The Londoner

It's gang up on Pakistan time.The US Secretary of State, Mrs Clinton, has declared it "poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world" and now Gordon Brown has joined the party, flying to Kabul and Islamabad to show that he too regards the two neighbours as one region and making that the centrepiece of his so-called "new" Afghan policy in the Commons yesterday. There was, he claimed, a "chain of terror" stretching from the mountainous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan to the capitals of the world. If this reminds you of the language of the Raj, when the North-West Frontier obsessed our administrators and took up a disproportionate part of our military resources, so it should. Just as the British failed to control the area in Victorian times, so we are back in the same exercise again, only this time we're demanding that the Pakistanis act as the redcoats bringing order to the wild tribal lands. Now leave aside th...

DAGGAR: A major military operation was launched against Taliban militants in Buner district Tuesday, DawnNews reports. The operation aims to eliminate militants who had faked their exit from the area, Director-General ISPR Athar Abbas told DawnNews, adding that the operation in Lower Dir has been completed. The operation in Buner was launched at 04:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Abbas said. He said that militants in the area had refused to heed the government's warnings and had been kidnapping young boys for recruitment into the Taliban's ranks. Both the Frontier Corps and regular army forces are taking part in the operation, Abbas added. Read the full story here.

By Sikander Hayat It seems that beginning of end for Taliban in Malakand area is in sight. Pakistan army has started a military operation against the Taliban in Dir at the request of local government of Pakhtunkhwa after a FC convoy was attacked by the terrorists. A soldier and five terrorists including a key Taliban commander Maulvi Shahid has been killed as well. Frontier Corps has entered the Taliban hide out of laal Qila and heavy fighting has been reported.Gunship helicopters have also been deployed in the ongoing operation.

WASHINGTON: Two days of continuous congressional hearings on the Obama administration’s foreign policy brought a rare concession from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who acknowledged that the United States too had a share in creating the problem that plagues Pakistan today. In an appearance before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday, Mrs Clinton explained how the militancy in Pakistan was linked to the US-backed proxy war against the Soviets in Afghanistan. ‘We can point fingers at the Pakistanis. I did some yesterday frankly. And it’s merited because we are wondering why they just don’t go out there and deal with these people,’ said Mrs Clinton while referring to an earlier hearing in which she said that Pakistan posed a ‘mortal threat’ to the world. ‘But the problems we face now to some extent we have to take responsibility for, having contributed to it. We also have a history of kind of moving in and out of Pakistan,’ she said. Read the rest of the...

Beijing, China—Former President of Pakistan, Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf continued his international lecture tour with several engagements in key Chinese cities. [If pictures don’t appear, click Pic1, Pic2, Pic3] For this tour in China, the former President was invited by the government of China, through the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA). His first lecture was in Beijing to CPIFA, attended by many Chinese Ambassadors, experts on South Asia, and graduate students. The former President’s lecture focused on the deep relationship between Pakistan and China, and an in-depth analysis of regional issues including Afghanistan, India, terrorism and extremism. The former President stressed the need for closer global cooperation to defeat terrorism and extremism, and a more proactive role for China. His next lecture was in Shanghai, with the prestigious Shanghai Institute for International Studies. The President addressed Chinese experts on South Asia, Asia Pacific, and the...

By Osman Samiuddin It really didn't matter that Pakistan chased down their target tonight with all the assurance of a one-legged man roller-skating in quicksand with his hands tied behind his back. It only mattered that they chased them down at all, even if at one stage it seemed Misbah-ul-Haq was bent upon wresting his countryman's hold on the longest international innings of all time. Pakistan are not used to playing against Australia and they are certainly not used to winning against them; this was only a second win in their last 12 ODIs (over nearly seven years) against them. Though not many in this team are scarred by that kind of record, they batted as if that history was firmly on their mind. If this was a weakened, transitional Australia, it was Australia nonetheless and Pakistan can happily point to an absent middle-order bearded wonder and an equally absent lanky fast bowling genius. Read the rest of the story here .

Shahid Afridi has taken six wickets against Australia in Dubai giving Pakistan a good chance to win against Australia in the first one dayer. 168 was the score that Australia were able to muster aganst a blazing spell of spin bowling by Pakistan.

