The missing official was enrolled in the Pakistan army as sepoy and appointed as a clerk at the Pakistani embassy in Vienna, Austria, in August last year, it stated.
He was given a sensitive assignment by the defence ministry, the paper said, citing the FIR.
He was made an official in charge of some important and sensitive national affairs in Vienna, it stated, adding that "it was very important duty, besides sensitive for country's sovereignty".
The official had been found absent from his duty since January 2, the FIR stated.
It said on checking of embassy's record the documents carrying sensitive information were also found missing.
After his disappearance, the man contacted his family and asked his wife to shift to her parents' house at Tarnol in Islamabad, the FIR stated.
According to his wife, her husband left the embassy of his free will and will "return after five years".
So far the man had not contacted his department or the Pakistani embassy in Vienna to inform them about his whereabouts, the FIR stated, adding that the wife, parents and brother of the man were in contact with him, but avoiding sharing information about him with the police.
In reply to a question, a police official on condition of anonymity said that the defence ministry had asked the law enforcement agency to investigate and interrogate his family to trace his whereabouts and arrest him.
Pak army man posted in Austria missing with sensitive papers - Times of India
Brave Pak journalist exposes ISI-paid "Expert"
US slams ISPR lies
As the United States (US) on Thursday rejected Foreign Office (FO) claims that a Jan 24 drone strike targeted an Afghan refugee camp in Kurram Agency, the army's media wing explained that the drone targeted a terrorist hiding in an Afghan refugee complex in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said: "The drone strike on Jan 24 in Speen Tal, Hangu district, was on an individual target who had morphed into Afghan refugees and not [on] any organised terrorists sanctuary, which have been eliminated."
The statement added that there are 54 Afghan refugee camps and complexes in Pakistan, 43 of which are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa "with overlap in Fata". One of the complexes in Hangu were targeted by the drone strike on Jan 24.
"This validates Pakistan’s stance that left over terrorists easily morph into Afghan refugees camps/complexes," the ISPR statement said, referring to the integration of militants into local populations, particularly in the tribal areas.
"Thus their [Afghan refugees'] early and dignified return to Afghanistan is essential. Pakistan’s brotherly hospitality to peaceful Afghan refugees must not be exploited by the terrorists," the statement added.
Interestingly, a United Nations refugee agency spokesperson told AFPthat there are no refugee camps in the tribal areas, and no sign of a camp can be seen in pictures from the site.
Earlier today, US Embassy Spokesperson Rick Sinelsine told DawnNews that Pakistan's claim that United States forces struck an Afghan refugee camp in Kurram Agency on Wednesday is false.
The spokesperson, however, did not confirm or deny whether the US army had carried out a drone attack in the region.
Pakistan accuses India of exceeding its legitimate defence needs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday accused India of exceeding its legitimate defence needs and said New Delhi's buildup of advanced weapons would negatively impact strategic stability in South Asia and beyond.
Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Mohammad Faisal said there was a clear disconnect between India's declared policy of restraint and its relentless pursuit of an ambitious missile programme.
He alleged that the development of Agni V intercontinental ballistic missile showed India's real designs of pursuing hegemony. He termed it an "exercise in power projection".
"While every state has a right to its security, the buildup of sophisticated and advanced weapons and delivery systems by India far exceeds its legitimate defence needs," he said.
"Seen in the backdrop of other acquisitions of advanced capabilities in both the conventional and non-conventional domains, these developments will negatively impact strategic stability in the South Asian region and beyond," he said.
Faisal said Pakistan will continue to adhere to a policy of restraint and a responsible defence posture but will also take steps to ensure its defence.
Faisal said Pakistan believed in a peaceful neighbourhood, which is essential for peace and development. He said that cooperation instead of conflict was the only way forward but it should be reciprocated by actions and not words.
To a question about sharing of test reports of the shoes of Indian prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife, he said "the report will be shared at an appropriate time."
Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April.
India had hit out at Pakistan for the way it treated the wife and mother of Jadhav when they met him in Pakistan on December 25.
He also accused India of launching a malicious propaganda campaign against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
US slams ISPR lies
As the United States (US) on Thursday rejected Foreign Office (FO) claims that a Jan 24 drone strike targeted an Afghan refugee camp in Kurram Agency, the army's media wing explained that the drone targeted a terrorist hiding in an Afghan refugee complex in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said: "The drone strike on Jan 24 in Speen Tal, Hangu district, was on an individual target who had morphed into Afghan refugees and not [on] any organised terrorists sanctuary, which have been eliminated."
