Indian Movie Baby-Propaganda against Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

As part of psychological warfare, besides supporting subversive acts in Pakistan, India has already started cultural penetration in Pakistan through movies, dramas, shows and advertisements which are being displayed on our TV channels.

In this regard, Baby is a propaganda movie recently released by Bollywood to directly target Pakistan. It is focusing on operation Baby which was supposedly conceived by the Indian secret agency, RAW as a test case, launched by a group of five trained and dedicated RAW operatives to apprehend head of Pakistan’s banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) through a sting individuals.

In fact, the movie was sponsored and produced by Indian Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence. The project was undertaken by Santosh Astana (Media Incharge/Director Indian Affairs, Public Relations), while three Pakistani actors are also included in the cast. The theme of the film tries to propagate that Pakistan-based LeT/JuD is responsible for orchestrating Mumbai attacks in September 2008, financed and facilitated by Pakistan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

But, the movie, Baby revolves around the activities of LeT in the backdrop of Mumbai attacks, 2008. This is a sequel to the perennial propaganda campaign conceived by Indian authorities to malign the image of Pakistan and its primary intelligence agency ISI.

In this respect, after Mumbai attacks, Indians had resorted to electronic media campaign, followed by TV channels and written articles, focusing on the activities of Jihad organizations, allegedly sponsored by LeT/JuD.

In order to spread disinformation, New Delhi arranged a series of articles (about 140) which were also published in the US and other international media in which LeT/JuD has been portrayed as a terrorist origination much larger than Al Qaeda with global reach, having affiliates and sleeper cells all over the world.

In this connection, Indian point of view was further augmented by Arif Jamal (Pakistani born UK national) in his book “Call for Transnational Jihad: Lashkar-e-Taiba 1985-2014”.

Using the pretext of Mumbai terror-attacks, reportedly, on December 14, 2008, as a retaliatory action, India violated Pakistan’s air space in Kashmir and Lahore in a failed attempt to attack LeT/JuD offices in Azad Jammu Kashmir including Muridke.

And, in May 2009, RAW made an attempt to kill Hafiz Muhammad Saeed when he came to attend the Lahore High Court (LHC) hearing, but the attempt could not materialize.

As a matter of fact, the purpose of deliberate propaganda campaign through Indian print and electronic media—launched by Indian agencies was to induce public perception against Pakistan in order to favour Indian false stance at global level.

It is of particular attention that on July 19, 2013, the Indian former home ministry and ex-investigating officer Satish Verma revealed that terror-attacks in Mumbai in November 26, 2008 and assault on Indian Parliament in January 12, 2001 were carried out by the Indian government to strengthen anti-terrorism laws. But, Indian top officials and media are still blaming Islamabad and LeT for those attacks.

Similarly, on January 20, 2013, Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confessed the nexus between BJP and the RSS, disclosing that organized training camps run by these Indian fundamentalist parties were promoting Hindu terrorism. They also revealed that these parties were behind the Samjhauta Express, Meccca Masjid and Malegaon blasts including Gujarat and Babri Masjid incidents. Earlier, New Delhi was accusing Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI for blasts in Malegaon and other cities.

However, it is perceived that the movie Baby has been conceived and launched also to weigh and see the public reaction regarding Indian agenda, before conducting some major sting/hot pursuit operations against Pakistan.

As regards the film, three Pakistani film stars were also included in the cast i.e Rasheed Naz as head of Lashkar, Meekal Zulifqar as a RAW conduit and Hasan Noman as a Police Chief of KSA.

While, Pakistani film actor Hamza Ali Abbasi said that he was offered a role in the Indian film Baby last year which he did not accept due to the movie’s anti-Pakistan slant. He elaborated that he was in favour of Pakistani artists, working in Indian films in general, but not in a film that even has anti-Pakistan themes. He added, “Please think like a Pakistani first and then an artist”.

Nevertheless, Akshay Kumar starrer Baby movie has been banned by the censor boards of Pakistan, because it portrays a negative image of Muslims and the negative characters in the film—also has Muslim names. CDs and DVDs of the film have also been banned.

Fakhr-e-Alam who is the Chairman of the Censor Board took to Twitter to share his views about the board’s decision, stating, “The movie has been banned in Pakistan, as it shows Muslim community in a bad light. The characters used in the movie also represent Muslim community. He added, “A poor propaganda film basically saying all Muslims are terrorists & Pakistan harbors them…disappointed, Ban it”.

