Naltar tragedy and display of valour

By Muhammad Jamil

Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman told state television that “the MI-17 helicopter was fully airworthy, but just prior to landing it suddenly lost control due to technical reasons”. He dismissed as bogus claims by Taliban of having shot it down. Pakistan Air Force has constituted the board to investigate the deadly air crash at Naltar, which has begun its proceedings. “It was purely an accident, and accidents do happen,” Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said. Envoys of the Philippines and Norway and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors were among seven persons killed when the helicopter, carrying 12 foreigners, crashed in Gilgit-Baltistan area in the north. Two army pilots and a Pakistani crew member were also killed in Friday’s crash. The nation will always remember their valour, sense of responsibility and for laying down their lives to save many precious lives.

When the helicopter crash-landed at the school, it caught fire. According to a TV channel report army and Air Force officers and jawans virtually went through the flames to evacuate the dead and especially survivors before fire could reach the fuel tank. The survivors of course are the witness to the tragic incident, who did not notice any hit by the rocket. South African High Commissioner Mpendulo Jele, who was on board the helicopter but miraculously remained unhurt, was all praise for military officials and jawans. “It’s an accident that can happen anywhere in the world. Unfortunately we lost some of our colleagues, but Pakistan military saved many lives,” he told a news channel. He added it was a miracle that there were many survivors - twelve passengers survived the crash, as in all there were 19 people on board.
International community has shown solidarity with Pakistan on Naltar tragedy, which was not sabotage or an act of terror. It was an accident, an adversity or one may call it misfortune. Though tragedy or an accident sometimes does not have a cause, a board has been set up by PAF to investigate the Naltar Helicopter incident. Reportedly, the black box of the helicopter has been found and according to initial investigation the incident was not an act of terrorism. President Mamnoon Hussain has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the tragic Naltar incident. He prayed for the departed souls and extended heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families. The President stated that the government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened over the tragic death of foreigners in the unfortunate incident and equally share the grief of the affected families. 

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended condolences on the demise of the two ambassadors and the spouses of two other envoys who died in the crash and had declared one day-mourning on Saturday for the loss of invaluable lives in the tragic accident. The prime minister on Saturday called Malaysian premier Najib Razak to convey his condolences over the death of Malaysian ambassador’s wife. He had contacted the Prime Minister of Norway on Friday to extend condolences on the death of Norwegian ambassador to Pakistan. “The entire Pakistani nation is heartbroken on the incident,” he told the Norwegian prime minister, according to a statement issued by the government. It is just sheer bad luck for Pakistan that a tragic accident took the lives of foreign diplomats. However, the TTP spokesman claimed the responsibility for having downed the helicopter. 

Indeed, it was a false claim and nobody believed that TTP militants have had the capacity to launch such an attack in that area. According to ISPR it was not sabotage or an act of terror but an accident; and there is no reason to disbelieve him. DG ISPR said: “The helicopter crashed due to a technical fault and ruled out the possibility of any terrorist or subversive activity. However, human error has to also be ruled out after a thorough inquiry so that we can rest easy.” The US State Department said on Friday it had no reason to doubt Pakistan’s claim that a helicopter crash, which killed several people including two ambassadors, was an accident. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said: “The Pakistani air force has already said something about this. They described it as a technical fault that they believe was responsible.”
Reminded of a claim by the banned TTP that it had brought down the helicopter, he said: “We have no reason to doubt what the Pakistani authorities have said.” Envoys of Netherlands, Norway, Romania, South Africa, Philippines, Sweden, Lebanon, Malaysia, Poland and Indonesia were on the unfortunate flight. Ambassador of Indonesia Burhan Muhammad was reported to be in a critical condition with 75 per cent burns. The 10 survivors had “varying degrees of injuries”. The injured are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital at Jutial, about 30km away from the area in which the crash occurred. The delegation was on its way to inspect projects on a three-day trip to Gilgit-Baltistan, and also to pay a visit to ski-resort where they were set to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Having that said, international community has stood by Pakistan in this hour of grief. 

The Naltar incident was the fifth crash involving the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters since 2004. Most of the crashes, according to investigations into previous incidents, happened because of technical failures. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called his Malaysian counterpart Dato Sri Mohammad Najib to condole the death of Mrs. Datin Habibah binti Mahmud, wife of the Malaysian High Commissioner in the crash. Adviser to PM for Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz called Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert Rosario to convey condolences on the death of Ambassador of the Philippines Domingo Lucenario. United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon expressed his sorrow and condolences over the helicopter crash in Gilgit-Baltistan that resulted in seven deaths, including two foreign ambassadors. In a statement, the UN secretary-general extended his condolences to the families of the crash victims of the Philippines, Norway, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as his wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. 