The statement added that there are 54 Afghan refugee camps and complexes in Pakistan, 43 of which are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa "with overlap in Fata". One of the complexes in Hangu were targeted by the drone strike on Jan 24.
"This validates Pakistan’s stance that left over terrorists easily morph into Afghan refugees camps/complexes," the ISPR statement said, referring to the integration of militants into local populations, particularly in the tribal areas.
"Thus their [Afghan refugees'] early and dignified return to Afghanistan is essential. Pakistan’s brotherly hospitality to peaceful Afghan refugees must not be exploited by the terrorists," the statement added.
Interestingly, a United Nations refugee agency spokesperson told AFPthat there are no refugee camps in the tribal areas, and no sign of a camp can be seen in pictures from the site.
Earlier today, US Embassy Spokesperson Rick Sinelsine told DawnNews that Pakistan's claim that United States forces struck an Afghan refugee camp in Kurram Agency on Wednesday is false.
The spokesperson, however, did not confirm or deny whether the US army had carried out a drone attack in the region.
Pakistan accuses India of exceeding its legitimate defence needs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday accused India of exceeding its legitimate defence needs and said New Delhi's buildup of advanced weapons would negatively impact strategic stability in South Asia and beyond.
Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Mohammad Faisal said there was a clear disconnect between India's declared policy of restraint and its relentless pursuit of an ambitious missile programme.
He alleged that the development of Agni V intercontinental ballistic missile showed India's real designs of pursuing hegemony. He termed it an "exercise in power projection".
"While every state has a right to its security, the buildup of sophisticated and advanced weapons and delivery systems by India far exceeds its legitimate defence needs," he said.
"Seen in the backdrop of other acquisitions of advanced capabilities in both the conventional and non-conventional domains, these developments will negatively impact strategic stability in the South Asian region and beyond," he said.
Faisal said Pakistan will continue to adhere to a policy of restraint and a responsible defence posture but will also take steps to ensure its defence.
Faisal said Pakistan believed in a peaceful neighbourhood, which is essential for peace and development. He said that cooperation instead of conflict was the only way forward but it should be reciprocated by actions and not words.
To a question about sharing of test reports of the shoes of Indian prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav's wife, he said "the report will be shared at an appropriate time."
Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April.
India had hit out at Pakistan for the way it treated the wife and mother of Jadhav when they met him in Pakistan on December 25.
He also accused India of launching a malicious propaganda campaign against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
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Apparently ISPR doesn't know the difference between morphing and merging.
When they can't differentiate You tube videos and their own recorded ones.....This is ok...
After cutting Aid to Pakistan, US Slaps Sanctions On 6 Terrorists
"We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani Network who have been involved in attacks on coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups," said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
After Cutting Aid To Pakistan, US Slaps Sanctions On 6 Terrorists
"We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani Network who have been involved in attacks on coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups," said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
After Cutting Aid To Pakistan, US Slaps Sanctions On 6 Terrorists
Motion to publicly stone Zainab’s murderer presented in Punjab Assembly - Daily Times
Pakistan moving towards sharia law ?
LAHORE: The ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) lawmaker on Friday presented a motion in the Punjab Assembly demanding public stoning of the man who raped and murdered 7-year-old Zainab.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Kanwal Nauman presented the motion which demanded the public stoning ‘or death by immense torture’ for the culprits behind the heinous crime of sexually assaulting and murdering the child.
The motion read:
“This house of province demands the federal legislative house [National Assembly] to publicly stone or execute after immense torture the criminals arrested for the savage, ruthless, brutal and heart-wrenching and grave crimes committed against girls in Pakistan and all their facilitators after investigation and legal proceedings are done.”
Pakistan moving towards sharia law ?
LAHORE: The ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) lawmaker on Friday presented a motion in the Punjab Assembly demanding public stoning of the man who raped and murdered 7-year-old Zainab.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Kanwal Nauman presented the motion which demanded the public stoning ‘or death by immense torture’ for the culprits behind the heinous crime of sexually assaulting and murdering the child.
The motion read:
“This house of province demands the federal legislative house [National Assembly] to publicly stone or execute after immense torture the criminals arrested for the savage, ruthless, brutal and heart-wrenching and grave crimes committed against girls in Pakistan and all their facilitators after investigation and legal proceedings are done.”