Besides, Indian contradictory approach in this regard is also mentionable. In an article, director of the movie Neeraj Panday claimed that the movie does not hurt Muslim sentiments, nor it has been made on any specific nation. But the producer Bhushan Kumar was still wondering why, actor Anupam Kher emphasised the need to move beyond borders and look at the universal problem of terrorism. He said, “The film is about anti-terrorism. Sometimes it is important to go beyond territories and understand who is the enemy—is it a country or a bunch of people?”

Nonetheless, the movie Baby which largely focuses on terrorism issues is part of Indian continued propaganda against Pakistan so as to distort the image of the latter and ISI in the comity of nations.

Therefore Pakistan’s media must counter Indian propaganda, unleashed against Pakistan in the Indian movie Baby.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Kashmiris’ pro-Pakistan sentiment

By Muhamma Jamil

According to Kashmir Media Service, Pakistan’s national flag was hoisted in various places of Indian-held Kashmir at Hariparbat Fort, Buchpora, Babademb, Gojwara, Rawalpora, Narbal, Sopore and several other places of the Kashmir Valley. The displaying of Pakistani flags has become common in recent weeks in Indian Held Kashmir. Last month, on April 15, Pakistani flags were displayed at a rally in Srinagar that was organised to welcome the veteran Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani, on his return from New Delhi. Meanwhile, Asiya Andrabi has said that India is perpetrating brutalities on the people of Kashmir through seven hundred thousand army deployed in Indian Held Kashmir. Kashmiris express their pro-Pakistan sentiment by hoisting Pakisani flags on Pakistan Day and on other occasions. She reiterated that she had been hoisting Pakistani flags on Pakistan Day, adding check how many flags are unfurled in the Valley when Pakistan wins a cricket match.

She said: “Kashmir is a disputed territory; and hoisting Pakistani flag would have been a crime if I hoisted the flag in New Delhi or Mumbai.” Two weeks before Pakistan day, scores of Pakistani flags were also waved at a Hurriyat rally in Indian Kashmir by the supporters of Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, which he addressed in Tral area of Pulwama district of Indian-held Kashmir. Last month, Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam was arrested after his supporters waved Pakistani flags and raised pro-Pakistan slogans at a rally in Srinagar. Subsequently, the Hurriyat leader Musarat Alam was put under house arrest to stop him from leading a march to Tral, which had been tense since a young man was killed by Indian forces. Indian government had ordered the ruling regime of Jammu and Kashmir to take immediate and stringent action.
Masarat Alam was booked under the Public Safety Act, which allowed the state to keep him behind bars for two years without any sort of trial. He was released about a month later, and was arrested again. He had already served a jail sentence of five years, for organising stone-throwing protests in the valley in 2010 and subsequent police firing that resulted in the deaths of 100 people. However, no amount of oppression and repression can stop Kashmiris from their struggle for implementation of UNSC resolution that gave them the right to decide about their future through plebiscite under the aegis of the UN. Showing utter disregard to UN resolutions, and Indian army’s atrocities on the people of Kashmir - their murder, rape and fake encounters – are a sad reflection on, what is claimed, the largest democracy in the world.
Kashmiris throughout the world express solidarity with the people of Kashmir. And million March was organized on 26 October 2014 in London. The objective was to highlight the Kashmir issue and expose Indian for having shown utter disregard to the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The coaches reached London from over a dozen cities of England, and many participants had come from Norway and other countries of Europe. They demanded implementation of UNSC resolutions and end to the atrocities perpetrated on the people of Kashmir. Several international agencies and UN have reported human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir. The unending nightmare had started when the British Raj sold Kashmir to Gulab singh. According to Article 1 of the Treaty of Amritsar, Gulab Singh acquired all the hilly or mountainous country with its dependencies situated to the eastward of the River Indus and the westward of the River Ravi. 

The British also undertook the responsibility of protecting the princely state from external aggression. Gulab Singh Dogra was a one-time cavalryman of the Dogra army, and had become Raja of Jammu principality through a grant from Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Indeed, the British were responsible for the unending cycle of slavery, violence and death and destruction by the Dogra Raj that followed the Treaty of Amritsar. Once again in August 1947 at the time of partition of the sub-continent in 1947, the British played ignominious role by facilitating India to occupy Jammu and Kashmir. United Nations Security Council had passed a resolution on 5th January 1949 that gave Kashmiris right of self-determination. As a result of the apathy shown by international community, the above resolution could not be implemented. No other nation perhaps has gone through such a long ordeal and sufferings in the history, and Kashmiris’ unending nightmare continues. 