Afghanistan back in focus

By Khalid Iqbal

Flurry of activities about Afghanistan over the last two weeks have, once again, brought this country under international focus. Former President Asif Zardari led his party delegation to Kabul, Commander United States Forces in Afghanistan General John F Campbell called on Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif, President Ashraf Ghani undertook his visit to India; and there was a semblance of contacts between the Kabul government and Taliban in Doha, facilitated by a Canadian entity Pugwash. Officials from the US, China and Pakistan also attended the talks, with Pakistan officially announcing support for the peace talks. It was the third time the Taliban have sat with the representatives of Afghan government, earlier meetings were held in in France and Japan. However have been no formal talks between the two sides; at least there is no such acknowledgement from either side.

Delegation led by former president Zardari was part of outreach programme initiated by President Ashraf Ghani to reach out to Pakistan’s political leadership for consultation and for mobilizing their support for Afghan peace process. There is a bipartisan consensus among the political leadership of Pakistan for contributing towards peace and stability in Afghanistan; and point is home to all that apart from the Afghan people, it is the people of Pakistan who are to gain maximum benefits from a robust and sustainable peace in Afghanistan. Zardari Delegation met with the Afghan President and Chief Executive. Leadership discussed bilateral relations, regional situation and the need for enhanced economic cooperation. Terming terrorism as the common enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Zaradri called for effective cooperation between the two neighbours. “The current environment requires new decisions. Pakistan, Afghanistan and the whole region face serious threats and these threats need new cooperation,” Dr Abdullah said. Zardari hailed the formation of unity government in Kabul. Welcoming the visit of the opposition leaders to Kabul, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson described the visit as a “good omen,” adding that the government encourages political contacts between the two countries since they promote bilateral ties.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif discussed Pak-Afghan border coordination and the overall security situation in the region with General Campbell. Border management is the mother of most of the issues regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. Pakistan has since long been proposing installation of biometric system on formal crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Bigger side of the issue is informal crossing points. While official crossing points are two, the informal crossings are numerous. Easement rights make the issue still more complicated. While such rights are the entitlement of the people residing within eight kilometers of the Pak-Afghan border, ways and means are not available to ensure that such rights are not misused by other people. 

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have become relatively better after a regime change in Afghanisan—though the spoilers are at work. As of now, intelligence sharing and coordinated efforts along both sides of the border are high on the agenda of both sides to counter terrorism. In April, Afghan army chief General Sher Muhammad Karimi was the first Afghan army chief to speak as chief guest at the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul, where Afghan army cadets also receive training.
Afghan President’s visit to India reaffirmed that the new Afghan government is seriously pursuing its policy of re-balancing with respect to its relations with India and Pakistan, and one sided anti-Pakistan rhetoric of Karzai era may be over, at least for the time being. Ghani has made rapprochement with Pakistan a key policy since being elected as Afghanistan’s president. Despite facing criticism at home for his efforts, he defended this policy while addressing an audience in New York during his visit to the United States. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ve begun a process of fundamental transformation,” he told the Council on Foreign Relations in response to a question about Afghan-Pakistani ties. On its part, Pakistan has made continuous efforts for facilitation of intra-Afghan peace process and smooth transit trade with Afghanistan. Effort is also being made for development of Web Based One Customs System which would help in bringing transparency in the system and enable the Afghan importers and Customs authorities in both countries to trace the cargo en-route to Afghanistan. “Pakistan wants to expect Afghanistan to be open as far as their access to Central Asia is concerned and it’s very natural for Afghanistan to expect from our Pakistani neighbours to open up,” Dr Abdullah said, while speaking to CNN-IBN. Afghanistan needs to appreciate Pakistan’s limitations with regard to extending such facilities to an out rightly hostile country who’s meddling in internal affairs of Pakistan is well known to the Afghan side. Keeping in view peculiar relations with India, Pakistan should not be expected to extend the Afghan transit trade beyond Pakistan-India borders on Wagah-Atari route; however, to facilitate Afghan people, Pakistan has permitted India to carry out trade via Karachi port. 

And in Doha, two days of talks between Taliban representatives and Afghan politicians ended without any concrete development. Qatar’s official news agency described the meeting as ‘reconciliation’ talks; while the Taliban termed them as ‘research talks’ in which each delegate participated in individual capacity and presented views. Pakistan has invested heavily in Afghan peace process and is keen to see forward movement in the process. Nevertheless, there is huge gap between the points of view of the two sides. Afghan government as well as the Taliban continue to articulate their preconditions which should actually be the end objectives of the talks. Pakistan supports peaceful, stable Afghanistan; Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif places great emphasis on strong, stable and cooperative ties with Afghanistan under his vision for a peaceful and prosperous neighborhood. 