BUNER: Taliban militants from Swat took control of Buner on Tuesday and started patrolling bazaars, villages and towns in the district. The militants, who had sneaked into Gokand valley of Buner on April 4, were reported to have been on a looting spree for the past five days. They have robbed government and NGO offices of vehicles, computers, printers, generators, edible oil containers, and food and nutrition packets. Sources said that leading political figures, businessmen, NGO officials and Khawaneen, who had played a role in setting up a Lashkar to stop the Taliban from entering Buner, had been forced to move to other areas. The Taliban have extended their control to almost all tehsils of the district and law-enforcement personnel remained confined to police stations and camps. The Taliban, equipped with advanced weapons, were reported to be advancing towards border areas of Swabi, Malakand and Mardan, the hometown of NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti. Read the whole story h...

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has demanded the dissolution of the Balochistan Assembly and hold fresh polls so that Balochi people could elect their genuine representatives. Talking to the media at the reception of new members of the party on Friday, he condemned the murder of three Baloch nationalist leaders, saying the present assembly had failed to come up to the expectations of Balochis and lost its mandate. Supporting the Swat peace deal, he said the deal was indispensable because it was the long standing demand of the local people. Besides, he added, there was no option to restore peace as all the government agencies had failed to control situation. He condemned the critics of Swat deal, particularly MQM which was undermining the peace agreement only to serve the interests of the US and the UK. He alleged that MQM itself was a terrorist organization active in Karachi and urban areas of Sindh. He announced that he would visit Karachi on May 3 at every cost. R...

By Sikander Hayat A few weeks back, I wrote an article about the necessity for more provinces in Pakistan and in response to that I received a lot of emails from you that it is not the issue of more provinces that will resolve the problems of Pakistan but making Pakistan a true federation will cure the ills of our country. I see this as a viable alternative solution and lately I have heard many notable politicians especially from Pakistan Muslim League (N) like Shahbaz Sharif and Khwaja Asif talking about the need for a new social contract in Pakistan where all six federal components namely Punjab, Sindh, Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir & Northern Areas be given equal representation in Parliament and Senate and each provincial assembly have sweeping powers in terms of tax collection, spending and other issues. Federal government must only have its jurisdiction in Defence, Foreign affairs, Currency and Communications ( air, sea and land ports should be under federal jurisdict...

By Aakar Patel There are three serious candidates for the post of prime minister of India, for which they must get 272 votes in the Lok Sabha. The first is Congress's Manmohan Singh, whose alliance is predicted to get 220. The second is the BJP's Advani, whose alliance is predicted to get 180. The third is Mayawati, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Her party is not expected to get more than 50 seats on its own. But she is more likely to become PM than Advani. This is because India's national politics is oriented around opposition to the BJP, which is seen, correctly, as dangerous by most parties. But it is also because the Indian is emotional and believes in symbolism, in the grand moment. And the Untouchables of India, whom Mayawati represents, are owed this moment by India. The world and India will receive news of prime minister Mayawati with warmth. Not everybody, of course. India's middle class, which is upper caste, hates Mayawati because of the way she looks, and ...

‘A situation has been created in the province to destabilise Pakistan in what appears to be a conspiracy to seize and destroy the nation’s assets,’ he said while participating in a debate triggered by a number of motions moved by all parliamentary groups on the issue, including an adjournment motion seeking on the recent killing of three Baloch nationalist leaders. The chair clubbed together all the motions containing various demands and suggestions for resolving the issue. Acting Chairman Jan Mohammad Jamali said the matter was very important and needed extensive deliberations. Some lawmakers said they saw an international conspiracy behind the present law and order situation in Balochistan and called for ‘complete autonomy’ for the province. They rejected a committee headed by the Balochistan IG to investigate the murder of the Baloch politicians and demanded a commission under a Supreme Court judge to look into the circumstances leading to the crime and fix responsibility. The prime...

Pakistan has been stripped of hosting any matches in the 2011 World Cup because of the uncertain security situation in the south Asian country. International Cricket Council president David Morgan said: "It is a regrettable decision but our priority is to deliver a safe, secure, successful event." Pakistan were due to co-host the event with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Seven of Sri Lanka's top cricketers and an assistant coach were injured in an attack by gunmen in Lahore on 3 March. The other three countries hosting the tournament will share the 16 matches that would have been held in Pakistan. The news came during the first day of the ICC board meeting in Dubai. Ijaz Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said: "It's a disappointing decision but it can't be helped. Nobody wants to play in Pakistan following the attacks in Lahore." The co-ordinated attack by around 12 gunmen - armed with grenade and rocket launchers - targeted the Sri Lanka...