In 1989, Kashmiri youth started armed struggle against atrocities and killings and ruthless exploitation by India’s military, and since then about 90000 Kashmiris have been martyred. After BJP won the 2014 elections and Narendra Modi became prime minister, he crafted a plan to get sizeable number of seats in state elections of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He managed to secure about two dozen seats from Hindu majority areas of Jammu, and also due to boycott by the Hurriyat Conference. Coalition government of BJP and PDP in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was aimed at robbing the mandate of the Kashmiri people who had reposed confidence in PDP. However, the PDP betrayed its voters by forming coalition government with BJP, compromising on main issues such as article 370, AFSPA, trifurcation of the region, rehabilitation of Pandits and refugees’ issue.

Unfortunately, due to international community’s apathy to the sufferings of the people of Kashmir, UNSC resolution has not been implemented for the last 65 years. In case of East Timor and Southern Sudan, UN resolutions were passed and implemented within months and new countries were carved out of Indonesia and Sudan. It has to be mentioned that in none of the above cases there was a UN mandate, whereas Kashmiris have been given their inalienable right of self-determination through the UNSC resolution. Yet, Indian soldiers continue to arrest innocent Kashmiris, keep them in extra-judicial custody and kill them in fake encounters so as to earn rewards or out-of-turn promotions. International community and the UN should pressurize India into implementing the UNSC resolution allowing the people of Kashmir to join Pakistan or India through plebiscite to be held under the aegis of the UN. 

Altaf Hussain in real soup

By Muhammad Jamil

A resolution, condemning MQM Chief Altaf Hussain’s remarks against the army, was passed in Balochistan Assembly on Saturday. The resolution was tabled by Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti and supported by both government and opposition parties. The resolution demanded of the federal government to place ban on the fascist party that has taken Karachi as hostage. Early Friday morning Altaf Hussain, in his address to MQM workers who had gathered at Nine-Zero, had criticised the army. DG ISPR Major-General Asim Bajwa in a series of tweets condemned the remarks made by MQM Chief Altaf Hussain about army and termed them as “uncalled for and disgusting”. He said legal action would be taken for such remarks and the use of media to incite the people of Pakistan to rise against the state.

In an apparent reference to fall of Dhaka, Altaf Hussain had said: “Those who surrendered are called patriots while the founders of Pakistan are dubbed as traitors. The youth should get arms and commando training….If RAW can help provide us arms, we will then tell those who have arms.” However, Altaf Hussain on Friday tendered unconditional apology for his statement about army, adding that to seek assistance from Indian intelligence agency RAW was just satire. “If my statements have hurt the sentiments of the national security forces, I apologize”, he said. Immediately after Altaf Hussain’s address to MQM workers, the MQM’s Rabita Committee as usual tried to clarify that the party chief Altaf Hussain had not criticised the military leadership. But such shenanigans would not work, as the entire nation had listened to his outbursts and vitriolic. 

Meanwhile, almost leaders of all political parties condemned Altaf Hussain’s remarks. Having faced strong criticism over his comments regarding the army, Altaf Hussain, in a statement released on Friday evening said that he never intended to disparage the government or any respected institution, and regretted that his speech had not been fully understood and was considered completely out of the context. This is an insult to the intelligence of the people, who understand his gimmicks and shenanigans. Yet, he had the audacity to say that after tendering a sincere apology, he was being condemned and criticized. The question is how long he will continue to denigrate Pakistan’s institutions and armed forces, and get away with it? Apart from allegations about killing of opponents and involvement in extortion, there is a long list of his reprehensible acts of MQM and its head honcho.
In April 2013, a month before general elections, Muttahida Qaumi Movement had approached the United Nations with the request to play its role to ensure free and fair elections in Pakistan, which were scheduled to be held on May 11. The MQM’s US Chapter central organizer had submitted to the UN a memorandum against the Election Commission’s decision for delimitation of some constituencies in Karachi. Urging international community like UN to use its influence for holding fair and free elections and putting pressure on ECP to stop pursuing the process of delimitation of constituencies in Karachi was despicable act. The self-exiled MQM chief who has lorded over his party from London for over twenty years now, has a habit of making incendiary speeches; inviting patriotic generals to take over, ridiculing the Supreme Court, ordering the shutting down of Pakistan’s commercial hub from distant shores. 