Doha talks coincided with the new fighting season in Afghanistan. Apparently a disagreement over the presence of US troops in the country was reinforced during these talks. Head of the eight-member Taliban delegation, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, read out a written statement at the conference. The statement said that Afghanistan could not have an independent government in the presence of foreign forces. Taliban side said the Afghan government had asked them to stop fighting and obey the Afghan constitution, but this was a non-starter since US troops are still present in Afghanistan. The Afghan government claimed that only foreign trainers were left, who would leave if the Taliban stopped fighting. Terming the UN sanctions on their leaders as “cruel”, the Taliban said such sanctions and decision were “hurdles in the way of the peace process.” The Taliban also dispelled the impression of exporting their ideology to other countries and said “Afghans have not been involved in terrorism against any country or the people but others have attacked their homeland.” A 20-member delegation from Afghan government, including members of the High Peace Council, attended the conference. A two-member team of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan of Gulbaden Hekmatyar, the second largest resistance group after the Taliban, was also part of the Qatar talks. This was a significant development given the Taliban’s refusal to join the intra-Afghan dialogue.

Asked about any progress on Pakistan’s peace efforts in Afghanistan, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said: “We do not want to make comments in public but the people involved in the process are working hard and with responsibility…There is a need to push the reconciliation process between the Taliban and the Afghan administration.” 

For now, Afghan peace process seems to be moving in right direction, though at snails speed. A glaring discrepancy is absence of a credible guarantor to the final agreement. The UN Secretary General may like to induct P-5 in this role. The process would pick up pace as and Taliban are made stakeholders through power sharing; until then it will be akin to one step forward and two backwards. 

Nuclear Suppliers Group and its Selective Membership Criteria

By Saima Sial


Ideally, a state should ring the United Nation’s or the International Atomic Energy Agency’s doorbell if it desires access to peaceful nuclear technology. These bodies have universal or near-universal membership and could respond to these requests with uniform criteria. Instead, a cartel of 48 countries is in charge of regulating the export of these sensitive technologies, and it provides access only to like-minded countries, even if they might not fit the bill of the already subjective criteria.
The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a voluntary association of states that aims to ensure that nuclear trade for peaceful purposes does not contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The group first met in November 1975 in response to India’s first nuclear test, which used fuel illegally diverted from a nuclear reactor that was supplied to India for peaceful uses.  The group operates through the principle of consensus and its guidelines are implemented by each participant in accordance with its national laws.
The guidelines regulate the transfer of dual-use equipment, material, and technology that could contribute to unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle or nuclear explosive activities. Membership criteria include the ability to supply items specified in the guidelines, adherence to the guidelines, and enforcement of a domestic export control regime.  Additionally, members must be in full compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) or another international nonproliferation agreement.
However, membership criteria have been selectively enforced to suit the goals of the existing NSG members. In 2008, as part of the U.S.-India nuclear deal, India was given permission to conduct trade with NSG members after receiving a waiver, despite not being a member of the NPT or allowing IAEA inspections. It is difficult to comprehend how an organization that was created in reaction to India’s proliferation record can bend its so-called principles and allow trade with India.
In exchange for the 2008 waiver, the United States made India agree to work toward the early negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), in a bid to make India commit to stronger nonproliferation norms. However, India still continues to produce fissile material at a very fast rate in its strategic weapons program and is now enriching uranium under the pretense of producing nuclear fuel for a reactor in Rattehali for India’s nuclear submarine program. There are no safeguards on its enrichment program that verify that the material it produces for this reactor is not diverted for the production of strategic weapons. Furthermore, the United States recently agreed to India’s demand that India no longer be obligated to allow tracking of nuclear supplies. This case is another example of how geopolitical aims of great powers can undermine the nonproliferation regime through the selective application of rules.
In order for the nuclear nonproliferation regime to work, it must aim to universalize norms and to enforce them equally. To achieve this, the NSG should build criteria for states that possess nuclear weapons and are not members of the NPT.  The new criteria should seek to establish guidelines for domestic export control laws, and grant membership to countries if their domestic export regimes meet established guidelines, regardless of NPT membership.  Incorporating these outlier countries would ensure uniform application of the criteria, which would strengthen the efficacy of the regime.
If NPT outliers are made part of regimes like the NSG based on updated criteria – criteria based on a country’s harmonization of domestic export control laws with established guidelines of the NSG and other regimes – such a measure would not only guarantee a uniform application of criteria, but would also help reinforce norms that currently face setbacks because of those outlier countries. The case for India’s membership of the multilateral export control regimes can here serve as an opportunity.
Pakistan is another outlier who would qualify for membership under the new criteria, and has been seeking a criteria-based approach for NSG membership. Pakistan’s control lists and export control practices take NSG guidelines into account. In the recently concluded session of the Pakistan-U.S. strategic dialogue’s Working Group on Security, Strategic Stability, and Nonproliferation, the United States “Pakistan’s efforts to harmonize its strategic trade controls with those of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other multilateral export control regimes” and “emphasized the desirability of continued outreach to integrate Pakistan into the international nonproliferation regime.” This is a welcome step.
More inclusive NSG criteria would encourage outliers to seek membership.  Many of these outliers are interested in participating in nonproliferation regimes, as New Delhi’s recent application for Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) membership indicates. However, a status-conscious country like India would not apply for  MTCR membership or another arrangement unless it had an assurance that it would not be embarrassed by rejection – this application may therefore indicate that the United States has once again been successful in advocating the Indian case.
Developing new criteria to incorporate outliers into the NSG would bode positively for the universalization of nonproliferation norms, and would also help shape the attitude of outliers regarding nonproliferation norms. History has been witness to the fact that the geopolitical and economic interests of great powers often take precedence over uniform enforcement of criteria.   The selective enforcement of membership criteria seriously undermines the efficacy of the nonproliferation regime. If signatories of the NPT and the stalwarts of nonproliferation continue to sideline norms for their own economic and geopolitical interests, the unraveling of the nonproliferation regime is inevitable.