Fitch revises outlook on Pakistan’s ratings to negative
KARACHI: Fitch Ratings has announced that it has revised the outlook on Pakistan’s long-term foreign and local currency issuer default ratings to negative from stable and has affirmed ‘B’ rating for both the categories.
KARACHI: Fitch Ratings has announced that it has revised the outlook on Pakistan’s long-term foreign and local currency issuer default ratings to negative from stable and has affirmed ‘B’ rating for both the categories.
Senators upset over Chinese company’s tax and duty exemptions
ISLAMABAD: The controversial duty and tax exemption given to M/s China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited set off alarm bells in the Senate on Friday, with members warning that it could severely affect the local industry.
The company has been exempted from paying federal excise duty and sales tax on imported construction material and goods which will be used for the Karachi-Peshawar Motorway (Sukkur-Multan section).
Speaking on a calling-attention notice, the senators asked why the exemption had been given to a particular company.
Senator Murtaza Wahab of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that an exemption could only be given across the board. “I wonder what prompted the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to give an exemption to the tune of Rs10.98 billion to the Chinese firm,” he said.
Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Ilyas Bilour claimed that the issuance of a statutory regulatory order (SRO) to grant the exemption on import duty after completion of 37 per cent work on the project was incomprehensible.
“It means that you have opened the door for other Chinese companies and will dole out these favours to them in the future as well,” he said.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Nauman Wazir, initially the cost of the project was Rs240bn which went up to Rs440bn after re-tendering then was brought down to Rs296bn.
ISLAMABAD: The controversial duty and tax exemption given to M/s China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited set off alarm bells in the Senate on Friday, with members warning that it could severely affect the local industry.
The company has been exempted from paying federal excise duty and sales tax on imported construction material and goods which will be used for the Karachi-Peshawar Motorway (Sukkur-Multan section).
Speaking on a calling-attention notice, the senators asked why the exemption had been given to a particular company.
Senator Murtaza Wahab of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that an exemption could only be given across the board. “I wonder what prompted the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to give an exemption to the tune of Rs10.98 billion to the Chinese firm,” he said.
Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Ilyas Bilour claimed that the issuance of a statutory regulatory order (SRO) to grant the exemption on import duty after completion of 37 per cent work on the project was incomprehensible.
“It means that you have opened the door for other Chinese companies and will dole out these favours to them in the future as well,” he said.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Nauman Wazir, initially the cost of the project was Rs240bn which went up to Rs440bn after re-tendering then was brought down to Rs296bn.
US demands Radio Mashaal's transmission be restored
The United States has asked Pakistan to retract the ban placed on Radio Mashaal, a Pashto language broadcaster linked to the US-funded Radio Free Europe, BBC Urdu reported on Friday.
Radio Mashaal was shut down by the interior ministry on the on recommendations of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to BBC Urdu, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press briefing on Thursday that her country does not understand why Pakistan has placed a ban on Radio Mashal which is run by Radio Free Europe (RFE).
The United States has "expressed concern" over Pakistan's decision to discontinue Radio Mashaal's services and has "demanded that the transmission be restored immediately," BBC Urdu said.
The United States has asked Pakistan to retract the ban placed on Radio Mashaal, a Pashto language broadcaster linked to the US-funded Radio Free Europe, BBC Urdu reported on Friday.
Radio Mashaal was shut down by the interior ministry on the on recommendations of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to BBC Urdu, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a press briefing on Thursday that her country does not understand why Pakistan has placed a ban on Radio Mashal which is run by Radio Free Europe (RFE).
The United States has "expressed concern" over Pakistan's decision to discontinue Radio Mashaal's services and has "demanded that the transmission be restored immediately," BBC Urdu said.
India is playing the same game with Pakistan,that it has played against India for decades-Pak Media
Ruhlessly honest!!!!!!
Hope both of them are safe.....
On the other side do we have some one who can call spade a spade like him?
They are brave because they are Canadian citizens sitting in their Canadian news room. They will dare not enter Pakistan. These two-three Pakistani military exposing news and anchors you see on youtube are small Canadian-Pakistani channels.
Tarek Fateh is also Canadian citizen otherwise he would have been assassinated decades ago.
Haven't finished listening to this, but what a stunning interview! I don't know if we can have such frank and even-voiced discussions on our media.
The phrase that will stay with me is that Pakistan is a Wilayat - e - Askari. The parallel with Iran and the implications were so apt.