He utters such extreme remarks whenever his party’s stake in the power pie is threatened. It has to be mentioned that the MQM has been in power and enjoyed perks, privileges and powers of the governance for decades. It was in coalition with the PPP in federal cabinet and Sindh cabinet. It was once in coalition with the PML-N government; yet its leaders talk about sense of deprivation of Urdu-speaking community. MQM had thrived during Zia’s Martial Law as well as during Musharraf era, because Altaf Hussain is a master strategist and he knows to turn the tide and sail with the winds. Of course, after a military rule, it has always been a change of dress from the khaki to civilian robes, but the power dispensation stays elitist, privileged and autocratic, with a few hangers-on getting into this exclusive club by hanging on to coat-tails of the dynasts and their henchmen. The people remain denied and deprived; however the MQM continued to get its share of the cake.
But there is a lot more to that. Investigation is being carried out against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain by London Metropolitan Police on charges of money laundering and provocation to torture and life threats to his opponents. Police had seized 400,000 sterling pounds from Altaf Hussain’s residence and office. The investigation into former MQM leader Imran Farooq’s murder is also underway. It appears that this time round, MQM is in serious trouble. Following the ISPR’s sharp reaction to MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s fiery speech on Thursday night, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued on Friday show-cause notices to 14 private TV channels and barred all channels from airing inflammatory content. On Friday evening, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting wrote to Pemra, asking the regulator not to allow the live broadcast of “hate speech” by political leaders. Let us see how these orders are implemented. 

The question is whether Altaf Hussain will be put in the dock? Meanwhile, Pemra has already issued notices to 14 TV channels, and also instructed them to stop airing hate speeches. But it appears that pragmatism will take precedence over principles. The problem is the PPP is scared of the MQM’s potential of stirring violence in Sindh, which is why it has not strongly condemned Altaf Hussain for his remarks. Leader of the Opposition said that after Altaf Hussain’s apology, the controversy should end. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s apology over his unsavoury remarks against the army was a ‘good gesture’, adding that one should think twice before speaking on sensitive matters, especially those of national importance. However, resolutions should be passed in the National Assembly, three provincial assemblies and also senate. As suggested by DG ISPR, case must be registered against Altaf Hussain. 

Pakistan’s priorities

By S M Hali

If a mega project like the CPEC is threatened by people who would like to see the project fail, then Pakistan's priorities should be to assure the security of the project Every country has the right to pursue policies that are in consonance with its national interests and priorities. This aspect is defined in diplomatic relations as ethnocentrism, which enables nations to perceive and examine various options that favour their own welfare above all. Pakistani policymakers have, in the recent past, been in a quandary over the Saudi request to send military personnel and weapons platforms to support its war in Yemen. The request was debated in parliament in the light of two constraints: firstly, the preoccupation of Pakistan’s own military in anti-terror operations and, secondly, avoiding taking sides in what is perceived as Saudi military action against another sovereign Muslim state, Yemen, and by extension a proxy war with another Muslim state, Iran. Parliament’s decision to abstain from dispatching its troops except in the event of a threat to Saudi sovereignty must be respected. 

Meanwhile, another aspect — the delegation of an exclusive, armed force to ensure the security of the workforce executing the completion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - was highlighted. It is a question of according priorities to Pakistan’s national interests. Some critics of Chinese munificence towards Pakistan are denigrating the project. A section of the Pakistani press labelled President Xi Jinping’s visit as a call by the “Chinese Santa” while others questioned Pakistan “placing all its eggs in the Chinese basket”, forgetting that Pakistan’s economy is already in the doldrums. It has few friends and limited financial credibility and direct foreign investment. Under these circumstances, if China extends a helping hand, enabling Pakistan to stand on its own two feet, it must be welcomed rather than biting it.

On the other hand, if a mega project like the CPEC is threatened by people who would like to see the project fail, then Pakistan’s priorities should be to assure the security of the project. If, in the pursuit of this priority, scarce defence resources are allocated to the CPEC project, then it should not be perceived as an affront to the Saudis or as favouring Iran.
Bruce Riedel, in his op-ed column "The Pakistani pivot from Saudi Arabia to China" draws unrealistic parallels between the Saudi request for Pakistani military support vis-à-vis what he labels as the Sharif’s promise to President Xi that Pakistan will create a new 10,000-strong “special security division” of the Pakistani army commanded by a two star general to protect Chinese workers in Pakistan. Riedel explicates that 50 percent of the personnel will comprise the Special Services Group of commandos and the force will have its own organic air support. 

Cynically, Riedel comments: “So no troops for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; 10,000 troops for the People’s Republic of China. There are major differences in the specifics of course: troops for a foreign war versus troops at home; compensation for past payment versus securing future investment; Islamic unity versus Pakistan’s all-weather ally since 1962.”
Coincidentally, Bruce Riedel has been conjuring scenarios where militants “snatch and grab” Pakistan’s nukes, endangering the Occident. Mr Riedel, who served for 30 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was a senior advisor on South Asia and the Middle East to the last four presidents of the US in the staff of the National Security Council at the White House, and has long been urging strong action to defang Pakistan by confiscating its nuclear weapons through use of force.