The article was originally published in www.southasianvoices.org

Why Baloch Leader Opposes CPEC?

By Sajjad Shaukat

Although various Baloch separatist leaders of the Balochistan province are still opposing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), yet case of Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti, the leader of the outlawed Baloch Republican Party (BRP) is of special consideration which exposes foreign designs of external powers against Pakistan.

In this respect, Brahamdagh Bugti, in a recently-held conference in Frankfurt, organized by the German Chapter of the BRP highlighted human rights situation in Balochistan. He criticized the CPEC and Gwadar port projects and called for a UN-sponsored referendum in Balochistan to decide its future. He alleged the military equipments and funds obtained by Pakistan from the US and other western countries for combating terrorists and extremist groups were also being used against the democratic and political struggle of the Baloch people.

With the assistance of anti-Pakistan foreign entities, BRP held the conference. Besides Baloch Republican Party leaders, human rights activists, politicians and businessmen from the European countries participated in the conference in order to endorse the ill-conceived stand of Brahamdagh Bugti about Balochistan, as part of propaganda.

It is not new attempt to malign Pakistan in relation to Baluchistan, such sort of conferences and meetings also held in the past in Geneva, London and the US. In this regard, the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs had convened unprecedented hearing on February 8, 2012 and negatively, discussed Balochistan. The Committee’s hearing was attended by the supporters of Baloch separatism and American scholars including human rights activists. It was chaired by Dana Rohrabacher who said, “Balochistan is a turbulent land marred by human rights violations”, requiring urgent attention. Rohrabacher had also co-authored an article with Congressman Louie Gohmert, and favoured an independent Balochistan.

However, Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti who is now living in Europe in self-imposed exile has full backing of some external secret agencies, especially Indian RAW in misguiding the innocent people of Balochsitan.

In fact, entrenched in Afghanistan, foreign intelligence agencies like American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad have perennially been supporting bomb blasts, suicide attacks, abductions, target killings, ethnic and sectarian violence in Balochistan through their affiliated militant groups such as BRP, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Jundollah (God’s soldiers) etc. to fulfill the secret strategic designs of US, India and Israel at the cost of Pakistan, China and Iran. Besides martyring several personnel of law-enforcing agencies and security forces in the province, these anti-Pakistan entities kidnapped and massacred many Punjabis, Pushtuns, Shias, people of Hazara community and patriot Balochis including Iranian Shias. In the past few years, they abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan. On a number of occasions, these militant outfits claimed responsibility for their subversive acts. But, they have always blamed Pak Army and other security agencies for human rights violations in Balochistan.

It is notable that the ink on Pak-China agreements related to CPEC was barely dry when some western media, especially RAW started playing up the Baloch insurgency. In this regard, the director of The Second Floor (T2F), a social activist Sabeen Mahmud was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Karachi on April 24, 2015, followed by a bomb blast in Sibi, which killed several persons on April 26. However, she had left T2F after attending the session on Balochistan province, when she was targeted. She was likely to conduct a seminar at LUMS in Lahore about Balochistan. Earlier, on April 11, gunmen killed 20 laborers at a dam construction site in the Turbat district of Baluchistan. On May 29, 2015, 20 people were killed when unknown militants opened fire at the kidnapped passengers in Mastung area of Balochistan—after abduction of two buses. Particularly, on May 13, 45 people were killed when gunmen brutally opened fire on a bus of the Ismaili community in Karachi. Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman of Jundullah which is the affiliated group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—backed by RAW claimed responsibility for the bus attack.

These terror attacks which continue in some way or the other are aimed at sabotaging the CPEC by showing that if Pakistan government is not able to provide security to its citizens, how it can protect CPEC.

Similarly, RAW was behind the assassination of Sabeen Mahmud-a well thought-out plan not only to try to harm Pak-China CPEC project, but also to accuse Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Another aim was also to drive a wedge between Balochistan and rest of Pakistan.