We have had Traitors in the Government Itself
The entire Government of Man mohan singh with AK Antony
Salman Khurshid the ex foreign minister : all were very fond of Pakistan
They deliberately weakened our Armed forces and were desperate to hand over Siachen to Pakistan
And this Cue was picked up by their LAP DOGS in the media
such as Barkha dutt ; Rajdeep Sardesai ; Nidhi razdan ; shekhar gupta
Praveen swami and Siddharth vardarajan who were busy smoking Peace Pipe
While the Pakistani Generals were laughing at our foolishness
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Pakistani chacha wants $2 trillion aid from USA
Washington tells Islamabad: Drone attacks to continue until Pakistan ‘satisfies’ US
ISLAMABAD - The United States has made it clear to Pakistan that drone attacksinside the Pakistani territory will continue until Islamabad “satisfies” Washington of indiscriminate action against all the militant groups, The Nation has learnt.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry said that the US rejected Pakistan’s protests against the drone strikes, saying Pakistan would have to “earn” an end to such attacks – by taking action against all the militant outfits.
Citing recent contacts with Washington, an official said: “They [the US] believe we are sheltering some militant groups and are playing a double game. They want us to satisfy them for an end to the drone attacks . It doesn’t seem easy to satisfy them.”
He added: “We have told them [the US] about the resentment against the drone attacksin Pakistan . People want military reaction against the drone strikes, which could worsen the Pak-US tension. They [the US] have not given any positive response so far.”
Last week, Pakistan had warned that the drone attacks by the US inside the Pakistani territory could prove detrimental to the Pak-US partnership.
Washington tells Islamabad: Drone attacks to continue until Pakistan ‘satisfies’ US
ISLAMABAD - The United States has made it clear to Pakistan that drone attacksinside the Pakistani territory will continue until Islamabad “satisfies” Washington of indiscriminate action against all the militant groups, The Nation has learnt.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry said that the US rejected Pakistan’s protests against the drone strikes, saying Pakistan would have to “earn” an end to such attacks – by taking action against all the militant outfits.
Citing recent contacts with Washington, an official said: “They [the US] believe we are sheltering some militant groups and are playing a double game. They want us to satisfy them for an end to the drone attacks . It doesn’t seem easy to satisfy them.”
He added: “We have told them [the US] about the resentment against the drone attacksin Pakistan . People want military reaction against the drone strikes, which could worsen the Pak-US tension. They [the US] have not given any positive response so far.”
Last week, Pakistan had warned that the drone attacks by the US inside the Pakistani territory could prove detrimental to the Pak-US partnership.
What good will trying to project a "soft image" of Pakistan do when the ugly reality shines through so clearly?
Envoy details dire state of Pakistani illegal migrants in Greece, seeks urgent action - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
Envoy details dire state of Pakistani illegal migrants in Greece, seeks urgent action
Naveed Siddiqui Updated February 01, 2018
The Pakistani ambassador to Greece wrote a letter to the Foreign Office (FO) earlier this month, detailing the dire state of Pakistani human trafficking victims in Greece and seeking urgent attention of the government to curtail the crisis-like situation, it emerged on Wednesday.
According to documents acquired by DawnNews, Ambassador Khalid Usman Qaiser in his message to Islamabad dated January 9, 2018 disclosed that he had dispatched bodies of 20 Pakistanis who died while trying to enter other European countries through Greece last month alone. Additionally, the bodies of three missing Pakistanis are being located.
He said the "unchecked" smuggling of people, especially from the Punjab districts of Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin and Sialkot is "hurting Pakistan all around".
With Greece facing an economic crisis and unemployment as high as 40 per cent, Pakistani immigrants have no prospects of moving to mainland Europe either as the European Union has shut its door to economic migrants, the envoy said.
In these circumstances, Pakistani illegal immigrants end up in detention centres in Greece, while some apply for an asylum. Jobless and penniless, they are then "trapped by criminals", who promise them access to other EU countries. But many of them perish on the way, Qaiser wrote.
The ambassador revealed that the human trafficking victims often resort to various crimes, while Pakistani teenaged boys and middleaged women "have become sex workers and look for clients every evening in public places".
Some young men who wish to return to Pakistan are not deported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) because they are underage under EU laws, he said, adding that such hapless migrants then become a liability for the Pakistan embassy.