Riedel’s latest op-ed on the issue should be taken with a pinch of salt since it is laden with his personal biases and perhaps US ethnocentrism. His opening comments imply that the Saudi decision to launch a military intervention into Yemen represents a break with its past practice. He surmises that Saudi Arabia has brushed aside the need for US leadership or even participation, pushing forward with forming its own coalition from among its Arab and Muslim allies. He construes that “in dealing with Pakistan, traditionally one of its closest allies, Saudi Arabia is discovering that even close allies often have other priorities.”
Firstly, it is Pakistan’s internal decision as to which alliances it wishes to pursue and, secondly, perhaps Mr Bruce Riedel is oblivious to the fact that the House of Saud is close only to the ruling class in Pakistan. Average Pakistanis receive little respect there while our labour class, toiling under the hot sun in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is treated as serfs and minions. Contrarily, the people of China and its leadership, through six and a half decades, have treated Pakistani citizens with brotherly love and respect. Thus, local media pundits should avoid jumping on the bandwagon, parroting warped theories like Mr Bruce Riedel’s. If, finally, Pakistan has found the spine to stand up to honour the diktats of its own priorities, it must be appreciated rather than questioned. 

Pakistan’s Determination to Win War against Terrorism

By Sajjad Shaukat

Terrorism has caused massive damage to the prosperity of Pakistan. In this context, the Parliamentary Secretary for Interior, Maryam Aurangzeb, while informing the National Assembly on December 19, 2014 said, “Pakistan which has been major victim of terrorism has suffered a loss of almost 80 billion dollars including loss of 50,000 precious lives of civilians and security agencies…huge collateral damage during the decade long war against terrorism.” Afterwards, these losses increased.

Undoubtedly, in our country, the victims of terror attacks and suicide bombings have been innocent men, women and children. Regrettably, those militant entities like TTP, which try to justify terrorism and suicide bombings in the name of Islam, are misguiding the people, while these brutal acts are clearly against the teachings of Islam.

Although currently, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria and other Muslim countries are in shambles due to AI-Qaeda and  ISIL terrorism, yet all types of  violent  tactics,  employed   by  the  militant organizations could not break Pakistan’s  resolve to defeat them.

Valiant security personnel are facing the brunt of terrorist attacks, as they have stood up as the saviors of the Pakistani nation. Pakistan Army consists of six million  professional  troops who are  highly  motivated  to  root  out  terrorism   from  the  country.  

In this regard, the capability of Pakistan’s Armed Forces could be judged from the one year progress of the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb which started on Jun 15, 2014 against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

On June 10, this year, while showing the progress of the Zarb-e-Azb, Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Raheel Sharif said, “Terrorists have been cleared from their strongholds in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency and fight now is moving into last few pockets close to Afghan border.” He laid emphasis on “continuation of the operations till elimination of the last expected and probable terrorists groups and sanctuaries.”

However, since June 15, 2014, the jets of Pakistan Air Force have bombed militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, and killed thousands of insurgents including foreign militants, while Pak Army has also killed several terrorists through ground offensive and many of them surrendered before the Army. Thus, these forces destroyed their strongholds, demolishing tunnels and factories producing IED (Explosives), while drying the sources of their funds and sinking their public support.

In fact, the different war between Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the insurgents is simply a ‘clash of wills’ between two entities. Military thinkers agree that although the physical force will determine the type and scale of war, yet it is the ‘will to fight’ or ‘moral force’ that determines the outcome of war. Clausewitz puts it this way, “One might say that the physical force seems little more than the wooden hilt, while moral factors are the precious metal, the real weapon.”

In his book, “Fighting Power: German and U.S. Army Performance, 1939-1945”, Creveld identifies the elements of ‘moral force’, whom he calls “fighting power, the willingness to fight and the readiness, if necessary, to die.” The greater these elements, the less vulnerable an armed force will be to demoralization. ‘Moral force’, then, is the crucial factor in determining the combat power of any belligerent.

During the successful military operation, Zarb-e-Azb” retreat of the Taliban from North Waziristan has proved that such elements like ‘will to fight’ and ‘moral force’ have been more found in Pakistan’s Armed Forces then the Taliban militants. It is owing to this factor coupled with the spirit of sacrificing their own lives that the Armed Forces demoralized the militants of the TTP and their affiliated militant outfits.