It is mentionable that on July 23, 2008, Brahmdagh Bugti told the BBC that they had the right to accept foreign aid and arms from anywhere including India.

It is worth-mentioning that with the help of Baloch nationalist leaders who have taken refuge in western countries; these hostile entities are launching false campaign to distort the image of Islamabad and its security agencies.

Whereas Pak Army has not only been successful in uprooting the anti-state elements, but also contributed a lot in socio-economic development of Balochistan. While protecting mega projects, and promoting other developments works, Army set up a number of institutes in Balochistan, which have been providing especially technical training to thousands of Balochis. Army has also been imparting military training to the Baloch youth. The purpose is to bring them in the mainstream of the country.

Baloch people know that the feudal lords (Sardars) like Brahmdagh Bugti who have been fighting for their own so-called status, prestige and influence, do not want to give up the old system of feudalism. They are now well-aware that with the assistance of US-led India and Israel, these anti-Pakistan elements are inciting them for independence of the province.

It is noteworthy that a Gallup survey of the UK official body, DFID, conducted on July 20, 2012 had disclosed that the vast majority of the Baloch people oppose the idea of an independent Balochistan.

While, as a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by a nationalist leader Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established. And on December 7, 2013; local bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in Balochistan. The successful elections have greatly negated the cause of terrorist groups who always claim to enjoy the majority support. These elections also proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, as they have rejected the case of separatists, being projected by India and other major countries.

Now, a majority of the Baloch persons has understood that Balochistan’s mineral resources and geo-strategic location with deep Gwadar seaport which would connect rest of the world with Central Asia have further annoyed the US and India. In this connection, Pak-China CPEC project is to be economic game changer in whole the region, which is badly hit by below average living conditions, while people of Balochistan would be the main beneficiaries of the project. Two decades down the timeline, Gwadar would be a thriving metropolitan providing economic opportunities to the youth of Balochistan.

And, with the inception of new political governments both at the center and the province, a meaningful negotiation with all the armed groups have been initiated by a high level reconciliation and negotiation committee, comprising seasoned Baloch, Pashtoon  and Sindhi leaders to initiate dialogue with Baloch separatists. The government of Balochistan has also announced general pardon and protection to the Baloch militants. Hence, many insurgents have surrendered their arms and decided to work for the development of Pakistan.

But, it is regrettable that on the instruction of some western countries, particularly, New Delhi, leader of the BRP, Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti who continues to deny such an offer is misguiding the Baloch against the federation of Pakistan by opposing the CPEC.

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

Dutch Politician Hurts Muslims’ Sentiments

By Sajjad Shaukat

In the modern age, fast development of science has changed the world into a global village through social media networking websites, while range of the TV channels has also been extended.

But, it is regrettable that some anti-Islam elements are using these media instruments against Islam by committing blasphemous acts which are inviting terrorists’ attacks even in the western countries.

In this respect on June, 24, this year, Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders aired cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) on Dutch television, which were drawn in May, 2015 at a caricature competition in Garland, Texas where Wilders was one of the speakers. The event was assaulted by two gunmen. Islamic State (ISIL) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Now, Wilders introduced the three-minute broadcast, in the second half of which the cartoons scrolled across the screen accompanied by piano music. One caricature had the accompanying text: “I (Wilders) have been made victorious with terror.”

Geert Wilders who leads the Dutch Party for Freedom aired the caricatures in programme, reserved for political parties. He said that he broadcast the drawings to defend freedom of expression, even as Islam holds that any physical depiction of the Prophet is blasphemous.

While showing prejudice, he elaborated, “The Islam, the terrorists do not want us to show these cartoons. But, terror and violence may never defeat freedom of speech. We must precisely do what the terrorists prevent us to do.”

Wilders is viewed as one of Europe’s most prominent critics of Islam, which he has described as a fascist ideology. The politician is currently facing prosecution in Netherlands for discrimination and hate speech over remarks he made about citizens of Dutch-Moroccan origin-during election campaign, last year.

Meanwhile, Dutch authorities have taken precautionary measures in case of violent protests. Embassies in the Islamic countries have been put on notice and diplomats have been instructed to explain that the broadcast reflects the views of one politician and not the Dutch government.

The broadcast came almost six months after the incident when the two armed persons stormed into the office of infamous French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. They had killed 12 people including a French National Police officer.

Although the officials of the Dutch government have publicly denounced Geert Wilders’ views on Islam, yet they stated that they support his right to free speech.

Some critics, however, have condemned Wilders’ latest act of provocation. A group of Moroccan mosques last week released a cartoon, depicting him as a disgruntled child being displayed on a bomb. Spokesman Aissa Zanzen said, “Ignoring him or using humor is the best way to respond to [Mr. Wilders]…We refuse to let him polarize our society.”