Thursday, April 16, 2009 By Ikram Sehgal The Asia Society was pessimistic in asking this rhetorical question in a commendable comprehensive review aimed at "Stabilising Afghanistan and Pakistan." The report has a basic flaw, India successfully arm-twisted the Obama administration into ignoring the major reason for the present instability in the region, Kashmir was repeatedly so stated by candidate Obama during his Presidential campaign. This core question can only be avoided at dire peril to policy initiatives aimed at successfully confronting terrorism. Constructive engagement with moderate elements among the Taliban is necessary, political initiatives to isolate Al-Qaeda by bringing moderates back from the cold, giving them political space presently dominated either by the Northern Alliance or non-representative Pashtuns of their choice. These include: (1) The US acting neutral in the emergence of a truly credible leadership through holding of representative jirgas. (2) Bui...

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Water & Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the first wind power plant in nation costing PKR100 million will be inaugurated on April 19, 2009, media reported. The power plant in Jhimpir will produce 50 megawatt (MW) of electricity. Ashraf said more wind power plants will be installed in Gharo and Jhimpir areas in Sindh, and the power produced will be supplied at 12.1 cent per unit. Read the full story at Pakistan To Inaugurate PKR100 Million Wind Power Plant

MINGORA: The Swat Taliban have imposed a ban on display of weapons in market places, urban areas and even the Imamadheri centre, saying there is no need of taking arms if the Islamic Shariah has been enforced in letter and spirit. The decision was taken on the appeal of Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad, Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said. Muslim Khan told the media by phone that they took the weapons around for the sake of imposition of Shariah and have succeeded in achieving this goal. ‘The Taliban are ready for any cooperation in the quick implementation of the Nizam-i-Adl regulation,’ he added. Read the rest of the story at Taliban ban display of weapons in Swat

By Sikander Hayat I don’t agree with the collapse in six months theory purely on the basis that Pakistan has faced very dire moments in past as well. Especially when the Soviets were knocking at its door but it survived and prospered. Let not call your wishes news or analysis. Will Economist write an article apologising after six months when Pakistan is still there and functioning? Don’t forget it is a country of 180 million people. UK, France and Germany combined barely come close in population terms, if there are incidents of lawlessness happening anywhere that is only natural in such a big country. Plus the war on terror has pushed all kinds of bad people from Afghanistan into Pakistan who are creating a lot of havoc but when does lack of proper law and order becomes a failed state is a million dollar question. So please keep the analysis objective and no so biased.

By GRAHAM BOWLEY and LOUISE STORY Published: April 11, 2009 The turning point for Stephan Jung came in February, around the time bonus checks were slashed. A veteran of UBS, one of many banks tarnished by the financial crisis, Mr. Jung realized that the old Wall Street would not be bouncing back any time soon. It was time to head for the new. Rick Crescenzo, formerly of Bear Stearns, works at Broadpoint. Smaller firms have been hiring hundreds from bigger banks. Enlarge This Image Alan Zale for The New York Times “After 10 years, I did not see a future for myself,” said Stephan Jung, who quit his job at UBS to work at Aladdin Capital. “After 10 years, I did not see a future for myself,” said Mr. Jung, 42, who quit to parlay his sales expertise into a career at Aladdin Capital, a small but rising investment firm run by others who had also left some of the most venerable names in finance. To read the rest of the story at STRESS TESTS NOT IN, BUT TOP TALENT ALREADY FLEEING BIG BANKS

By Anwar Iqbal Friday, 10 Apr, 2009 | 11:01 PM PST | WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s new found defiance against the United States was on full display in Washington on Thursday evening when Ambassador Husain Haqqani urged Americans not to attach ‘intrusive’ conditions to the aid they offer. ‘Once again there’s talk of fixing Afghanistan and Pakistan. Please do not fix us,’ said the ambassador in a joint appearance with his Afghan counterpart at a Washington think-tank, the Atlantic Council. ‘The world is not a problem for America to fix. The world is a place for the Americans to understand.’ Read The Full Story At Pakistan displays defiance in Washington

By Sikander Hayat When I heard this story yesterday, my heart really sank as I was aware of the consequences of this atrocity and very soon my fears were realised when rumours started spreading that these guys were killed by the secret service law enforcement agencies. I do not know who killed them but it was a very effective stab at the heat of Pakistan. We all know that since Pakistan started working on the Gwadar project, nothing but open aggression has been shown by its near and far neighbours. Keeping on one side the foreign interest in Balochistan, it is the duty of every Pakistani to condemn these killings and for the first time I am finding myself in a position to say that Altaf Hussian and MQM were the first party to condemn these killings and they did it with force and vigour by saying that MQM will support the call for strike all over the country and that all the countrymen are saddened by this cowardly act. Other national parties must do their best to help Balochistan and i...