However, Pakistan’s security forces are also waging this different war against terrorists in other parts of the country. In this respect, every settled district has operational policing system.  Punjab and Sindh Rangers are available to backup Army and Police. Frontier  Corps,  Frontier  Constabulary  and Levies  personnel are providing  additional enforcement  against  the  militant  organizations. Intelligence  agencies  of  the  country  are working  round  the  clock  to foil nefarious  designs  of terrorists  and  their  masters  in hostile agencies.

It is notable that as terrorists had accelerated anti-social, undemocratic and un-Islamic practices, while challenging the writ of the state, and had frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. Hence, leaders of various political and religious parties including all segments of society and media anchors—particularly commentators of TV channels, who wanted that a handful of terrorist elements must not be allowed to dictate their agenda and to impose their self-perceived ideology on the majority of Pakistanis are admiring the successes of the security forces against these insurgents. Now, the whole nation is united against terrorism and is backing the military operations against these brutal militants.

Nevertheless, the success of the military operations and defeat of the terrorists will become assured, if the ruling and the opposition parties including all the segments of society display practical unity not only with one another, but also with the Armed Forces including other security agencies, which is also necessary to maintain order at this sensitive moment and to win this war against the militants.

So, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s media, politicians, leaders of religious parties and the general masses must not only show solidarity with the security forces and other law-enforcing and intelligence agencies, but must also cooperate with them against these zealots, and to take this war to its logical end.

Therefore, collective wisdom demands that the victory of people  of Pakistan  is inevitable  in this different war, as few  thousand  militants occupying  a part of FATA  can neither capture  whole Pakistan  nor subjugate  its 200 million people. While the state of Pakistan has the capacity to sustain counterterrorism operations, the militant organizations are already in disaster. Our salvation lay in final victory, each and every  citizen  must   own  this  war  against   terrorism   and  we  must  put  our  full  trust in Government and Army. Everyone should play his part and remain united against terrorists by showing Pakistan’s strong determination to win this war against terrorism.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Karachiites ignore doomsayers

By Muhammad Jamil

Human Rights activists and NGOs have been raising alarm over the decision to set up two nuclear power plants K-2 and K-3 in Karachi. As reported by Pakistan Observer, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) conducted a public hearing on Monday on the issues of environmental pollution raised by the NGO representatives and other public figures. A great majority of those who appeared in the public hearing expressed their solidarity with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and endorsed their decision for setting up the nuclear plants in Karachi at Paradise Point. National Command Authority (NCA) adviser on Nuclear Projects Dr. Ansar Parvez (HI) also addressed the public hearing and dispelled fears about radiation. Dr. Ansar Parvez has Masters Degree in Physics and Nuclear Technology, Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA, and 30 years practical experience in related field.

He is Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and was chairman of the Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 2010-2011. With his academic background and vast experience in the nuclear field, he is an authority on the subject and other academics in nuclear physics pale before him. Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy and others not only opposed the setting up of two N-plants at Karachi but also presented doomsday scenario that Karachi would have to be evacuated if a nuclear disaster occurs. In a bid to allay fears surrounding the K2 and K3 nuclear plants, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) had held a workshop for journalists at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (Kanupp) in February 2015. Many environmentalists and civil society organisations have been expressing concerns over the safety of the two Chinese-funded plants. 

These plants will be completed in the next seven years and add 2,200MW to the national grid. In the interactive discussion with the media following a visit to the site, PAEC Chairman Ansar Pervaiz described the concerns as “twisted facts being presented by certain groups”. In one of the presentations, Dr. Talat Fatmi, a professor at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences termed the possibility of radiation “a figment of imagination”. He had added that in the worst-case scenario like the recent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, not a single death was reported and the World Health Organisation said in its report that the chances of cancer occurring in the area were also negligible. However, he maintained that the safety and security measures taken by the PAEC were foolproof. He had cited the example of Kanupp, which has been running for the last 40 years without a glitch.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) was contracted to build two reactors for the Karachi Coastal Nuclear Power Project in Pakistan, and Beijing committed $6.5 billion to finance construction of the $9.59 billion undertaking. In March 2014, The Newsweek’ cover story titled ‘The nuclear shadow over Karachi’ was authored by academics Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, Zia Mian, and A.H. Nayyar. They raised alarm over nuclear plants to be constructed by CNNC, ignoring the fact that much of its technologies and designs were developed with Westinghouse and Areva SA. The authors stated: “The fundamental concern is that nearly 20 million people are living in Karachi, and about one out of every 10 Pakistanis could be at risk from these reactors….This brand of reactor known as the ACP-1000 has not yet been tested anywhere”. But, nuclear scientists of PAEC and Chinese scientists are competent and have practical experience in the relevant field.