Nevertheless, it is not the new sacrilegious act; such anti-Islam activities also took place in the past. In this regard, YouTube was banned in Pakistan on September 22, 2012 when a blasphemous US-made film “Innocence of Muslims” was uploaded on it, which resulted into massive protests and violent demonstrations in more than 30 Islamic countries, leading to loss of life and property. In Pakistan, violent protesters plunged the country into chaos, as 30 people were killed in nationwide protests. And, the American ambassador Christopher Stevens in Libya and three of his staff were killed.

In fact, reprinting of the caricatures about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and release of a Dutch film against the Holy Quran was also part of the conspiracy against the Muslims. The film equates Islam with violence, followed by the 9/11 terror attacks inside the US, showing Muslim leaders preaching inflammatory sermons against Jews and Christians. It displayed that Europe is under threat from Islamic beliefs and practices.

In 2008 too, the YouTube was banned in Pakistan, as it had hurt the feelings of Muslims across the world by uploading the film by Geert Wilders, which displayed links between Islam and terrorism.

In May, 2010, the sacrilegious caricatures competition of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) inspired by an American cartoonist on Facebook and YouTube triggered violent protests across the Islamic world.

On March 20, 2011, a US evangelical preacher Terry Jones supervised the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by Pastor Wayne Sapp in a Florida church, while similar blasphemous act was done by the US troops in Bagram base in Afghanistan. In 2005, caricatures of Holy Prophet (PBUH) published in Danish newspapers sparked deadly protests in the Islamic countries. In that context, Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on Denmark’s embassy in Islamabad in 2008, killing six people, saying it was in revenge for publication of caricatures.

It is of particular attention that those who are behind these fanatic entities intend to fulfill their political designs. In these terms, by availing the international phenomena of terrorism, Indo-Israeli lobbies are collectively working in America and other European countries to manipulate the double standard of the west in relation to terrorism and human rights vis-à-vis some Islamic countries. Israel and India are equating the ‘war of independence’ in Kashmir and Palestine with terrorism. However, all these similarities of interest have brought the two countries to follow a common secret diplomacy to misguide the US in order to target Pakistan, Iran, Syria etc.

Hence, anti-Islam activities have been conducted by these elements not only to distort the image of Islam, but also to create division between the Islamic and the Western Worlds.

And, these blasphemous activities against the religion of Muslims resulted into the recruitment of more militants by the terrorist groups. Instead of curbing terrorism, these acts have caused more terrorism in the volatile countries like Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria etc. The sacrilegious moves provided the Islamic militants with new ammunition. It is said that Al Qaeda or ISIL is the winner. If such nefarious designs continue, even moderate Muslims could join the radicals.

Notably, critics say that if western democracies have passed laws against anti-Semitism and denials of the holocaust, as to why there is no such law about anti-Islam moves. Nevertheless, it indicates double standard of these liberal and civilized countries which have further encouraged those who want to sabotage the world peace through division.

In this respect, Organization of the Islamic Countries (OIC) should take up a case in the UN by drafting a resolution—not allowing any person to misuse the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) name and make movies and caricatures on him.

Nonetheless, strict action must be taken against the persons like the Dutch politician Geert Wilders who has hurt Muslims’ sentiments.

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

A ‘Player’ Who Imperfectly Erred!

By Aasef Chaudhary

There is a famous proverb of  Max Euwe that, “Whoever sees no other aim in the game than that of giving checkmate to one’s opponent will never become a good Chess player”, (hence obviously likely to face a humiliation some day). Asif Ali Zardari is one such player who was known for, and in fact always ensured a checkmate and a humiliation to his every opponent, one way or the other without knowing that his own worst checkmate is already writing on the wall. Zardari is one of the most controversial political figures of the country; known for his killing smile yet vindictive not willing to forgive or forget his rivals, may the one be of any stature. He knows how to remain in the gossip and hold the fame. He has never faded away from the country’s political horizon; sometime as the state’s head and at other occasions, mostly as co chairperson. He knows the art when to use Bilawal and when to keep this card away and in the stack. He has no friend but his personal interests.