The envoy told the FO that while he is making efforts to tackle the issue locally, the "tap has to be closed at your end". He urged the interior ministry to take immediate steps to curb human trafficking as the issue is "becoming unmanageable".
Days after receiving the envoy's plea, the FO in a letter asked the interior ministry to investigate the matter on priority basis. It said the issue of human smuggling, especially children, is a "serious and sensitive" matter which can damage Pakistan's image as well as its relations with the EU.
"If not effectively addressed... the issue can have [a] negative bearing on the GSP Plus facility, granted to Pakistan by the European Union," it wrote.
Thousands of Pakistanis fleeing poverty, unemployment and law and order problems have been attempting to illegally enter Europe.
Every year, thousands of Pakistan make abortive attempts to enter Greece via Iran and Turkey for better working opportunities. Most of them are arrested in Iran and Turkey and sent back.
Envoy details dire state of Pakistani illegal migrants in Greece, seeks urgent action - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
Envoy details dire state of Pakistani illegal migrants in Greece, seeks urgent action
Naveed Siddiqui Updated February 01, 2018
The Pakistani ambassador to Greece wrote a letter to the Foreign Office (FO) earlier this month, detailing the dire state of Pakistani human trafficking victims in Greece and seeking urgent attention of the government to curtail the crisis-like situation, it emerged on Wednesday.
According to documents acquired by DawnNews, Ambassador Khalid Usman Qaiser in his message to Islamabad dated January 9, 2018 disclosed that he had dispatched bodies of 20 Pakistanis who died while trying to enter other European countries through Greece last month alone. Additionally, the bodies of three missing Pakistanis are being located.
He said the "unchecked" smuggling of people, especially from the Punjab districts of Gujrat, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin and Sialkot is "hurting Pakistan all around".
With Greece facing an economic crisis and unemployment as high as 40 per cent, Pakistani immigrants have no prospects of moving to mainland Europe either as the European Union has shut its door to economic migrants, the envoy said.
In these circumstances, Pakistani illegal immigrants end up in detention centres in Greece, while some apply for an asylum. Jobless and penniless, they are then "trapped by criminals", who promise them access to other EU countries. But many of them perish on the way, Qaiser wrote.
The ambassador revealed that the human trafficking victims often resort to various crimes, while Pakistani teenaged boys and middleaged women "have become sex workers and look for clients every evening in public places".
Some young men who wish to return to Pakistan are not deported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) because they are underage under EU laws, he said, adding that such hapless migrants then become a liability for the Pakistan embassy.
The envoy told the FO that while he is making efforts to tackle the issue locally, the "tap has to be closed at your end". He urged the interior ministry to take immediate steps to curb human trafficking as the issue is "becoming unmanageable".
Days after receiving the envoy's plea, the FO in a letter asked the interior ministry to investigate the matter on priority basis. It said the issue of human smuggling, especially children, is a "serious and sensitive" matter which can damage Pakistan's image as well as its relations with the EU.
"If not effectively addressed... the issue can have [a] negative bearing on the GSP Plus facility, granted to Pakistan by the European Union," it wrote.
Thousands of Pakistanis fleeing poverty, unemployment and law and order problems have been attempting to illegally enter Europe.
Every year, thousands of Pakistan make abortive attempts to enter Greece via Iran and Turkey for better working opportunities. Most of them are arrested in Iran and Turkey and sent back.
Commanders authorised to deal with ‘safe havens’ in Afghanistan, Pakistan: US
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration’s South Asia strategy gives US commanders in the region the authority and resources they need to deal with “terrorist safe havens in both Afghanistan and Pakistan”, says the White House.
The strategy that President Donald Trump announced in August last year underlines the US determination to defeat the Taliban in the battlefield in order to force them to accept the current administrative set-up in Kabul.
As part of this strategy, the Trump administration recently increased drone strikes at alleged terrorist safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and reports from the region suggest that several ‘commanders’ of the dreaded Haqqani network were also killed in those attacks. But so far, the US administration never spoke of authorising its field commanders to deal with the alleged safe havens inside Pakistan.
But the document the White House released on Tuesday night went a step ahead, indicating that American commanders in the region also had the authority to deal with alleged terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan.
“President Trump’s conditions-based South Asia strategy provides commanders with the authority and resources needed to deny terrorists the safe haven they seek in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” it stated. “President Trump is making clear to our allies that they cannot be America’s friend while supporting or condoning terror.”