Referring to the Fukushima nuclear accident the authors had stated: “Safety systems can fail catastrophically. The accident in 2011 struck Japanese reactors of a well-established design that had been operating for decades. Still, all kinds of things happened that were not expected by the reactor operators or managers or by nuclear safety authorities”. It is strange that immediately after the announcement of the K-2 and K-3 projects, the academics started saying that there was no information of emergency plans drawn up including for possible evacuation of millions of people from Karachi in case of severe nuclear accident occurs at the new reactors. Now in the latest ‘Newsweek’, the authors raised alarm that along with natural disasters and operator err, there is risk of deliberate sabotage or terrorists attack. They referred to terrorists attacks on GHQ, the Navy Mehran base and the Air force’s Kamra Air base. 

The authors had hypothesized and painted a gloomy picture by stating: “Unmanageable chaos -roads would be jammed, and emergency personnel and law enforces would be rendered immobile or might prefer to save themselves or take flight”. But this was an outrageous claim. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission insists the reactors will be safe. The details reveal that China would construct plants ACP-1000 variety, the type that constitutes the vast majority of western nuclear plants, and is based on an extension of Westinghouse Electric Company’s AP-1000 model. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, it adopts both ‘active’ and ‘passive’ safety features. In fact, safety against both natural and man-made disasters is one of the outstanding features of this new design. Given this background, one can only expect the safety features of ACP-1000 to be stronger and certainly not any weaker, than the existing nuclear plants.
In any case, it is highly unlikely that the PAEC, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) or the IAEA would allow construction to follow through unless it is established that all safety concerns have been addressed, for this is precisely their job. But detractors of Pakistan’s nuclear program, or who have been using every ruse and trick to sabotage Pak-China nuclear deal are expressing unwarranted concerns. The nation has been listening to the vows of members of Obama administration that America would help Pakistan in overcoming the energy crisis, but nothing has been done, and such ideas have not gone beyond ‘noble’ sentiments. In 2010, during Indo-US strategic dialogue, India had told the US that it had serious objections to the proposed China-Pakistan nuclear deal. India did not feel any qualms that it had an agreement with the US; thus India had no moral high authority to criticize establishment of N-plants in Karachi. 

Evolving regional dynamics

By Khalid Iqbal

A stronger Pakistan is emerging, and now it can take stock of regional dynamics from a position of enhanced confidence. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement and America’s clearance of Foreign Military Sale of Viper Attack Helicopters and Hellfire II Missiles to Pakistan have been major contributory factors to this profile. Moreover, upward trajectory in Pakistan-Russia relations has culminated in a Defence Agreement and procurement of MI35 helicopters is on the cards. Prudent avoidance of direct military involvement in Yemen crisis is likely to pay off in the long term, while downturn in relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE may be temporary. Afghanistan’s rationalized foreign policy towards Pakistan has brought respite in Karzai era cross border attacks. If the P5+1 and Iran seal the nuclear deal, then Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project would become a reality. China has already offered to construct this pipeline. And has also committed to sell eight submarines to Pakistan. London based newspaper The Economist in its article “Pakistan’s economy Fuel injection: Lower oil prices prove to be a boon”,

On Apr 30, has released very promising data about Pakistan’s economy, indicating a growth rate of 4.7 percent. Moreover, negative media projection of Pakistan at international level is on decline, though two Pakistanis, Hussain Haqqani and Pervez Hoodbhoy are doing their best to fill the void. 

The US-Pakistan arms deal delivered a strong message to India that if it continues to shop elsewhere then America will sell arms to other countries of its choice. Pressure was too much for India to sustain and it succumbed; as a consequence, it has walked away from purchase of 126 Rafael fighter aircraft from France, much in the similar way it had walked away from Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline a few years back. Now in all likelihood, India could go for an American warplane—may be F-16. An over confident (read arrogant) India of Modi’s early days may slowly mellow down and reconcile with changing realities of regional flux. But periodic erratic impulses radiated by Indian policy making circles often smack of belligerence and aggressive mindset, which though is more of a nuance than substance; has disrupted bilateral dialogue many a times and has scuttled many meaningful peace initiatives. An arrogant India, though does not pose existential threat to Pakistan, it is certainly a source of regional instability; because to channelize its aggressive mindset it ferments trouble in the neighbouring countries by accentuating their otherwise benign fault-lines. 