By Sikander Hayat Pakistan these days is going through a perilous time and indeed I have no doubt that it will come out of it stronger and my belief is based on the reasons that may sound trivial but are the backbone of a living, functioning society which is proud of itself. I recently came across an article in Financial Times, a UK newspaper, which was written by William Dalrymple in which he argues that Pakistanis are finally not only catching up with the literature coming out of other countries in South Asia but in some cases producing a better quality work then their counterparts. He starts off by arguing that Pakistanis due to various circumstances in the past were not able to produce the kind of work that they had previously done but now the things are changing. According to him “Something remarkable is happening in Pakistani writing. Ten years ago, the most interesting English-language books coming out of south Asia were by Indian authors. In 1997, when The New Yorker publish...

By Sikander Hayat Mr Obama has made a good start in the Muslim World. Turkey, Iran & Pakistan are the most important non Arab Muslim countries and must be treated by the West as Allies. I am the first one to understand the difficulty of dealing with Iran and the awful state of affairs in Pakistan but for students of history it will not be a surprise to hear that these three countries were part of a block against the Soviet influence in the Muslims world. These three countries were the members of an economic alliance called RCD and were thinking upon the lines of EU to have free trade and movement of labour. But then Iran went theocratic under the Mullahs and Pakistan was consumed by the Afghan Jihad. Out of the three most secular societies in the Muslim World, only Turkey survived as a bastion of secularism as Iran & Pakistan succumbed to Shia & Sunni Islam respectively. In this historical backdrop it is vital for the EU and the US to court Turkey and keep it on their side,...

By Sikander Hayat These days when we talk about Taliban, we tend to think that all Taliban are fighting under one creed and have similar motives and objective. I wanted to share my understanding of Taliban with the viewers of this site and when I looked at this issue, I came to the immediate conclusion that there cannot possibly be still a link between Pakistani and Afghan Taliban. The two movements started out simultaneously when the Americans attacked Afghanistan to get Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida. After the Tora Bora escape, Osama and his terrorist fellows slipped into Pakistan and sought sanctuary from the Mehsud tribe which was granted as per the ancient Pashtun customs that no one who come to your door asking for sanctuary be turned away. Osama and Zawahiri kept a low profile during the initial days of the war but after a while when the initially intensity of the war faded a bit, started to build a strong hold among the local tribes by marrying their daughters with the powerful ...

By Sikander Hayat Another suicide bomber has blown himself up in a worship place for Shia community in Chakwal killing 22 people. Another day, another bomb, another atrocity committed in the name of Islam by those who believe that apart from them all other Muslims are ‘kafirs’as today’s attack was perpetrated on a religious place for Shia community. Once again it will be agonising to listen to right wing Mullahs and their following in general public who still think that this is the reaction for America’s war in Afghanistan. Please wake up from your deep slumber and at least say that this is bad. If Pakistan needs something today very badly, that is the consensus on what we are faced with. This consensus has eluded us so far but with any luck there will come a point where the “thakedars” of Islam will take notice of the mounting piles of dead and say that what is happening to our country is wrong. Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi in his column in Daily Times says that “Pakistan is under siege by...

By Sikander Hayat Another suicide bomber has blown himself up in a worship place for Shia community in Chakwal killing 30 people.

By Sikander Hayat Pakistan has not been able to recover from the fateful day when Bhutto was hanged by a military dictator Zia-Ul-Haq. We have to make sure that a heinous crime like this must not happen again and to ensure that we must understand why it happened in the first place. Here are some of the articles that I think might help you understand the murder of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Judicial Murder of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Kerbala: 4rth April, Army , People and Faraz Living With Bhutto's Ghost 4th April Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Day (Leader of the Masses

By Sikander Hayat It is hard to think dispassionately about our own people, our own county & our own children. When our own are dying , when we have no idea who is our friend and who is foe, when as a nation we face collective lack of understanding of who are we actually fighting against; one feels sadness, helplessness and despair. Our collective national impotence is forcing us to make strategic choices which are contradictory in nature and yet have to be made because of the lack of options. Here are some of the contradictions Pakistan is faced with: 1. Pakistan does not like USA given all the history of abandonment and betrayal & mutual mistrust but Pakistan need USA to root out Al-Qaida in its border territory to stop Pakistan from becoming a launching pad for future terror attacks around the world 2. Pakistan want USA to stabilise Afghanistan before it leaves so that the country does not collapse into civil war once again and Pakistan is once gain inundated...