Few days back the former president and ex supreme commander of Pakistan’s armed forces brutally lashed at the organisation, he commanded once. It was certainly out of blues, hence everyone was taken aback. The worst accusation he hurled at the military establishment was that the latter was overstepping its domain. With a great arrogance he spitted venom and said, “The army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs.” He threatened the army of dire consequences and warned them to refrain from ‘character assassination’ of political parties or else he would come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan’s creation.
Now this was something very unusual. Never ever any politician or other personality had gone that far in pointing an accusing finger at the armed forces, so directly. What it should be called? People are still baffled and befuddled that what exactly had happened that caused the pain to this political Bobby Fischer of his own time. One thing is for sure that Mr. Zardari certainly has the feeling that someone has stepped on his toe and who that someone is? By ridiculing and directly threatening the armed forces AZ has disclosed that name right away.
About three years back British author Michael Burleigh wrote in the Daily Mail of London, “Zardari is not Mr. Ten percent. He has recently become Mr. Hundred and Ten Percent”. Who can forget about that famous welcome which the British media gave to Zardari when he landed at Heathrow to meet David Cameron, by cautioning their PM that, ‘Cameron should count his fingers after shaking hands with Pakistan’s Mr. Ten Percent.’ And then, the famous joke that compelled the PPP government to punish the culprits posting satiric comments, comical posts about the president. As the story goes, a robber stopped a person at gunpoint and said, “Give me your money”. The answer came was, “Don’t you know who I am? I am the president.” The robber immediately corrected himself and said, “OK then, give me my money back”.
What everyone asking each other is about the reasons that forced Zardari to take such a harsh stance. The close associates and friends confirmed that he was a bit agitated from the time when his confidential persons were being questioned and caught. Above all he was attending the apex committees’ sessions those were taking the decisions to bring Karachi’s peace back and was fully aware that most of the marches were leading either to Nine Zero, Bilawal House or Lyari. The thing which was disturbing him day and night was that the Army had a very clear and unambiguous plan to counter economic terrorism, which feeds acts of terrorism and which had threatened Pakistan’s economic lifeline Karachi. As a renowned analyst rightly observed that at the early stage of the action plan, Mr. Zardari decided to take the bull by the horn and his strategy was to have a fight before big names are dragged into the net now circling the land, money laundering, extortion and other mafias. A toe or a tail, whatever it was but one thing was for sure that it was under a heavy military boot and we all know that one surely screams when in utter pain.
Zardari, who abetted PMLN government in the hours of crisis, when Imran’s demand about the fresh elections was looming, was rightly expecting a favour back. He was damn sure about PMLN’s coming forward to rescue him at the crucial hour. Though it was a big ask but Mian Nawaz Sharif, who certainly has learnt a lot from his past mistakes, soon showed him a red flag when Zardari reached Islamabad to see the former, who showed inability to see him. It was a clear message that PMLN cannot stand by anyone’s side that adjusts his ranks and files to fight against the armed forces of Pakistan.
The PPP co-chairman is so confident about his political might that he even bragged that if his party took to the streets, not just Sindh, the entire country’s roads will be blocked. “The whole country from Karachi to Khyber will come to a standstill and will remain so till I order otherwise,” he actually said. Seeing the volleys of criticism and condemning he is facing, it appears that what the PPP leader has said is more of his empty words, especially when we all have recently witnessed that his party has been ousted from the KPK in recent elections and despite his call and a full backing by the parties like ANP and JUFI, his drama totally fizzled out. When we look towards Punjab, the PPP has been eliminated from parliamentary politics. That leaves with Sindh only where he may have some pockets of influence. He can block some roads in few parts of Sindh but what is should be more disturbing for him is that in Karachi his party is facing an endless charge sheet of corruption and his men are being detained and reportedly confessing. His links with model Ayaan Ali are talk of the town and social media is choked with gossip about her. She has created a panic in Bilawal House and its known to all and sundries that who is making desperate attempts to save her skin and deputing whom to defend the doll. Although she was caught with a comparatively small cache of dollars, nevertheless, the scaring fact is that what she knows and can disclose is much more important than half a million dollars those were seized. Zardari’s one time friend and an ex all in all of Sindh, firebrand Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza openly alleges Zardari for a couple of murders and seems sure about his end hence he predicts quite convincingly that, by attacking military establishment, Asif Ali Zardari has committed a political suicide.
Zardari’s intentions for picking up this apex confrontation are not yet fully clear, although the happenings in the surrounding suggest a lot; nabbing of reportedly his front men while fleeing abroad, arrest of most wanted ‘Lyari King’ Uzair Baloch who has spilled a lot of beans and has provided ample reasons for a ‘Bilawal House’ search are the facts that are enough to make him restless. Diehard PPP workers and leadership was sincerely praying for this day. He may consider himself a royal dressed duke but the public knows that the prince is naked, unfortunately. Soon close aides would be found deserting the sinking ship.
Amidst this, if Zardari is annoying the cat then it can only be looked at, as a miscalculating move in the game. After losing castles and the Queen if he thinks that he is in a position to serve checkmate to his opponents then he is sadly mistaken. In fact his miscalculated move has done blessing in disguise and has helped in segregating the loyalists from the turncoats. The game is in fact finished and watching the proceedings is just a formality. So true it is that, “Whoever sees no other aim in the game than that of giving checkmate to one’s opponent will never become a good Chess player.” Unfortunately Mr. Zardari imperfectly erred.