India realizes its critical dependencies on Pakistan in the context of trade transit facilities. However, instead of pursuing these objective through prudent statesmanship, it endeavors to extract these concessions through arms twisting, literally and figuratively. Though there is renewed talk of an India-Iran deal to develop the Chahbahar port; India has lost the comparative advantage after the conclusion of CPEC agreement. 

Now Pakistan’s sensitivities about Afghanistan are better factored-in in the US strategic calculus. America has reconciled with the distinct possibility that it will be replaced in Afghanistan by China with the help of Pakistan. China already has a considerable economic presence in Afghanistan. It will now concentrate on energy-rich Iran that shall emerge much stronger after its nuclear deal and the recent unravelling in the Middle East. Region. Russia, with its growing understanding with China is emerging as an important regional player looking up to revive its stalled S 3000 missile deal with Iran. 

President Ashraf Ghani has completed the first roundtrip of the capitals which matter in the future political and economic settlement of Afghanistan. During his visit to India he expressed the desire to “make Afghanistan a graveyard of terror” and for this looked up for help from India, Pakistan and other neighbors. Indian analysts feel that New Delhi may be losing influence in Afghanistan because of Ghani’s efforts to forge closer ties with Pakistan and China; however, it is because India has disappointed Afghanistan on many counts, especially its promises of providing hi-tech military equipment. Modi said that India should join an existing Afghan-Pakistan Trade and Transit agreement to allow goods to flow by land from Afghanistan to eastern India and back. “We believe that Afghanistan’s direct surface link to India and the rest of South Asia, and increased connectivity to sea, could turn Afghanistan into a hub that connects Asia’s diverse regions and beyond,” Modi said. The spirit behind the effort is to replace Pakistan’s influence in Pakistan rather than facilitating Afghanistan. During Afghan President’s the visit to India no agreement was signed. Ghani said “we must have a unified approach, we must be united both in the region and globally to contain this terror.” These words indicate a shift in Afghanistan’s position on countering terror, from charging Pakistan with complicity in attacks by the Taliban, to a more cooperative approach with Pakistan. He referred to the IS rather than the Taliban and LeT as the next big challenge for his country. 

As of now Afghanistan is poised to benefit enormously by joining CPEC. While in India, Ghani said: “Our vision today is to be guided by that potential where the energy of Central Asia will flow to South Asia where pipelines, fiber optics, railways, and connectivity, air, ground and virtual will connect us.” And this is what CPEC offers.
India was the first country with which Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement, but the contour of the relationship has changed. Ashraf Ghani has visited China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan (twice) and the US before coming to India. In China he frankly spoke of Afghanistan’s new external priorities indicating relegation of India to the outermost circle. He has also decided not to pursue the request for defence equipment from India that has given a jolt to the relationship politically. 

Afghan president feels that he must engage Pakistan vigorously and obtain its cooperation. Ghani has also started sending officer cadets for training at the Pakistani military academy to offset the earlier pattern of Afghan officers being trained exclusively in India. He is also counting on China- Pakistan synergy to actively promote the reconciliation process, and providing economic and other requisite support to help transition Afghan economy from war to corporate economy. He has concluded that India’s capacity to help is limited and Pakistani and China could be more productive partners. China has expressed its willingness to help in the reconciliation process. The CPEC project indicates far-reaching Chinese plans to bring this region into its economic integration, from which Afghanistan would benefit substantially. 

However, Afghan polity is not unanimous on Ghani’s outreach to Pakistan and the Taliban. There is a suspicion that Ghani is seeking to strengthen the Pashtun elements in the polity at the expense of other ethnic groups. Accommodating the Taliban in political structure of Afghanistan is likely to meet resistance from other ethnic groups, especially the idea of giving them governorships and ministerial appointments outside any electoral process.
Despite setback, India is not likely to reconcile with its relatively lower profile in Afghanistan, even if it has to take-on a spoiler’s role. Hence, India may take the trajectories like: coax Iran and paly repeat role of 1980s and 90s for destabilizing central government by provoking ethnic minorities especially Uzbeks and Tajiks; support Iran in playing its sectarian card; go solo and reactivate Dostum card; crate fissures between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. India is likely to follow a composite strategy drawing from all these options. 

Pakistan needs to follow a prudent policy to capitalize on the advantages that are visible now. Some of these are transient and or slippery; while some others are fragile. A time bound effort is required to benefit from transient ones and comprehensive strategy should be evolved to secure the fragile ones.