The White House also mentioned an executive order, issued earlier this month, to suspend security aid to Pakistan, saying: “The president has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, sending a long overdue message to aid recipients that we expect them to fully join us in combating terrorism.”
The document, released while the president was finishing his first State of the Union speech, focuses on issues that Mr Trump either missed in his speech or just mentioned them without elaborating his position, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He mentioned Afghanistan once but did not refer to Pakistan. However, political observers in Washington interpreted his appeal to Congress to make a law, ensuring that US aid goes only to friends, not to enemies of America, as a veiled reference to Pakistan.
“Tonight, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to friends of America, not enemies of America,” said the president, earning a warm applause from his supporters.
Mr Trump said he had authorised his commanders in Afghanistan to directly engage the militants who attack US and Afghan forces, but he did not mention Pakistan.
“As of a few months ago, our warriors in Afghanistan have new rules of engagement,” he said. “Along with their heroic Afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies our plans.
On Tuesday, US Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan also explained the Trump administration’s South Asia strategy, indicating that Washington had stayed engaged with Pakistan to solicit its support in implementing this policy.
“Our fight is with the Taliban and with extremist elements, terrorist groups here in Afghanistan,” said Mr Sullivan while talking to a group of journalists in Kabul.
He said that the South Asia strategy was a regional policy, focused on improving the situation in Afghanistan, but it’s a broader regional approach that includes a relationship with Pakistan, India and other countries in the region.
“We will continue our dialogue with Pakistan. Our position, the president’s position has been made clear about our expectations for Pakistan under the South Asia strategy. We also encourage the government of Afghanistan to continue its bilateral discussions with Pakistan,” Mr Sullivan said. “Pakistan needs to be part of the solution, and that is the focus of our South Asia strategy.”
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration’s South Asia strategy gives US commanders in the region the authority and resources they need to deal with “terrorist safe havens in both Afghanistan and Pakistan”, says the White House.
The strategy that President Donald Trump announced in August last year underlines the US determination to defeat the Taliban in the battlefield in order to force them to accept the current administrative set-up in Kabul.
As part of this strategy, the Trump administration recently increased drone strikes at alleged terrorist safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and reports from the region suggest that several ‘commanders’ of the dreaded Haqqani network were also killed in those attacks. But so far, the US administration never spoke of authorising its field commanders to deal with the alleged safe havens inside Pakistan.
But the document the White House released on Tuesday night went a step ahead, indicating that American commanders in the region also had the authority to deal with alleged terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan.
“President Trump’s conditions-based South Asia strategy provides commanders with the authority and resources needed to deny terrorists the safe haven they seek in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” it stated. “President Trump is making clear to our allies that they cannot be America’s friend while supporting or condoning terror.”
The White House also mentioned an executive order, issued earlier this month, to suspend security aid to Pakistan, saying: “The president has suspended security assistance to Pakistan, sending a long overdue message to aid recipients that we expect them to fully join us in combating terrorism.”
The document, released while the president was finishing his first State of the Union speech, focuses on issues that Mr Trump either missed in his speech or just mentioned them without elaborating his position, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He mentioned Afghanistan once but did not refer to Pakistan. However, political observers in Washington interpreted his appeal to Congress to make a law, ensuring that US aid goes only to friends, not to enemies of America, as a veiled reference to Pakistan.
“Tonight, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to friends of America, not enemies of America,” said the president, earning a warm applause from his supporters.
Mr Trump said he had authorised his commanders in Afghanistan to directly engage the militants who attack US and Afghan forces, but he did not mention Pakistan.
“As of a few months ago, our warriors in Afghanistan have new rules of engagement,” he said. “Along with their heroic Afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies our plans.
On Tuesday, US Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan also explained the Trump administration’s South Asia strategy, indicating that Washington had stayed engaged with Pakistan to solicit its support in implementing this policy.
“Our fight is with the Taliban and with extremist elements, terrorist groups here in Afghanistan,” said Mr Sullivan while talking to a group of journalists in Kabul.
He said that the South Asia strategy was a regional policy, focused on improving the situation in Afghanistan, but it’s a broader regional approach that includes a relationship with Pakistan, India and other countries in the region.
“We will continue our dialogue with Pakistan. Our position, the president’s position has been made clear about our expectations for Pakistan under the South Asia strategy. We also encourage the government of Afghanistan to continue its bilateral discussions with Pakistan,” Mr Sullivan said. “Pakistan needs to be part of the solution, and that is the focus of our South Asia strategy.”