Dishonesty: From Necklace to Shameless

Aasef Chauhdry
 
The higher you go the greedier you get. Isn’t it matters of great shame that one of the ex prime ministers while leaving the office took away a precious necklace presented to the second lady by the Turk first lady at that time? Having read the protocol book and the procedure about the disposal of such official gifts, if still someone behaves naive then how it should be termed. It’s very painful to see that we as a nation are doing all sorts of corruption but when someone takes the name, then its neither mine nor it is yours, rather our beloved homeland Pakistan is called as a corrupt country. Pakistan; that has no role no part in this filthy corruption is labeled as, and made to stand at the stage, at 33^rd position. Why Pakistan? Why not me or you? In the early days of Pakistan the government servants would save the papers and would use both sides of a page. So much so that even the employees, in the absence of the common pins, would collect the plant thorns to pin up the papers and other office use. There was no concept of offerings and bribe in the early days, hence there was no corruption. However, with the passage of time it crept and crawled into the society slowly but surely to get this one time’s most prosperous and flourishing country turn into a sleazed society thus acquiring her 33^rd position in 2013, among the most corrupt countries of the world.
Dishonesty is ‘alleged’ as a striking obstacle for good governance, authority of law and rational use of power to run the affairs of state and maintain public unity / national synchronization. Sadly corrupt practices and misuse of public office lead to general frustration opening windows of protest with sense of dissent, disapproval and conflict against governing authority. Regrettably rampant corruption in Pakistan is posing a very serious threat to the state. It has become a significant obstacle towards development and adversely impacting the good governance and rule of law. Political leadership must conduct introspective analysis of their style of governance and develop a desire to fight the menace of corruption through accountability and transparency. The aim should be to put the house in order.
While recalling the early days’ of Pakistan’s history which one can never forget and it would be pertinent to mention those, one remembers that when Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the Governor General of a newly born Muslim state named Pakistan, the cabinet meeting was summoned and while sensing the protocol need the Governor General’s ADC asked the Quaid, “What is to be served during the cabinet meeting; tea or coffee?” The Quaid’s replied spontaneously and bluntly, “Aren’t they served meal at their places? Will they be hungry at this hour of the day?” the incident carried a lesson for the leaders who followed Mr. Jinnah, however, unfortunately all the generations in queue, following Muhammad Ali Jinnah proved the quote that, “The only lesson we have learnt from the history is that we haven’t learnt anything.”
The environment of agitation and demonstrations carry seeds of large scale disturbances creating law and order situation, social disorder and political chaos. However this is a point to be thought by the wise rulers who undertake tangible measures to fight corruption with a view to improve governance and maintain order. While in Pakistan this national concern, qualms and sanity among the political elite doesn’t prevail. The most tragic part of this sordid tale is that the protest against the malpractices, dishonesty, corruption and violating the merit are considered as efforts to destabilise that specific government.
Unfortunately, unbridled and epidemic corruption in Pakistan has infected the entire edifice of national institutions while the rule of law appears to have been totally disregarded. Thus few parasites devouringly consume best of resources while the inopportune poor majority remains repressed and victimized under hard economic conditions. The elite leadership despite having been empowered by the masses through a democratic process has developed vicious aversion, disgusting dislike and malicious vindictiveness / insensitivity against general public they actually represent.
We have recently seen an example of it when Mr. Zardari lashed at the armed forces in a very crude and direct way. It shocked everyone since it was out of any provocation or rough treatment. The insiders say that the apprehension of his front men, model Ayyan Ali and some other such type of events pushed him against the wall. It is believed that soon he will be exposed to the public with the stories about his plundering and corruption. Isn’t it sad that a person who has remained at the helm of the fare is named as a looter? How disgusting it is? Instead of looking at themselves, people like Zardari and Altaf Hussain are shamelessly and brazenly accusing Pak Army / ISI (without any evidence) for orchestrating the prevailing political impasse.
The sufferings of deprived and unfortunates in Pakistan can well be anticipated by prevailing un-employment, poor living and health conditions, price hike, social injustice, contempt for merit, promoting chum-ship and deplorable law and order situation in the country. Regrettably the ministers concerned remain busy in settling scores against their political opponents using floor of Parliament and media channels. Most of their time and effort is spend on preparing fierce speeches to level fresh tirades of accusations and countering the barrages of counter allegations.
Political leadership who has its own priorities is busy in power grabbing process while the poor suffer under hard environment where healthy food, clean drinking water, respectable shelter, justice, education and health care facilities are totally non-existent. It’s high time for our ignorant leadership to prepare a strategy to address the grievances of general masses and do away with ambitious maneuvers to grab more power. Rule of law seems non-existent while merit is totally disregarded. Cronyism and nepotism are fast spreading setting unethical precedence and bringing bad name to governance. The public perceptions are getting stronger that poor governance is due to corrupt practices and misuse of public office. All these evils and vices are drifting the nation and the country away from the positive goals and towards darkness. It is right time to address these lethal weaknesses; before it is too late.